Latest Column Lists 10 Great Value Wines

My last newspaper column was a list. I generally don't like lists of things but had a couple of editors and a few readers request a list of 10 or 12 great value wines.

So I turned the last newspaper column into just that! Here is a link to the blog where I post just the newspaper columns!

As always, thanks for reading!

Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com

An "OK" Grenache-Syrah Blend from France

I have returned to the Cotes du Rhone region for my taste in really good wine the past few weeks. I've not been disappointed.

Tonight I opened a bottle of Domaine Fincham's 2005 Red Note wine which is a 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah. I bought this $15 bottle at Pairings in Indianapolis in the Castleton area.

This was a smooth and medium bodied wine that didn't have the pop some of my more recent selections. It was rich and smooth with dark fruit flavors and a just a wee bit of tannins on the finish.

After the wine was open for awhile the nose really came around to a fragrant and earthy French wine. It's a nice introduction to French wines without the power of some others.

Fincham is an interesting guy who married into a wine family apparently. He wed the daughter of a winemaker at Domaine de Pagau in Chateaunef-du-Pape region. This is the southern Rhone valley area.

You'll find the wine up to $19 in some shops. It's a nice bottle of wine but if you can find Patrick Lesec's Bouquet, go with that one!

Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com

Donna's Pick-of-the Week a Great California Sauv Blanc

I've mentioned shopping at the Village Bottle Shop in W. Lafayette several times in this blog and finally met wine guru Donna Lattanzio just this week.

Donna had a long career on the distributor's side and has managed the Bottle Shop for nearly a dozen years.

I've been buying there since the first of the year and couldn't resist picking up her "Pick of the Week" a Rutherford Provenance 2007 Sauvignon Blanc. The deal was $9.99 for a wine I found online for up to $18-$19!

This is a beautiful and soft Sauv Blanc. I got notes of peaches, pear, with light mineral qualities and a pleasant acidity on the finish.

Wine Spectator gave this wine an 88 rating. You'll normally find this nice California wine for around $15.

I had the wine with a pan-seared piece of salmon. I think it would be great with most seafood.

So if you get near W. Lafayette, on the 52 bypass, stop in and say hi to Donna. She will steer you to some great wine buys.

Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com

Photos Up; Reflections of Two-Day Visit

I've now posted all the photos in the two blog entries about my two-day visit to Southern Indiana's wineries and drive along the Ohio River.

When thinking back about the experience the one thing that sticks in my mind is that Indiana's wine producers are getting better at what they do. I remember just a couple of years ago the wines were so sweet they were hard to digest.

There still are some of those around but I found more of the sweeter wines made in a light and fruity style that would still please those who like sweet wines but without killing the taste with sugar.

I also found some well-made wines that fit my usual palate. I thought Winzerwald's Rose', Turtle Run's Syrah and Summer Solstice were the outstanding wines of my trip. But there were plenty of other really good ones too.

I have always been reluctant to be too negative in my wine writing. I did have a couple bad experiences. That is the exception now days which is great news for Indiana wineries.

I didn't include Huber Winery in my visit because I've been there so many times before. You could easilty do Huber, Turtle Run, and perhaps Best Vineyards on a one day trip if you're in the Indiana-Kentucky area. If you're a little farther west, I'd recomment Winzerwald. If you're up for a drive, go to Blue Heron Vineyards and enjoy the view. Their wines show promise too!

I believe I included a link to every winery's website in the two posts below.

I do have more material from this trip which will surface as a newspaper column soon. I had a fun interview with Jim Pfeiffer at Turtle Run.

Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com