Hill of Content 2004 Clare Valley Grenache Shiraz

Hill of Content Clare Valley Grenache pours purple-maroon with a rich nose of black currants and dried raspberries. A smooth but smoky blackberry and plum palate follows. Medium plus acid and moderate tannins. 10% Shiraz lends weight, depth and balance. This warm-weather interpretation of a classic French blend is a little pricey at $16.00 a bottle, but Hill of Content is still a decent value. 3 Andy Points.

McManis Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon pours purple with an enticing nose of black currants, cedar and spice. Blackberries, coffee and mint add to the palate of this fruit-forward Cabernet. The dry finish is marked by mild tanins and a modist 13.5% alcohol by volume. McManis Family Vineyards has a reputation for value. Priced at $11.00 a bottle, this wine earns 4 Andy Points.

Chateau Beauchene Grande Réserve 2006 Côtes Du Rhône

Chateau Beauchene Grande Réserve pours a rich purple-red with a herbacious cassis nose. A bright palate of cassis and red cherries supported by light tannins follow on this medium-bodied wine.  

Thirty percent Syrah lends backbone and color to the lucious fruit of this Grenache blend. Chateau Beauchene demonstrates the friendly exuberance characteristic of southern Rhône wines and it’s a good value at $18 a bottle. 3 Andy Points.

Liante 2007 Salice Salentino by Castello Monaci

Liante 2007 Salice Salentino by Castello Monaci. Liante offers a captivating nose of red cherries, saddle leather and licorice. Fresh, bright cassis and plum notes follow on the palate. Medium bodied and very approachable, this wine is made in the Puglia region of Italy’s boot and blended from 80% Negromero and 20% Malvasia, both native grapes.

Liante is a great value at $14 a bottle, and it’s a definitional summer-evening red wine for dinner on the veranda. 89 Parker Points and 4 Andy Points.

Deep Purple Lodi Zinfandel California 2007

Deep Purple Lodi Zinfandel tastes like fresh, sweet, blackberry and boysenberry juice, not wine. With no balancing acid or tannins, Deep Purple is as loud as the has-been musical group by the same name.

Unsupported fruit is the dark side of a Lodi Zin that’s crafted without care. Done right, Lodi produces bold wines with broad appeal. Sadly, this is not one of those efforts, but hey—it can be guzzled, making it a great choice for your next frat party once the keg runs dry. One Andy Point.

Ravenwood Napa Valley Old Vine Zinfandel

Napa is known for age-worthy wines with alluring aromas and vibrant fruit. Ravenwood’s Napa Valley Old Vine Zinfandel is a classic combination of Napa terroir and the quintessential California grape. 13% Petite Sirah and 1% Carignane – with characteristic color, acid and tannins – support the Napa profile.

Ravenwood Napa Valley Old Vine Zinfandel pours burnished red with an inviting sweet spice and plum nose nourished for 18 months in French oak. A dark berry and cedar palate fade slowly – you’d never know that there’s 15.4% alcohol by volume. This wine is an exceptional value at $18. 5 Andy Points.

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet

The Australian wine industry has seen some tough sledding – wildfires, droughts and recession have cut output and challenged quality – but Penfolds still stands strong. This reliable vintner spans the price-point spectrum and seemingly offers something to everyone.

Koonunga Hill, a bulk-market Penfolds blend is no exception. Koonunga Hill Shiraz & Cabernet 2007 sports a peppery, blackberry nose with a blackberry and red current palate. Light tannins follow. Decant before drinking. Not a bad effort at about $10 even with a laminate-composite cork. 88 Parker Points and 3 Andy Points.

Domaine la Garrigue “Cuvée Romaine” Côtes du Rhône 2007

If, like me, you need an antidote for the warm weather reds you’ve been drinking all winter long, order a case of Domaine la Garrigue “Cuvée Romaine” Côtes du Rhône 2007. This label offers an opulent black cherry nose with a dry, layered palate of berries, herbs and spice. Perfect acid balance lends a fresh, light, lively mouth feel. Cuvée Romaine is a custom blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah made from 60 to 90 year old vines. This wine is an outstanding value at $12 a bottle. 92 Parker Points and 5 Andy Points.