I was in Raleigh Saturday and stopped at The Wine Merchant to purchase wines. I tried the wines in the free tasting and also a few from the wine dispensing machine.
In the free tasting one was the Burgans Albarino, Spain which I have had before and included in a church fundraiser. One that was new to me was a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc that I liked (especially at its price under $10.) It was Petirrojo Sauvignon Blanc from the Colchagua Valley, part of Prestige Wine Group. We also tried an Argentinian wine that was a blend of Torres and another grape.
At the wine dispensing station I tried:
2008 BILLARD PERE & FILS BOURGOGNE BLANC HAUTES COTES DE BEAUNE "LES JUSTICE" $19.99 a bottle. I had a half glass. I enjoyed this.
2008 PIERRE HENRI ROSE MERLOT/SYRAH VIN DE PAYS D'OC, FRANCE
$6.99 a bottle, down from $8.99 Tried a taste.
Pale pink-coral; transparent. Not getting much of either Syrah or Merlot from this but it has been selling quite well, probably because of its inexpensive price.
2008 CESARI DUETORRI PINOT NOIR, DELLA VENEZIE, ITALY $12.99 a bottle I tried a half glass. To preserve the fruit, the wine isn't aged in wood barrels. Suggests pairing with roast loan of pork and sauteed vegetables. Viscosity. A different nose that I found partly attractive and partly off-putting. Deep ruby color, semi-transparent. Light-bodied, berry-flavored wine, acceptable for everyday home consumption (although it might become boring in time.)
I ended up leaving the store with a bottle of the Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, a bottle of the Hautes Cotes de Beaune Bourgogne Blanc, a Brocard Chablis and a Robert Eymael Monchhof Riesling, Mosel region of Germany.
I also picked up three wines ordered earlier at a wine dinner at St. Jacques--two bottles of a sparkling wine and a bottle of a dry Chenin Blanc from Saumur--all nice summer sippers.