Rhone Red Blend from Cotes du Rhone, Rhone, France
Mostly Grenache and Syrah
Purchase Price: $14.99
Wilford Wong 91,James Suckling 90, ElsBob 89
ABV 14.5%
A deep garnet in color, medium to full body, aromas of raspberry and pepper. On the palate it is full of red fruits, smooth, silky tannins, with a medium finish.
A very good fine wine at a fair price. I’ve recently seen this priced from $13-18. Likely close to peak quality, drink now. Cheers.
Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza, Argentina
Cabernet Sauvignon 100%
Purchase Price: $11.99
Tasting Panel 91,Wine Enthusiast 87, ElsBob 88
ABV 13.5%
A deep ruby in color, medium to full body, aromas of red and black fruits, pepper, with a touch of vanilla. On the palate it is moderately acidic, slightly tannic, with a long, structured finish.
A very good table wine at a fair price. Drink now. Cheers.
Trivia: The Trivento name is a tip of the corkscrew to the three dominant winds around Mendoza: Polar, Zonda, and Sudestada. Polar winds bring cold air from the south. Zonda are strong, warm, and very dry west winds coming off Andes, often producing dust storms. They would be similar to Santa Ana and Chinook winds in the US. The Sudestada winds come from the southeast bringing humid air and generally prolonged rainfall.
Tuscan Blends from Tuscany, Italy
Sangiovese 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Merlot 15%
Purchase Price: $14.97
James Suckling 91, ElsBob 92
ABV 14.0%
A medium garnet with a tawny tinge in color, medium to full body, aromas of cherry and spice. On the palate it is acidic, the tannins are soft, with a long finish.
An excellent fine wine at a great price. Drink now. Cheers.
Trivia: The Ricasoli family claims their barony dates back to the court of Charlemagne in the 9th century and they officially began producing wine in 1141; making it the oldest continuously operating winery in Italy. The family is also known for creating the first Chiantis in 1872. Chiantis originally were a blend with the family’s recipe being 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, and 15% Malvasia Bianca (a white grape). For much of its history, Chianti was made with a mix of red and white grapes. It wasn’t until 1996 that 100% Sangiovese was allowed to be called a Chianti. Today, Chianti must contain at least 80% Sangiovese, a testament that even perfection must be tinkered with.
Other Red Blends from Jumilla, Spain
Syrah 50%, Monastrell 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%
Purchase Price: $11.99
James Suckling 90, ElsBob 91
ABV 14.5%
A dense dark purple color, medium to full body, aromas of black fruit and spice. On the palate it is acidic, noticeable tannins but smooth, with a long finish.
An excellent fine wine at a great price. Recent prices are in the $14-17 range. Drink now. Cheers.
Trivia: Jumilla is a wine DO of the Murcia region near the Mediterranean in southeastern Spain. Monastrell (Mourvedre) is the dominant grape grown in this hot, arid region. In good years the DO produces about 100 million bottles of wine but the area has experienced severe droughts for the last couple of years and as such yields have decreased by 50-80%. 2024 yields supplied enough grapes to produce approximately 45 million bottles of wine. On the brighter side the grapes were said to have achieved “perfect ripeness” but with only average sugar levels.
Like many renowned wine-producing regions, Tuscany boasts a variety of iconic blends. Some, such as Chianti, are strictly regulated, while others, like Super Tuscans and Tuscan Blends, allow for more creative liberty.
Chianti must contain at least 80% Sangiovese, with the remaining 20% permitted to include Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon, and/or Merlot. Winemakers also have the option to produce 100% Sangiovese Chianti. These wines fall under Italy’s DOCG system, which regulates blend composition, sourcing, and aging across four levels: DOC, Classico DOCG, Superiore DOCG, and Classico Gran Selezione DOCG.
Super Tuscan is a militant category that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s when winemakers wanted more freedom from the strict regulations of Chiantis. Super Tuscans often blend Sangiovese with international grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Syrah, creating bold, structured wines. Since they don’t conform to traditional Chianti regulations, they are labeled under the IGT system, which allows more leeway. Actually, a lot of leeway. IGT wines can be produced in any of Tuscany’s 10 provinces from any grape or form imaginable: red, white, sweet, dry, or sparkling.
Then there are Tuscan Blends, a general term for wines made in Tuscany that mix different grape varietals. This could include Chianti-style blends, Super Tuscans, or other unique regional combinations. Unlike Chianti or Super Tuscans, “Tuscan Blend” isn’t an official classification; it’s more of a descriptive term for any blended wine from this region otherwise known in the rest of the world as a “Red Blend” or “Other Red Blend”.
Graphic: A traditional Chianti Bottle.
Cabernet Sauvignon from Navarro, Spain
Purchase Price: $11.99
Wine Enthusiast 93, ElsBob 90
ABV 13.5%
A clear dark cherry red color, aromas of black fruit, licorice, and spice. On the palate it is acidic, subtle tannins, smooth, with a long finish.
An excellent table wine at a great price. Not as bold or complex as a Napa Cab but still interesting and worthwhile. Drink now. Cheers.
Posted
Mencia from Bierzo, Spain
Purchase Price: $12.99
James Suckling 90, ElsBob 90
ABV 13.0%
A deep garnet color with aromas of black fruits, plum, and spice. Medium-full body, medium acidity, tannic with a hint of black pepper and slate. Will pair well with red meat and spicy vegetable dishes.
An excellent table wine at a great price. I’ve seen this wine listed as low as $11—well worth picking up a few bottles at that price. Drink now. Cheers.
Trivia: Bierzo is Spanish DOP wine region in northwest Spain that has grown grapes since the time of the Greeks and Romans, but it was the monks of the Middle Ages who brought the area viticulture into prominence. Currently the DOP has 1030 growers and 74 wineries, covering less than 6000 acres, producing in aggregate about 7 million bottles of wine each year.
Port from Australia
Predominately but not limited to Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro, and Cabernet
Purchase Price: $99.99
ElsBob 92
ABV 19.0%
A deep tawny color with aromas of licorice and raisins, full-bodied, sweet with a long finish. A perfect after dinner dessert wine.
An excellent non-vintage port at a fair price. If you look around, you might find it for about $80. Drink now. Cheers.
From Penfolds Overview: With each vintage, varietal batches are selected for Grandfather. These batches are individually aged in seasoned old oak casks before being blended together at 14 years of age. This blend is then introduced into the ‘Grandfather Solera’. This Solera consists of six stages that are designed to fully integrate all components offering consistency and freshness with a final minimum average blended age of 20 years. (Ed. Current vintages in the Solera range from 1960-2004.)
Bordeaux from Bordeaux, France
Merlot 100%
Purchase Price: $14.99
Vinous 92, James Suckling 92, Wilfred Wong 91, ElsBob 90
ABV 14.0%
A dark ruby to a dark purple wine with aromas of cherry and a touch of vanilla; medium bodied, smooth tannins, dry, with short to medium finish. This wine will pair well with ambrosial aromas such as lamb but stay clear of overly spicy foods.
An excellent fine wine at a great price. You should let this vintage sit for another year or two and hopefully it will develop a little more character. Cheers.
Note: The label does not explicitly mention that this wine is 100% Merlot, nor does it say it’s a Bordeaux. The retail shops refer to this wine as a Bordeaux and the only grape it mentions on its label is Merlot–the only varietal that the Clos de l’Esperance vineyard grows. Lussac-Saint-Emilion is a wine appellation located in the Bordeaux region and as such it can be called a Bordeaux.
The World’s Best Vineyards, known for curating exceptional wine tourism destinations, publishes an annual list of the top vineyards worldwide. Their selections highlight not only wine quality but also the visitor experience, including tastings, accommodations, and unique attractions at the vineyard and in its surrounding area.
For 2024, the title of the best vineyard in Europe, and the world, has been awarded to Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal, situated in the small but charming town of Elciego, Spain, at the southern edge of the Rioja Alavesa wine region in northern Spain.
With a legacy spanning over 160 years, the vineyard and winery trace their origins back to 1858. Their first Rioja wine was produced just four years later, in 1862. For over a century, Marqués de Riscal crafted only red wines until they daringly broke with tradition and local reverence in 1972 by introducing their first white wine from Rueda. This leap into white winemaking is honored on their website with a whimsical and enigmatic photograph of the swimming pigs of the Bahamas. The choice of imagery invites unlimited speculation: pigs fly, pigs swim, white wine in Rioja, let your imagination freely wander.
In 2006, Marqués de Riscal expanded its offerings with the inauguration of the City of Wine, a striking complex featuring a hotel and entertainment facilities crowned by a “billowing titanium and stainless-steel roof;” designed by architect Frank Gehry. Visitors to the City of Wine can immerse themselves in the vineyard’s rich history and culture while enjoying luxurious relaxation at the Spa Vinothérapie Caudalie, fine dining at multiple restaurants, shopping at the wine boutique, or even celebrating their love with a wedding, perfect for couples old and young.
Oh, and enjoy the wines: Tempranillo, Tempranillo Blends, Tempranillo/Graciano, Garnacha/Viura, Verdejo, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Marques de Riscal Reserva Rioja’s (Tempranillo) various vintages are consistently rated in the 88-91 range and sell for about $25. Cheers.
Source: World’s Best Vineyards. Marques de Riscal Vineyard. Graphic: Swimming Pigs of the Bahamas.
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