There has been a phenomena known as premiumization occurring in the wine industry for several years. Basically, wine makers think that the consumer will think a wine is better if it costs more. When I started this blog, I found a lot of values in wine costing between $10 and $15 but today I most often spend $15 to $24. Further, many of the wines in the under $15 price are mass produced to appeal to a broad audience of uninformed customers. Three conglomerates control 60% of the wines on supermarket shelves and they think that if they put a cute label on the bottle or show sophisticated, beautiful women drinking the wine in their advertisements, you will buy it. No wonder wine consumption is falling in the U.S., especially among the younger generations.
Some exceptions to the above described problem, are wines from certain parts of Europe where you can still find terrific whites under $12 and reds under $15. However, the US government is trying to mess this up. Last October, the Administration levied a 25% tariff on some wines from France, Spain, England and Germany. Now, they are proposing a 100% tariff on all wines from the European Union. Maybe it will happen or maybe the idea will go away.
Barberani Polago is one of those quality European red wines priced under $15. It can be bought online for $15 and at Costco for $12.99. This comes from the hills of Umbria in central Italy, made with organically grown grapes and it is 60% Sangiovese and 40% Montepulciano. This is a medium body, medium tannin, dry and slightly acidic wine. The flavors are mostly light fruit, raspberry to blueberry. It is a well made, enjoyable wine. James Suckling rated it generously at 92 points but I think that is too high.
SC Wine Joe rating = 89 points
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Some exceptions to the above described problem, are wines from certain parts of Europe where you can still find terrific whites under $12 and reds under $15. However, the US government is trying to mess this up. Last October, the Administration levied a 25% tariff on some wines from France, Spain, England and Germany. Now, they are proposing a 100% tariff on all wines from the European Union. Maybe it will happen or maybe the idea will go away.
Barberani Polago is one of those quality European red wines priced under $15. It can be bought online for $15 and at Costco for $12.99. This comes from the hills of Umbria in central Italy, made with organically grown grapes and it is 60% Sangiovese and 40% Montepulciano. This is a medium body, medium tannin, dry and slightly acidic wine. The flavors are mostly light fruit, raspberry to blueberry. It is a well made, enjoyable wine. James Suckling rated it generously at 92 points but I think that is too high.
SC Wine Joe rating = 89 points
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