The Friday Lineup

A weekly commentary on selected wines tasted.

2007 Antech Blanquette de Limoux ($15). For anyone not familiar with this sparkling wine region of the Lanquedoc, this is a good place to start. The Antech is clean, fresh without being overly acidic, full without being heavy. It’s very easy drinking, but it is also complex enough to give you something to think about while you’re counting bubbles. Buy.

2008 Chateau Jaumard ($13). I know this red doesn’t cost much, but I would expect more bang from this vintage. The wine is light on fruit and has a lot of briers and cherry-stem flavors, usually associated with fruit picked too soon. Take a Pass on this one.

2005 Simonnet-Febvre Chablis (about $17). Purchasing an older Chablis can be dicey unless you know what you’re looking for. With this one, I wanted hearty brioche flavors from lees contact and from mild oxidation to go along with roasted game hens and cornbread stuffing. A good match. Consider.

NV Hi Prosecco ($15). I was prepared not to like this bubbler because of its cutesy branding, but it really is a nice, dry Prosecco with fresh fruit and flower notes and good acidity. Give it a Try.

2008 Jackson Estate “Stich” Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($22). This wine has all the herbal notes that Marlborough lovers want, yet it is a couple of notches up the ladder because of its rounder, riper gooseberry flavors. Quite nice. Buy.

2006 Pascal Granger Moulin a Vent (about $19). A pleasant, middle-of-the-road Beaujolais – a good café wine – with strawberry preserves flavors, some creamy candy notes and nice bitters edging to wrap it all up. Consider.

2004 Château Coutet (about $60). Rich honey and honeycomb tastes, very nice acidity and quite clean and fresh for its fullness and age. Buy.

2003 Giaconda Victoria “Aeolia” (about $70-$80 for current vintages). A friend brought this 100% Aussie Roussanne from his cellar, and it’s a lovely wine, with aromas and flavors of warm, ripe pears blended with lemon-cream pie. A Search for wine.