Friday Wine Roundup: Best QPR (Quality to Price) Wines This Week- June 20, 2008

QPR is a measure of a wines Quality to Price Ratio. QPR is used to determine whether or not a wine is worth its price. Each Friday I put up a list of wines that I have recently tasted, that I feel offer great “bang for their buck.” With gas at $4.00 a gallon or more, it’s good to know that you can continue to enjoy great wines even when the budget tightens up. The wines listed here are wines that I feel offer you, the consumer, a great wine that is both well priced, and succeeds at providing a great wine experience. I try to introduce new grape varieties or wine regions to keep things interesting and recommend keeping an eye out for these good QPR’s next time you’re out wine shopping. Most, if not all are available throughout Baltimore.

Sparkling

NV Domaine St. Michelle Brut (Washington State) $12: Crisp and refreshing, a good wine and great value. Consistently one of the better value sparkling wines from the USA.

White Wines

2007 Yalumba “Y - Unwooded” Chardonnay (Australia) $10: This unoaked Chardonay has great tropical fruits, lemon and floral aromas and flavors without the over-oakiness of many $10 Chardonays. Consistently a good wine at a great price. My rating: 86 pts, GV

Wente Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc (Livermore Valley, California) $11: I’m a big fan of this producer. This Sauvignon Blanc has subtle mineral notes, fresh citrus flavors, and good acidity. Easy pick for shellfish.

2006 Pierre Sparr Pinot Blanc $11: Dry, crisp, fruit filled and refreshing. There is nothing overly complex about this Pinot Blanc, but it’s easy to appreciate the wines goal: give you a bang-for-your-buck refrreshing white wine. My rating: 86 pts, GV

Red Wines

2006 Montes Cabernet (Chile) $10: Dark, deep color, good depth and overall well balanced- it’d be hard to find too many other Cabernets of this quality for $10. A quick decant will go a long way. My rating: 86 pts, VGV

2007 Gascon Malbec (Argentina) $11: Big fruits, big sweet tannins with some subtle spice notes as well. A great wine for the weekend BBQ! My rating: 86 pts, GV

2006 Villa Giada I Suri, Barbera d’Asti (Italy) $13: Did somebody order a pizza? If so, here’s your wine. Red fruits, spicy red pepper, and good acidity all in a lighter style of wine. Perfect addition for a red pasta sauce or with a slice of homemade pizza. My rating: 86 pts, GV

2006 Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha (Spain) $12: Wow. Red and dark fruits, good balance and structure, just a great drinking wine. This is a MUST-TRY if you see it on the shelves. My rating: 89 pts, VGV