Durigutti Reserva Best Malbec I've Found Under $25

I stumbled across Durigutti's Argentinian Bonarda a few weeks back and loved. That led me to buy a 2006 Reserva ($23.99) shortly thereafter, and then Durigutti's entry level ($15) Malbec recently.

I tried the $15 bottle Friday night and thought it was quite good in that price range. I'd compare the Durigutti to Altos within the same price range. Both are excellent Malbecs if you find either.

The Reserva is obviously a different price point but it will sure illustrate what you get for a few more bucks!

The wine was a very dark color with wonderful aromas of dark fruit like cherry. On the palate it was big, bold, smooth and velvety. There was a hint of pepper on the finish with very nice tannins.

I can not think of any other Malbec I've had in the $18-$25 price range that I can compare. Wine Spectator gave this one 90 points.

I bought this bottle at Vine and Table in Carmel for $23.99. Interesting, I found it online for $17-$27, so I guess $24 is a decent price.

If you like Malbec and been buying in the $12-$15 range, give yourself a treat for a special occasion and try this bottle with a big grilled steak.

It's great wine.

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Banfi's Centine Rose Great Bang for Your Buck

I get a modest amount of wine from marketing companies since I write a newspaper column, this blog, and contribute to Palate Press. The marketers, hired by the wineries, are hoping you'll say something nice about their products.

I've written about it before with the disclaimer I do accept samples with no promises I'll like or write about the wines. I've stuck to that. Frankly, usually if I don't like them I just don't write about them. But for the most part, I'd guess I've written about 90 percent of the wines I've received. There are several in the wine racks around the house right now.

Last night I opened Banfi's Centine 2009 Rose. All of these shipments have glossy and high quality press materials with the best copy writing money can buy.

For example, the Centine: "An enticing introduction to fine quality wines from Tuscany, Centine's trio of red, white and rose proposes clean, straightforward flavors appropriate for every dish, every occasion, and every season. Available at fine wine retailers and on restaurant wine lists nationwide for approximately $11, Centine's accessibility and value is hard to match."

That's verbatim and typical of the usual pitch. Often the marketing power outweighs the wine but I can honestly say not in this case.

The Centine Rose is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. I was prepared for a rather acidic and strong flavored Rose I wouldn't like. The wine was far lighter than those grapes would suggest with a hint of acidity and really beautiful dry fruit.

I have a bunch of Rose on the racks and haven't consumed as much this summer as recent years. It's time to catch up. I'm glad I started with the $11 Centine.

Banfi has wines all across the country and aren't hard to find. If you like Rose, particularly lighter ones will great balance, try this one.

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Languedoc with Some Nice Bold Flavor

I've often found Languedoc wines like a boring neighbor - nothing interesting, always around, easily forgotten.

They almost always seem to be a light or watered-down version of better Cotes du Rhone wines. Perhaps that's harsh because I haven't tried all that many but enough to be thoroughly ho-hum about the region.

That was until tonight when I opened a 2005 Domaine de Nizas Coteaux du Languedoc. Wow! This one actually had ..... flavor!

The wine is a blend of 60 percent Syrah, 35 percent Mourvedre, and 5 percent Grenache. I thought it was earthy and herbal. It had a nice big nose, an herbal, spicy, and smoky taste with a long finish.

It was just a lot bigger than any other I've tried in recent years. It's well made and quite fresh.

Wine Spectator gave this stuff a 91. I might not go quite that high, but darn close. If you see this wine give it a try. I bought this bottle at Grapevine Cottage in Zionsville for $13.99.

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Indiana-Based Wine Rack Maker Flourishes

My latest newspaper column:

A growing appreciation for wine usually means buying more wine, drinking more wine, and sooner or later needing a place to put all that bottled goodness.

Wine storage systems and wine racks are everywhere with plenty of choices for wine consumers. Finding racks that hold more than a dozen bottles, though, can be a bit of a challenge in Indiana.

Radel Wood Products, Peru, IN., is a commercial wine rack production company that will still build a custom rack for any consumer. Radel’s products are in more than 40 states across the U.S.

“We’re mostly a commercial business but we’ll build a rack for the individual,” said Gerald Radel, a former newspaper pressman. “We do tasting rooms for wineries, custom tasting tables, products for wholesalers, but wine racks are our primary business.”

Radel was in the newspaper industry for years and after a couple of job moves decided to return to Peru to get into wood milling and custom work. When nearby Grissom Air Force Base closed its doors the enormous hangers became warehouses. Cost Plus World Market rented one of the former hangers to use as a distribution center.

When one of Radel’s friends saw wine racks in storage at the Peru base, they bid on building the 44-bottle racks and got the contract. Even with the ups and downs of the economy, Cost Plus remains Radel’s biggest customer. During a July visit, Radel and his six employees were busy finishing an order for 600 of the 44-bottle racks.

He started building wine racks in 1999 in his garage. He’s grown the business and operates now from a building on the west side of Peru on Highway 24.

“We’ve been doing wine trade shows the last five or six years with the last three years really starting to pay off,” Radel said. “Most of our business is in the eastern part of the United States. I have two big customers in Florida.”

He is getting ready to build racks for a tasting room in St. Joseph, Michigan. Earlier this year he worked a trade show at Grand Rapids.

His goal is to keep coming up with new ideas and ideas for custom racks. Though he has built doors for home contractors and even kitchen cabinets, wine racks are now his primary business. He builds racks in Pine, Alder Wood, and Oak in all shapes and sizes.

The wine woodworker became a wine drinker as his business expanded. “I like wine,” he said with a laugh. “I didn’t drink a lot of wine until I got into this business but you have a tendency to accumulate a lot of wine. We like to visit wineries when we travel and you usually can’t leave without buying a couple bottles, maybe more if they’re a customer.”

He said Riesling was probably his favorite. Obviously, he doesn’t have any storage issues.

His products can be seen and priced on his website
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