Terrific Values In All Price Ranges

This might look only like another list of wines to buy. In reality, it is a list of the cream of the 200 or so wines I have tasted through within the last two months to come up with great values in all price ranges. You can take these to the bank!

White Wines:

Fetzer Sauvignon Blanc Echo Ridge California 2016 — From a pioneer in sustainability since 1968. $10

Fetzer Gewurztraminer Monterey 2016 — One of the most surprisingly luscious Gewurztraminers ever, including Germany and Alsace! Perfect with Trader Joe’s honey goat cheese! $10

Oyster Bay Chardonnay Marlborough 2016 — An excellent find at this price. $12

Pedroncelli Sonoma Friends White — (Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer) $13

Mount Hermon White — (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier and Semillon) A super offering from Israel. Fresh grilled trout or roasted chicken. $13

Rodney Strong Chardonnay Sonoma County 2016 — Another winner at $13

Bodega Del Palacio De Fefinanes Albariño 2016 — Stunning fruit and bright acidity. $20

De Lille Chaleur Blanc Columbia Valley 2016 —

Fabulous offering from Washington State. $40

Robert Mondavi Chardonnay Reserve Carneros 2015 — Beautiful. $45

Cuvaison Adda Chardonnay 2015 — From A Winery That Used To Make Very Good Wines And Now Makes Some Great Wines! $50

Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley 2015 - Rich, intense and complex. $50

Ladera Chardonnay Russian River Valley Pillow Road Vineyard 2015 — “ripe pear, golden apple and candied lemon.” Perfect description. $50

O’shaunessy Chardonnay Napa Valley Oakville 2015 — New, exciting find for me! $55

Chateau Montelena Chardonnay Napa Valley 2015 — The winery whose 1973 Chardonnay beat many of the very best white Burgundies in the famous 1976 Paris Tasting. Seamless beauty. $58

Red Wines:

Seven Moons Red Blend California 2016 — Classy bottle presentation and very good wine. $10

Tom Gore Cabernet Sauvignon California 2015 — Every year a winner! $14

J Lohr Syrah Paso Robles South Ridge 2015 — From one of the best wineries on the planet. $14

Oyster Bay Pinot Noir Marlborough 2015 And 2016 — Almost unbelievable at this price! $16

Olema Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2014 — From Amici Cellars, a winner. $22

Nine Hats Red Wine Columbia Valley 2015 – Great bargain from Washington State. $24

Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2014 -(Rhone Valley) $25

Decoy Sonoma County Red Wine 2015 —Predominantly Merlot with Cabernet, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Luscious. $25

Robert Mondavi Merlot Napa Valley 2014 — Every year a winner. $25

Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015 — (from the Prisoner Wine Company) Big and rich. $35

Rodney Strong Reserve Malbec Sonoma County 2014 — A classic. $40

Paraduxx Red Wine Napa Valley 2014 — A top Super Tuscan look-alike. $41

Bouchaine Estate Pinot Meunier Napa Valley 2015 — My favorite Pinot Meunier. Gorgeous! $58

Paraduxx Red Wine Candlestick Blend 2014 — Juicy, complex, intriguing blend of Syrah and Grenache. $58

Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2015 — Special treat every year. Class and breed! $58

Migration Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Running Creek Vineyard 2015 — Lush and layered. $68

Anderson’s Conn Valley Right Bank 2014 — Excellent rendition of a top Saint Emilion. $70

Cobb Pinot Noir Rice-Spivak Vineyard 2014 — Gorgeous with hints of dark cherries, truffles and spice. $75

Guigal Cote-Rotie Brune Et Blonde 2012 —A glimpse of what the $399 single-vineyard Guigal Cote-Roties taste like. Fascinating. $85

Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley Split Rail Vineyard 2015 — Forest floor, dark cherries and spice. $85

Ackerman Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Coombsville 2014 — Only 140 cases. Amazing! $85

Wayfarer Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2015 — From Cleo Pahlmeyer. About as good as it gets. $85

Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley State Ranch Vineyard 2015 — Power and persistence with tender tannins. $105

Dessert Wines:

Dolce Napa Valley (375 Ml) 2012 — My friend, the late Gil Nickel, created Dolce to rival Chateau d’Yquem. In two different blind tastings I held in the late ‘90s, a majority of tasters selected the Dolce over the Yquem! Perfect with crème brulee and most not-too-sweet desserts. Fruit tart? Flan? $85

Graham’s 10 Year Tawny Oporto — This beauty, which was aged for 10 years in barrel, is a perfect accompaniment with apple pie or apple cobbler. $30

Blandy’s 10-Year-Old Sercial Dry Madeira (500 Ml) — For an exciting treat, try serving this chilled with roasted, salted pistachios and almonds as hors d’oeuvres. Perfect match! $30

Restaurant Kudo

My favorite new restaurant is Moxie’s Grill and Bar, located in the Post Oak Center at 5000 Westheimer, but fronting on Post Oak Blvd. The original is in Calgary, where they are great fans of Texas, and in fact, their Stampede is almost equal to our Houston Livestock Show and rodeo! Very similar to Aussies, the Canadians are extremely friendly, and the food is unusually creative and delicious. This was a last second inclusion in this column, but wanted to get it out there! One of the house special drinks, the Straight Outta Cozumel, with Don Julio blanco agave tequila, Texas orange, fresh basil, pineapple simple syrup and fresh pressed lime was spectacular!