daily wine picks

Less than $15

Dec. 20, 1999: WOLF BLASS Chardonnay South Australia 1999 (85 points, $12)

From one of Australia's better-known wineries comes this solid value. It's bright and fruity, offering pretty apple and pear notes on a lively frame. Drink now. 25,000 cases made. —Harvey Steiman

Dec. 18, 1999: TORRES Penedès Gran Sangre de Toro Reserva 1995 (86 points, $11)

From one of Spain's most venerable and well-known wineries comes this solid value-oriented offering. Made from Garnacha (Grenache), this fleshy red shows good varietal character, with berry, black pepper and herbal flavors, vivid and well defined. Not a m —Thomas Matthews

Dec. 17, 1999: WINZER KREMS Grüner Veltliner Kabinett Trocken Kremstal Kremser Goldberg Kellermeister Privat (85 points, $10)

Here's an excellent way to get introduced to Austria's native white winegrape -- Grüner Veltliner. This bottling shows the grape's typicalflavor profile at a great price. Intense and minerally, this displaysgrapefruit peel, bitter almond and peach flavor —Bruce Sanderson

Dec. 16, 1999: MCGUIGAN Chardonnay Hunter Valley Bin 7000 1999 (86 points, $10)

This value-priced offering from Australia is bright and lively, with refreshing star-fruit, pear and citrus flavors that remain juicy through the finish. Drink now. Plenty to go around too -- 30,000 cases made. —Harvey Steiman

Dec. 14, 1999: CHATEAU REYNELLA Chardonnay McLaren Vale 1997 (87 points, $11)

A ripe, generous style of Australian Chardonnay at a gobble-it-up price, offering plenty of pear, honey and spice flavors that linger on the smooth finish. Not a big wine, but a flavorful one. Drink now through 2003. 12,000 cases made. —Harvey Steiman