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by Fred McMillin
for May 2005
What's Red Sunshine?
Prologue
"A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine." Attributed to French gourmand Brillat-Savarin, 1755-1826
My wife: "Bring home plenty of sunshine because tonight we're having leftover meatloaf."
My budget: "Don't spend more than $15 for that bottle of red sunshine."
The Best $15 Reds
OK. Let's see which California red wines in the $13 to $15 price range have topped my recent Ft. Mason tastings in San Francisco. Zinfandels usually dominate this range. Fifteen dollar Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon have seldom scored well in the past.
Our Top Ten
These are the top ten, with the best listed last.
Recommended
| Rank | The Wine | |
| 10th | PINOT NOIR, Adelaida Cellars, Paso Robles, 2002, $15 | |
| 9th | MERLOT, Hahn, Monterey, 2002, $14 | |
| 8th | ZINFANDEL, Sobon, Rocky Top, 1999, $15 | |
| 7th | MERLOT, Pedroncelli, Bench Vineyards, 2001, $14 | |
| 5th | ZINFANDEL, Valley of the Moon, Sonoma, 2002, $15 | |
| 5th | SANGIOVESE, Sobon, Amador County, 2002, $15 | |
| 4th | SYRAH, Hahn, Central Coast, 2002, $14 |
Highly Recommended
| 3rd | PINOT NOIR, Edna Valley Vineyard Winery, 2002, $15 | |
| 2nd | ZINFANDEL, Sunset, Suisun, 2000, $15 | |
| 1st | SYRAH, Steele Writer's Block, Lake County, 2002, $14 |
Conclusion
As expected, Zinfandel landed the most wines on the list. However, California Syrah and Pinot Noir have been getting nice notices in the press lately, and sure enough, they both landed two spots on the list. I'm going to take one of them home tonight for my red sunshine.
Epilogue
The New York Times called Brillat-Savarin the "greatest of gastronomic writers." He was born Jean-Anthelme Brillat. So why the "Savarin?" Well, he was a judge in the French legal systern. His wealthy aunt told him that if he would add her surname, Savarin, to his, he would be her sole heir. CASE CLOSED!
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About the Writer
Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents. For information about the wine courses he teaches every month at either San Francisco State University or San Francisco City College (Fort Mason Division), please fax him at (415) 567-4468. |
This page created May 2005
Copyright © 2005
electronic Gourmet Guide, Inc.