2006 Villa Pillo 93 points

Toscana Borgoforte 2006 $12



A beautiful red blend with heady aromatics; The palate is lush blend of black cherry, currant, blackberry and anise. Full-bodied with restrained tannins and a silky mouth-feel. With a long and beautiful finish with hints of leather and vanilla.

2004 Muruve Crianza 92 points

Muruve 2004 Crianza (Toro); $15

Great wine, great price equals a superior value; Black plum, black cherry, earth and cola fill the palate with flavor. This red is thick and full-bodied with big tannins and tons of flavor. Fabulous wine making leads to great wine. With a full-mouth coating finish that's long and smooth, drink now thru 2014.

2006 Montevina Terra d'Oro Barbera 88 points

Montevina 2006 Terra d'Oro Barbera



Full bodied with juicy dark berry flavors; Black cherry, black plum, blackberry and earth on a brawny palate. This red does benefit from a airing out to balance the tannins. The finish is bone dry and a little rough, but still pretty good, drink now.

2004 Zefina Serience Red 89 points

Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, $25



This is a blend of 42% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 11% Mourvèdre, 7% Cinsault and 5% Counoise. With ripe fruit flavors of black cherry, raspberry, cedar and allspice on the palate. With well integrated fruit at it's core and a bone dry profile makes for a tasty red blend, drink now.

2006 DFJ Vinhos Portada Red 86 points

DFJ Vinhos 2006 Portada Red (Estremadura); $8



Tons of juicy red fruit and flavors for at a great price; Red raspberry, currant, juicy strawberry and acacia flowers fill the palate with flavor. Uncomplicated, but still balanced with a light juicy finish.

2006 Rigatoni Red 88 points

Rigatoni 2006 Red (Puglia), $11




It's the perfect pizza, pasta red wine; With a pretty palate of black cherry, blackberry, allspice and sun dried tomato's. Well balanced and very dry on the finish and for 11 bucks this can't be beat. Buy this one by the case, but drink up within the year.

2006 Dow's Vale do Bomfim 89 points

Portuguese Red, Douro, $12

The sweet fruit is wrapped around by undertones of wood; blackberry, blueberry, plum and vanilla are layered very well. Restrained tannins with bright acids and hints of vanilla lead to a smooth uncomplicated finish.

2005 Numanthia-Termes 93 points

Tinta de Toro, Toro, $28


Another home run from Numanthia! Usually they only produce 300 cases so get this fabulous red while you can. Velvet on the palate with blackberry, plum, chocolate and light chard smokey oak. Smooth and balanced on a long, lingering finish with notes of leather and spice, drink now thru 2012.

2006 Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red 90 points

Red Blend, Columbia Valley (WA), $20

Tamarack Cellars produces some great wine and this red blend has always been one of my favorites. Multi-layered ripe red fruit with notes of black cherry, red currants, cocoa and caramel on a full-bodied palate. Earth and oak glide through the mid-palate and a long lingering finish.

2004 Casa de Santar Red 90 points

Casa de Santar 2004 Red Wine (Portugal); $17

This red wine needs time to open up, give it a couple of hours. This ripe, modern-style wine has clean black cherry, and chocolate aromas. Medium-bodied with more black cherry, licorice and spice on the palate. The finish is smooth and well balanced with hints of vanilla and leather. Drink now thru 2010.

2005 Soos Creek Sundance Red Wine 91 points

Red Blend, Columbia Valley (WA), $20

The Sundance is Bordeaux-like in its flavors and structure or as we call it a red blend. This is a well made wine with tempered spicy juicy red fruit on the nose. The tannins are wrapped tightly around cassis, mulberry, spice and smokey oak. Well integrated fruit with soft, smooth cocoa and toast on the finish. Drink now thru 2011.

2006 Santa Carolina Reserva Merlot 88 points

Santa Carolina 2006 Reserva Merlot (Colchagua Valley); $10

I think Merlot is one of the most under-appreciated and maligned grapes. Cedar, chocolate and big blueberry stand up to the prominent toasty oak rather nicely. Full bodied on the palate with undertones of espresso, blackberry and other ripe fruit. Finishes off with toffee, smoke and green herbs, offering a surprising complexity for a wine of this price.

2006 Bodegas Luis Gurpegui Muga 87 points

2006 Tempranillo Viño de la Tierra de Extremadura Pintoresco, Spain $9

Very tasty for the price and such an easy drinking, light bodied table wine. Red cherry and plum fruit, with smoke and char accents flood the palate of this juicy red wine. The nose has a heavy earth component, with a light, lean finish.

2005 Balletto Zinfandel 89 points

Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, $15


I like this wine, It's spicy bright on the nose, with hints of raspberry and plum.
The palate brings dark berries framed by toasty oak with coffee, tar, black cherry and a herbal component. Medium bodied with balanced acidity and a light smooth finish. Drink now thru 2010, only 1388 cases produced.

2005 Airfield Estates Aviator Red 89 points

Red Blend, Yakima Valley, $25


This red blend consists of 40% Syrah, 35% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, when blended correctly are very tasty. Well integrated dark fruit with hints of raspberry, crushed black pepper, chocolate and cedar. Merlot adds a lush, silky layer and oak aging restrains the tannins to this well blended red wine. Drink now thru 2010.