Grapesphere

This McLaren-Vale winery makes a number of mid-priced wines, relatively cost-friendly in relation to the quality from these wines. The winemakers seem to come from the position of creating more accessible wines that don’t require a lot of cellar time, but still have something interesting to say. Always nice when you don’t have to wait around to drink a decent wine.

Kangarilla Road Shiraz

Off the top, this wine is very austere. It has a little nose, not much, with raspberry and clove mixed in with some oak. I have to say that the flavor palate changes very little from start to finish with a woodsy, earthy quality. I get a little bit of bell pepper on nose as well. The tannins are integrated nicely with a medium-length finish. There’s also a bit of jamminess at some level but it can’t be said that it’s overly fruity. This wine has a smooth finish and nice structure. Initally, on opening it I couldn’t tell if I liked it or not. However, the wine really grows on you and I grew to definitely like!

With a floral finish mixed with Lavender and honey, I also pick up more tobacco, mushroom, and bell pepper. All in all, the fruit is nicely integrated without compromising the wine structure and quality. With the price around $15, the wine delivers exactly as its makers hoped. You have here a wine that is structured, not overly jammy or fruity, easy drinking with just that hint of something a little more complex. I’ve got to rate this wine borderline outstanding.

Bleasdale Mulberry Tree

So how did it taste? Upfront this wine has a very nice nose, full of blueberries and blackberry fruit. There’s some oak and spice, but mostly you just get the jammy fruit on the nose. The flavor is also very jammy, and somewhat Shiraz-like. There’s a decent amount of structure, and some cassis flavoring to give it that Napa cab feel.

Overall, its a pretty smooth wine, with a little bit of tannins there to give it mouth-feel and body on the finish. Maybe a hint of bell pepper mixed in as well. I’m going to rate this wine a Brick Solid just based on the fact that I could get the initial flavors I’d find in a Napa cab for half the price I’d normally see for something out of California. Its an easy-drinking wine that could be a great addition at the next barbecue.

Aldo e Riccardo Seghesio, not to be confused with the Sonoma winery of a similar name, produces a number of different Piedmont varietals including Barolo, Barbera, and this Dolcetto. Most of their wines are fairly easy to find in most better wine stores. I picked this wine up from the Wine Library for around $13. I’d only had their Barbera and enjoyed it, so I figured “why not”. Plus Wine Spectator liked it well enough with an 89pt score.

Overall, the wine is still pretty young and acidic. I know that Dolcettos tend to be drunk at a younger stage and the draw is their bright fruit and acidity, however this was just tight on the get-go. Cherry and sandalwood flavors upfront, with a little plum action. The nose wasn’t anything too exciting, and was tough to get a read on anything specific. Maybe a little cinnamon and clove, and some damp forest floor. There were some grip-y tannins throughout the tasting, and maybe if there had been a longer decant, we would have convinced those to settle down. Nonetheless, it has a big, strong finish with cherry cola core, and a little tobacco and cocoa on the end. Still, it seemed the wine was a little uneven overall. Not a bad wine, but there are definitely better ones out there.

On the score I’d rate this a Drinkable – just a hair under the 89 score that WS gave them. Maybe revisited in a year, it might all come together but right now its just missing something.

With the explosion of wine bars and wine-focused restaurants across the country, we’ve started to see an increase in the various varietals offered in these establishments. The willingness to experiment has thrust new grapes and styles into the limelight after years in the shadows. Particular the white wines from Italy and Spain have received the most love from these places, expanding the palates of American wine lovers. This is great news for those looking for good wines at lower prices. These wines since they are relatively new to the market also tend to be cheaper, partial based on the fact that there is no reputation to push up the prices.

Falanghina is an Italian wine from the Campania region in southern Italy. These wines tend to have a little sweetness, similar to a Viognier, with a little of the acidity and body of a Pinot Grigio. This wine, priced around $11, is no different with a crisp acidic mouth-feel, good full body, and a little sweetness mixed in. There are quince, lemon, and pear flavors, mixed with a little smokiness and butter. The acidity hits first, but the residual sweetness helped cut into this and rounds out the overall flavor of this wine.

I’m going to rate this a Brick Solid. It’s a good wine, and a good example of this wine, though maybe missing a little complexity. However its got all of the trademarks of the wine style and could be a good wine to break yourself into the different white wines starting to become available.

This relative newcomer to the Arlington/Clarendon scene, has quickly established itself as the standard as restaurants in the area are concerned. It’s a place where you can expect good food, fair prices and a cool vibe. Opened in 2007, its chef, Liam LaCivita and partnership have targeted the middle of the road in terms of price and quality. Its not a 5-star dining experience, but then again you don’t have to pay five star prices. The feeling is more casual and the food, a little more comfort, giving the diner a sense that this is a neighborhood spot, which in Clarendon is tough to find.

Liberty Tavern

Good: The food is really the star here. They have a series of good appetizers but I usually prefer to go for the half-portion of pasta which are all made in house. I’ve really enjoyed all of the entrees I’ve had including a fabulous stuffed Branzino and their huge Duroc Pork Chop. They also have pizzas on their menu that aren’t half bad. The wide selection is good for a group or those with picky eaters. The prices are also very reasonable for the amount of food with most entrees around $18-20. The ambiance is also good here with a rustic casual feel.

Bad: Not too much to complain about here other than a few little things. Some of the entrees try to stuff a little too much into the meal, creating some flavors that maybe don’t work as well if they were a little simpler. Also they don’t have restrooms on the main dining floor, requiring diners to go downstairs through the bar area. Additionally parking can be tough, but I think that’s a standard thing in Arlington.

Wine: Another star attraction here is the wine list. Very good and very reasonably priced with many decent bottles falling $30-40. Also there’s a focus on smaller independent wineries so you’re sure to get to try something different. Also their wines by the glass are as well priced well and more unique than you’d usually find. Coupled with a creative drink menu, they’ve got your libations covered.