The Wine Minx's TOP 20 UNDER $20 for 2017!! (Okay, TOP 30. You deserve it.)

Wineaux, I have heard lamentations from across the globe that there was no 2016 version of this, my most popular post. While most of the time I can reconcile the performing career with the wine career, when gainfully employed on a world tour of a Broadway show, some things do fall through the cracks. Mea culpa. But that only means there are EVEN BETTER finds this year, and I'm rewarding your patience by adding 50% more wines to the list! So without further ado, in no particular order, here are my favorite bangs-for-the-buck from the last 365 days:

BUBBLY:

2014 Domaine Barmès-Buecher Cremant d'Alsace Brut Nature, Alsace, France

Creamy, intense fruit, exceedingly well-balanced; a truly wonderful sparkler for the price. I could sip on this all day long. ~$19

NV Castellroig Rosato Cava, Spain

Pleasant funk, tasty berries, clean, very nice. (We used it for "Broadway Buzzed" EP 5 and became obsessed with this wine.) Multi-dimensional, elegant and rich. ~$18

WHITE:

2014 Yves Duport Fleur du Chardonnay, Bugey, France

Vibrant nose of straw, earth, lemons, white florals and white pepper. Ginger, pear, honey in the mouth, well-balanced, interesting and yummy! ~$14

2016 Serpens Estate Tokaj Dry, Hungary

A new estate, founded 2015 (so may be tough to find!) Florals, wet concrete, pretty rich in fruit, high acid, minerally, super tasty. Little phenolic bitterness on long, sassy finish. ~$15

2014 Merwida Chardonnay South Africa

Almost neon yellow color. Lemon, straw, and florals on the nose. With an odd but intriguing whiff of coffee grounds (perhaps a S. African typicality?) Butterscotch. Bright and rich at the same time. Long finish. Cheeky. ~$13

2014 J. Lohr Arroyo Vista Chardonnay, CA

Fancy label script and thicker glass announce a higher-end J. Lohr Chard, and this has more floral notes, a softer acidity, great baking spice notes from the oak, and is viscous but not heavy-handed. ~$19

2016 Domaine Jacky Marteau "Lulu" Touraine, France

Kimmeridgian clay soil. Tropical fruit nose, with expected Sauvignon Blanc notes of gooseberry and grass, quite lip-smacking. High, integrated acidity. Sour citrus on finish. Yum. ~$14 

2014 Broadside Wild Ferment Chardonnay, CA

Bruised yellow apple, peach, baking spices, and butter on the nose. Surprisingly fresh and fruity on the palate, with tangerine, lilac, peach, apricot, and honey rounding out the finish. ~$16

2015 Tenuta Rapitala Piano Maltese Bianco, Sicily

I have so rarely met a Sicilian wine I didn't like! This is a blend of indigenous and international varieties. Creamy, floral, Fuji apple, spice. Full-bodied but an easy sipper. Soft acid, long finish. ~$15

2015 Milbrandt Vineyards Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, WA

Spice, yellow flowers, SweeTart candy on the nose. Smooth, butterscotch, some noticeable oak, but integrated. Big, but not overbearing, long finish. ~$14.

Ca Maiol Lugana Molin DOC, Lombardy, Italy

100% Turbiana (Trebbiano.) Great nose of melon, marzipan, peach, shortbread. Super tasty! Flirty and friendly. Good weight, long acidic finish. ~$18

NV Nobilis Vinho Verde, Portugal

Lightly effervescent, lime and pear on the nose, light but refreshing crowd-pleaser, excellent summer quaffer. One of my fave VVs. ~$9

2015 Charles Gonnet Chignin Savoie, France

Spicy lemon and chives on the nose, white pepper, lemon rind, parsley. Good acidity but smooth on the palate, nice balance of weight and flavors; not too heavy, not too light. ~$15

2015 Carol Shelton Wild Thing Chardonnay, Sonoma

Melon, lemon, kumquat, nice spice - delish! Warm, good fruit, balanced acidity. ~$18

2015 Marc Pesnot La Bohème Melon de Bourgogne, France

Natural fermentation lends a bit of funk to the complex nose, with rich florals, lemon peel, and sourdough flavors, and good acidity. Captivating and unusual. ~$19

2016 Beaumont Chenin Blanc W.O Bot River, South Africa

Loving modern S. A. Chenins these days. This one has spice, green herbs, lemon zest, bit of yellow apple warmth. Very light and zingy. Tart lemon. Lite pineapple. Nice spice in mouth. Integrated acidity. Tasty! Great summer sipper. ~$15

ROSÉ:

2016 Château Barbanau La Girafe Verte Rosé, Provence, France

A blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. Very pale onion skin color. Great herbs on nose; tarragon, basil, menthol. Nice fruit, cheeky. ~$18 

2016 Kelby James Russell Rosé, Finger Lakes, NY

Made from Cabernet Franc, so bright red. Nice raspberry expression, with plum, and "spice rack dust," this is super tasty. (Don't turn your nose up at its intensity!) ~$17

2016 Broccardo Langhe Nebbiolo Rosé, Italy

Slightly smoky, tanninc, savory, (a "masculine" rosé,) with notes of Rome apple, cherry cola, overall very pungent and delish. ~$18

2016 Marquis de Goulaine Rosé d'Anjou, Loire, France

Very pale pink, lots of strawberry, scrumptious, herby, fruity, light sipper, very nice. ~$13

RED:

2012 Trefethen Double T, Red Blend, CA

Amazing nose of cassis, blackberry liqueur, blueberries, bit of smoke, and cedar. Continues in the mouth with tart, sweet tobacco, lil' green pepper, weighty but tangy. Outrageously pedigreed but quaffable! ~$18

2013 Predator Cabernet Sauvignon, CA

Dark berry fruit nose, rich and very MOCHA-y. Hints of pine and good acidity balances it. Like a dark chocolate/berry pie? Rich, flavorful and lovely. SOOOO much going on for only ~$15.

2015 Grayson Cellars Pinot Noir, CA

Smoky and spicy nose. Tasty! Black cherry, pepper, well-balanced with good acidity and weight, and a lip-smacking finish. ~$15.

2014 Camp Cab Franc, Sonoma, CA

Notes of blueberry, mocha coffee, clove spice, and blackberries. Delish Cab Franc with good, balanced acidity. ~$18.

2013 Vega Montan Mencia Bierzo DO, Spain

After getting acquainted with Mencias a few years ago, I snap them up when I can find them! Nearly opaque bricky-purple but lightened by refreshing acidity. Delicious red and purple fruit tang, velvety finish, violet florals, layer of herbs. Yummers. $15.

2012 Pasquale Pelissero Freisa “La Ferma,” DOC, Langhe, Italy

Nose of wet leaves, florals, dried spices. Super structured, had to double decant! But elegant Old World red, definitely tastes like it costs far more. Like a love child of Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir. ~$15

2015 Calaña Red Blend Jumilla, Spain

Smoky, robust black cherry and blueberry fruit. Nice acidity, little chalky, soft tannins. Great length. Some graphite, dark chocolate, raspberry liqueur. Just yummers. ~$12

2012 Ch. de Jonquieres Cuveé Eole Grande Réserve, France

Opaque purple-ruby. Blue and black fruits. Violets. Velvety and heady. Some smoked meats. Dark and rich fruit but smooooth finish, excellently balanced acidity keeps it from overwhelming. Chalk and lavender on the finish. ~$18

2012 Bairaktaris Monolithos Nemea, Greece

Old vine Agiorgitiko. Cab-like nose, cassis. Wow - black cherry, berry, herbs, baker's chocolate, great character, complex and well-structured. Amazing! ~$16 (If you can't find the '12, there are more recent vintages available.)

2015 Cesari Mara Valpolicella Ripasso DOC, Italy

Sexy nose. Spice, herbs, florals, fresh cherries. Sweet tannins. Delish! Approachable. Yummy. Big but so lovely! Clean and fresh style - not what I expected from a ripasso style. (And as most are $25-40, so this is a steal at) ~$20.  

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Still with me? Great job, Wineaux! I admit that some of these wines will be hard to find, and many aren't even available in all markets. But take this list to your purveyors, and see if they can find something that wets your whistle. And when you do, be sure to comment below with your own finds! 

As always, drink well. Cheers.

Beat the Heat with ROSÉ FROM PROVENCE!

Right now, summer has descended, New York City is baking in the heat, and all I can think about is escaping to the seaside with a glass of rosé in hand. While the beach is merely an hour away on the A train, sometimes it's just easier to conjure refreshment by popping over to the wine shop and grabbing a bottle of rosé from Provence!

While great rosé is made all over the world, Provence is where they've mastered the style so many folks find appealing; lots of minerality, good fruit, and a crisp finish. Typically made from the traditional southern French grapes Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault, these are also generally very affordable wines.

I, for one, encourage rosé consumption year-round, but it certainly is enjoyable to cool off with a glass of rosé in the summer heat. And the fact that these are "red wines in a white wine's body" make them amazing to pair with a range of foods, from lobster to a cookout hot dog.

At a recent tasting sponsored by Vins de Provence, "The Taste of Style," I enjoyed a lovely array of the following rosés (there were some whites and reds from the region as well, and I couldn't help but include one DELISH white below.) Enjoy!

2016 Château Barbanau L'Instant Rosé (Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah) (Winery is Organic and Biodynamic.)

V pale onion skin. Herby, spicy, white pear, tasty, good balance, ticks fruit and complexity boxes. Quaffable. ~$20 WM: 89

2016 Château Barbanau La Girafe Verte Rosé (Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah)

V pale onion skin. Great herbs on nose; tarragon, basil, menthol. Nice fruit, cheeky. ~$18 WM: 92

2016 Mirabeau en Provence Pure Rosé (Grenache, Syrah)

V v pale onion skin. Light fragrant nose, minerally, elegant, clean, good present acidity. ~$25 WM: 90

2016 Mirabeau en Provence Étoile Rosé (Grenache, Syrah)

V v pale silvery onion skin. Fruit forward, peach, melon, good grip, clean and minerally. ~$35 WM: 91

2016 Cep d'Or Rosé (Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah)

V pale pink, light but great tastiness and fruit through the finish, green herbs too. ~$16 WM: 88

2016 Château L'Arnaude Cuvée Nuit Blanche Rosé (Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan)

V pale peach, good floral perfume, red berries, very dry, a little bitter. ~$NA WM: 86

2016 Château de Pampelonne Rosé (Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Tibouren) 

V pale pink, nice florals, stemmy nose, tasty, elegant, good berries on finish, nice. ~$21 WM: 90

2016 Mas de Pampelonne Rosé (Neighbor of ^) (Grenache, Cinsault, Tibouren) 

V v pale salmon, great nose, florals and berry fruit, minerally, stemmy. ~$18 WM: 89

2016 Fleur de Mer Rosé (Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan)

V pale pink. Raspberry, strawberry, bitter-ish but well-balanced. Tangy minerality. Nice. ~$18 WM: 89

2015 Château Sainte Marguerite Ikon Rosé (Cinsault, Grenache)

V pale onion skin, florals, ripe melon, cherry, slurp. ~$NA WM: 90

2016 Domaine du Dragon Grande Cuvée Rosé (Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Sra, Rolle)

V pale pink. V floral, nice, savory and spicy in mouth. Yum. ~$NA WM: 91

2016 Château Rêva Symphony Rosé (Grenache, Sra, Cinsault)

V pale pinky salmon, nice acidity, savory, tart red fruit. ~$NA WM: 89

And the DELICOUS white:

2016 Château Sainte Marguerite Symphony (Rolle)

Pale silvery-gold. Lemony nose, whiff of smoke. Tight and lemon-limey with great herb, tarragon. 7-UP-y Clean, tangy, grassy, herby, minerally, so delish. ~$27 WM: 93

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As the mercury continues hovering at the top of the thermometer, believe me, I'll be drinking a lot more rosé. Keep your eyes here for more posts on delicious rosés from all over the world! Post in the comments with your favorite rosés, from Provence or elsewhere. and share the wealth!

Cheers.

FREAKING OUT OVER FURMINT:Hungary's Versatile and Delish Signature White Grape

Frequent readers know I adore good wine from atypical locales. And die-hard Wineaux already know that Hungary is home to one of the world's most exotic, revered dessert wines: Tokaji. ("Toe-kai.") But not a lot of folks know that the main grape of Tokaji, Furmint ("foor-mint,") is absolutely delicious when vinifed as a dry table wine.

Its position under the radar is because there simply wasn't much dry Furmint in the world-wide marketplace until recently. But Hungarian producers are getting their wares out in the U.S. more and more each year, and you should seek some out ASAP — do not pass go, do not collect 200 forint — especially because 2017 was named the "Year of Furmint" by both the SOMM Journal and the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture.

THIS IS THE ACTUAL YEAR OF FURMINT, YOU GUYS. COME ON!

I sampled some amazing Furmints at the Council General of Hungary in New York City recently, and spoke with some passionate winemakers about this versatile grape.

Tamás Kis, Owner and Winemaker of Somlói Vándor, poured his winery's eponymous offering, the 2015 Somlói Vándor Furmint, which had a bright nose of florals and straw. On the palate, it showed notes of quince and lime, and had a charming acidic structure with very good length. Tasty! If you are a Sauv Blanc fan, this one's for you. ~$24.

Also on the lighter side was the 2012 Zafír Dűlő from Erzsébet Cellar. The woman next to me compared it to a white Burgundy, quite the compliment, though I found it lacking a bit of character to agree. Still, it showed yellow apple and lemon on the nose, and was very clean and minerally on the palate. ~$31.

I went "Lady Gaga" over the 2015 Degenfeld Furmint Dry, with its heady floral nose and excellent fruit/acid balance. It was rich-seeming though light and quaffable, with straw, florals, white peach, and a not-overly acidic finish. A great summertime sipper at ~$18. 

Tamás Kovács, owner and winemaker at St. Donat Estate, poured his 2015 Marga Furmint Selection Estate Bottled. ("Marga" is the Hungarian term for "marl," which is a soil type related to limestone.) This had a soft nose, but its white floral perfume blossomed in the mouth, accompanied by bright and tangy acid. ~$22.

Mr. Kovács came prepared with a wonderful map of Hungary on his iPad, on which he could zoom in to illustrate the volcanic and flatland topography of the major Hungarian wine-growing areas. He also had pictures of his small, round aging vessels. When I asked if they were concrete, he turned up his nose a bit; "This is not concrete. Concrete is the past." I stood corrected; these vessels were porous ceramic stone units, which breathe like oak barrels do, but are totally neutral. 

Furmint started to show its spicy side in the 2015 Kvaszinger Hatalos Furmint, along with ginger and melon on the nose. This had integrated acidity and a leesy richness, with a touch of bitterness and long length. ~$27. 

The Spice Girls themselves (what's with the music references today?!) would be overwhelmed by the 2015 Béres Lőcse Furmint Selection Estate Bottled. The nose had rich rome apple and candied melon, but it was a bit schitzo, because in the mouth it was SO dry and SUPER spicy!! Once I got over the difference in expressions, I kept returning to it and wrote, "wow" in my notes. ~$27.


Furmint often gets compared with Chenin Blanc, and I definitely got that similarity with the 2013 Vision Furmint from Holdvölgy. (This was the only 2013 poured, which is too bad, as it Mr. Kis proclaimed it "an excellent vintage.") This had an inviting floral nose with a candied melon presence, flirty and tasty ripe fruit on the mouth, with high acidity. ~$24. 

The last dry Furmint of the day was the 2012 Barta Öreg Király Furmint, which had a slightly maderized nose (like a light Sherry,) with a funky barnyard feel and overripe lemon, but on the mouth it was light, lemon-peel acidic, with straw on the finish. I found this really interesting; earthy, but bright. And it also shows that this grape definitely has aging potential. (This one is for you Chardonnay fans.) ~$39

Finally, there was one sweeter style poured; the 2012 Basilicas Szamorodni Tokaji. "Szamorodni" means "as it comes," and refers to the condition of the grapes when picked. This is not like Sauternes, where multiple passes are made throughout the vineyards and individual grapes at optimal ripeness are picked each time; here the bunches with varying degrees of ripe berries will get picked "as it comes." Because of the topography and climate of Tokaji, the dessert-wine grapes will often be affected by botrytis (the "noble rot" that also hits Sauternes, and adds an amazing, distinctive flavor to these wines,) and this showed some botrytis on the nose, with peach, apricot, and vanilla. With about 66 grams per liter of sugar, it was definitely sweet, but not at all cloying, as the amazing acidity keeps it fresh. ~$NA.

As with many unusual varieties/locales, you will have to work a little harder to seek dry Furmints out. But the incredible quality of the wines I sampled above suggest that they will be the darlings of somms and merchants before too long. Furmint is quite reflective of its terroir, so that explains the incredible range of experiences, from super-bright and tangy to richer, rounder, earthier flavors. It's hard to know exactly what you will get from each wine by merely glancing at the label, but grab whatever bottle you can find and start experimenting. I think you might end up freaking out over Furmint yourselves.

Cheers!

Cinqe Stelle? 2012 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO

A lot has been said about the 2012 vintage Brunello, but does the wine live up to the hype?

Full disclosure: I am not the world's biggest Brunello di Montalcino fan. I often find the younger wines unbalanced and overbearingly structured, and many BdMs with some age have lost their pleasant fruit and are just too austere for my palate.

But at a recent tasting sponsored by The Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, I was introduced to a range of 2012s that absolutely sparked my interest. I'm sure the vintage isn't the only contributing factor to my change-of-heart, but it seems to be the foundation.

It certainly wasn't an easy growing season in Montalcino in 2012. With a dry start, snow and rain during important growth stages, and a HOT summer, yields were down. But the important weeks leading up to harvest were practically perfect.

BdM is a DOCG wine -- the highest-rated level of governmental standards of control. These are high-class wines, although their popularity has only risen to world-wide levels over the last 50 years or so.

3D map of Montalcino, from the Consorzio presentation.

The area of Montalcino is located in Tuscany, Italy, and is basically a square, rising to a slightly off-center peak like a pyramid. Soils differ in the main four quadrants of the region -- a combination of sand, clay, and limestone. We tasted wines from all parts of Montalcino, grown on all soil types, at various elevations. (As is required by DOCG regulations, all of these wines are 100% Sangiovese.)

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2012 Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG -- Medium ruby color. Fragrant cherry, floral, cola nose with ripe, perky fruit. Quite tart in the mouth, with tangy, mouthwatering acidity, and a cheeky, long finish, with present but integrated tannins. One of my faves, and perhaps the most "easy-drinking." ~$70.

2012 Collosorbo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG -- Medium ruby color. Big tangy cherry-berry nose, with sandalwood and florals. A bit stemmier, bramble-y, and a mineral tang like a rare steak sangue. Good acid, nice finish. ~$50.

2012 La Magia Brunello di Montalcino DOCG -- Medium-plus ruby color. Woodsy, sweet herbs, black cherry nose. This one's gutsier, quite tannic with good acidity, yet elegant and balanced. ~$45.

2012 Le Macioche Brunello di Montalcino DOCG -- Medium ruby color. Light floral perfume, merde-y nose. Super dry feel, leafy, dusty. Stylistically not my fave, but also well-balanced. ~$60.

2012 Loacker Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino DOCG -- Medium-plus dark ruby color. (The most opaque of the flight.) Ripe fruit, robust nose. Big and bold, black cherry and grape soda notes. High acidity, big but balanced tannins, a bruiser. (Higher altitude and maybe picked later?) But I like it! ~$75

2012 Pian Delle Querci Brunello di Montalcino DOCG -- Medium ruby color. Very herb-y, cherry, pine nose. Super structured, but classic Brunello -- elegant and playful in the mouth, with spices and tart cherry. Another fave. ~$40.

2012 Talenti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG -- Medium ruby color. Very astringent feel, leafy, eucalyptus/pine sharpness, with more sangue minerality. I have a slight suspicion my glass was off, but couldn't verify. ~$55.

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So what REALLY made the Minx reconsider her thoughts on Brunello? As Jeff Porter, Beverage Director for the Batali/Bastianich Hospitality Group and one of the leaders of the tasting, said, these are "very pretty" wines. They were elegant and approachable, and in every case I found the potentially troublesome acidity and tannins inherent in Sangiovese totally well-balanced. That structure makes these long-lived, and also incredible food wines, so I just might have to pop out and grab a few bottles, for now AND later!

Cheers.