Sometimes I’ll present a mixed bag of wines, as in this column, while other months I’ll take a more thematic approach, offering noteworthy California cabernet sauvignons, for example. Aside from this monthly roundup I’ll continue to go deeper in my other columns with my customary weekly reviews of one or two wines and the stories behind them, or tell you about an exciting wine region or a noteworthy winemaker – all aimed at helping you understand and enjoy the great diversity of wine.
This past month, I found wines that stood out from all over the world, from a couple of budget hits from South Africa to some little-known reds from northern Italy to an outstanding small-production pinot noir from one of California’s most recognizable producers. I’ve also included a wine from France’s underappreciated Alsace region, a classy California chardonnay and a wine from Washington state that goes by the name Kung Fu Girl. Yes, some winemakers just can’t resist naming their wines like their pets.
As diverse as they are, what unifies them is an elegance and originality that I search for in all my wines, and a balanced restraint that makes them excellent companions for food. After reading my October “highly recommended” list, don’t hesitate to e-mail me with your comments or questions.
";
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i++] = new Array("","White wines","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i++] = new Array("","Sebeka 2008 Chenin Blanc “Steen,” South Africa","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/081022-sebreka-9a.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "358", "93", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i-1].body = "Terrific value in an underappreciated variety known as Steen in South Africa. Crisp and easy to drink with minerals, lemon-lime, strawberry and vanilla notes. A great house white. (Imported by Sebeka Wines, Hayward, California.) $10.
";
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i++] = new Array("","Charles Smith Wines 2007 “Kung Fu Girl” Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/081022-Fu-Girl-hmed-1040a.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "273", "262", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i-1].body = "Another great value in Washington riesling. Off-dry with great fruit, including melon, pear and apricot notes. $12.
";
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i++] = new Array("","Helfrich 2007 Pinot Gris, Alsace, France","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/081022-hellbf-9a.hsmall.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "236", "368", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i-1].body = "Rich tropical fruit with touches of honey, vanilla and herbs and a creamy finish. Delicious. (Imported by Underdog Wine Merchants, Livermore, California.) $15.";
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i++] = new Array("","Cambria 2006 Chardonnay \"Katherine's Vineyard,\" Santa Maria Valley, California","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/081022-cambria-katherine-9a.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "273", "398", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i-1].body = "Superb value and great balance in an estate-grown California chardonnay that I could drink just about every day. Tropical fruit and minerals. $19.";
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i++] = new Array("","Red wines","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i++] = new Array("","Sebeka 2007 Shiraz-Pinotage “Cape Blend,” South Africa","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/081022-Label-Sebeka-9a.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "273", "250", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i-1].body = "Considerable complexity with bright fruit dominated by blackberry, earth and a cocoa note. Ready to drink. The red-wine equivalent of comfort food. (Imported by Sabeka Wines, Hayward, California.) $10.";
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i++] = new Array("","San Pietro 2006 Lagrein, Alto Adige, Italy","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/081022-lagrein-9a.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "273", "221", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i-1].body = "Beautiful example of this lesser known Italian red variety. Medium-bodied, softly tannic and complex. Blackberry core with notes of earth, black licorice, cumin seed and vanilla. A great cooler-weather wine. (Imported by Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, N.Y.) $15.";
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i++] = new Array("","Nino Negri 2004 “Qadrio” Valtellina Superiore, Lombardy, Italy","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/081022-quadrio-hmed-9a.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "358", "118", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i-1].body = "Interesting red blend of 90 percent chiavennasca, the local version of nebbiolo, and 10 percent merlot. Rustic and light with cherry, raspberry and spice notes. I enjoyed it with a pasta sauce of tomatoes, eggplant, red pepper, onions, zucchini and a touch of hot pepper. (Imported by Frederick Wildman and Sons, New York.) $21. ";
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i++] = new Array("","La Crema 2006 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, California","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/081022-lacrema-9a.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "273", "404", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
TDY_081023_8OctWines[i-1].body = "Superb, small-production wine from this hot pinot noir appellation in California’s northern Mendocino County. Full of minerals and earth with notes of black cherry, blueberry and a touch of mint. Light in color. Good tannic structure and balancing acidity. Part of the winery’s “appellation series.\" $35.";
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