One just has to love wines that taste fabulous and cost me about as much as a gallon of gasoline (which isn’t saying much these days, I know). But, these two wines from Spain (Arocho Red and Arocho Sauvignon Blanc) are something special. At $8.99 a bottle there’s a lot to love here. Hailing from Western Catalunya, the Sauvignon Blanc is crafted in a more flowery style. A wee spot of added Chardonnay and Viognier gfive it a rich backbone with a hint of perfume. If you don’t care for the zippy grapefruity style of a New Zealand SB, this is your wine. It also just won a double-gold medal at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America conference 2 weeks ago in Orlando. Impressive stuff for $8.99.
The Tempranillo/Garnacha is my fave here. At first sip it came off a trifle plummy, but first impressions can be utterly off base. Because I was hosting a party and serving the stuff I couldn’t just put it aside for a different wine I had to stay put, make small talk and stick with it. Well, hello…over the course of the glass it grew more lush and complex. I tasted violets, spices and cherry. This wine is my new best friend, we go to parties, we sit on my porch after a long Monday, we go camping. At $8.99–-it’s a no-brainer wine, and you’ll suffer less angst at the gas pump knowing you are saving some green on cheap, but delicious wine.
