The Envelope Please

Our Friday tasting this week showed us that a charming crowd pleasing Sauvignon Blanc, Torreon de Paredes from Chile, and a shockingly well made Spanish Tempranillo, Fuentenarro from Ribero del Duero, could lead the way sales-wise in a crowded field of contenders. I thought this was one of the best tastings we have had both in quality and price and I think our winners earned their accolades. Torreon is a slightly off-dry cocktail wine and Fuentenarro is fine red meat dinner wine. Each retail for $10.99. Our runners up include Perry Creek El Dorado Merlot and Tupun Argentine Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva.

New to the store this week is our "Hall of Fame" lineup of tasting winners from the past month. By letting the wine tasting attendees speak to their choices in this way, I think I am offering the obvious, a "People's Choice" award. People vote with their wallets, right, and everyone in a cross sectional tasting group can't all be wrong. So...the envelope please.

Best Buy red wine award winner: Auka Argentine Syrah 2007 $9.99. Mouth filling red meat dinner wine.

Best Buy white award winner: La Playa Sauvignon Blanc 2011 $9.99. Citrusy seafood white.

"The Meteor" winner, awarded to the fastest wine to sell out in an evening: Lovatti Brolo Val Sorda 2010 $11.99. Light Italian red with unique fruit flavors. Food affinity, of course, pasta.

"Just for Fun" winners: Estampa Argentine Viognier/Chardonnay 2009 $12.99. Off-dry cocktail wine suitable for picnic fare. Auka Argentine Torrontes 2009 $9.99. Ditto Estampa.

Best Example of Type white winner: Cave Saint Verny Le Chardonnay, Cotes d'Auvergne France 2010 $13.99.

Best Example of Type red winner: Sicoris Spanish Red Blend Costers del Segre 2009 $15.99.

"The Jaw Dropper" white: Waterstone Napa Valley Pinot Grigio 2010 $19.99. Just an out-of-the-blue simple surprise.

Jaw Dropper red: Waterstone Carneros Pinot Noir 2008 $26.99. Two hours after opening, unbelievably rich red with exponentially improved complexity.