Solid, Well-Priced Wines Available From Cline Cellars of Sonoma
January has traditionally been my month to provide good wine bargains for post-holiday, cash strapped wine enthusiasts.
Today I have several wines to recommend that I think you’ll agree fall into this category, along with the added convenience of knowing that they’re all available from the same winery.
Cline Cellars of Sonoma, California offers a number of solid, dependable wines in the $7 to $15-a-bottle price range. These wines represent great value without sacrificing on quality, and while that’s always a nice extra to have, it’s especially important for many of us this time of year.
The 2010 Pinot Gris (about $9) makes a great white wine for openers, with big aromatics of Bartlett pear, apple and pear on the palate and finishing notes of lemon grass and vanilla.
Follow this up with the 2010 Viognier (about $9) which has lovely floral aromas of jasmine and honeysuckle, stone fruit and pineapple flavors and a splash of ruby red grapefruit on the finish. Try it with lighter seafood, steamed rice and sautéed vegetables.
Also nicely priced is the 2010 Zinfandel (about $9). This isn’t as big or peppery as some California zins, but there’s still plenty of raspberry and black cherry on hand along with a gentle touch of cinnamon.
If you enjoy your red wines with a bit of an edge, try the 2009 Syrah (about $9). Jammy blackberry flavors framed with plenty of spice, a touch of bacon fat, and sturdy tannins make this an excellent choice with grilled meats.
The 2009 Cool Climate Pinot Noir (about $14) really impressed me, particularly for a pinot at this price point. Fresh herbal aromas lead into big, complex flavors of strawberry, cranberry and red currant, with a lingering finish of mint and dried cherry. Excellent!
Also be sure to consider a couple of wines from Cline’s second label, the Oakley 2010 Four Whites and the Oakley 2009 Four Reds. They’re both fairly fruity, with the white showing lots of citrus and peach and a lengthy finish of dried apricot; while the merlot-based red offers a mouthful of dark berry fruits with spicy accents. Both are extremely well-priced for everyday enjoyment and should only run you about $8 a bottle each.
If you’d like to taste some of these wines in addition to the wild and gamey 2009 Small Berry Mourvèdre, I’ll be pouring them at the Cline Cellars wine dinner on February 18 at North Bellingham Golf Course’s Nine Restaurant. For information and reservations phone (360) 398-8300, extension 2.