I am always on the lookout for good wines at a great price. But with so many wines to choose from, how do you know that you are getting a bargain?
One way to find something good is to find a region that you enjoy and sample some of their offerings. A region that I have become increasingly enamored with is Puglia, Italy.
Located in the stiletto heel of the boot that is Italy, Puglia is often overlooked as a wine region, being overshadowed by more prominent wine regions such as Tuscany. But for my money, I would take a wine from Puglia over a Tuscan one more often than not.
I got a bargain on a half bottle of Copertino Riserva 2009 for about five bucks the other day. The bottle seemed like a deal because 2009 was such a great year for wine in many regions. In Italy, it was a mixed year but many parts of the boot said it was outstanding.
So I figured that I was getting an excellent bargain and I did. The was has a medium body and you can taste the oak, though it is not overpowering. There was also a peppery taste reminiscent of smoking a spicy Cigar such as a Partagas. The tannins were noticeable but not overpowering. Copertino Riserva is a balanced wine with some interesting complexity.
The wine makes for a pleasurable drinking experience on its own but I could see it pairing well with cured meats and aged cheeses.
If you can get your hands on it, it is another example of a fine bargain from Puglia. Puglia is a great place to look for if you want to discover interesting new varieties of red grapes and ways to stretch your dollar. Open a bottle today and explore a new delicious opportunity!
Loren Mayshark is the award-winning author of Death: An Exploration and Academic Betrayal. For more, you can visit his website lorenmayshark.com and you can keep up with him on Twitter at @LorenMayshark. Sign up for his newsletter and receive regular updates and a free gift.
