As Americans everywhere prepare for this weekend's round of Memorial Day picnics, many may already be looking forward to the cold beer that will accompany their barbecued chicken and ribs. But wine lovers need not despair, as there are many well-priced wines that can be natural pairings with barbecue. Each group of wines listed below -- whites, rosés and reds -- offers different qualities.
The whites have hints of sweetness and acidity that match the sweet and sour nature of many barbecue sauces, while the heat and spice of other sauces can be pleasantly offset by the dry rosés on the list.
As for the reds, the lighter-bodied wines, such as Georges Duboeuf's bottlings from France's Beaujolais region, can be served slightly chilled, which is a refreshing way to drink red wine that can stand up to a tangy barbecue sauce but doesn't overwhelm lighter meats like chicken and pork. Finally, the sweet smokiness of barbecue is well balanced by rustic wines like the Côtes du Rhônes and spicier wines like the California Zinfandels.
Any of these 19 wines, each for $16 or less, would be well placed alongside this year's Memorial Day spread.
| Wine |
Score |
Price |
| |
Babich Riesling Marlborough 2000 |
89 |
$10 |
| Soft and generous, a lush mouthful of pear, apple and peach fruit that keeps gliding along through the round, off-dry finish. Drink now through 2004. 2,000 cases made. -- H.S. |
| |
Elk Cove Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2000 |
88 |
$15 |
| Soft, ripe, round and generous with its apricot-scented pear, melon and citrus flavors. It all lingers juicily on the finish. Drink now. 7,000 cases made. -- H.S. |
| |
Léon Beyer Tokay Pinot Gris Alsace 2000 |
87 |
$15 |
| Pear and quince aromas and flavors highlight this vibrant, exotic Pinot Gris. It's slightly hot today, but needs some time to settle down. Good concentration and length. Best from 2003 through 2006. 8,000 cases made. -- B.S. |
| |
Reichsrat von Buhl Riesling QbA Halbtrocken Pfalz 2000 |
87 |
$16 |
| Tasty and off-dry. Apricot note stays the course through the finish, accented by grapefruit and mineral nuances. Nice lingering finish. Drink now through 2006. 2,600 cases made. -- B.S. |
| |
Dopff & Irion Gewürztraminer Alsace 2000 |
87 |
$15 |
| Fresh and juicy, this young white bursts with floral, pear and apricot flavors on a round, easy frame. It's balanced and delicious. Drink now. 24,000 cases made. -- B.S. |
| Wine |
Score |
Price |
| |
Paul Coulon & Fils Côtes du Rhône Rosé Domaine de Beaurenard 2000 |
88 |
$10 |
| Not everybody's cup of tea, because there is a smelly, earthy intensity. But once you get past the farm aromas, it combines with lemon and fresh cherry-strawberry flavors to deliver a cool, cosmopolitan character. Medium-bodied, with a finish that lasts. Drink now through 2002. 1,330 cases made. -- P.M. |
| |
E. Guigal Tavel 2000 |
88 |
$14 |
| Tannic rosé, firm and serious, with some real grip to it. Displays red fruit and earth. Medium-bodied, with good intensity. Shows power on the finish. Drink now. 5,000 cases made. -- P.M. |
| |
Château Routas Coteaux Varois Rosé Rouvière 2000 |
87 |
$10 |
| This Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault blend is clean, crisp and refreshing, ready now and affordable, too. It has a nice coppery color, appealing berry and dried cherry flavors, picks up rich, spicy notes on the finish. Drink now. 5,000 cases made. -- K.M. |
| |
Bodega Nekeas Navarra Rosado Vega Sindoa 2000 |
85 |
$7 |
| This rosé is quite full-bodied, yet still crisp, with lovely berry flavors that linger on the finish. Good as an aperitif or with lighter dishes, it's certainly a value. Drink now. 5,000 cases made. -- T.M. |
| |
Domaine de l'Olivette Bandol Rosé 1999 |
85 |
$12 |
| Nicely nuanced berry and cherry flavors make this a clean and refreshing rosé. Drink now. 3,000 cases made. -- K.M. |
| |
| Wine |
Score |
Price |
| |
Sausal Zinfandel Alexander Valley 1999 |
90 |
$14 |
| Smooth, ripe and rich, with a pretty core of currant and black cherry-laced fruit that shows more flavor with every sip. Mildly tannic. A terrific value from a reliable producer. Best from 2003 through 2008. 4,000 cases made. -- J.L. |
| |
Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône 2000 |
89 |
$9 |
| This supple and polished red is a pleasure to taste. Creamy, delivering focused red and black fruit, with a fresh character underpinning it all, it's both ripe and elegant, head and shoulders above the others in its price range. Drink now through 2005. 50,000 cases made. -- P.M. |
| |
Château Signac Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2000 |
89 |
$11 |
| Distinctive red, with lots of mineral, wet earth and chalklike character, as well as plenty of cool fruit and focused, sweet red berry character. Not particularly opulent, it's medium-bodied, but shows some class. Drink now through 2006. -- P.M. |
| |
Georges Duboeuf Fleurie Domaine des Quatre Vents 2000 |
88 |
$14 |
| Black cherry, chocolate, spice and earth notes, with nice density and a firm, yet ripe, feel. Quite lively, almost racy acidity on the finish will let this flesh out nicely short-term. Drink now through 2002. -- J.M. |
| |
Georges Duboeuf Brouilly Château de Nervers 2000 |
87 |
$12 |
| Has ripe, medium-weight black cherry flavor, a touch of chocolate and a round, lively finish. Ideal with salmon or roast chicken. Drink now through 2002. 20,000 cases made. -- J.M. |
| |
Georges Duboeuf Chénas Flower Label 2000 |
88 |
$12 |
| Black cherry, chocolate, spice and earth notes, with nice density and a firm, yet ripe, feel. Quite lively, almost racy acidity on the finish will let this flesh out nicely short-term. Drink now through 2002. -- J.M. |
| |
Ravenswood Zinfandel Lodi 1999 |
87 |
$14 |
| Ripe and alcoholic, with dried currant, spice, plum and dried raspberry flavors, picking up lead pencil and modest tannin on the finish. Drink now through 2005. 20,137 cases made. |
| |
Ravenswood Zinfandel Mendocino 1999 |
87 |
$14 |
| Plum, dried currant and raspberry flavors weave together nicely with toasty oak and roasted herb tones, carrying momentum through the soft tannins and healthy alcohol of the finish. Drink now through 2005. 10,582 cases made. |
| |
Rosenblum Zinfandel San Francisco Bay Oakley Vineyards 1999 |
87 |
$14 |
| There's plenty of new wood here, with cedar, spice, dried berry, black cherry and currant flavors, firming up, with oaky tannins carrying through the finish. Drink now through 2005. 6,000 cases made. |
| |
