My Favorite/Go-To Locally Available Wines for 2009.

I posted a similar list last year, so I figured I'd make this an annual thing for whatever it may be worth to others. This list includes my locally available favorites, those I consider particularly good value-for-money, and/or those I bought often over the year past. I have had each and every one of these wines at least once (mostly many times).

While I am friends with some local wine distributors, I have no personal interest of any sort in the wine or wine-related business other than being a customer and occasionally contributing wine and food related articles to local magazines. Rest assured that, despite my friendships, I am more than capable of independent thought/assessment (such independence of mind and assessment having resulted in my becoming "dis-invited" to certain wine diners/events, and that's absolutely fine with me).

White Wine:

Under P1000/bottle:

2008 Laxas Albariño - Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain; from Terry Selection, inexpensive (P750/bottle), excellent with fresh seafood (I love it with boquerónes, escalivadas, almejas, etc.), a regional/traditional Galician pairing. Currently out of stock, but I understand that they've re-ordered. It will, most likely, be a new vintage though.

2007 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Blanco - Rioja, Spain; from Terry Selection, inexpensive, great as an apéritif (try it with toasted almonds, gambas al ajillo, spicy gulas, almejas, etc.) and seafood.

P1000-P2000/bottle:

2005 Domaine Plante d'Or Cour Cheverny Cuvée Salamandre - Cour Cheverny, the Loire, France; from Sommelier Selection, inexpensive (appx. P1110/bottle). This is an aficionado's wine. It's different, particular and may not be for everybody, but I and J-Lab find this really, really good. Excellent value for money as well.

2007 Dr. Loosen Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Kabinett - Bernkastel, Mosel, Germany; from Wine Depot, appx. P1400/bottle. Recommendable light, off-dry, minerally German riesling. Great as an apéritif.

2006/2007 Laurent Tribut Chablis - Chablis, Burgundy, France; from Sommelier Selection, P1585/bottle. Excellent, old-school, traditional maker of pure, minerally, steely, flinty, oyster shell Chablis. Those who appreciate traditional Chablis (like I do) will surely like this.

2006 Bott-Geyl Riesling Les Éléments - Beblenheim, Alsace, France; from Sommelier Selection, moderately priced (appx. P1700/bottle). Drinking very, very well.

2007 Bott-Geyl Gewürztraminer Les Éléments - Beblenheim, Alsace, France; from Sommelier Selection, moderately priced (appx. p1700/bottle). Excellent, crowd-pleaser gewürz. Pair with foie gras terrine, apple tart, tart Tatin.

2007 Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - Wehlen, Mosel, Germany; from Wine Depot, appx. P1900/bottle. Good stuff, very nice with foie gras.

2001 Léon Beyer Gewürztraminer Reserve - Eguisheim, Alsace, France; from Bacchus, moderately priced (P2000/bottle). Another notable good locally available gewürz I buy repeatedly.

Over P2000/bottle:

2007 Laurent Tribut Chablis Premier Cru Côte de Léchet - Chablis, France; from Sommelier Selection, P2110/bottle. A premier cru Chablis from an excellent/traditional maker. This is a steal at this price.

2006 Saintsbury Brown Ranch Estate Bottled Carneros Chardonnay - Napa Valley, California, USA; from Premium Wine Exchange, P2400/bottle. My wife favors good Napa chardonnay, so I make sure to keep a stock of this at home.

2005 Bott-Geyl Pinot Gris Sonnenglanz (Grand Cru) - Beblenheim, Alsace, France; from Sommelier Selection, P2865/bottle. Beautiful stuff, excellent paired with Peking duck.

Rosé/Rosado:

2007/2008 Bodegas Marco Real Homenaje Rosado - Navarra, Spain; from Terry Selection, now back in stock for appx. P450/bottle. It's a steal of a rosado. You can back up the truck on this one.

2007 Bodegas Protos Rosado - Ribera del Duero, Spain; from Terry Selection. I can't remember the price, but, in my experience, there is no such thing as an expensive Spanish rosado. It is probably around P600-P700/bottle, or less - in any event, it is a song for this more serious rosado.

2008 Tempier Bandol Rosé - Bandol, Provençe, France; from Sommelier Selection, at P2160/bottle it is expensive for a rosé, but, in the big picture, a very small price to pay for the best rosé in the world. Extremely versatile, it can be an apéritif, superb with escargots à la Bourguignonne and couscous, and can easily pair with certain pasta dishes, roast chicken, veal, roast lamb loin, etc.

Red Wine:

Below P2000/bottle:

1999 René Barbier Gran Reserva - Penedès, Spain; from ADP Industries, P1200/bottle. One will have to look very far and wide for an equally good and mature tinto gran reserva at this low a local price. I, personally, don't know any.

1999 Bodegas Olarra Cerro Añon Rioja Gran Reserva - Rioja, Spain; from Terry Selection, appx. P1880/bottle. I simply love this complex, graceful, traditional Riojan tinto and purchased the last remaining case a while back. Terry's now has the 2001 (a more well-renowned vintage for Spain) available at the same price.

2001 Mayor de Ondarre Rioja Reserva - Rioja, Spain; from Terry Selection, just under P1900/bottle if memory serves. Another good Rioja and from a heralded Spanish vintage, all at a great price. More of a masculine style compared to the Cerro Añon Gran Reserva. I'd serve it with roast meats and game. I recall Keiichi favors this wine.

P2000/bottle and up:

2001 Michel Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti Nizze La Court & 2001 Michel Chiarlo Barbaresco - Piedmonte, Italy/; both from Bacchus, appx. P2300/bottle and P2000/bottle, respectively. Together, the 2 best deals on good, moderately-priced Piedmontese wines in Manila (in my humble opinion).

2005 Tablas Creek Vineyard Esprit de Beaucastel - Paso Robles, California, USA; from Premium Wine Exchange, P2375/bottle. An admirable and faithful rendition of the famed Château de Beaucastel's Châteauneuf du Pape (there is a relation between the wineries) at a very reasonable price. I've been to Paso Robles and tasted many wines there, and this is surely the best one I've had from that area.

2006 Domaine des Sénéchaux Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Châteauneuf du Pape, Southern Rhône, France; from Bacchus, P2600/bottle. From the stable of wineries of Château Lynch Bages' J-M Cazes. Probably my favorite locally available CdP, and it is very well-priced to boot.

1996 Château de Fieuzal - Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France; from Säntis, appx. P3400/bottle. I have yet to encounter a better, mature, locally-available Bordeaux rouge in Manila under P3500/bottle.

1999 Louis Jadot Corton-Pougets Grand Cru - Aloxe-Corton, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France; from Bacchus, appx. P4750/bottle. I really like this one, and it is a good price for what one gets (nb: Corton-Pougets yields probably the most graceful wines from the grand cru Corton - the only rouge grand cru vineyards of the Côte de Beaune).

2003/2006 Alvaro Palacios Moncerbal - Bierzo, Spain; from Terry Selection, over P6000/bottle. Expensive, but it is an absolutely stunning rendition of the mencia grape. Graceful and complex, this is an aficionado's wine.

Bubbly:

Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut NV - Champagne, France; from Forth & Tay, appx. P1800/bottle. At its price, probably the best deal for non-vintage Champagne in the country.

Billecart Salmon Champagne Brut Réserve NV - Champagne, France; from Bacchus, appx. P3400/bottle. My favorite locally available non-vintage Champagne.

Freixenet Reserva Real Cava - Cava D.O., Spain; from ADP Industries, P4000/bottle full retail. May seem pricey for a cava, but this includes a special blend of vintage cavas, and the difference from ordinary cavas is very apparent. I and some friends consider this the best cava we have ever had.

Billecart Salmon Champagne Rosé NV - Champagne France; from Bacchus, appx. P4200/bottle more-or-less. My favorite for locally available non-vintage rosé Champagne.

2000 Champagne Jacquesson Avize Grand Cru - Champagne, France; from Premium Wine Exchange, P4700/bottle full retail. At its price and quality, this, to my mind, is the best deal for locally available vintage Blanc de Blancs (100% chardonnay) Champagne.