Spain – 2009 Bodegas J.C. Conde el Arte de Vivir – $15.95
I had this wine last year (it cost $2 less last Oct). A good wine, still a good price. Look for a modern style Spanish wine. Black fruit flavors. Juicy. Excellent for BBQ. Try one, see if you like the style, and if so, stock ’em up for day to day.
Spain – 2001 Rioja Bordón ‘Gran Reserva‘ – $23.95
Don’t even think twice here. 2001 was a great vintage in Rioja. Gran Reserva is an indication for the quality (as well as the aging process). 10 years wine for less than $25. Expect red cherries, leather, earthiness. Just buy 2-6 bottles.
Spain – 2007 Sabor Real Tempranillo ‘Viñas Centenarias’ – $15
The Toro region – In the western part of Castilla y León just 40 km from the Portuguese border. Great reviews. Can lay down for up-to 10 years – outstanding GPCi. buy 3-12 bottles.
Italy – 2008 Zenato ‘Sergio Zenato Riserva’ Lugana – $26.95
One of my favorite whites from Italy. John and Barry M, my good friends, has introduced me to this wine couple of years ago. it’s a beautiful blend that can easily age for 5-10 years. Expect complexity, multiple dimensional white that goes with variety of foods from Salmon to Pasta and anything in between.
France – 2009 Château de Beaucastel ‘Coudoulet de Beaucastel’ – $29.95
From a very good vintage, this 2009 ‘Coudoulet de Beaucastel’ is a consistently safe buy. Had/haveit since 2001 and it can usually last for 8-12 years, which makes a good GPCi. This is a ‘mini Beaucastel’ for 30% of the big brother price – very good deal.
Chile – 2008 Viña Tarapacá Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva, Maipo Valley – $15
One of my favorite wines from Chile for $15. You never go wrong with it. It’s usually ‘in your face’ fruity, concentrated with dark fruit flavors and just very rewarding. Buy 2-12 bottles.
Argentina – 2009 Luca Pinot Noir, Uco Valley, Mendoza – $27.95
People who know me for years have heard me more than once saying ‘I don’t get Pinot Noir, but I will keep trying’. This wine got my attention because Argentina in not necessarily known as a Pinot Noir ’empire’, but the reviews were very supportive and the price isn’t too expensive for an excellent Pinot as described by the critics. I will give it a try… :)
Gaby Israel has been providing wine tasting notes and buying recommendations for several years now. The name WineGPCi (pronounced Wine Gypsy) was given by his friends. GPCi stands for Gaby’s Potential Cellaring Index. While searching for “treasures for the cellar” without going to the bank, the GPCi was initially used to calculate the ratio between the price of the wine and the number of years it can potentially be cellared for; trying to find the wines that had the smallest index/ratio possible. Any good wine that had a GPCi of 3.5 and under, was worth buying (mainly if you were planning to develop a cellar).
Many years and “750 bottles in the cellar” after, his knowledge, experience and passion continued to grow. He continues to focus on helping the consumer finding “logical” ways of buying wines and planning the budget for it. His great passion for wine revolves around old-world wines such as Spain, France and Italy while experimenting the new world exciting regions of Chile, Argentina, Australia, Canada, the US and others.
