Posted on Jan 31, 2020 in
FEATURES,
OENOPHILE
YOENOPHILE | By Denman Moody –
In the last three months of 2019, I tasted about 200 red wines looking for great values in all price ranges. Most of the wines were good to very good, and I’m sharing my favorites just in time for Valentine’s Day. All were tasted with the proper glassware. Pinot Noir glassware is the most important in order to get the full benefit of the beautiful bouquet and taste of Pinot Noir. The following wines are outstanding:
Vale do Bonfim Douro DOC (Portugal) 2017 Touriga Franca and field blend. Superb at $13.- J.Lohr Pinot Noir Falcon’s Perch Monterey County 2018 Greatly underpriced at $16.
- Crios Cabernet Sauvignon Valle de Uco (Chile) 2018 Surprisingly excellent at $16.
- Oak Farm Tievoli Red Blend Lodi 2018 Zinfandel, Primitivo, Barbera and Petite Sirah at $19.98.
- Cline Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2018 Exciting find at the price point of $20.
- Decoy Zinfandel Sonoma County 2017 Red and black berries perfect with a meat pizza at $22.
- Cline Ancient Vines Carignane Contra Coast County 2017 Rivals Cotes-du-Rhones at $23.
- Trapiche Medalla Malbec Lujan de Cuyo (Argentina) Priced at $24.
Post Scriptum de Chryseia Douro Valley (Portugal) 2017 Should be $47; amazing at $27.- Calera Pinot Noir Central Coast 2017 This wine gives you a clue as to why Duckhorn added Calera to its stable of great wines priced at $30.
- Sosie Syrah Bennett Valley Vivio Vineyard Sonoma County 2016 Perfect with BBQ brisket at $38.
- Cecchi Chianti Classico Riserva 2015 Great compliment to meat pasta cooked with olive oil and tomato sauce at $40.
- J. McClelland Petit Verdot Oak Knoll District Napa Valley 2014 Substantial and pretty at $45.
- Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon California 2015 From the Prisoner Wine Company. Rich and intense at $50.
- Paraduxx Proprietary Red Wine Napa Valley 2016 Bordeaux blend with an extra dollop of Petit Verdot at $50.
- J. Lohr Cuvée PAU Central Coast 2015 Excellent Pauillac look-alike at $50.
- Long Meadow Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014 Chocolate covered cherries at $52.
- Rodney Strong Symmetry Alexander Valley Red Meritage 2014 Aged perfectly at $55.
- EnRoute Pinot Noir Les Pommiers Russian River Valley 2016 Luxurious at $55.
- Storm Vrede Pinot Noir (South Africa) 2016 Possibly the best Pinot in South Africa at $55.
- Saddleback Cellars Merlot Napa Valley 2016 Dark cherries and plums. Only 488 cases at $56.
