The United States consumed 913 million gallons of wine last year. With so many vineyards producing to keep up with demand, it’s hard to distinguish what bottles will be worth the investment. The average price per bottle has increased significantly in the last two years, but price doesn’t always mean quality. If you’re constantly lost in the liquor store, or if you generally pick your bottles of wine by the sale price or pretty label on the front, we’re here to help you sort it out.
Enter 21 and Under: our new, monthly series covering the best bottles of wine at liquor stores around Denver ringing in at less than $21 — because you don’t have to break the bank to pop a cork.
This month, we headed to Argonaut in Capitol Hill. This family-owned operation has been a Denver staple since 1967, and it’s certainly easy to get lost in their 40,000-square-foot space. Luckily, wine expert Mats Weissenberg was there to help navigate the shelves. Weissenberg has been with the store for 13 years, and samples every bottle while taking notes on individual flavor profiles before it can be sold in store.
Weissenberg carefully selected five wines for our 303 Magazine readers — all under $21 and sold exclusively at Argonaut.
THE WINE: 2009 Premiere Bulle French Sparkling Wine
THE FLAVOR: Dry, crisp, incredibly refreshing and a vintage 2009; hints of lemon zest, brioche, jasmine and hibiscus; It’s the perfect French sparkler.
THE PAIRINGS: Sip with grilled tilapia, spicy salsa or aged Gouda cheese.
THE WINE: Silver Beach Sauvignon Blanc
THE FLAVOR: From New Zealand, this stunning white is a constant crowd favorite. It boasts hints of grapefruit, starfruit and kiwi. It has a great minerality and a nice acidity. Perfect year-round.
THE PAIRINGS: Sip with grilled eggplant, salmon caesar salad or a spicy guacamole.
THE WINE: The Culprit Red Blend
THE FLAVOR: From California, it’s Argonaut’s most popular exclusive, Guild wine. It’s a blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet, Merlot, Cab. Franc, Syrah and Petit Syrah. This is a big wine with essences of Dutch cocoa, cedar, Wisconsin cherries and a kiss of oak. This wine is full-bodied and with a lush finish. “This is how red wine should taste!” said Weissenberg.
THE PAIRINGS: Savor with filet a la sauce bernaise, sausage lasagna or baked brie.
THE WINE: Domaine Camaissette Aix-en-Provence Rosé
THE FLAVOR: “This is one of our best selling rosés,” Weissenberg explained. Strawberries and vanilla fill your nose as you taste dry, elegant and smooth flavors with soft tannins. Hints of cranberries and fresh rhubarb round this out to an even finish.
THE PAIRINGS: Sip with bacon-wrapped melon, porcini risotto or Swiss raclette cheese.
THE WINE: The Protest Red Blend
THE FLAVOR: From Sonoma County, this big blend of Cabernet and Syrah is aged in rye whiskey barrels. “It’s not for the faint of heart,” Mats explains. Tones of butterscotch and hazelnuts shine through from the bourbon barrels, yet you still get the depth of a red wine.
THE PAIRINGS: Savor with swiss chocolate, candied almonds or a t-bone steak and bleu cheese.
What liquor store should we explore next?
All photography by Alex Palmerton.
I’ve been an Argonaut customer for years and you won’t find a better sommelier in town than Mats. He always knows just the right wine for us, based on the occasion, and it is so nice to have his knowledge to depend on when my own can be limited. Even if you know some the basics, picking the right bottle can be a daunting task, Mats has always taken the worry out of the process and his recommendations are always spot on with our guests. The selection at Argonaut is huge and the store is right on my way home from downtown so it’s super easy to stop in and grab something. Usually I call ahead and tell Mats what I’m looking for and he has a selection ready for me to sample when I get there! Now that is service! So glad you wrote up this piece Alexandra!
Wine shopping can be so stressful nowadays, thank goodness for people like Mats!
Mats is a gift to Capitol Hill and the Denver Metro area in general! This man has forgotten more about wine knowledge than I could ever hope to learn. It would be sad to buy at Argonaut and not seek his advice. It’s so great to see him, and I can’t wait to try these wines! PS — Beautiful gladiolas!
Isn’t he the best? I learned SO much from him during our interview. Thanks for reading!
I travel to Denver from Florida on a regular basis and I always stop in and see Mats and pick up a few bottles of wine to ship home. I’ve tried buying wine back home and the majority of people working in the stores don’t know anything, or pretend they do, so annoying! Mats is a true professional and he knows wines! I was so excited to see this article, long overdue I say. Two big thumbs up!