My Top Ten QPR Wines For 1999, $12 Or Less

[Bucko]

In the $12.00 or less category, in no particular order:

1997 Cline Cellars Zinfandel, California, $10. There is a lot of bang for the buck here, with rich strawberry fruit, hints of pepper and modest tannins that make this wine ready to drink now or over the next two to three years.

1997 Stone Creek Merlot, California, Special Selection, $8, 100,000 cases. An amazing value wine, with very nice black fruit, complexity, soft tannins and nice acidity. A good food wine.

1997 River Road Pinot Noir, Russian River, $12, 450 cases. This exceptional value wine is made in a very approachable style. Bright cherry fruit, a hint of smokey oak, and crisp acid makes this a nice match for pork tenderloin.

1997 Sonoma Creek Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, $12, 4400 cases. A very good bargain that is drinking well now. Currants and cherries on the nose as well as the palate, along with tea flavors, good acidity and soft tannins makes for a lovely wine that wine will match a host of foods.

1998 Simi Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $10. Worth the hunt to find this refreshing wine. Lots of strawberries and cranberries, with just a hint of sweetness. A great summer sipper.

1998 Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, $8.50, 20,000 cases. This is another good value wine. Very clean, with crisp acidity, the wine is made is a moderately grassy, green apple style. This is a nice match for shellfish, or your favorite fish served with a leek coulis.

1998 Meridian Chardonnay, Santa Barbara, $11. 80% of the wine was BF in French and American oak, and 80% went thru MLF. A very good buy for those who like moderate oak (I don't). Full of tropical fruit, creamy oak and spice, the wine has nice acidity and a long aftertaste that will appeal to many.

1997 Hahn, Merlot, Santa Lucia Highlands, $11, 36,000 cases. Rich black cherry fruit, a dab of olive, balanced oak and soft tannins. An incredible value.

1998 Chateau St. Jean, Sauvignon Blanc, $9. A clean, refreshing wine, with melon and fig fruit, light grassiness, and subtle oak. Very good value.

1997 Mirassou Pinot Noir, Monterey County, $12, 10,745 cases. Very fruity, with lush cherry flavors, spice and a dash of vanilla. Extremely good value.

Bucko