Wonderful Red Wines For The Season

I am a lover of red wines that have great fruit flavors; not so sweet that they taste like dessert wine, but fruit forward. So many wine critics have become critical of wines they consider to be "fruit bombs." I think that there is something to be said about having a glass of wine that is made from fruit and you can taste fruit! Yes, I love the balance, spice and other nuances of wines, but please don't leave out the great fruit.

Here are a few of my favorites, yes some have been noted on this blog before, but they are good wines. These wines can be paired with most meals that home cooks and foodies prepare at home. Also, most if not all of these wines are easy to obtain, whether in a wine shop or online.

This wine is a lovely dark garnet color. The nose is filled with aromas of bright red fruit flavors, (cherries), a bit of dust, a hint of caramel and spice. The palate mimics the nose with a silky mouth feel. This wine paired well with a turkey rubbed with an herb infused compound butter. It would also pair well with roasted chicken, pork roast and salmon. Note: This was a sample from Rodney Strong Vineyards.

This wine has a beautiful deep dark red color. The nose is filled with dark fruit flavors and is just delightful. The palate has the same dark fruit flavors like plum and black cherry mixed with spice from the oak. This wine is smooth and it reminded me again why Merlot was my first red wine love. I really think this will be my QPR Merlot for this year. This wine is great to sip on its own or to pair with a burger, and steaks. This would also be a great wine with appetizers like cocktail meatballs, sausages and cheeses. This is a value wine and should be one to keep on hand in your cellar. Note: This wine was a sample provided by Bogle Winery.

This wine has a deep garnet color. The nose and palate are filled with aromas and flavors of dark fruit, especially dark cherries, plums and of course currants. The wine is fruit forward, which is a plus in my book; it makes you just want to have another glass. I could see this paired with a cheeseburger. Another pairing would be a serving of mac and cheese. I could also see using this wine to braise beef short ribs, then pairing the wine with the ribs. This wine would also pair well with a Cantalet or cheddar grilled cheese sandwich. This is a wine to stock in your cellar. It truly is a QPR wine. Note: This wine was a sample provided by Oak Grove Wines.

This wine has a wonderful ruby color. The nose mimics the palate with dark fruit, blackberries, a hint of sage, and notes of pepper. This is a well integrated and balanced wine. I let it breathe to open up for about an hour in a decanter. The tannins were supple and it was smooth as silk. I love it! Paired it with Classic Tomato, Basil and garlic bruschetta and open faced pan grilled french bread slices with melted Da Vinci Dutch Gouda cheese melted on top. These pairings were great. I could see this paired with steak, burgers, pork ribs or with a piece of the Da Vinci Dutch Gouda cheese. Enjoy! Note:  This wine was a sample from Frank Family Vineyards.

These are just a few of the wines that I have sampled lately that I think are some nice wines for you to try.