RICHARD FIELD

At less than $10,
these wines are
values on the vine

Many well-balanced, delicious wines are worthy of your efforts to seek them out. But finding such quality at under $10 per bottle is challenging at best.

Wines such as Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Shafer Cabernet Sauvignons, Chappellet and Harrison Merlots, and Sherrer and Landmark Overlook Chardonnays are beautifully crafted wines, sublime and impressive. They also sell for dramatically over $10 and are made in quantities that make them very hard to find, except at exclusive wine shops and upscale restaurants. If you find one, save it for a special dinner.

Now for the wines that are easy to find and we can afford:

Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc 1999. I'll admit that finding a decent bottle of Sauvignon Blanc is a tough task, especially for under $10, but here's one that's fresh and bright, clean and priced right.

Meridian Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County 1999 has lots of apple, melon and passion fruit flavors and is well-balanced. When you see this one for under $8, buy it by the case.

Gallo of Sonoma has been producing sound and affordable wines for a while now. The 1999 Chardonnay is barrel-fermented, which gives some oak hints and great pear, apple and cinnamon. Usually under $9.

Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 is a terrific value for Napa Valley Cabernet. Fruit grown in Napa Valley is so expensive that you rarely see "Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon" and "good value" in the same sentence. This wine has dark raspberry and cherry flavors with a softness that makes it very approachable. While this wine is not under $10, it is a great value under $13.

Fetzer "Eagle Peak" 1999 Merlot is a soft red wine that is actually aged in expensive oak barrels for nine months. Wines aged this way usually cost more, but not in this case. This wine boasts plenty of blackberry, currant and chocolate with a touch of spice and pepper. Usually under $9.

Banrock Station produces very affordable wines from Down Under. The Chardonnay has a melon and tropical fruit dominance with a creaminess not expected from a value wine. The Shiraz displays blackberry and black pepper as well as cherry flavors and aromas. Again, great approachability and flavor not expected in this price range. The Merlot is velvety with a fruity sweetness and the Cabernet Sauvignon has a little chocolate and cinnamon edge with a deep plum-like fruit flavor. Amazingly, you can find these wines at under $6.

Taste for yourself: At Taste of Honolulu, a benefit for Easter Seals Hawaii scheduled for June 22 to 24, you can taste many of these and other great value wines at the R. Field Wine Center. The value wines will be poured alongside more premium-priced wines, so you can make parallel comparisons.

Also at our wine center, cheeses from some of the finest producers of Europe will be available for tasting with the wines. There is no doubt that wine and cheese go together seamlessly, some more than others. This is an unique opportunity try some matches yourself. See you there.

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Richard Field owns R. Field Food and Wine Co.
This weekly column is written by a rotating
panel of wine professionals.

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