Wine Unfiltered

photo by Laura Padgett

Sweet cocktail drinkers, red wine is not evil.

Here is part two of the question: what kind of wines would be good for someone who isn’t a wine drinker and doesn’t like the bitter stuff? Last time we covered whites, and if you’ve made it this far, then you may be ready for the red plunge. Now when I say dark side I don’t mean painful, tannic hard side. Because they are not all that way.

Hopefully you have gotten used to a bit of acidity by now and maybe a touch of oak. There are a lot of good fruit nuances to love in red wine and there are hundreds of grape varieties to satiate that. But I will stick to the easier to find varietals for you. Yes, even the big reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah have some goodies.

I would go so far as to say yes, f*&%$#g Merlot is often an introduction wine for new drinkers. And I do LOVE a good merlot. But what is nice about wine is, it’s not black and white. So I say, check out some blends along with the singles. Find that sweet spot.

But it just depends on how far towards the dark side you are willing to go. Here are some picks:

Luke whining about power converters:

Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County 2007 20$ Rich, deep deep fruit. Black currant, smooth with sweet ripe fruit and easy finish. Hint of oak and spiced vanilla bean pods. This should go down really well.

2006 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 40$ Balanced and easy. Tons of ripe cherry and rich concentration, medium body. Cedar, vanilla and toned down spices with a pert yet restrained finish. Take a chance.

Darth Vader choking General Motti:

Napa Cellars Merlot 2006 18$ Intense, but super smooth. Drinkable and heady with oak, tea, cream and nutty cocoa beans. Good starter in the big family.

Gundlach-Bundschu Cabernet Sauvignon Block 13 I found this at Pavilions for 13$ and was a steal. Rich, smooth, hint of age on the 2005. Super dark and low acid. Decant this one.

Darth Maul ripping up the joint:

Barrel 27 – Syrah Central Coast 2005 17$ Awesome for the price. Rich, oak, earth. Smooth and super friendly.

Concha y Toro Casillero Del Diablo Merlot 2007 The devil indeed. You can often find this for under 12$. At this price, it’s pretty dangerous. Big, smooth, solid. Juicy fruit of currants and dark berries. Defined hints of oak on the nose, soft yet strong taste and texture.

Let me know what you think and if there are any red suggestions. Fear the tannin reaper? When in doubt, decant for an hour. It will probably mellow in some way. You’re probably wondering, why aren’t there any ports or rich dessert wines on this list?

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

What we’re trying to do here is broaden your horizons away from sweet, even in residual sugar wine form. Trust me, pretty soon you’ll wonder why you waited so long to give in. Never underestimate the power of the dark side.