Sam’s Top Wine Picks

Preludio Tempranillo

This Argentinean Tempranillo is a beauty. Dark red in color, it has an intense nose full of dark red fruits, with flavors to match. With medium tannins, a 90 rating from Wine Advocate, and being classed as an outstanding value, this is a great South American red wine.

Ferngrove Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon

This Australian blend is 57% Sauvignon Blanc, 43% Semillon. With a pale yellow, almost light green color, it is quite refreshing on a hot day. Hints of lime and other citrus on the nose, with matching flavors to also include a touch of not-quite-ripe melon. It finishes quite crisp and clean, and would be delightful with oysters or grilled shrimp.

Spinyback Sauvignon Blanc

This beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is more than just a great wine – it actually serves a great purpose. Every purchase of Spinyback wines will provide direct funding to further Ngati Koata’s education and conservation goals for the world?s only remaining living link to the dinosaur. To read more about the Spinyback, The nose of this wine is full of lime, berry, and passionfruit, with heavy citrus zest flavors, which are balanced out by a slight minerality. It is wonderful slightly chilled on a hot day, and pairs excellently with seafood.

Marquis Philips S2

This Cabernet Sauvignon from Austalia pours a beautiful deep, saturated red. It has a nose full of cherry, dark chocolate and vanilla. Flavors of dark fruit become evident, but this wine definitely is benefited by half an hour in a decanter. The finish on this wine is long and dry.

Pillar Box Red

This Australian blend is a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. It pours a deep, dark red, but needs some air time before the nose and flavors open up fully. However, once it opens up, it has a nose full of drak fruits, such as cherry and black currants. The flavor has hints of cherry, strawberry, spice and licorice. This wine is quite the bargain at $9.99

Kris Pinot Grigio

This Italian Pinot Grigio is pale yellow-green in color, with a nose full of citrus, tangerine, and hints of apricots and almonds. The flavors match the nose almost exactly, with hints of blossom and honey. This would pair well with grilled pork and lightly flavored pastas.

Leitz Dragonstone

This German Riesling, named for the vineyard the grapes come from, Drachenstein, is an amazing value. Almost transparent in color, the nose is full of green apple and lemon. The flavor is full of an assortment of fruits, from peach to grapefruit, but balanced with a nice acidity for a long, refreshing finish with hints of pear and honey.

Old Ghost Old Vine Zinfandel

This OVZ from Lodi comes from 90-plus-year-old vineyards. The aromas of this wine are intense dark berry with hints of coffee and spice. The flavors are vanilla, blackberry and pepper with hints of plum. This OVZ is not for the faint of heart. The suggested pairing for this wine is grilled beef.

Tamas Estate Pinot Grigio

This bottle of Pinot Grigio threw me for a loop when I first saw it. It appears to be an Italian wine, but closer inspection revealed that it is produced in Monterey County, CA. A New World wine made in an Old World style, the nose is bursting with grapefruit, citrus and a hint of coconut with flavors to match. It is delightful on its own, or paired with turkey or shrimp. Avoid tomato sauce or other acidic foods.