Bartender Barry's Top 5 Wines
Wine down by celebrating National Wine Day with Bartender Barry’s top 5 wines. Best of all, they’re all under $50.
5. Textbook 2017 Sauvignon Blanc
While I’m typically not a big fan of white wines, this 2017 Sauvignon Blanc from Textbook really stands out. Made in the southeastern eastern part of the Napa Valley, this Sauvignon Blanc moves away from the typical bright citrus and grapefruit notes towards more texture-filled, rich notes of honey, fig and peach. This bottle retails for about $21.
4. Bursel Black Jender Blush
Bursel Black’s Jender Blush is a blend of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and sweet Riesling that results in a rich-bodied, fruity varietal with a pretty light red glow. This Pennsylvania based Black-owned wine company uses grapes grown on the 72 acre Bucks County Sand Castle Winery. Retailed at $17, Jender Blush is definitely a steal.
3. La Marca Prosecco
Prosecco, the sparkling wine of Italy, gets its name from the grapes it’s made with as well as the northern Italian suburb in which it originated. Unlike Champagne, Prosecco undergoes its secondary fermentation in large pressurized stainless-steel tanks rather than individual bottles. If you couldn’t already tell, La Marca Prosecco is by far my favorite. On the nose, it has the captivating aromas of fresh citrus, honey and white flowers. With a clean and fresh palate, it opens up with flavors including ripe lemon, green apple and grapefruit. Whether it’s served by itself as a celebratory toast or in a cocktail, La Marca is the only Prosecco you’ll need. This bottle is retailed at about $14.
2. F. Stephen Millier Angels Reserve Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
California based-winemaker Steve Millier can be best described as part alchemist, part artist and part farmer. With his small family-owned winery — Milliaire Winery — co-founded with his wife Liz, Steve has been able to produce some amazing wines. Our hands down favorite has to be his 2018 Angels Reserve Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon which I discovered through a Naked Wines subscription. This Cab can best be described as bold and mouthwatering with notes of rich blackberry, raspberry, and black currant with a vanilla finish. This bottle is retailed at about $9.
1. Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label
Our favorite wine is none other than Veuve Cliquot’s Yellow Label Brut Champagne. No surprise there. While many people use the term Champagne to describe any sparkling wine, by law true Champagne must: be made in the Champagne region of France, be a blend of specific grape varietals, and follow a particular set of other requirements. Veuve is a blend of predominately Pinot Noir (50-55%), Chardonnay (28-33%) and Meunier (15-20%) grapes. Aged for at least three years, Vevue’s Yellow Label achieves the perfect balance of being both strong and smooth. This bottle retails at about $42.