Trapiche Pinot Noir 2011 Mendoza Argentina

Argentina's largest exported Premium brand, Trapiche has been in existence for 125 years. This Pinot Noir is made from grapes from selected vineyards in the high area of the Mendoza River and in the East region of the Province of Mendoza.

Ruby in color with supple red fruit aromas, hints of strawberry, plum and maraschino cherries accented by a slight minerality. On the palate more signs of plums and red fruit and cherries with a suggestion of rose water. Light in body, smooth in character, with a velvety texture and finish, this bottle is an unbelievable bargain at $7.

Tomaiolo Chianti Riserva 2007 DOCG

This traditional Chianti Classico Riserva has clear purple ruby colors, medium to full body with a smooth bouquet of violets, vanilla, cherry, and oak, besides a subtle reminiscence of figs and currants. On the palate notes of ripe cherry and red fruit with a deep earthiness that carries through to a soft clean finish. Best of all the price tag is about $11.

Campo Viejo Rioja Crianza 2007

I've tried this Crianza from Spain's Rioja region from many vintages and always enjoyed it immensely. The grapes used here are a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 5% Mazuelo that is aged for 12 months in barrel before bottle aging for another 12. Dark ruby colors with earthy aromas marrying with cherries, plum and vanilla and completing the circle with toasted oak. $10.

La Ferme de Suzon Cotes du Rhone 2009

This is a well balanced Cotes du Rhone, with medium-body and an attractive complexity... aromas of ripe cherry, blackberry, and violets and hints of mineral. Flavors of red and black fruit and white pepper, with silky tannins. A bargain at about $10.

Villa Cutò Nero D'Avola 2009 IGT

Let's go back to Sicily for another terrific Nero D'Avola!

This is a great little bottle of Villa Cutò that I found at Deegan's in Woodhaven, Queens for about $8. Garnet red clean colors with resinous aromas of plum, vanilla, and raspberry, under vegetal notes... also warm cherry pie, and on the palate more plums, red cherry and minute hints of spice. Unbelievable price for a very good Nero D'Avola.

Tenuta Rapitala Campo Reale Nero D'Avola 2009 IGT Sicily

Nero D'Avola is one of my favorite Sicilian grapes because of its power and typical in-your-face attitude. Dark ruby red clean colors, fragrant aromas of raspberry pie, ripe fruit, with floral notes, flavors of ripe cherries with good balance and finish. $11/bottle.

Winemaker notes:
The Nero d'Avola vinified on its own gives this wine an exciting red colour, an aroma of ripe fruit and a typical, deep, balanced flavour. Campo Reale comes from vineyards at the heart of the Tenuta Rapitalà, on gentle hills at 400 metres altitude which, because of their history, terrain and climate, endow wines with a special character.

The grapes: 100% Nero d'Avola.

The vineyard: selected parcels of vines in the Tenuta Rapitalà at 400 metres above sea level trained by the Guyot system on clay soil with limited yields of grapes per hectare.

The vinification: the grapes reach full ripeness during the last ten days of September. They are vinified by the red wine method with long macerations to extract the required phenolic substances and tannins. This produces a structured, soft and balanced wine.

The maturation: the maturation takes place in steel and, for a small part in barriques, to enhance the characteristics of balance and complexity which this grape expresses.

The wine: deep ruby colour, and full bouquet which heralds a firm and powerful structure, a distinct but not intrusive amount of tannin and a delicate acidity.

Analytical details: 13,5% alcohol; 5.63 g/l total acidity; 3.60 pH; 4.60 g/l residual sugar; 28.3 g/l dry extract.

Food matches: poultry of all kinds (guinea fowl, duck, turkey), white meat roasts and mature cheeses.

Castillo Montroy (Anecoop) Reserva 2005 Valencia

Castillo Montroy Reserva is made from a blend of 60% Tempranillo and 40% Monastrell grapes and aged for at least 3 years before release. Dark ruby colors with earthy fruit aromas and notes of almond and oak. On the palate ripe cherries, black pepper, raspberry, and hints of licorice, chocolate and spice. An inexpensive price tag of $8, this wine was probably ready to drink a few years ago but still has some attractive qualities.

Notes on Valencia from Wine Searcher:
Valencia DO (Denominación de Origen), located within the Comunidad Valenciana autonomous community of Spain, was traditionally a mass producer for the bulk Spanish wine market, but many estates in the region have shed that image and are employing modern viticultural techniques to attempt to create more stylish wines. Archaeologists have established that winemaking in Valencia dates back thousands of years.