Blackstone Winery, Windmill Estates Provide Nice Wines from California for Those on a Budget

Bad economy, Christmas gift overspending, post-holiday blahs…there are plenty of reasons right now for cutting back on your wine purchases. But even if you’re doing a little budget tightening, there are still scores of wines that you can enjoy on an everyday basis without having to spend a small fortune.

I always like to designate January as my month to find a good wine bargain, and lately I’ve come across several California wines in the $10 to $15 a bottle price range that provide excellent value for the money.

Sonoma County-based Blackstone Winery has a terrific selection of current releases from their Winemaker Select series that run in the neighborhood of $12 to $13 a bottle. The 2007 Chardonnay is a rich, full-bodied white wine that’s filled with a variety of tropical aromas and flavors. Pineapple, mango and banana come to mind, with a touch of vanilla and toasted walnut on the finish.

For red wine drinkers, the 2007 Pinot Noir is also drinking quite nicely. This is classic California pinot noir, with a nice balance of earthiness and reserved fruit flavors that include raspberry and dried cherry. The 2006 Merlot is a bit more fruit forward and almost comes across like a California zin without the heavy spice. Dark plum and blackberry flavors predominate, with a plush finish accentuated by a hint of toasted oak.

Central California’s Lodi Vineyards Windmill Estates also has a line of super affordable wines that also are retailing for about $12 each. If you like your wines a bit on the fruity side, the Windmill label is guaranteed to please. I loved the 2006 Old Vine Zinfandel, which explodes with ultra-ripe plum and mocha flavors, as well as the melt-in-your-mouth 2006 Petite Sirah; a combination of black fruit, heavy plum and cola flavors that melt into a plump, lingering finish.

Also currently available – and all at the pocketbook friendly price of about $12 each – are the 2006 vintages of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, as well as the 2007 Chardonnay.