Eight low-cost wines for summer parties

Nice buys, in case you want a case These eight wines offer appealing flavor, excellent balance and moderate alcohol content and are low-priced, making them excellent case buys for summer gatherings. They were selected by sampling a range of under-$12 bottles available at Los Angeles retail outlets. A buying note: Be sure to ask about case discounts; some retailers offer them and some don’t. Wines are listed in each category by price, starting with the least expensive.Whites2007 Bio-Weingut H.u.M. Hofer Grüner Veltliner. Open this organic Grüner Veltliner from Austria like a beer bottle -- it’s sealed with a crown cap. Despite its unpretentious top, this is a seriously delicious wine, with an herbal, floral-scented bouquet, zingy flavors of green apples and citrus, and a crisp, spicy finish. A consummate summer wine from master importer and Austrian specialist Terry Theise. Available at K&L Wine Merchants in Hollywood, (323) 464-9463, www.klwines.com; and Silverlake Wine in Silver Lake, (323) 662-9024, www.silverlakewine.com. About $11 for 1 liter (equivalent to about $8.25 for a standard 750 ml bottle).2007 Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc. Artfully blended from grapes sourced throughout California, this is a full-bodied, lush, dry white with an attractive melon-scented nose and spicy flavors. Gott’s wines almost always represent good values and this is no exception. The screw cap means no worries about the bottle being spoiled by cork taint. Available at K&L Wine Merchants; Wally’s in West L.A., (310) 475-0606, www.wallywine.com; and Whole Foods markets in Southern California, www.wholefoodsmarket.com. About $9 to $11.2006 Burgáns Albariño Rías Baixas. Lots of Spanish Albariños nudge the $20 mark; this one from Rías Baixas possesses all the charms of this superb grape at an unbelievable price. A light gold color, the wine delivers a seductive aroma of citrus blossoms and ripe melon, but it’s no lightweight. It’s got the stuffing to stand up to food, a nice creamy texture, and finishes crisp and dry. Available at K&L Wine Merchants; and Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111, www.whwc.com. About $10.2007 Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Many New Zealand Sauvignons are aggressively herbal; this example from the venerable Babich winery hews to a more moderate style with attractive tropical-fruit aromas in the nose and well-balanced, crisp flavor with mineral notes. Available at Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454, www.winex.com; and Wine House in West L.A., (310) 479-3731, www.winehouse.com. About $12.Reds2006 Eguren Tempranillo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla.Made from Tempranillo grapes grown in Spain’s vast central Castilla region, this remarkably stylish wine offers a beguiling scent of raspberries and leather and is supple and well-balanced on the palate with notes of cherries and smoke. Extremely drinkable, yet it has lots of flavor interest. Available at K&L Wine Merchants and Woodland Hills Wine Co. About $10 for 1 liter (equivalent to about $7.50 for a standard 750 ml bottle).2005 Colosi Rosso. This red wine made from Sicily’s Nero d’Avola grape is a delightful medium-bodied red with an earthy, smoky nose, ripe berry fruit flavors and just a hint of the tarriness that’s a hallmark of this varietal. The Colosi shows great balance and is a terrific match with grilled meat or even tomato-sauced pasta dishes. Available at Wine Exchange and Wine House. About $9.2006 Bodega Viñedos De AldeanuevaCortijo III Rioja. An entry-level Rioja at a good price, the Cortijo is a raspberry-scented, appealing red with fine balance and ripe cherry flavors on the palate offset by earthy notes. Mostly Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha (Grenache), this full-bodied young red is another great food wine. Available at Whole Foods markets; Wine Country in Signal Hill, (562) 597-8303, www.thewinecountry.com; and Wine House. About $9.2005 Domaine Monpertuis Cuvée CounoiseVin de Pays du Gard. Had much Counoise lately? It’s a workhorse Rhône varietal that usually plays a minor role in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and other blends, but here it struts to center stage. This deeply colored red is full of jammy, plummy aromas; is richly textured on the palate; and has excellent acidity and length. The most complex of these four reds, the Counoise is a great buy from importer Neal Rosenthal. Available at Silverlake Wine and Wine House. About $12. -- Jean T. Barrett