Assuming big crowds are showing up for the Fourth of July festivities, we went through our tasting notes over the past three months and identified our best finds in value burger and barbecue-friendly reds. The selections range from $6 to $16 in price. The styles cover mid-bodied and balanced wines up to bigger chewy treats that can stand up to most barbecue sauces. Happy Fourth!
- Super value burger/party wine ’11 Robert Mondavi Central Coast Cabernet $6. Light berry nose, jam; mid-body, balanced, easy drinking.
- Burger, party red Ray’s Creek ’12 Central Coast Cabernet $9. Herbaceous berry nose; mid-body; chewy; fat fruity finish.
- Value Mendoza Malbec ’13 Tapiz $10. Ripe blackberry, prune nose; mid-fat body; chewy; a little hot. w/pizza, pasta, burgers
- Stylish value Bordeaux Superieur ’10 Chateau Macard $11. Ripe berry, Cab nose; mid-body, tight, good tannins, long fruity finish. w/beef, burgers
- Big chewy Garnacha ’12 Atteca Old Vines $12. Ripe berry nose (15% alc.); mid-big body; blackberries, jam; semi-hot finish. w/ribs, BBQ
- Fresh fruity Grenache (60%) Syrah (40%) combo Ventana ’10 Arroyo Seco Ruby Stone $12. Big Grenache nose, berries; balanced finish. w/BBQ, ribs
- Solid value Mendoza Cabernet ’10 Norton Barrel Select $13. Berry, wood, mint nose; mid-big body; round, ripe, fruity. w/pasta, burgers
- Value Chilean Cabernet Las Huertas ’10 Grand Reserve $13. Herbaceous, mint nose; balanced, mid-body, decent structure, style. w/beef
- Barossa BBQ wine Clancy’s ’10 Shiraz (41%) Merlot (30%) Cab (29%) $13. Peppery, mint nose; mid-body, grapey, chewy, a little hot.
- Value Sonoma Cabernet ’12 Alexander Valley Vineyards $13. Berry, mint, light oak nose; mid-body; good structure; a little hot. w/BBQ
- Chewy Mendoza Malbec ’10 Les Clop $14. Blackberry, prune, alc. nose; big body; chewy; deep fruit extract; long finish. w/ribs, BBQ
- Fruity Dry Creek Valley ’10 Cabernet $16. Berry, mint, oak nose; mid-body; good structure, some style, tannins; long finish. w/BBQ beef
