Good wine deals from Southern California retailers

Good wine deals are out there A selection of value recommendations from area retailers:Gary Fishman, from Wally’s Wine Merchant in Los Angeles: 2006 Joseph Phelps Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Innisfree” (Napa Valley), $24.99. “A gem from a producer with a first-rate reputation with Cabernet. This Innisfree bottling was made available to only a handful of stores in the nation and delivers a $40-to-$50 taste experience.” 2006 Cyclone Red Blend (Napa Valley), $70. “Our in-house wine, an estate-grown Cabernet blend from a cult producer, drinking like one, too, for half the price.” Mike Greene, from Woodland Hills Wine Co.: 2007 Klee Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley), $17.99. “Named for Paul Klee, whose artistic philosophy was one of functionalism and elegant simplicity. Winemaker Chris Berg calls it his ‘Everyman/Everywoman wine.’ “2006 Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo (Valmaggiore di Vezza), $24.99. “From a vineyard in the Roero, it paradoxically embodies both a slight austerity and a certain feminine softness, even elegance. This ‘Baby Barbaresco’ is like drinking a bottle of well-aged Burgundy.” John and Jen Nugent, proprietors of the Colorado Wine Co. in Eagle Rock: 2005 Stefano Farina Nebbiolo d’Alba, $13.99. “When we tasted this one without seeing the bottle first, we were sure it was a young Barolo. Soft, silky, elegant and lengthy with notes of dried violets, intense red fruit with balanced tannin. Crazy for under $20, let alone under $15.”2005 Burch Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, $15.99. “Burch Hall is owned and run by Steve and Marsha Burch from Grass Valley, Calif., but this Cab is sourced from the Central Coast. Like us, it’s a tiny mom-and-pop operation, and their Cab puts a lot of $30-ish bottles to shame.” Chris Meeske, proprietor of Mission Wines in South Pasadena: 2007 Domaine Raymond Dupont-Fahn Bourgogne “Chaumes des Perrieres” (Burgundy), $30.99. “From a Chardonnay vineyard adjoining Meursault premier cru Les Perrieres, 40-year-old vines, low yields and classified as simple Bourgogne. Half the price of top-quality Meursault.”2007 Cellars Can Blau (Monsant, Spain) $16.99. “This is a blend of old-vine Mazuelo, Garnacha and Syrah, from a mountainous growing region which horseshoes around Priorat and has similar soils and style for roughly half the price.” Kyle Meyer, wine buyer at the Wine Exchange in Orange: 2007 Côtes du Rhône wines: “Punchy, vibrant, extracted, versatile and cheap.”2007 Piedmont “littles”: “It’s an awesome year for Barbere and Dolcetti. 2007 Sori Paitin Barbera ‘Serra’ ($15) is a prime example.”2005 Bordeaux stragglers: “The leftovers from the greatest vintage I’ve ever tasted. Wines like the 2005 Faizeau St. Emilion ‘Vieilles Vignes’ ($21) show that there’s still plenty left to buy.”-- Patrick Comiskey