{There’s no need to fear the supermarket wine aisle.}
It’s 9:30 p.m. You just finished dinner, and everyone is having a blast. You go to the pantry for another bottle of wine, only to confront an echoing chasm where the bottles used to be. You break out in a cold sweat. Dizziness… Somebody, please, catch you.
But no, you can solve this problem. Breathe in the nose, out the mouth… And then the answer slams to the front of your mind. No wine shop is open at this hour. You’ve got to go to the supermarket.
We’ve all been there. That’s why, this month we’d like to present three wines found at the local supermarkets that serve as exceptionally satisfying spokes in the ever-turning wheel of your evening. We are well aware that the term “supermarket wine” has a pejorative connotation; however, we’ve done our due diligence so you aren’t duly disappointed. Moreover, we’ve kept budget in mind, so you can make sure you don’t run out!
1. Gundlach-Bundschu Mountain Cuvée 2011 merlot blend This wine has notes of ripe black plum and dried fig. Baking spice and cigar box mid-palate are tempered with food-friendly acid. Touches of salinity dot the tongue through to the exceptionally long, black tea-inflected finish. This bottle’s price point belies its sagacity. Available at Dierbergs
2. DeLoach Vineyards 2012 Pinot Noir Got a pinot noir snob in the house? Blind him with this. Is he going to call it Volnay? Probably not. But he will flip out when he sees how drinkable it is. This California wine has bright, ripe strawberry and cranberry notes with a structural complexity not usually associated with the price point. This is for slamming with burnt ends or honestly, any food at all. Available at Schnucks
3. Pine Ridge 2013 Chenin Blanc + Viognier On the nose, it’s as if someone has juiced a peppered pear. The California chenin rears its head with subtle, welcome wool notes. Firm yet silky on the tongue, this wine finishes apple crisp. It’s a wine to drink while picking at leftovers. Buy it by the case. Available at select Dierbergs and Schnucks
This article appears in Guide to Beer 2014.