Wines for Spring Part II: A Shopping List - 20 wines to kick off any springtime BBQ!

Part II of my Spring Wine Guide (Read Part I here): The chill of winter is ready to be packed away with your snow pants and wool sweaters in exchange for bathing suits and tank tops. If you’re like me, this time of year you’ll also transition from drinking big red wines every night to more Champagne, crisp whites, and Rose. Sure you’ll still have a big Cabernet or Barolo with a nice dinner indoors, but on a warm spring or summer night its best to kick things off with one (or two, or three!) bottles of a light, slightly chilled wine.

Here are my recommended wines for this Spring organized by Country and Price, with truncated tasting notes (Pink text = Rose wine, Green text = white or sparkling wine, Red text = red wine):

Price range: $8 - $20

Argentina

2005 Catena Malbec ($20): One of the best food and wine pairings for summer is a nice Malbec with some BBQ Ribs and seared meats. This Catena Malbec is a great quality wine for $20. It’s loaded with black fruits, herbs and spice and has the acidity and tannins to hold up to almost any food you throw at it. Highly recommended. My rating: 90 pts, VGV

Australia
2007 Green Point Pinot Noir Rose ($12): Fruity, a touch of spice, loads of strawberry and chery, crisp acidity. Serve chilled to kick of any BBQ or warm summer night - a great Rose for people who are new to wine and just want something that tastes good! My rating: 87 pts, GV

2006 Cats Amongst Pigeons Syrah/Cabernet ($12): Deep purple color, cherry notes, subtle cassis, some black pepper. Great mouthfeel-elegant and sassy with sweet tannins and a nice finish. Perfect for a BBQ. My rating: 90 pts/91 pts, VGV (Very Good value)

Austria

2006 Alois Kracher Lois - $12: Light refreshing Gruner Veltliner with razor sharp acidity. Highly recommended, especially as a pairing with Thai cuisine, fried chicken, or to start off a spring/summer barbeque. My rating: 90 pts, VGV

California
2005 Bernardus Chardonnay $19: Creamy yet balanced. Pear, apple, butter, good touch of acidity. Great for lobster, crab, halibut or Chilean sea bass on the grill! My rating: 90 pts, VGV

NV Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs ($15): Light, crisp and refreshing. This Pinot based sparkling wine has nice flavors of yeast, cherry and subtle honey notes. This is a sure winner to kick off an outdoor gathering. My rating: 89 pts, GV

2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Rosé ($18): Nice rose with strawberry and cherry. There is very little acidity but the wine has a good overall texture. Try to get your hands on a few bottles to kick off a warm summer night with friends. My rating: 89 pts, GV

2006 Summers Winery Chardonnay ($18): Orange peel and citrus flavors, some minerality and butter with a tad too much oak but not overpowering. Apple and pear flavors, crisp finish. My rating: 89 pts, GV

2005 Wente Vineyards Murrieta’s Well Sauvignon Blanc: Aroma’s of cotton candy, apple, citrus. On the palate were flavors of apple, grapefruit, minerals, melon and cotton candy. The acidity in this wine was very interesting- it wasn’t razor sharp, but it kept giving long through the finish. This would be a nice wine with a variety of shellfish. My rating: 88 pts

France

2006 Domaine du Columbier Petit Chablis ($16): Apple flavors, minerals, touch of lavender. Creamy body - a match for grilled Lobster or mildly spiced shrimp. My rating: 86 pts

2005 Manoir de la Tête Saumur Bagatelle: A lot of very interesting fruits and spice on the palate, light body with good acidity and tannins, and good balance. This is a very enjoyable wine that was great with grilled salmon steak and grilled tuna. My rating: 88 pts

Italy

NV Sommariva Prosecco di Conegliano ($15): A new prosecco on my list of great value Sparkling wines. A bit more sweet than I’m used to with Prosecco, but it was notes of honey accenting fresh citrus flavors so it wasn’t too sweet. Crisp, refreshing acidity, great appertif for the price. My rating: 89 pts, VGV

New Zealand

2006 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc ($15): Hay color with a grassy tint. Just getting near the glass gives off big aromas of tropical fruits, peach, minerals, apricot, and smoked cedar. On the palate the wine has good structure and acidity, with sweet fruit notes building up then being overtaken by a crisp acidity and tart finish that brings out notes of cut grass. My rating: 90 pts, OV

Portugal
2006 Adega de Monção Vinho Verde Deu la Deu ($12): Apple and citrus, apricot and mineral notes. Good acidity and a nice finish. My rating: 87 pts, GV

Spain
2006 Do Ferreiro Albariño Rías Baixas Cepas Vellas ($13): Good weight in the glass with aromas of cotton candy, fresh cut grass and herbs. Medium bodied wine, with a smooth finish that gives some acidity. Nice example of a good Albarino. My rating: 87 pts, GV

2006 Finca Luzon, Jumilla ($8): Just a great wine- loads of dark fruit and nice structure. Easy pairing with a variety of meats and cheeses. My rating: 90 pts, Outstanding Value (OV)

Price Range: Over $20

California

2004 Ecluse Syrah Lock Vineyard ($24):D Give this California Syrah an hour in the decanter and you’ll be quite surprised by it’s complexity and depth. Outstanding pairing with grilled veal chops! My rating: 92 pts, VGV

2004 Wente Vineyards The Nth Degree Merlot ($45): For those of you who “don’t like Merlot”, here’s one to change your mind. Deep color, loads of black cherry and plum with earth and tea notes. This wine has good balance and a long finish. Pricey, but good. My rating: 90 pts, GV

France
NV Pol Roger Brut Reserve ($38): Very crisp and refreshing Champagne that smacks you in the face with grapefruit and sour apple. Perfect for sitting out on the patio and waiting for the sun to go down. My rating: 90 pts, GV

Spain

2004 Alto Moncayo Garnacha ($35): Like smelling a Worther’s Original (butterscotch) candy crushed up with blackberry and blueberry. Well integrated, sweet tannins and nice balance with good weight to it. A very nice wine. My rating: 92 pts, (OV (outstanding value)