What inflation hasn’t squeezed
Published 9:36 pm Thursday, October 15, 2026
In spite of this year’s inclement wine grape growing season in many parts of the world, plenty of good wines saturate the marketplace, many retaining their original affordable prices.
This was brought home to me at a recent wine sampling of currently available wines. The “money grab” that I expected did not occur, and the distributors almost universally did not take advantage of a situation that would have allowed them to increase the prices of the wines that are already in their warehouses.
I am not implying that things may not change in the near future, but right now in the wine industry, things remain unchanged. With that in mind, I did have the opportunity to sample some wines currently on the internet.
Raymond Vineyards The Inaugural Collection California 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon ($34.99)
This is a deeply colored, soft, fruity wine stressing the flavors and aromas of black cherry, blackberries, plum, cocoa and oak. This wine is packed with fruit flavors running the gamut of summer red fruits and berries.
The tannins, which can be formidable in a Cabernet Sauvignon, are held in check so that the wine needs no further aging to soften before drinking. I believe even the most devoted classical style cabernet lover will enjoy this wine, as will the novice.
Split Rock 2025 Sauvignon Blanc ($21.99)
This wine has two things going for it that make it special; it is from New Zealand and it is affordable.
This Sauvignon Blanc is a dry white wine that plays down the grassy character usually associated with the variety and replaces it with a very noticeable aroma of honeydew melon.
The classical sensation of herbs and grass still remains in the background, along with a minerality that adds extra depth to the wine. This is the perfect summer wine as it goes well with the lighter foods that call for a white wine as well as with any shellfish, but it really shines when it is the accompaniment to all Asian dishes and is outstanding when accompanying the spicy Thai and Indian foods.
Opi Argentinean Malbec ($16.99)
More and more, Malbec wines are becoming identified with Argentina. The grape variety, which had been a minor player in European vineyards, has found a new home in the western hemisphere. Malbec is in the same family as the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and in the past the variety’s only claim to fame was that it introduced its distinctive aroma of truffles and leather along with plums and cherries to a Cabernet Sauvignon wine with which it was often blended. The finish of this mirrors that aroma and remains on the palate for an exceptionally long time. This wine can easily be considered the perfect ambassador for the variety.
Pillastro Silestone Del Oro ($34.99)
This wine is a perfect example of a wine made from the rare Primitivo grape with an added touch of the equally rare and not often seen Neuromere grape. The wine from these not often
encountered grapes is almost a textbook description of what a red wine should be like. The aroma abounds with a host of dark fruit, with dark cherries, plums and blackberries.
There is also the suggestion of licorice and dark chocolate Words alone cannot describe this, it is a wine that must be experienced.
Capisco 2024 Pinot Grigio( $14.99)
This very popular white wine is a soft, supple, Italian-styled wine with delicate fruit flavors and enough fruit acid to make it all work.
It is a light, straw colored, dry white wine with a rich fruity bouquet and a lively raisiny grape flavor that features hints of peach and apricot, which give way to a delightful and enticing lemon citrus.
It is the perfect wine to accompany pasta dishes that are served with white sauce, sea foods of all descriptions, or even for the ever-present salads. This wine is a treat and I feel that it is so good that it would be a pity for the reader to miss.
Bennet Bodenstein is a wine enthusiast and book author whose column appears in publications throughout the country.
