An approachable wine for $10
2011 Pennywise Pinot Nor basking in our recent sunshine
One of my loose 2014 resolutions is to spend less money on wine. Of course, I really enjoy wine but does anyone else feel frustrated when they spend $20 or more for a bottle of wine and then it tastes mediocre?
I’ve recently shared a $38 bottle of wine and a $27 bottle of wine with family. Each bottle was worth the price but those are the only two in the last twelve months that I can say that about.
It’s not that I buy $20-$25 bottles and they’re undrinkable. It’s just that they don’t impress me considerably more, as a rule. This year I’m opting for value wines more often than higher price tags.
The other predicament I find myself in is ‘beholden.’ You go wine tasting, nothing particularly strikes your fancy. Sure, they’re fine but there’s that ‘F’ word…fine. How many times have you spent $25-$30 at a winery for a bottle of wine you thought was ‘fine’ so you wouldn’t look cheap or lacking in wine knowledge or that if you don’t buy a bottle, that winery will go under and the responsibility for their financial demise will land squarely on your shoulders? Sounds ridiculous when I write it down but I actually think that way sometimes.
Back in July, I believe, I was at Pasta Gigi’s monthly wine tasting. I love Pasta Gigi’s and am a huge fan of the owner, Kathy, in particular. She was pouring a $10 bottle of wine and it was very nice. I have since purchased three bottles of this 2011 Pennywise Pinot Noir. The winemakers refer to it as a ‘picnic in a bottle’ and that’s a fair statement. It’s not a bold wine that could stand up to spice but it’d be terrific with a burger or a grilled tuna sandwich or a chicken salad.
I paired this 2011 Pennywise Pinot Noir with my go-to Wasa cracker and goat cheese but the bite of the cheese was tamed down with some fig jam and it was just a relaxing treat at the end of my day. The fact is, that’s all I’m really looking for in a wine. It doesn’t need to rock my world (that’s my husband’s responsibility). For me, a glass of wine just needs to pamper me for a few minutes. If that’s what you’re looking for, pick up a couple bottles at Pasta Gigi’s and toast to a great value.
Viki
I am a Clark County native. I am Level 2 WSET (wine and spirit education trust)-certified and enjoy pairing wine with my passion for travel and fondness of food. My most prized possessions are the memories of places I've been with my husband, the chance encounters we've been blessed to have along the way and my carry-on bag. I can often be seen around town and in tasting rooms with our two beautiful, double-Merle Australian shepherds, Challenge and Baby Girl.