Category Archives: Red Wine

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 Though both the company and label are no longer active, the wine’s origins trace back to Paul Hobbs Winery, where it was vinified using Hobbs’ signature methods and materials.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’.

Maison Chapoutier Cotes du Rhone Belleruche Rouge 2022

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

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.

Trivento Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

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

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.

Barone Ricasoli Antico Feudo Toscana Rosso 2021

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

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.

Artiga & Fustel El Campeador 2022

20 May 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

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.

Tuscan Wines

18 May 2025 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

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.