This fruity and floral $15 Spanish white wine is ‘garden in a glass’

Greg Stevens

Remark

Our theme this week is to glance for fantastic value in wine by conquering your preconceptions. Glimpse for an importer’s or store’s personal labels. And be receptive to different packaging, such as boxed wines or fifty percent bottles.

Rubus Private Selection White Wine Verdejo 2021

(2.5 stars)

Here’s a professional tip: Request your independent retailer about private label wines. In some jurisdictions, these as Washington, D.C., a retail store might be authorized to “direct import” wines at a cost savings over the typical distribution channel. (Cutting out the intermediary, as it were.) Some vendors get the job done with importers to deliver in exceptional wines offered only at their store. Importers often have sources for good good quality bulk wine, or surplus wine from their shoppers, which they bottle below their individual label and offer at a value selling price. If you search for a particular importer’s identify on the back label, really don’t disregard it on the front. Rubus is the non-public label of Kysela Père et Fils, an importer centered in Winchester, Va. Do not feel geographically — these wines are sourced from all around the world. I’ve specifically savored Rubus previous vine Zinfandel from Lodi, Calif., and shiraz from Australia. This Rueda from Spain is a racy white, with flavors of apricot, jasmine and honeysuckle, a backyard garden in a glass. It’s the first Rubus I have witnessed with the “Private Selection” designation, suggesting importer Fran Kysela’s enjoyment for the wine. I share his enthusiasm. Kudos on the light bottle.

Alcohol by quantity: 13 p.c. Bottle pounds: 400 grams (Mild).

Imported and distributed domestically by Kysela Père et Fils.

Seriously Great Boxed Wine Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

(2.5 stars)

Paso Robles, Calif., $70 3-liter.

I wrote about this label when it debuted late last year as a mail-order only line. That debut prompted some wineries to experiment with the boxed structure for quality wines. Now, following various added releases, Genuinely Good Boxed Wine has minimal retail availability (in D.C., at Calvert Woodley). This is the equal of $17.50 for a bottle of excellent-high-quality cabernet from Paso Robles, a location in Central California that positions by itself as an economical different to glitzy Napa Valley. This is a heat-local weather cabernet, so glimpse for flavors of black cherry, baking spice and a trace of praline or toffee. There is superior acidity to balance and just a trace of ripe tannins on the complete, though absolutely not adequate to counsel ageing the wine. It is for now. In this format, it’s for travel, for parties, for “just an additional sip” as you clear up right after supper. A noteworthy advantage of the boxed structure is its decreased carbon footprint (about half) as opposed with 4 bottles. There is also a delectable rosé of pinot noir from Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, and the present on-line release is a pinot noir from the enjoyable San Luis Obispo Coast location. Certified SIP Sustainable. ABV: 14.5 p.c. BW: No bottle!

Readily available from Seriously Superior Boxed Wine. Accessible domestically at Calvert Woodley.

Champagne Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Cuis 1er Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs

(3.5 stars)

Champagne, France, $38 for 375ml, $65 for 750ml.

I’m a huge enthusiast of 50 {f32667846e1257729eaaee80e922ba34a93c6414e9ad6261aff566c043b9e75d}-bottles, for dining places and at house. They are excellent for a first-program wine, or as with this remarkable champagne, a celebration for two to start off a food. Sadly, fifty percent-bottles are not economically eye-catching for wineries, so we really don’t see extremely quite a few of them. This gorgeous wine hails from Champagne’s Côte des Blancs, a chalky place in which chardonnay achieves a special sparkle and finesse. Glance for hints of peach, chalk and citrus blossom around a yeasty, toasty bead of bubbles. ABV: 12.5 p.c. BW: (50 {f32667846e1257729eaaee80e922ba34a93c6414e9ad6261aff566c043b9e75d} bottle sampled).

Imported by Skurnik Wines. Distributed regionally by Prestige-Ledroit Distributing Co.

Prices are approximate. For availability, check Wine.com, Wine-searcher.com and the websites of the wineries, importers or distributors.

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