Miali Primitivo Salento 2010 IGT

Cantine Miali is a winery in Salento, Puglia, Italy producing this fantastic value primitivo, stainless steel fermentation followed by aging in bottle for 6 months. Deep ruby colors, dramatic aromas of dark red fruits, maple vinaigrette, and dark chocolate, accompanied on the palate with syrup, fig newtons, vanilla, and ripe black cherry. Nice acidity, mild tannins and a beautifully long finish. Found this for $12.99 at Enoteca DiPalo on Grand Street in Little Italy, NY.

Thanksgiving Pick: Tangley Oaks Merlot 2010

Excellent Thanksgiving Pick!

It seems that the producers use a team philosophy in selecting the best Merlot grapes from the Napa, Sonoma and Central Coast area. They strive to stay true to the tradition of the particular varietal, separate them into lots, and choose the best.

Stainless steel tank fermented, red fruits, dark cherry, summer fruit, plum, blackberry, mocha, coffee, herbal, umami, nicely balanced. This would match very well with a Turkey dinner.

I discovered this gem at my favorite place to shop for wine, Pop's Wines & Spirits in Island Park for $14. I looked around and average price is just under $20, and IMHO Tangley Oaks Merlot drinks like a $40 bottle.

Lagoalva Espirito 2011, Portugal

From the Tejo region of Portugal, this delicious red wine is made with 50% Touriga Nacional and 50% Castelao, fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in French and American oak casks for 4 to 6 months.

Dark ruby/purple colors with violet and earthy herbal aromas, concentrated flavors with red and dark fruits, vanilla, coffee, blueberries, spice, black pepper, and glycerine. I know that sounds like a lot going on at once. but... it works. Chewy fruit on the palate with smooth acidity and mild tannins. Finishes long and pretty with smoky undertones. Found this at Keuka Kafe (a Wine Bar) on Queens Blvd where it was $9 per glass, but can probably be found in wine shops for under $12 per bottle, I'll have to check into that.

Aalto 2009, Aalto Bodegas y Vinedos

Another red from Spain's Ribera del Duero, Aalto Bodegas Y Vinedos hand harvests grapes, then ages for 23 months in French and American oak barrels, followed by additional months once bottled. This gem has beautiful aromas of fresh  perfumed flowers, wood, both red and dark fruit, black cherry, contrasting with smoked meats and cigar box, beautiful flavors of blueberries, licorice, spice, cassis, dark cocoa with an herbaceous edge. With the holidays coming up, I would suggest springing for this baby at around $40.

Malleolus 2009, Bodegas Emilio Moro

A very lively red from Ribera del Duero in Spain, a Bordeaux style, dark brooding colors in the glass, aromas of raw wood and torn bark, black fruits with a certain minerality, big round flavors and the raw wood is deceptively missing, intense concentration of ripe cherries, spice and a hint of sweetness. Silky tannins and long smooth finish.

Elvio Cogno Dolcetto d'Alba 2010 Vigna del Mandorlo

From Elvio Cogno, in the Northern Italian region of Piemonte, this dry red Dolcetto d'Alba shows dark brooding purple colors in the glass with violets, floral and mint aromas. Flavors of vanilla, toasted hazelnut, pungent earth tones of tar and glycerine, reminiscent of caramelized figs, marinated peppers, finish is tart with gripping tannins and very low acidity. We had this bottle at Il Poeta in Forest Hills.