Herb's Top RED Wine Choices

OVER $15
2005 Samantha Starr Monterey Pinot Noir
This is a great find from Monterey County. It has a spicy aroma of meaty, darker fruits. This Pinot is silky smooth on the palate with heavier red berry flavors. This is a fuller-bodied Pinot Noir that’s full-flavored as well. The mid-palate has good acid balance and a nice spice component. The finish is slightly creamy with lengthy red fruits.
This is a great Pinot noir at a very reasonable price. Great value!

2005 Placido Rosso di Montalcino
Full disclosure – I’ve always thought of Placido as producer of generic Italian varietals, so I was skeptical with this baby Brunello.  Excellent surprise!  Dried cranberry/cherry aromas lead to a smooth easy drinking red with perfect ripeness and lovely cherry fruit.  It has good acidity and pleasant brightness as well.  The finish has balanced tannins and more cherry flavors.  Great wine from a great vintage that’s a great value.  Trust me, try one today.

2004 Edge Napa Valley Cabernet
This is my second review of this wine. I recently re-tasted it and wanted to elevate my praise for this wine. THIS WINE IS A TREMENDOUS VALUE!  It has wonderful aromas of dark berry fruits and hints of minerals.  It has juicy cherry fruit that’s soft on the palate, but has an under-lying muscular backbone. It has good acidity, balanced tannins, and ripe cherry and mineral finish. Achieving soft fruit and a fuller-bodied backbone is difficult for the winemaker, but immensely enjoyable for the consumer! 
2005 Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend
"One of my favorite Marquis Philips cuvees is the 2005 Sarah's Blend, a concoction of 60% Shiraz, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc fermented in wood and aged in both new and one-year-old French and American oak. Its deep ruby/purple hue is accompanied by aromas of flowers, spice box, blueberries, black currants, and smoky oak. Opulent, voluptuous, and full-bodies, with low acidity and sweet tannin, this is a blockbuster red that sells for a song. If you like fruit, flavor, and character, this is a big-time winner to drink over the next 3-4 years."
The Wine Advocate - 91 Points!

2005 Viňa Sastre Roble Ribero del Duero
Finding a wine from the Ribera del Duero that’s good and affordable is a real treat.  This 100% Tempranillo shows big aromas of ripe, dark cherry fruit with hints of vanilla.  It’s smooth and silky on the palate with cherry/berry fruit flavors.  This is an elegant style with balanced acids and fruit – just enough of each.  The finish has big and dry tannins with more cherry fruit.  Superb example of this region.

2004 La Garto Merlot Mendoza
This is a great example of Merlot and the quality of Argentine wines. This Paul Hobbs project has aromas of dark fruits.  It has a lush mouthfeel of ripe, black fruits. It’s very thick on the palate with a lot of flavor.  I would describe this as a Cab-lovers Merlot. The lengthy finish is a continuation of dark fruit flavors. This is a great Merlot. 

Herb's Top RED Wines UNDER $15