St. Francis “Old Vines” Zinfandel Sonoma County 2008, $19: If you have a few extra bucks, you’ll find this wine is worth the toll. It’s the benchmark for Old Vines Zins with its intense dark cherries, dark plums, licorice, lots of black pepper and vanilla off the oak. It’s the perfect pairing with a juicy … Continue Reading →
Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2011, $9-$12: This is one of the prettiest Pinots you will find at this price. Adolfo Hurtado, winemaker and the face of this fabulous property in southern Chile, produces the most Pinot Noir of any winery in the country. This one has good balance, with lovely ripe fruit flavors (cherries, strawberries, … Continue Reading →
Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon California 2009, $13-$16: Too bad this dandy has to say “California” on the front instead of where it’s really sourced — Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley and Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County, both hotbeds for great Cabs. This baby is cherries dipped in dark chocolate, and a blast of ripe, … Continue Reading →
Windmill Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi 2010, $12-$14: It’s not often you find an old vine California Zinfandel at this price. But the Phillips family has farmed this land long enough for lots of things, including vines, to be old. The sixth generation is running the winery at the 160-acre homestead in Lodi that dates to … Continue Reading →
La Vieille Ferme Rose Ventoux Rhone Valley 22010, $7-$9. As long as I have written about wine, this gem has existed. It’s produced by the Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastel fame in the Rhone Valley of France. At a top price of $9, it can make you look like a genius if you offer … Continue Reading →
Casa Lapostolle Carmenère Rapel Valley Chile 2010, $13: This dry red monster is so brooding it reminds me of tar. It’s earthy, intense and complex, and has the muscle of a Ford F-150 4×4. It’s all about dark berries, plums, rosemary, red pepper and dark chocolate. A bitter note in the finish caps it off. … Continue Reading →
Avissi Prosecco Sparkling Wine Italy, $12-$15: The current “it” bubbly is the affordable, approachable, lighter-style and ever-so-peppy Prosecco, named for the grape that it is made from. This example, imported from the Veneto region of Italy by Trinchero Family Estates in Napa Valley, has Prosecco’s typical 11.5 percent alcohol but it tastes like a fuller-bodied wine. … Continue Reading →
Colby Red California 2010, $12.99: This dry red blend is not just another bottle on the shelf but a money maker for people, especially kids, with heart trouble. Colby Groom, the 13-year-old son of famed winemaker Daryl Groom, was born with a heart defect and has undergone numerous surgeries. To help give back for the … Continue Reading →