When you think “red wine” your mind might not immediately go to “summer”. But what would a summer grilling party be without some delicious reds to pair with your steaks, brats, burgers and ribs?
In this first of four summer wine guides (the others covering whites, rosés and sparklers), we focus our attention on the 61 red wines we think you should be drinking as the height of summer is quickly approaching. Ranging from lighter wines that pair excellently with fish and vegetables, to heavier, classic reds that go well with your smokey, savory meats. And although they are all great food wines, they are also equally excellent on their own – perfect for sipping as you enjoy yet another gorgeous summer sunset.
As usual in our wine guides – we let the winemakers themselves speak about why they think their wines deserve your attention.
Cru Bourgeois Haut-Medoc 2016
Haut-Medoc · France
$40
Winemaker’s Notes:
Deep and brilliant cherry red with violet highlights. Expressive, rich and complex nose mixing black berries (blackcurrant, black cherry) and well balanced spicy and minty notes. Harmonious, well balanced, full, fine and elegant with ripe tannins. The aftertaste is rich and aromatic (fruity, spicy with a hint of vanilla and tobacco notes).
Proprietary Red 2018
Napa Valley · United States
$50
Winemaker’s Notes:
Deep, dark and luxurious, this wine offers alluring aromas of blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, currant, and cocoa powder, with underlying hints of saddle leather, cinnamon, and clove.
Pinot Noir 2019
Yamhill-Carlton District · United States
$26
Winemaker’s Notes:
A blend of Fruit from our Estate Vineyard and Hirschy Vineyard. Both vineyards are located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA of the Willamette Valley.
Estate Pinot Noir 2017
Willamette Valley · United States
$50
Winemaker’s Notes:
This Pinot Noir opens with a complex, site-driven aroma profile characterized by expressive dark fruits interwoven with classic notes of black cherry, black raspberry, baking spices and traces of forest floor.
Right Angle 2018
Paso Robles · United States
$35
Winemaker’s Notes:
Bright with deep purple/ruby core, lighter toward the rim and with slow forming, moderately stained tears on the glass. Aromatic with black cherry, blackcurrant, vanilla and cinnamon barrel spice, oak, licorice, sweet tobacco and cedar. Full bodied, ripe black fruit with red berry accents. Barrel spice and oak on entry. The mid-palate shows dusty tobacco leaf, leather and cedar with a little cocoa.
Margarita Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Paso Robles · United States
$25
Winemaker’s Notes:
Brilliant violet. Spice-accented cherry and dark berry aromas show very good clarity and a subtle smokey nuance. Sappy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and black currant flavors that become sweeter with air. Shows very good energy and clarity on the finish, which is firmed by supple, slow-building tannins.
Justification 2018
Paso Robles · United States
$60
Winemaker’s Notes:
Bright with a dark ruby/purple core, lighter at the rim with moderately stained tears. Aromatic with black and red cherry, and blackcurrant fruit with oak, vanilla, cinnamon, red licorice, autumn leaf, pencil shavings, leather and camphor accents. Near full bodied, with ripe red and black cherry and cassis with oak and barrel spice on the entry. The mid-palate shows lingering fruit with savory elements of tobacco leaf, cedar, graphite and leather notes.
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2018
Russian River Valley · United States
$25
Winemaker’s Notes:
Bright cherry, cranberry, and raspberry aromas with hints of dill, fennel, and spice. The bouquet is rounded out with sweet vanilla and berry flavors, with a balanced and elegant finish. This very approachable wine offers mouth-filling, yet soft, tannins. Ripe fruit flavors are complemented by bright acidity and a gentle oak mid-palate.
Carignan 2017
Mendocino · United States
$42
Winemaker’s Notes:
Made from 88 year-old vines, this is one of our favorite varietals to produce. Bright Cherry and berry flavors that linger with depth and complexity.
Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir 2018
Arroyo Seco · United States
$31
Winemaker’s Notes:
The 2018 J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir expresses the varietal terroir of the Arroyo Seco region. This wine has a bright strawberry and blue sage on the nose with an abundance of red cherry and spice on the palate and finish.
Courage Zinfandel 2017
Dry Creek Valley · United States
$36
Winemaker’s Notes:
Dark ruby in the glass followed by aromas of ripe blackberry, cherry, and clove. Full bodied with lush red berry, vanilla, mocha notes with a deep spice bramble flavor. Bright acidity and velvety tannins highlight this Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. The long slightly smoky finish is highlighted by the peppery finish.
Pure Paso Proprietary Red 2018
Paso Robles · United States
$26
Winemaker’s Notes:
Savory varietal notes of Cabernet Sauvignon are layered with the dark fruit and spice character of Petite Sirah. The bouquet of cocoa powder, caramel, and anise works in harmony with the black cherry fruit signature of this wine. Bright and focused on the palate with a firm and appetizing finish.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2017
Sonoma Coast · United States
$43
Winemaker’s Notes:
An approachable Pinot Noir with fine-grained tannins, freshness and purity. Intense aromas of Bing cherry, strawberry, carnation flowers and licorice notes pour from the glass. Though nicely dense on the palate, the wine avoids heaviness with fresh acidity and bright red fruit flavors that resolve on a long, detailed finish.
Estate Pinot Noir 2018
Los Carneros · United States
$45
Winemaker’s Notes:
The 2018 edition of our Estate Pinot Noir packs a full range of red and darker berry flavors. Beginning with the nose one encounters plum clafouti, cherries, bergamot tea, and red roses. Ten months of barrel age lends a sweetness that balances the supple tannin from this exceptional vintage producing an intense full bodied Pinot Noir. Of particular note in this edition is the juicy and sweet fruited entry upon the palate, backed up by delicate spice notes (sassafras) and leather that lead to baked cherry and black raspberry. The hallmark of Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir is the texture, and this wine delivers with a supple and silky mouth-feel.
Block 007 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Dry Creek Valley · United States
$28
Winemaker’s Notes:
Dark ruby in the glass, the aromas of dried herbs (thyme, oregano) with ripe blackberry and plum notes typical of this vineyard personality. Berry flavors combine with toasty oak, pepper and a touch of vanilla. A long earthy finish with lasting fruit is simply elegant. Good acidity and soft tannins lead to great aging potential. Obviously this wine has no connection to a world famous British Special Agent. It’s simply the name of a vineyard block.
Pinot Noir 2019
Anderson Valley · United States
$35
Winemaker’s Notes:
This elegant wine overflows with bright strawberry and floral with hints of toasted oak aromas and beautifully ripe pure cherry and raspberry flavors along with bergamot tea that adds complexity and interest. The silky-smooth texture keeps you wanting more. Try this pinot noir with sesame-crusted seared ahi tuna over arugula salad. The elegant tannins of this wine will pair with a wide variety of cuisines from spicy to comfort foods. Also perfect for sipping on its own.
Anniversary Cuvée Red Blend 2014
Napa Valley · United States
$55
Winemaker’s Notes:
This special production red blend features splendid aromas of spiced plum and blackberries with a hint of roasted red pepper. The tannins are well integrated on the supple, smooth palate, showcasing brambly, dark fruit flavors with a jammy finish laced with allspice, graphite, and raspberry jam. This elegant, complex Bordeaux red blend can pair nicely with leaner, more savory proteins like duck or pork. The gentle spice and acidity in this wine will stand up to tomatoes, spicy greens, and Italian-inspired dishes. The more youthful structure of this red is also always a reliable pairing with red meat.
Métis Red Blend 2018
Walla Walla Valley · United States
$35
Winemaker’s Notes:
A complex red blend of the finest varietals from the Walla Walla Valley, this bottling celebrates the Métis heritage of Founder Jim Bernau’s fourth great grandparents Catherine “Kitty” Umfreville Pambrun who worked with her husband Pierre Chrysologue Pambrun to lead Fort Nez Perce in Walla Walla, ushering in a time of peace to the trading post and Columbia Basin. Enjoy it with grilled meats including prime rib with au jus, BBQ brisket, gourmet burgers topped with bleu cheese and onions, roast duck with pecan puree, wood-fired pizza with sausage and mushrooms and dark chocolate desserts.
Estate Grown Pinot Noir 2019
Russian River Valley · United States
$64
Winemaker’s Notes:
This Estate is a blend of our many different vineyard sites, with fifty-three percent Little Hill, fifteen percent Big Hill, fourteen percent from West Block, twelve percent from Sweetwater, and six percent East Block. This full bodied wine is complex and rich with the typical Rochioli character and the Classic Russian River Valley charm. Aged in French oak for 15 months, the wine displays a full body and silky texture finish, with a balanced structure.
Block G Pommard Clone Pinot Noir 2018
Dundee Hills · United States
$60
Winemaker’s Notes:
The 2018 Block G Pommard Clone is lush, jammy, and dense. Dark deep notes of rhubarb and plum on the nose complemented by sweet toast aromatics of butterscotch. Bright acidity accentuates flavors of cranberry and sweet cherry, with subtle tones of black pepper on the finish.
Dundee Hills Cuvee
Dundee Hills · United States
$44
Winemaker’s Notes:
Sourced from several different Pinot Noir clones, including 777, 667, and 115, the 2018 Domaine de Broglie Cuvée presents lush, sweet, forward fruit, and shows intense savory spiciness in the mid palate, with fine tannins on the finish. The Cuvée boasts exceptional clarity. Notes of cherries, strawberries, and mulberries dominate while hints of allspice and star anise peek through on a palate. This wine has a beautiful silky length that reveals subtle kisses of earth and flower petals on the finish.
Isthmus 2017
Sonoma Valley · United States
$90
Winemaker’s Notes:
Dark ruby in hue, this wine’s complex nose of fresh black cherry is accompanied by a background bouquet of mint, forest floor, spice and cedar. A soft, inviting entry displays fresh red and black fruits on the midpalate that carries through to a long finish. While soft and round on the edges, the core of the wine remains persistent and complex. This contrast yields a wine that will provide pleasure and accessibility in the near term, as well as the potential to gain complexity and depth with cellaring over the next ten years.
Beautiful Earth 2018
Paso Robles · United States
$40
Winemaker’s Notes:
Marionberry, dark leather, smoked plums, blueberry/peach cobbler, acacia flower, lavender creme brûlee, red-eye gravy, violet, ripe olive, hoisin, currant paste, and melted licorice. Broad, weighty, and plush on the palate with a densely packed finish.
Freestone Vineyards Pinot Noir 2018
Sonoma Coast · United States
$60
Winemaker’s Notes:
The 2018 Pinot Noir highlights fragrant violet, rustic baking spices and cedar notes followed by juicy raspberry, black cherry and hints of red currant. Focused and youthful with a lifting acid length, black pepper spice and orange peel essence.
The Hunt Red Blend 2018
Sonoma County · United States
$45
Winemaker’s Notes:
Rich and robust, The Hunt Sonoma County Bordeaux-style wine is a harmonious blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 26% Cabernet Franc, handcrafted by our winemakers. Barrel aged in French and American oak barrels for 18 months creates layered, velvety tannins that linger on the palate. With a flavor profile full of character, the ever-surprising red blend pairs best with savory dishes such as duck, rabbit, ribs, venison, and smoked cheeses.
River Trace Red Blend 2017
Chalk Hill · United States
$50
Winemaker’s Notes:
This blend of syrah, grenache, and mourvèdre shows brambly blackberry and crushed violets on the nose. It’s very smooth on the palate with well-integrated flavors of dried cherry,
ripe plum, and earthiness. The plush tannins lingers with full-bodied ripeness. This full-bodied wine is great match for rich dishes such as grilled spice rubbed flat iron steak, braised lamb with
potatoes, twice-glazed Asian barbecued chicken, or just it on its own.
Domaine de Bila-Haut l’Esquerda Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2018
Côtes du Roussillon Villages · France
$25
Winemaker’s Notes:
Shows maturity with aromas of black fruits and warm spices. We find the soils of origin are revealed with floral notes (violet) which are lightly smoky. We can find the same aromatic notes on the Northern Côtes du-Rhône soils, which are the birthplace of the Syrah.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Napa Valley · United States
$40
Winemaker’s Notes:
Our 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a densely layered wine showcasing plush notes of cherry cobbler and wild blackberries backed by hints of cedar and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and elegant, this Cabernet has a polished mouthfeel and an exceptionally long finish.
Affinity 2016
Paso Robles · United States
$28
Winemaker’s Notes:
Ripe cherry, hint of mint, & spice on the nose. Smooth tannins. The body has notes of cherry, currant & mocha, with vanilla & spice on the long finish
Ezio 2016
Paso Robles · United States
$36
Winemaker’s Notes:
Our flagship wine, named after Ezio Donati, the first born Donati in the New World. Rich aromatics of black cherry and earth, with lingering cherry and toast on the palate.
Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley · United States
$38
Winemaker’s Notes:
This approachable and delicious Cabernet Sauvignon is a generous Bordeaux blend, with soft and silky tannins and a plush, full mouth-feel . Although this wine is built to age and develop further complexity, the generous and juicy upfront fruit makes it extremely enjoyable in its youth. Aromas of dried herbs, lavender, fresh boysenberry and lanolin join flavors of dark fruit led by figs, black cherry, and currants.
Overlook Pinot Noir 2018
Sonoma Valley · United States
$27
Winemaker’s Notes:
The 2018 Overlook Pinot Noir represents another splendid blend from some of California’s best cool climate growing regions in Monterey, Santa Barbara and Sonoma Counties. Greg Stach’s expertise in selecting the finest parcels for this blend coupled with our growers’ meticulous viticultural practices yielded truly exceptional fruit for this warmer than average vintage. The 2018 Overlook Pinot Noir has an impeccable pedigree and each vineyard adds to the charm and complexity of the wine. Such dedication by our grower partners warranted hand harvesting at night with early morning deliveries to provide the purest expression of what this somewhat challenging vintage had to offer.
Edaphos Carignane 2019
Mendocino County · United States
$42
Winemaker’s Notes:
The Trimble Vineyard, just east of Hopland, CA was planted in 1941, or 1942, depending on which member of the Trimble family you ask. The old sprawl plantings of head pruned vines are certified organic through CCOF and entirely dry farmed on well drained, loamy soils. The Mediterranean climate provides warm days and cool nights, culminating in a later harvest that comes in just ahead of the fall frost. Densely purple with juicy plums, cassis, blackberries forward on the nose followed by dried rose, mushroom and savory dried herbs. A rich palate with assertive structure and ripe fruit dances with energizing acidity.
Les Pommiers Pinot Noir 2017
Russian River Valley · United States
$45
Winemaker’s Notes:
At once elegant and intense, “Les Pommiers” is the consummate blend of fruit from our vineyards located primarily in the Green Valley and upper Middle Reach areas of the Russian River Valley AVA. The result is a stylish, intricately layered Pinot Noir that brings lush flavors, silky textures and unparalleled quality to your table. Our 2017 vintage leads with luscious aromas of red cherry, raspberry, and star jasmine, with a refreshing minerality. The wine plays on the palate in a silky-smooth manner with flavors that complement its aromatics, calling to mind bright red fruit, rose petals and a touch of forest floor. The experience culminates in a bright, mouth-watering finish, inviting another sip.
Numina Gran Corte 2016
Tunuyán · Argentina
$29
Winemaker’s Notes:
It displays a bright, intense and deep purplish red colour. Its aroma is complex and elegant with notes of tobacco, cassis, blueberries, spices as well as notes of vanilla and caramel. In the mouth, it is a wide and intense wine with full body and tannic structure as well as a long and lingering finish.
Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2018
Dundee Hills · United States
$35
Winemaker’s Notes:
A mosaic of Pinot Noir from our estate, this wine is a mix of all our Pinot Noir clones. It saw mostly whole berry fermentation before aging, primarily in neutral French oak for almost a year. Driven with aromatics, the nose is bright, showing perfumed red fruits with undertones of earth and baking spice. The palate is soft and supple, with dark cherry flavors balanced by a delicate tension from the tannins — a classic representation of the Dundee Hills.
Cabernet Franc 2017
North Coast · United States
$85
Winemaker’s Notes:
Brilliant hues of crimson and violet glint off the rim of this wine, and the aromas explode out of the glass: mixed cherry, raspberry, and earthy spice. The deep flavors exude bright fruits. It is medium to full-bodied, juicy, perfumed, and shows great persistence of flavor. The ‘214’ clone has always produced Cabernet Franc that is elegant, subtle and expressive. Though the wine is very enjoyable now, this vintage has the capacity to age for many years in a good cellar.
Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2018
Chehalem Mountains · United States
$30
Winemaker’s Notes:
Our 2018 Pinot Noir showcases the diversity of soil types and micro terroirs across the Chehalem Mountain AVA, creating depth and complexity in the wine. Aromatic notes of fresh blue and red fruits jump out of the glass, with subtle hints of brambly earth and spice lingering as you pull away. The palate is bright, showing fresh red fruits that are complemented by soft, silky tannins and a vibrant finish.
Grand Detour Pinot Noir 2019
Sonoma Coast · United States
$35
Winemaker’s Notes:
Medium ruby in color featuring complex aromas of red cherry and ripe strawberry fruit with cola, leather, and subtle roasted coffee notes. The palate is bold and rich with flavors of red cherry, ripe strawberry, an accent of earthy rhubarb with cola and black licorice spice showing fine, velvety tannins on the mid-palate and through a long finish of sustained fruit, cedar, smoke, and dried herbs. The 2019 Grand Detour Pinot Noir shows a depth of flavor that pairs well with flavorful foods like a pan seared duck breast with a berry and pinot reduction, or pulled pork sandwiches.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Napa Valley · United States
$33
Winemaker’s Notes:
Our 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with layers of blackberry, Bing cherry and ripe plum, followed by notes of mocha and chocolate. The tannins are focused and long, providing a rich texture and mouthfeel, with an elegant balance and structure that complements the mouth filling flavors. Well integrated baking spice notes of cinnamon and nutmeg from the toasted oak barrels are seamlessly woven throughout the wine, complementing the berry fruit aromas and flavors which leads to a long mouthwatering finish. This rich, mouth pleasing Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is approachable and delicious now, yet promises cellar worthiness.
Yamhill Cuvée Pinot Noir 2017
Willamette Valley · United States
$52
Winemaker’s Notes:
The ‘Yamhill Cuvée’ is an ultra-premium Willamette Valley Pinot Noir with consistency vintage to vintage due to the blending of Pinot Noir from each of our main vineyard estates. Named for the county where all of the Domaine Serene estates are found, the inaugural vintage of this blend includes the designation of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and grapes from the Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity AVAs. Fresh and vibrant, the 2017 ‘Yamhill Cuvée’ exudes pure and refined elegance. Introduced by a fetching floral nose, intense pure fruit flavors of strawberry, dark cherry and tart cranberry burst on the palate. A veil of complex notes of mulled spices, forest floor and chaparral balance the fruit-driven essence of the wine. The mouthfeel is dense with pure, rich texture and fresh minerality, integrating the structured tannins, leading to a smooth lingering finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Howell Mountain · United States
$45
Winemaker’s Notes:
Our 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a densely layered wine showcasing plush notes of cherry cobbler and wild blackberries backed by hints of cedar and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and elegant, this Cabernet has a polished mouthfeel and an exceptionally long finish.
Klopp Ranch Pinot Noir 2018
Russian River Valley · United States
$58
Winemaker’s Notes:
The 2018 Klopp Ranch Pinot Noir displays an awe-inspiring level of concentration and depth. Cinnamon, dried flowers and sun ripened raspberry aromas entice you to take a sip. On the palate, this gorgeous wine is soft and appealing, with silky tannins and bright berry fruit flavors. Nuanced cocoa and coffee notes tie into the finish leaving a pleasing, lasting impression.
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2018
Russian River Valley · United States
$40
Winemaker’s Notes:
Crafted from up to 100 individual small lots, our Russian River Valley Pinot Noir offers depth and nuance on its expressive, intricately layered palate. A classic example of this renowned region, the wine opens with notes of black and red cherry, wild blackberry, blueberry and pomegranate. Deeper into the velvety-smooth palate, hints of anise and cola blend with suggestions of toast and barbeque smoke. Approachable and balanced upon release, fine tannins and structure will allow for elegant aging over the next five to seven years. Pair this Pinot Noir with a grilled pork chop with a peach-bourbon barbeque sauce or a gourmet burger with blue cheese and caramelized onions. For a cheese pairing, try alongside blue cheese with pickled cherries.
Pinot Noir Reserve 2016
Dundee Hills · United States
$65
Winemaker’s Notes:
Selected from the finest blocks of our vineyard, our RESERVE Pinot Noir represents the finest wine we can make. After extensive blending trials, we selected 8 barrels to tell the story of the 2016 vintage. Enjoy it now, or allow it to develop greater complexity over the years.
Paper Street Red 2018
Paso Robles · United States
$60
Winemaker’s Notes:
Blackberry, lavender, elderberry flower, hibiscus, sage oil, fennel pollen, blueberry reduction, sweet pepper, and stone fruit. The palate is very generous and opulent with a catapulting freshness and a persistent ethereal finish.
Chianti Classico Riserva Ser Lapo 2018
Chianti Classico · Italy
$30
Winemaker’s Notes:
Fresh, tannic, with aroma of berries, strong structure, earthy and intense taste.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2019
Cerasuolo di Vittoria · Italy
$21
Winemaker’s Notes:
From the countryside of Dorilli, between the sea and the Iblean mountains, known as the centre of excellence for Sicilian food, comes our Cerasuolo di Vittoria. The name of the only DOCG in Sicily comes from ‘Cerasa’, cherry in Sicilian dialect. It is produced from the indigenous varieties Nero d’Avola and Frappato. A unique wine, recognisable and unforgettable for its youthful flavours and aromas of cherry, strawberry and pomegranate, due to the particular soil and climate in which the grapes are cultivated. A wine which like few others combines tradition and delicious wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Napa Valley · United States
$49.99
Winemaker’s Notes:
The 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is expressive and inviting, with a bouquet of wild blackberry and fresh black currant fruit alongside delicate floral notes of geranium and violet, with warmer notes of caramel, sweet cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper spice coming through from the oak integration. On the palate, the berry fruit profile continues with juicy blackberry, cassis and strawberry, but there are also hints of sweet tobacco, brown spice and bittersweet chocolate, giving this Cabernet a rich charm and fullness. Seamlessly integrated oak and cocoa-powdery tannins provide a plush mouthfeel and add layers of complexity, all wrapping up with a lengthy textured finish. Incredibly approachable and pleasing upon release, this wine is sure to impress and pair well alongside many culinary treats.
Valadorna Toscana 2015
Toscana · Italy
$55
Winemaker’s Notes:
This Merlot-led blend is sourced primarily from the Valadorna and Capraia blocks, which produce the estate’s most complex and mineral-led expressions of this variety. The wine exhibits high-toned aromas of ripe black cherries, vanilla bean and cedar. With bright acidity, the wine expands quickly on the palate. Plush tannins carry through the center with a fine, tingling finish. The palate shows flavors of tart cherry pie, dried red berries and black licorice, with a long finish of white pepper, dusty roses and stony minerality.
Albis 2016
Maipo Valley · Chile
$52
Winemaker’s Notes:
On the nose, the wine has an expression of spices and graphite, classic characteristics of the Maipo Andes valley. In the mouth it is smooth and elegant, with a very good persistence and long finish. Albis is a wine capable of expressing itself very well over the years.
Saint-Estèphe 2016
Saint-Estèphe · France
$54.99
Winemaker’s Notes:
The bouquet of this wine expresses notes of blackcurrant, cherry and liquorice as well as a hint of minerals. Rich and complex, this wine maintains the balance between density and harmony, power and refinement, race and the precision of its tannins.
The Essence Of Oregon Pinot Noir 2018
Oregon · United States
$26.99
Winemaker’s Notes:
The garnet red, 2018 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir showcases what A to Z does best. A vibrant, complex nose opens with floral, stone fruit and berry aromas – rose petal, violet, pomegranate, plum cherry, raspberry, black currant, boysenberry – that deepen with spice and wood notes – cinnamon, white pepper, thyme, vanilla, cedar, sandalwood, chocolate. Gentle oak aging adds definition supporting a delicious, harmonious balance between tannin, acid and fruit. The 2018 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir is a prime example of the benefits of working with fruit grown in all of the remarkable valleys of Western Oregon.
Bonne Vivante Blend 2017
Oakville · United States
$75
Winemaker’s Notes:
Dusted blackberries and muddled boysenberries draw you into fascinating aromatics of grilled sage, rosemary, and toasted almonds. Dark fruit tones of Santa Rosa plums, huckleberry reduction, and sun-ripened pluots reveal a generously robust mid-palate. The finish shows a tension that inspires the senses of the mind, defining reason for wine, compelling the next sip.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Alexander Valley · United States
$70.00
Winemaker’s Notes:
Focusing first on the cabernet fruit from four mineral-rich, volcanic soil sites nestled on cooler hillside slopes in the Alexander Valley, this vintage’s blend is uniquely crafted with delicate inclusions of merlot, malbec, and petit verdot.
Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2018
Sta. Rita Hills · United States
$40
Winemaker’s Notes:
The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is located in Santa Barbara County between the towns of Lompoc and Buellton. It is the only East-West Valley on the north coast of Nonh America. This unusual geography funnels the wind and fog in directly from the Pacific Ocean to the vines and makes this one of our coolest grape growing regions. The soils in our Sta. Rita Hills vineyards are also unique as they possess an extremely high amount of calcium. This combination of unique geography and soils yield smaller berries which leads to our most concentrated, structured, and dark colored Pinot Noirs.
Côtes-du-Rôbles Rouge 2018
Paso Robles · United States
$34
Winemaker’s Notes:
This wine is the perfect example of what happens when you integrate European wine characteristics with vibrant California fruit, or simply put, “the charm of Old-World wines without the funk.” The Cotes-du-Robles has aromas of violets and rose petals with a deluge of strawberry, blueberry and red raspberry that coats the palate nicely. This wine is very drinkable now and will age well in the next 3 to 5 years. This medium bodied red Rhone blend goes well with a plate of charcuterie with aged cheeses, a braised pork chop with a peppercorn sauce, or even a roasted red-pepper beef stew.
Reserva Rioja (Finca Ygay) 2015
Rioja · Spain
$27
Winemaker’s Notes:
Tangible proof of elegance, balance and constancy characteristic of the Marques de Murrieta Winery and its surrounding vineyards situated in the Ygay Estate, it is a red reserva wine with a balanced aging of two years in new and partly new American oak barrels and a year and a half in bottle. The result is an elegant wine that combines complexity and fineness, summing up the best attributes of our identity and actuality. Marqués de Murrieta is more than a brand in the international market, it represents age-old wisdom expressed in one of the most recognized wines of Spain.
Justification 2018
Paso Robles · United States
$60
Winemaker’s Notes:
With Justification, the Old World meets the New with a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This wine expresses the spirit of a few right bank French Bordeaux producers who highlight Cabernet Franc with its complex expression of herbs, red fruit and elegant structure, only with a Paso Robles twist of full, mature fruit. A versatile pairing wine to a wide range of foods, the 2018 Justification is perfect for a romantic dinner in front of a crackling fire or a summer’s evening barbeque.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018
Sonoma Coast · United States
$40
Winemaker’s Notes:
Our Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a carefully crafted blend of Red Car’s most notable, cool-climate vineyards in Fort Ross and Occidental. Cool temperatures and close proximity to the Pacific Ocean in each of these remote coastal locations, lend to naturally low alcohol and high acidity in our wines. The 2018 was aged in primarily neutral French Oak barrels for 11 months, and is both un-fined and un-filtered. This wine is a consistent reminder of what defines Sonoma Coast, a benchmark for Red Car, and the region.
Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
Russian River Valley · United States
$55
Winemaker’s Notes:
The 2017 Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir opens with lush aromas of dark cherries, summer strawberries, and blackberry jam. Generous layers of black tea, freshly foraged mushrooms, dried tobacco, and black olive provide balance to the decadent fruit profile. Intensely concentrated fruit works in seamless harmony with the savory secondary flavors, while finely tuned oak tannins provide texture and exceptional length.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Paso Robles · United States
$28
Winemaker’s Notes:
With attractive aromas of black fruit and spice, this smooth, ready-to-drink Cabernet Sauvignon is made in Paso Robles with the same care as the highest quality, traditionally crafted Bordeaux styled wines. Our grapes are hand-picked and berry-sorted for consistent quality and flavor. Justin Cabernet Sauvignon then spends more than a year in traditional small oak barrels to impart depth and complexity, highlighting the exceptional balance of flavors and textures that the unique climate and soils of Paso Robles add to the classic Cabernet character in this exceptional wine.
I feel your overlooking the beautiful wines of British Columbia is a loss for wine enthusiasts. Please look to the Okanagan Valley for rich and vibrant reds! Henricsson Vineyard, Foxtrot and the Upper Bench winery are just a few.
Thank you for the feedback! Yes, there are obviously regions and areas where we don’t have access to sample as much as we would like. So while BC is definitely an interesting wine region – the wines are notoriously difficult to get a hold of in the States (where most of our readership is).