This is a great wine.  It took the gold medal at Denver International Wine Festival, in the “Other New World” category.  And this wine is deserving of the honor.  Hailing from Tupungato, a sub region of Mendoza, Argentina, this is a blend of 50% Bonarda and 50% Malbec.  Planted in sandy soil at an altitude of 3600ft, the vines are grown on a high trellis. This full bodied wine sees 18 months in oak.  Aromas of dark fruits,...

I just had my first introduction to the Vinaceous wines, with their 2006 bottling of Red Right Hand.  I must say that I usually take no heed to labels when purchasing or tasting wine.  One must not judge a book by it’s cover, or a wine by it’s label.  But the packaging is great.  It hearkens to days past, when stage performances were the main source of entertainment for the masses.  It conjured up images of times when many...

The wines produced by Bodegas Alto Moncayo represent the modern era of Spanish wine making. Hailing from the Campo de Borja region of Spain, these wines are lush, full bodied and usually superb. The 2006 Bodegas Alto Moncayo “Veraton” is no exception. 100% Garnacha; this wine has a nose full of white pepper, cinnamon, liquorice, stewy blueberry and blackberry. As it opens in the glass it develops a beautiful floral note. ...

Here’s a bottle I purchased many years ago, for a steal (about $20.00). I had been saving it, and saving it for a special occasion.  And truthfully, I purchased it already past it’s prime.  So I finally took the plunge tonight and popped the cork. I am usually not sentimental about keeping wine past it’s time…  if you over-age your wine, you have defeated it’s purpose.  It looses all of the beautiful...

I’m constantly on the hunt for rich, full bodied wines for under $20.  Most just don’t deliver.  The majority of bargain wines are made from bargain grapes.  Flavors are not as concentrated, which means they can not be extracted as much during the wine making process.  The end result: light bodied, fruity wines with little to no character. I recently picked up a bottle of 2008 Bitch Grenache, from Southern Australia. ...

It’s summer, and it’s hot.  Here’s a few of my favorites that are guaranteed to please, without breaking the bank.  Keep in mind I will not discuss specific vintages, as availability varies based upon your area and the specific wine shop that you frequent. Naia Verdejo, Rueda, Spain: Naia is from the Rueda region of Spain, made from the Verdejo grape.  Verdejo has been the traditional white varietal on the left bank...