Wine at any price

In today’s world, you can purchase an excellent bottle of wine at a price level that suits you.

A higher price doesn’t necessarily mean a better experience. It always amazes me when I can purchase a decent wine from Argentina or Chile at such a reasonable price. I am similarly impressed by wines from Languedoc and Eastern Europe. You can now buy a bottle at $20 and really enjoy the wine. Purchase a wine at $100, and there is no guarantee that the wine will be five times better or you will enjoy the wine five times more.

On the other hand, upper tier wines are a showcase for many houses who spare no expense to produce the finest wine made from carefully selected fruit. These wines are commodities that increase in value depending on the location of the estate and winery. Bordeaux wines share this cachet, as do most of the wines produced in Napa Valley. The Australian Grange Hermitage is another outstanding example of fine wines that are sought after for their future value. All these wines share a commonality of limited production because of the size of the vineyard and its yield. Packaging, labelling and cork also reflect the pride of place that is attributed to these wines. Yes, they are fabulous—and you can lay them down for the future—but these wines require some years in a cellar before they are ready for drinking.

The world is awash in wine, so you can always find a wine that suits your budget and preference. Even in the County, wineries produce an array of wines that will appeal to all palates.

THIS WEEK’S PICK
Quite by chance, I visited Broken Stone Winery last Sunday and discovered Tim and Micheline Keupfer’s 2013 Pinot x 2. I presumed it might be a blend of Pinot Noir and St. Laurent. In fact, it is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

In the glass, the wine appears to be an older Pinot Noir with aromas of red currant, rose water Turkish Delight, lanolin, barnyard— and a most intriguing suggestion of frankincense. The palate is a blend of cherry, green olive, white pepper, powdered ginger, and mustard seed with an earthy finish.

This is a unique wine, best paired with food to let it shine. A bargain at $19.95, it is only available at the Broken Stone Vineyard’s tasting room at 524 Closson Road, Hillier.