Named after the trays used for drying the grapes before pressing, this easy drinking red wine with a fruity, berry nose and sweet flavors of berry and fresh fruit is an easy favorite with pasta on hot summer days. Very good.
Red Wine
Name: Arele Parziale Appassimento Vino Roso
Grape: Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, Oseleta, Merlot
Region: Italy
Maker: Tommasi Viticoltori
Price: $22
Alcohol: 13%
A medium red wine with a nose of stewed fruit with a taste of mild fruit, cherries and raspberry. Soft finish.
Red Wine
Name: Panarroz Jumilla
Grape: Monastrell
Region: Jumilla, Spain
Maker: Panarroz
Price: $15
Alcohol: 14%
Dark black in color with a nose of plum, oak and the floral notes fom the viognier. A full mouth of cherry, plum, violets and spice. Good finish. Another good wine from D’Arenberg.
Red Wine
Name: The Laughing Magpie
Grape: Shiraz 93%, Viognier 7%
Region: McLaren Vale, Australia
Maker: D’Arenberg
Price: $28
Alcohol: 14.5%
Named after the Yarra Valley diva Dame Nellie Melba, whose performances in the opera Lucia Di Lammermoor made her famous in the 1860’s when cuttings for these wines were first planted. Oak and caramel fill the nose and a full palate of fruit, molasses and caramel. Medium bodied with a disappointing finish for the age of the vines it comes from. Must try other years.
Red Wine
Name: Melba Lucia Yarra Valley
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 91%, Sangiovese 9%
Region: Yarra Valley, Australia
Maker: De Bortoli Wines
Price: $12
Alcohol: 13%
This Bordeaux styled wine is a blend of wines that have been aged 16 months in French and American oak. Complex in smell this dark red wine exudes the aromas of blackberries, plums and spice. A full mouthful of dark spices, pepper, plum and oak finish in a long smooth fashion. An ageable wine from the small lots program. Very good stuff here.
Red Wine
Name: Sandhill 2005 Two
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 53%, Merlot 33%, Cabernet Franc 14%
Region: Okanagan, Canada
Maker: Sandhill
Price: $39
Alcohol: 14%
Velvety dark stewed fruit with earth and leather notes. Good spice on the finish. A good wine for cheese especially cheddars.
Red Wine
Year: 2008
Name: Reserva Especial Syrah
Grape: Syrah
Region: Limari Valley, Chile
Maker: Tabali
Price: $22
Alcohol: 14.5%
The smell and mouth of blackberry, spice and pepper with a dry finish of cocoa.
Red Wine
Year: 2007
Name: Terra D’Oro Zinfandel Amador County
Grape: Zinfandel
Region: California, U.S.A.
Maker: Terra D’Oro Winery
Price: $29
Alcohol: 14.5%
One of the best finds of the year! Named after Richard Tarlton who was a court jester to Queen Elizabeth1. Dark black in color with a nose of mocha, fruit, euculyptis and leather. A great mouthful of dark fruit, jam, mocha and licorice with a solid peppery spice finish. A great wine at any price and at this price an outstanding buy!
Red Wine
Year: 2009
Name: Jester 2009 Vintage Shiraz
Grape: Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale, Australia
Maker: Mitolo
Price: $23
Alcohol: 14.59%
A fine nose of oak, tobacco and mocha greet you and lead to a mouthful of plum, dark fruit and cocoa flavours. A long dry finish. Very good. A tribute to Luis Felipe Edwards’ wife from handpicked grapes blended from the outstanding grapes of each vintage then aged 18 months in French oak.
Red Wine
Year: 2007
Name: Dona Bernarda
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Colchagua Valley, Chile.
Maker: Luis Felipe Edwards
Price: $36
Alcohol: 14%
Translucent pinky red in color with plum, fresh fruit and mild floral aroma. Creamy palate of cherries, licorice and black tea. Nice finish. Not a bad New Zealand Pinot.
Red Wine
Year: 2010
Name: Spy Valley
Grape: Pinot Noir
Region: Malborough, New Zealand
Maker: Spy Valley Wines
Price: $25
Alcohol: 14%