Category Archives: Red Wine

Old Soul Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

4 September 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , Leave a comment

Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi, California

Purchase Price: $11.99

Tasting Panel 91, Wine Enthusiast 90, ElsBob 90

ABV 14.5%

Garnet in color, aromas of plums, full-bodied, dry with a tannic finish.

An excellent fine wine at a very reasonable and friendly price.

Trivia:  The first mug of A&W Root Beer was poured in Lodi in 1919, making it the birthplace of one of America’s earliest fast-food franchises. Also, John Fogerty admits he never actually visited Lodi but chose the name for the CCR song because it sounded cool: “Oh Lord, I’m stuck in Lodi again”. Continuing with Lodi irreverence, the town’s west edge features the geographic head scratcher of South Lower Sacramento Road located north of North Lower Sacramento Road.

Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

27 August 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California

Cabernet Sauvignon 83%, Merlot 13%, Cabernet Franc 2%, Petit Verdot 2%

Purchase Price: $59.99

James Suckling 92, Wilfred Wong 92, Connoisseurs Guide 91, Wine Spectator 90, Wine Buyer 90, ElsBob 92

ABV 14.5%

A dark ruby wine with aromas of anise, dark fruits, spices, and vanilla. Full-bodied, with tingly fresh acidity, tannins with a bite, and flavors of blackberries and black cherries on the palate. A wonderful long finish.

An excellent fine Napa wine at a fair price. Recent retail prices range from $60 to $115, with a median price just under $70 for a 92-point 2019 vintage. Selected retail is $78.

Trivia: Founded in 1976 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in St. Helena, Duckhorn Vineyards was one of Napa Valley’s first 40 wineries. Their inaugural releases in 1980 included both Cabernet Sauvignon and the now-iconic Merlot. Over the decades, they expanded into Sonoma, Anderson Valley, and Washington State under various duck-themed labels.

Beginning in 2007, the Duckhorns began selling controlling interests to private equity firms. After several transitions to various companies, the winery was acquired by Butterfly Equity in 2024, a firm specializing in food and beverage investments.

Dr. Frank Konstantin Blaufrankisch 2022

13 August 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , Leave a comment

Blaufrankisch from Finger Lakes, New York, U.S.

Purchase Price: $27.99

ElsBob 87

ABV 12%

Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and spice. Red fruits dominate the palate with firm tannins and a medium body, but the acidity is not for the faint of heart, tending to overshadow the fruit. Decanting is recommended to soften its sharper edges. Will pair well with hard, sharp cheeses.

A very good table wine, but not worth $28. If you can find it for $12 or less give it a try.

Trivia: Blaufrankisch has been called “the Pinot Noir of the East” for its finesse-meets-spice profile (not really) and its deep roots in Central European wine culture. It’s also a parent of the Zweigelt, Austria’s most planted red grape.

Blau means “blue” in German, referring to the grape’s dark skin, while Fränkisch historically denoted noble grape varieties in contrast to lesser “Hunnic” or more rustic ones. Despite its Germanic name, Blaufränkisch likely originated in what is now Slovenia. It’s a cross between Gouais Blanc (a prolific parent of many noble grapes such as Chardonnay, Gamay, and Riesling) and Blaue Zimmettraube.  

Castellani Sangiovese Toscana 2019

7 August 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , Leave a comment

Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy

Purchase Price: $14.99

James Suckling 91, Wilfred Wong 90, ElsBob 88

ABV 13%

A medium to dark garnet red, medium-bodied wine with aromas of red cherries and spice. Forward tannins and mild acidity give it a bit of structure, with a hint of sweetness that softens the edges. The finish is short but pleasing, an easy companion for pizza, tomato-based pastas, and hard cheeses.

A very good table wine at a reasonable price. Recent prices range between $14-24. Anything over $17 is a bridge too far.

Trivia: This wine hails from the Castellani family’s coastal vineyards in Tuscany, near the Tyrrhenian Sea, and is classified as a Toscana IGT. Though it’s made from 100% Sangiovese, a composition fully permissible under Chianti DOCG rules, it does not qualify as a Chianti, as the vineyards lie outside the designated Chianti zones.

The winemaker notes that they follow an “old traditional Tuscan vinification method.” Given the wine’s modest 13% ABV, this likely refers to fermentation in concrete vats, extended skin contact, and the use of native yeasts, a nod to pre-industrial winemaking. It almost certainly does not involve the more elaborate Governo all’Uso Toscano (translates roughly to Tuscan-style winemaking) method, which requires an early harvest, partial grape drying, and a second fermentation that typically results in higher alcohol and a richer body.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Cabernet Franc 2021

31 July 2025 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Cabernet Franc from Finger Lakes, New York, U.S.

Purchase Price: $27.99

ElsBob 89

ABV 12%

A clear medium garnet to a deeper ruby in color, aromas of fresh red fruits, medium-bodied, slightly acidic with balanced, moderate tannins. A nice finish but brief.

A very good table wine at an elevated price. Currently retails from $28-30. Pay the suggested retail for the novelty but a second bottle, probably not.

Trivia: The first known vineyard in the Finger Lakes area was planted by William Bostwick in 1829. In 1860 the Pleasant Valley Wine Company became the first commercial winery in the area, followed soon after by the Taylor Wine Company in the early 1880s (closed 1995). Konstantin Frank planted the first vinifera (European) vines in 1957 in the Finger Lakes and the winery lays claim to some of the oldest vines still producing in the US. In 1982 Finger Lakes AVA was officially recognized. Today over 100 wineries dot the region with Riesling the signature varietal.

Bodegas La Purisma Old Vines Red Blend 2019

21 July 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Red Blend Other (GSM) from Yecla, Spain

Monastrell (Mourvedre) 85%, Syrah 10%, Garnacha (Grenache) 5%

Purchase Price: $12.99

James Suckling 93, Wilfred Wong 90, ElsBob 89

ABV 14.5%

A dark cherry in color, medium to full-bodied, aromas of black ripe fruits with a touch of vanilla and spice. Balanced acidity and tannins with a strong, long finish.

A very good fine wine that retails around $11-19. Don’t pay more than $15 for this wine. Drink now or let it age for up to another 5 years. Cheers.

Trivia: Bodegas La Purísima is a cooperative of small-holding farmers in Yecla, Spain, united under the stewardship of María Teresa Ruiz González. Their old-vine Monastrell, over 40 years in age, thrives on 250 acres of sand and limestone soil. Grapes are picked by hand in late October, preserving the integrity of the fruit and the tradition behind the growers and the blend.

Millworks Pillar & Post Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

14 July 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California

Purchase Price: $19.99 (retail range $20-22)

Cellar Tracker 89, ElsBob 89

ABV 14.5%

A deep, dense red with full body and aromas of black currants and blackberries. Tannins are assertive up front, balanced by acidity, leading to an excellent finish.

A fine wine with surprising structure and complexity at this price point. Drink now or hold for 2-3 more years.

Trivia: This wine was produced by Millworks, a now-defunct label and bottling entity owned by Paul Hobbs. Though both the company and label are no longer active, the wine’s origins trace back to Paul Hobbs Winery, where it was vinified using Hobbs’ signature methods and materials. The grapes were sourced from Napa Valley vineyards not owned by Hobbs, placing this bottle stylistically adjacent to his Sonoma Crossbarn project, which similarly emphasizes quality fruit and precise techniques, including wines crafted from both estate and non-estate sources. A quiet echo of Hobbs’ craftsmanship, delivered under a separate name. (Editor’s note: This section was pieced together from disparate and incomplete sources, so its accuracy may be imperfect.)

Tenuta Rapitala Hugonis DOC 2019

9 July 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , Leave a comment

Red Blend Other from Sicily

Cabernet Sauvignon 50% and Nero d’Avola 50%

Purchase Price: $75 (Restaurant)

ElsBob 91

ABV 14.0%

A dense deep red, full-bodied, with aromas of red fruit and spice, well balanced with tannins that add a fine even structure, and a very long, pleasant finish. It was an excellent pairing with our entrées of Osso Buco and Braised Italian Ribs.

An excellent fine wine that retails from $38-60. $38 is a fair price to pay but $60 is a bit much. Drink now or hold for another 4-5 years. Cheers.

Trivia: Nero d’Avola grapes produce a full-bodied wine high in tannins with medium acidity and tastes of red fruits. Almost all Nero d’Avola wines come from the dry farms of Sicily and are a natural for blending with Cabs and Shirazes. The name originates from the southern Sicilian town of Avola which began growing the grape several centuries ago.

Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari 2022

30 June 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Bordeaux Red Blend from Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot

Purchase Price: $139 (Restaurant)

Wine Enthusiast 96, James Suckling 95, Jeb Dunnuck 95, Wine Spectator 93, Decanter 93, Vinous 91, ElsBob 94

ABV 14.5%

A dark red, full-bodied wine with aromas of black fruits, silky tannins, and remarkable balance. The long, enjoyable finish paired exceptionally well with our main courses of Osso Buco and Braised Italian Ribs.

A superb fine wine, currently retailing between $80–$120. Drink now or hold for 5–10 years. Cheers.

Trivia: Ca’Marcanda, GAJA’s estate in Bolgheri with roots in Barbaresco, Piedmont, part of the Wilson Daniels portfolio, was acquired in 1996 after 18 distinct and arduous negotiations with the previous owners. The name comes from a Piedmontese dialect expression meaning “The House of Endless Negotiations”, a nod to the persistence and diplomacy required to secure the land.

By Italian cultural standards, the name is not a slight but a compliment. Negotiation is seen as an art form, a process of relationship-building, emotional intelligence, and mutual respect. Naming the estate Ca’Marcanda honors that tradition: a story of tenacity, dialogue, and reverence for the craft of agreement, worn as a badge of honor by both buyer and seller.

Amalaya Malbec 2021

24 June 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Malbec from Salta, Argentina

Malbec 85%, Taninat 10%, Petit Verdot 5%

Purchase Price: $14.99

Decanter 95, Wilfred Wong 91, James Suckling 91, Robert Parker 90, ElsBob 88

ABV 13.9%

A deep ruby in color, medium to full body, aromas of red fruits and spice. On the palate flavors of plum, very smooth, moderately acidic, with a short finish.

A very good table wine at a fair price. Drink now. Cheers.

Trivia: Salta wine region in the Calchaqui Valley of northwestern Argentina is better known for its white wine: Torrontes, but its Malbecs and Cabernets are gaining adherents. Salta has the highest altitude vineyards in the world with some at a breathless 9000’.