A $13 organic red wine with panache and wit? Pour us a glass or two.

We also have two Californian wines that follow a refreshing trend I recently highlighted with Mary Taylor Wines and Obvious Wines – showcasing the provenance and character of their wines at an affordable price without pretense or ego. If you want to explore Californian expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir without breaking the bank, check out Windemere’s wines. Be warned though – you will want to explore more.

We finish with two Sauvignon Blancs from the Loire Valley in France. These wines reflect recent price inflation but show how we can find value by seeking quality in regions neighboring the stars.

Domaine Bousquet Virgen Organic Red Blend 2020

(Excellent/Exceptional)

Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina, $13

Domaine Bousquet produced my #1 ‘Greatest Value’ of 2020 with its Natural Origins Malbec in a 3 liter case. The winery is back with a line of organic wines with no added sulphites called Virgen. This red blend consists of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It’s bright and lively, with panache and esprit. A Virgen Malbec for the same price is entering this market. Both are excellent values. Organic, vegan. Alcohol content: 14.3 percent. KG: 440 grams (light).

Imported from WISD; distributed in the District and Maryland by Opici, in Virginia by Virginia Imports: Available in the District at Classy Corks Wine & Spirits, Magruder’s, Odd Provisions, Yes Organic Market (various locations). Available in Maryland from A&A Wine & Spirits in Gambrills; Cambridge Farmers’ Market in Cambridge; Christos Discount Spirits in Ferndale; House of Spirits in Westminster; Lakefront Fine Wine & Spirits in Frederick; New team spirit in Cockeysville; Quarry Wine and Spirits in Baltimore. Available in Virginia at Friendly City Food Co-Op in Harrisonburg; Sprouts Farmers Market in Herndon; Wegmans (various locations); Whole Foods Market (various locations, coming soon).

Windemere Pinot Noir 2020

(Extraordinary)

Santa Barbara County, California, $17

Great Cali Pinot under $20 that speaks not only of the grape but also of its place of origin is hard to find. This beauty has the dark cherry and boysenberry flavors with cola spice and wild herbs that tell me Santa Barbara County. If we were to compare Santa Maria Valley to Santa Rita Hills we would probably have to pay a bit more. But we can compare it to the very fine Windemere Sonoma County Pinot Noir ($19), which is lighter and more delicate in body and slightly tart in flavor. Outstanding values. ABV: 14.5 percent. Body weight: 515 grams (average).

Distributed by DMV: Available in the District at Lee Towers Market, Rodman’s. Available in Maryland at Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits, Bella’s, Eastport Liquors in Annapolis; the Bakery in Catonsville; Canton Crossing Wine + Spirits in Baltimore; Colonial Spirits in La Plata; Kent Towne Spirits in Chester; Mt. Airy Liqueurs in Mt. Airy; Old Peasant Liqueurs in Frederick; Snider’s Super Foods in Silver Spring; Tiger Wine & Spirits in Towson.

Windemere Chardonnay 2020

(Extraordinary)

Sonoma County, California, $19

Windemere gives us the opportunity to compare Sonoma and Santa Barbara counties to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With the chard varieties, Sonoma offers wafer-thin texture and filigree. At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much to it. But every sip reveals a different nuance. You have to pay attention to understand what it is trying to tell you. The Santa Barbara Chard is more straightforward, a bit chatty. From the very first sip you know what it’s all about. ABV: 14.5 percent. Body weight: 590 grams (average).

Distributed by DMV: Available in the District at Lee Towers Market, Rodman’s. Available in Maryland at Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits, Bella’s, Eastport Liquors in Annapolis; the Bakery in Catonsville; Canton Crossing Wine + Spirits in Baltimore; Colonial Spirits in La Plata; Kent Towne Spirits in Chester; Mt. Airy Liqueurs in Mt. Airy; Old Peasant Liqueurs in Frederick; Snider’s Super Foods in Silver Spring; Tiger Wine & Spirits in Towson.

Comte Henry Sauvignon Touraine 2020

(Extraordinary)

Loire Valley, France, $25

The Touraine appellation in France’s Loire Valley is famous for affordable Sauvignon Blanc for those occasions when we don’t want to splurge on Sancerre’s more famous wines. A significant increase of more than 10 percent over the 2019 vintage brings this wine closer in price to Sancerre – or at least closer to where Sancerre was a year ago. The quality is still there, a great expression of Sauvignon’s mineral side that might fool you into thinking it’s a Sancerre if you don’t see the label. ABV: 12.5 percent. Body weight: 530 grams (average).

Imported by Artisans & Vines, distributed in the District and Maryland by Artisans & Vines, in Virginia by LK Wine Tours & Sales: Available in the District at Classy Corks Wine & Spirits, Cleveland Park Wine and Spirits, Morris Miller Wine & Liquor, Rodman’s, Schneiders from Capitol Hill. Available in Maryland from Bella in Annapolis; Bradley Food & Beverage, Georgetown Square Wine and Beer in Bethesda; Crown Wine and Beer in downtown; Finewine.com in Gaithersburg; Old Peasant Liqueurs in Frederick; Rodman is in White Flint. Available in Virginia from Aldie Peddler in Aldie; Balducci’s in Alexandria; Murphy drink in Winchester.

Jacques Dumont Sancerre 2020

(Extraordinary)

Loire Valley, France, $30

This wine is everything you’d expect from Sancerre – ripe Sauvignon Blanc flavors of nectarine and quince, expressed through the region’s Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Think minerals and salty seafood. Given Sancerre’s popularity in restaurants, this wine mainly appears on wine lists. ABV: 13.5 percent. KG: 490 grams (light).

Imported from Kobrand; Distributed in the District and Maryland by RNDC, in Virginia by Virginia Imports: Available in the District at Belga Cafe, Bobby Van’s Grill, Bobby Van’s Steakhouse, Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquor, the Graham, the Palm. Available in Virginia at Bazin’s on Church in Vienna, Cafe Montmartre in Reston; Landini brothers in Alexandria.

Availability information is based on dealer records. Wines may not be in stock at every store listed and may be sold at additional stores. Prices are approximate. Check availability on Winesearcher.com or ask a favorite wine shop to order through a retailer.

Comments are closed.