Gnarly Head Authentic White Blend 2011

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Some wines are better with time on their side. The aging process softens the tannins and allows the wine to form secondary characteristics and flavors not found when it’s younger.

Others — like this California blend — are meant for enjoyment while the wine is relatively young. It’s fermented in cool conditions and not aged in oak because it’s supposed to taste fresh and fruity.

This is a mixture of riesling, moscato, sauvignon blanc and viognier sourced from Lodi and Monterey vineyards. The bouquet and flavors certainly reflect the variety of grapes, with orchard fruit and citrus influences throughout. This would be an excellent wine to serve with summer salads.

Sherry: “Citrus grapefruit, lemon and pineapple.” 3 stars

Chris: “A bouquet of pineapple and honeysuckle, with flavors of pineapple and apricot.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally from $8 to $11.

Coming next week: Las Rocas Red Blend

Gallo Family Red Moscato

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

We’ve discussed before the exploding sales of moscato wines, which are sweet, fragrant and very appealing to younger or beginning wine drinkers.

But sales of sweeter wines in general — including reds — have soared. Clearly there’s room in the market for those who prefer more soda pop-like wine. Move over white zinfandel, there’s a host of other starter wines on the market now.

This nonvintage moscato comes from Argentina and is what you would expect from a bottom-shelf, bargain Gallo — nothing exceptional, but refreshing, with medium body and fruity sweetness. Best served well-chilled.

Sherry: “Sweet cherry flavor with a rose floral finish.” 2-1/2 stars

Chris: “Flavors of cinnamon, pear and apple with a hint of honey.” 2-1/2 stars

Available locally from $5 to $7.

Coming next week: Gnarly Head Authentic White

Rosenblum Vintner’s Cuvee XXXIV Zinfandel

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Zinfandel is the quintessential American grape — the perfect companion to a backyard cookout with beef or ribs slathered with spicy barbecue sauce.

The folks at Rosenblum know a thing or 20 (the number of different zinfandels they make) about the grape. This label represents their 34 years of winemaking.

It’s a nonvintage wine, meaning the winemaker can select fruit from various years and regions across California. It’s also blended with 12 percent petite sirah, which adds a jam-like quality to the wine, which is very fruit-forward.

This is not as rugged as some zinfandels we’ve sampled but delivers a lot for the price.

Sherry: “Dry, black cherry and cassis with a slight floral finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “Coffee aroma with flavors of blackberry and cherry, and a cocoa finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for $9 to $12.

Coming next week: Gallo Family Red Moscato

Lo Duca Reggiano Lambrusco 2011

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

There aren’t many wines that pour into your glass like a foamy beer, but if there was one wine that compared to beer, it would be lambrusco.

Reunite introduced the American market to lambrusco in 1967, and it became the nation’s top-selling Italian wine for nearly three decades. But the wine can be more than something that’s “just nice.”

This lambrusco – which refers to the grape and the wine – comes from Reggio Emilia region of northern Italy and is slightly dry. It’s a frizzante (lightly sparkling) wine that pours dark purple in the glass.

This is not a complicated wine, so enjoy it young and as a fun summer quaff.

Sherry: “Concord grape flavor with a touch of earthy (but not unpleasant) mustiness. Light citrus on the finish.” 2-1/2 stars

Chris: “Fresh and fruity bouquet with concord grape and a little black cherry.” 3 stars

Available locally from $8 to $10.

Coming next week: Rosenblum Vintner’s Cuvee Zinfandel

Once Upon a Vine the Big Bad Red Blend 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

My, what a big variety of grapes there are in this blend.

All the better, so that we can taste them.

This is a luscious, fruit-forward wine with a body of merlot, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, tannat, grenache and other grapes. It doesn’t bite like drier red wines, so it would be an excellent starter wine for red wine novices, but it has enough body to hold through the finish and balance the sweetness.

The wine is part of a fairy-tale inspired line of labels. We look forward to trying the other viticulture-inspired tales and to live happily ever after.

Sherry: “Very smooth, with flavors of strawberry, cherry and red licorice.” 3-3/4 stars

Chris: “Flavors of cherry and strawberry cloaked with candy apple and cinnamon.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally from $10 to $12.

Coming next week: Lo Duca Reggiono Lambrusco

14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Cabernet sauvignon remains the undisputed king in California, where more than 80,000 acres are planted, but it’s treated as royalty in Washington, too, where more than 10,000 acres are in the ground.

Sourced from grapes grown in the Columbia Valley, specifically Horse Heaven Hills, this wine has vibrant fruit flavors but displays complexity and herbal spice you expect in a fully developed cabernet.

The wine is aged for a year in oak, and the tannins are quite round and smooth. It’s a great value for the price.

Sherry: “Full-bodied and fruity, with cherry, plum and clove on the finish.” 3-3/4 stars

Chris: “Spice and cedar bouquet with flavors of strawberry, cherry and blackberry, with a dash of vanilla on the end.” 3-3/4 stars

Available locally from $9 to $12.

Coming next week: Once Upon a Vine Red

Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde 2011

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Summer is finally here, which means it’s the season to try some lighter whites.

We suggest this summer sipper from Portugal if you’re looking for a different light and refreshing beverage. Vinho Verde means “green wine,” a reference to the wine not needing aging. It can be white like this one, red or rosé. Aveleda was founded in 1671 and is still a family-owned winery. The grapes for this wine were sourced from the estate’s vineyards.

This is a blend of three regional grapes — loureiro, trajadura and alvarinho — which are fermented in separate lots in stainless steel. Slight carbonation accentuates the citrus fruit flavors.

Sherry: “Refreshingly tart with lime, lemon and pineapple.” 3 stars

Chris: “A pineapple bouquet with flavors of grapefruit, lime and a hint of apple.” 3 stars

Available locally for $9 to $12.

Coming next week: 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon

St. Hallett Gamekeeper's Reserve 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Oak plays an important role in developing the flavors in some wines, but it isn’t necessary – or desired – in all wines.

This red blend from the legendary Barossa Valley region of Australia is rich with full flavors you’d expect from a big wine, but it is not aged in oak. The blend of shiraz (56 percent), grenache (35 percent) and touriga nacional (9 percent) is sourced from old vine vineyards, blended and bottled the same year.

The wine features aromas of leather and spice with flavors of red fruit. Pair it with wild game or a grilled steak.

Sherry: “Full-bodied with a big mouth-feel of black cherry and raisin, with a hint of licorice on the finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “Flavors of cherry, plum and black licorice with a long, dry, herbal finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for $10 to $12.

Coming next week: Chops and Burgers Bordeaux

Bex Riesling 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Not everything is as it seems in the world of wine.

Bex is a German riesling that comes from grapes grown in the Nahe Valley in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer appellation. But it is produced by the Bex Winery of California, which is not really a winery but a concept from the Purple Wine Co.

So how does a California winery make such fresh and delicious wine from German grapes? The wine is made in Germany under the direction of a company winemaker. It is fermented in stainless steel and sealed with a screw cap to maintain freshness.

It’s clean and crisp with a floral and orchard fruit bouquet and a citrus style similar to a kabinett.

Sherry: “Medium-bodied with citrus fruit flavors of pineapple, kiwi and lime.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “An apricot bouquet with flavors of pear, peach and a citrus finish.” 3 stars

Available locally for between $9 to $11.

Coming next week: St. Hallet Gamekeeper’s

Colores del Sol Rich Red Blend 2011

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

The Mendoza region of Argentina is the country’s best-known grape-growing area. Vineyards based at the foot of the Andes Mountains provide high and dry elevation with plenty of sun, which is why the winery is named “Colors of the Sun.”

Vineyards that are irrigated with melting snow from the mountains are the source of this red blend composed of merlot (45 percent), cabernet sauvignon (20), bonarda (20) and malbec (15).

The wine displays plenty of fruit but is balanced with a medium-body that gives it ample structure with a very smooth finish.

Sherry: “Fruity layers of cherry, strawberry and vanilla with cocoa on the finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “Jammy raspberry bouquet with flavors of light cherry, plum and vanilla with a dusting of chocolate on the finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for between $9 to $11.

Coming next week: Bex Riesling

Bogle Essential Red 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

It might not be absolutely necessary, but picking up this California red blend is certainly a viable and enjoyable option.

Essential is a blend of old vine zinfandel (31 percent), petite sirah (26), cabernet sauvignon (24) and syrah (19) that is fermented and aged separately for 18 months in oak before bottling.

There are full flavors of rich, juicy fruit like blueberry and cherry layered in a spicy and smoky finish. It would pair nicely with grilled food or a pizza but is approachable enough to stand on its own enjoyment.

Sherry: “Smooth and fruity with black cherry and floral essence, blueberry and a bit peppery on the finish.” 3-1/2

Chris: “Cedar and vanilla nose with flavors of blueberry and cherry and a semi-dry finish.” 3-1/2

Available locally for between $10 to $12.

Coming next week: Colores Del Sol Reserva 2011

Erath Pinot Gris 2011

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

It’s time for some pinot 101.

Pinot grapes get their name from the French term for pine, referring to their pine-cone shaped grape cluster. Pinot gris (gray) is a white wine grape that is also known by the name pinot grigio. The grape is a mutation from pinot noir (black), which is a red wine grape.

This version comes from Oregon, where winemaker Dick Erath is known as the father of pinot grapes in the Dundee Hills, having planted them more than 40 years ago.

Pinot gris is the quintessential summer sipper, displaying fruits like melon, pear and apples in a refreshing citrus blend.

Sherry: “Light-bodied wine with a pear bouquet, pear and lime flavors and minerals on the finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “Citrus notes with flavors of lime and peach and a tangy, dry finish.” 3 stars

Available locally for between $12 and $14.

Coming next week: Bogle Essential Red

Centine Banfi Toscana 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Italy presented a gift to the wine world when it allowed the blends of international grapes that led to the rise of the super Tuscan wines in the 1980s.

These blends from Tuscany must be made from at least 85 percent of the grapes grown in the region. This one features sangiovese (60 percent), cabernet sauvignon (20) and merlot (20).

Banfi, which produces many labels, is known for its family-owned 7,100-acre estate, complete with a medieval castle. Pronounced “CHEN-tee-nay,” this wine consistently scores highly on wine critics’ value lists. It has a firm structure but soft tannins with red fruit and berry flavors laced with spice.

Sherry: “Dry with fruity black cherry and violet on the finish.” 3-1/2

Chris: “Dry plum and raspberry with a spicy mint finish.” 3-1/2

Available locally for $9 to $12.

Coming next week: Erath Pinot Gris

Genesis Meritage 2007

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Meritage wines began as the American answer to Bordeaux.

The term (combining merit and heritage) was coined in 1988 by some American winemakers to highlight best of vintage blends and to distinguish them from table wines.

Meritage wines must be a blend of at least two of the traditional Bordeaux grape varieties. This wine from Hogue Cellars in Washington is merlot (49 percent), cabernet sauvignon (44), malbec (6) and cabernet franc (1).

The grapes were fermented and oak-aged separately before being blended and bottled.

The result is a delicious, smooth wine layered with red fruit and berry flavors and spice.

Sherry: “Raspberry, strawberry and touch of mint and rose on the finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “Notes of fig with flavors of strawberry and cherry and a finish of cocoa and mint.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for between $14 and $17.

Coming next week: Centine Toscana

Lindeman’s Bin 70 Chardonnay Riesling 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Lindeman’s offers an impressive number of labels and blends as one of the most widely recognized Australian winemakers.

Dr. Henry J. Lindeman founded the winery in the early 1840s after he became fascinated with the medicinal benefits of wine. He moved to Australia with his new bride and planted grapes.

This Bin Series blend brings together the white grapes of chardonnay and riesling sourced from vineyards across southeastern Australia. The blend percentage varies by vintage but is generally 70 percent chardonnay. That shows in the nose and taste of the wine, which is predominantly citrus with some orchard fruit bouquet from the riesling.

Sherry: “Medium-bodied with tastes of lime and lemon.” 2-1/2 stars

Chris: “A melon and peach bouquet with flavors of lemon and a bit of peach.” 3 stars

Available locally for between $6 to $9.

Coming next week: Genesis Meritage

Red Diamond Temperamental

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

This new red blend from Washington brings a New World twist to Spanish grapes.

The main body of the wine is the Spanish noble grape tempranillo (85 percent), with a combination of cabernet sauvignon (9 percent) and carignan (6 percent). Because the bottle is non-vintage, the fruit was probably sourced over several growing seasons.

Let’s call it a tempranillo starter wine, because this is not your typical robust and dry Spanish blend. It’s made in a fruit-forward style more familiar to American palates with a semi-sweet body and a very smooth finish that displays just a hint of barrel-aging.

Sherry: “Jammy raspberry and strawberry flavor with a hint of prune on the finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “Aromas of raisin and cocoa with strawberry and blackberry flavors.” 3 stars

Available locally for between $8 and $11.

Coming next week: Lindeman’s Bin 70 Chardonnay-Riesling

Caves Velhas Catedral

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Portugal is still known for its port from the Douro region, but other parts of the country show promise.

This red blend hails from the Dao region, south of Douro. It contains a mixture of tinto roriz (also known as tempranillo), touriga-nacional (the national grape of Portugal used in port) and alfrocheiro, a grape coming into its own in the Dao region.

 The grapes were sourced from a 16-acre vineyard. After six months of oak aging, the result is an intriguing bouquet of leather, dried fruit and coffee that turns into spicy red fruit with pronounced but balanced tannins and a dry finish.

Sherry: “Raspberry and strawberry and clove, with floral notes of violet.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “Notes of raisins and dates with flavors of strawberry and cherry.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for between $9 to $12.

Coming next week: Red Diamond Temperamental

La Posta Cocina Tinto 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

The name is translated into kitchen red, but there’s some elegance of fine winemaking at work with this wine from Argentina.

Sourced from growers in the Mendoza region in the west-central part of the country, the wine is a blend of malbec (60 percent), syrah (20 percent) and bonarda (20 percent). It is aged for a year in a combination of French and American oak.

From the nose to the tongue, there’s much to savor in this wine with aromas of licorice, leather, cedar and spices, plus fruit and spice flavors. The big tannins are nicely balanced.

Sherry: “Notes of leather with flavors of strawberry, dried plum, light licorice and vanilla on the finish.” (3-1/2 stars)

Chris: “Licorice and cedar notes with flavors of cherry, blueberry and plum.” (3-1/2 stars)

Available locally for about $12 to $15.

Coming next week: Caves Velhas Catedral Dao

Chateau Ste. Michelle Sweet Riesling

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Riesling is one of the more versatile wine grapes. It is made in many styles, explained with often confusing German wine labels, ranging from very dry to very sweet.

Riesling wines have found a home in Washington’s Columbia Valley, where the latitude gives lots of sunshine during the ripening season.

It has a residual sugar level of 5.22 percent, which falls into the 5 to 10 percent range of sweet dessert wines. Dry wines are usually in the 0.2 to 0.3 percent range.

It’s not overly sweet, though, with plenty of orchard and stone fruit flavors balanced with acidity for freshness. So you don’t have to wait until dessert to enjoy it.

Sherry: “Green apple with a light touch of honey.” 3 stars

Chris: “Apples on the nose with flavors of apple, pear and apricot.” 3 stars

Available locally for about $7 to $10.

Coming next week: La Posta Cocina Tinto

The Dreaming Tree Crush 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

This California red blend joins a host of other wines made for celebrities or famous people. “Dreaming Tree” also is a song title from rock musician Dave Matthews, who has joined with winemaker Steve Reeder of Simi Winery to create his own label.

Matthews, who also has a winery in Virginia, wanted to create a very approachable wine made from sustainably farmed grapes and environmentally friendly packaging. The blend is merlot (78 percent), syrah (13 percent), zinfandel (6) and a splash of other grapes grown in Sonoma County.

The flavors crash into our palates with a rich texture of fruit and spice with well-balanced tannins. We suggest pairing with barbecued ribs.

Sherry: “Smooth cherry and licorice with a rose floral finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “Raisin notes with flavors of raspberry and cherry.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $12.

Coming next week: Chateau Ste. Michelle Sweet Riesling

HandCraft Chardonnay 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Chardonnay continues to be the dominant grape and wine in California, which ships more than 50 million cases a year domestically. It’s the most widely planted grape in the state.

HandCraft makes a chardonnay with lots of appeal. It has enough oak and cream to satisfy drinkers who enjoy some heft, but there’s an assortment of orchard and tropical fruit flavors to enjoy as well.

It reflects its blend of chardonnay (86 percent), viognier (7), chenin blanc (5) and a 2 percent dash of malvasia bianca — an Italian grape. The wine is fermented in both oak and steel and then blended before bottling.

Sherry: “A bouquet of pear and melon, with tastes of almond, lemon and lime.” 3 stars

Chris: “Notes of melon with flavors of apricot, pear and a bit of vanilla cream.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $10.

Coming next week: The Dreaming Tree Crush

Cryptic Red 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Clever packaging gets noticed in store shelves, and this new label certainly fits that bill. The label on a silk-screened bottle features a replica of a 16th century French encryption wheel that represents the three grape varieties used in this blend.

The wine itself has an alchemist feel as well, with zinfandel, petite sirah and cabernet sauvignon grapes sourced from 30 different California vineyards. The wines were fermented and aged in separate lots of stainless steel and oak barrels before the final blend.

The wine displays the big fruit flavors you’d expect of a zinfandel, additional nuances of berries and a semi-sweet finish that makes it a very easy quaff.

Sherry: “Bold and fruity with black cherry, raspberry and hint of licorice.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “An earthy bouquet with flavors of raspberry and plum.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $13.50.

Coming next week: HandCraft Chardonnay

Greg Norman Shiraz 2008

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Legendary golfer Greg Norman owns no vineyards and is not a winemaker. But he has licensing arrangements around the world to create his wines, including this one from his home country of Australia.

Norman once won a case of Penfold’s Grange — the country’s most famous wine — when he was a young golfer and admitted that he didn’t know what a delicious prize it was. Now he works with the same winery to make his own labels.

The Limestone Coast region where this shiraz is sourced is known for a cooler climate than the famous Barossa region. The result is a more balanced shiraz with less spice and not as fruit-forward but with more complexity and layers.

Sherry: “Flavors of plum, mint, cherry, licorice and strong tannins.” 3 stars

Chris: “Tobacco bouquet with flavors of plum, raisin and blueberry.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $17.

Coming next week: Cryptic Red

Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Amarone is a very expensive Italian wine that is made from partially drying grapes, producing a strong wine with prominent raisin-like quality.

This is not amarone, but it is made partially in that style, with about 30 percent of the corvina and rondinella grapes used in the wine partially dried. It has been a favorite selection of Wine Spectator, making the magazine’s top 100 list last year and recently named a best buy.

The wine is also made in the ripasso fashion, where the wine is re-passed over casks holding grapes leftover from amarone.

The wine is much sweeter than traditional Italian reds and has some complex texture and flavors.

Sherry: “Very dry with strong tannins, lime and black cherry.” 3 stars

Chris: “A bouquet of raisin and prunes, with flavors of raspberry and black cherry.” 3 stars

Available locally for about $20.

Coming next week: Greg Norman Shiraz

Root 1 Sauvignon Blanc

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

It’s always a bit surprising when we see last year’s vintages hit the shelves so soon into 2013, but in South America this year’s harvest nears while we settle in to survive the last six weeks of winter.

Root 1 is a Chilean winery whose name reflects its original, ungrafted root systems that were untouched by the phylloxera infestation that nearly destroyed Europe’s vineyards, which survived when they grafted vines to American rootstock. The vines in South America also were spared.

This wine is fermented in stainless steel and displays the acidity and citrus flavors you would expect from a sauvignon blanc.

Sherry: “Light-bodied, but dry with grapefruit and lime.” 2-1/2 stars

Chris: “Tropical fruit bouquet with tart and dry grapefruit and lemon.” 3 stars

Available locally for about $10.

Coming next week: Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre

Noval Black Porto

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Bitterly cold winter nights are a perfect time to gather around a fireplace and sip port.

Port is a naturally sweet wine fortified with brandy, which stops the fermentation process and increases the alcohol content. (This one is 19.5 percent.)

This non-vintage port — which is actually classified as a younger ruby port despite being called black — comes from the traditional home of port in the Douro Valley in Portugal. It’s a blend of three grapes and is cask-aged for two years before bottling.

Big and spicy with dark fruit flavors, the alcoholic heat is tempered by letting it sit a few days (with the cork on) after opening. This pairs well with mild cheese.

Sherry: “Warming black cherry with brown sugar and clove.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “Plum, blackberry and prunes wrapped in licorice.” 3 stars

Available locally for about $19.

Coming next week: Root 1 Sauvignon Blanc

Georges Duboeuf Moulin-a-Vent 2011

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

The Beaujolais region is in eastern France, south of Burgundy, and is famous for its fruity red wines made from the gamay grape. This wine comes from the Moulin-a-Vent area, which features a 15th century windmill on a hill overlooking the vineyards.

Many Beaujolais wines are fresh and fruity, particularly the nouveau. But Moulin-A-Vent wines are grown where the manganese in the soil stunts the harvest, which provides more intense and concentrated flavor in the grapes.

The wine has body much more similar to a pinot noir, with red fruit and berry flavors and enough tannins that it would hold up to several years of cellaring.

Sherry: “Light-bodied with light tannins and soft cherry and strawberry flavors.” 3 stars

Chris: “A floral and spice bouquet with flavors of blackberry and cherry.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $16.

Coming next week: Noval Black Port

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Pinot Gris 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

We’ve always been partial to red wines, particularly during the cold winter months, but the right kind of white wine can transport you to summer evenings on the porch.

That’s the case with this lovely pinot gris from Washington, which is one of the better white wines we’ve had in a while.

The winemaker says this vintage came from a challenging growing season that produced lower yields but lots of flavor. The wine was fermented in stainless steel, and a dash of pinot blanc juice was added. It’s a veritable orchard in the glass with lots of stone fruit flavor and a dash of refreshing citrus.

Sherry: “Pear and green apple with an almond finish.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “A citrus nose with flavors of green apple, lime and grapefruit.” 4 stars

Available locally for about $10.

Coming next week: Georges Duboeuf Moulin-a-Vent

Clos du Bois Rouge

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Marketing new wine labels is essential to create some buzz on the crowded shelves. The marketers at Clos du Bois in California have decided that you can drink your wine and wear it as well, by combining it with a cosmetics line, which is sold separately.

The wine is a blend of cabernet, merlot, syrah and petite sirah, while the cosmetics involve rouge tints for the cheeks, nail polish and lip gloss. But it’s what’s in the glass that matters, not the color of the lipstick smudge left on the edge.

Rouge is a very approachable and balanced blend that is medium-bodied with plenty of berry flavor and spice to keep your palate interested.

Sherry: “Soft and smooth, with a floral essence of rose and strawberry flavor.” 3-1/2 stars

Chris: “A bouquet of leather and cedar with flavors of strawberry and cherry.” 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $10.50.

Coming next week: Columbia Crest Grand Estates Pinot Gris

Barefoot Pink Moscato

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

A new year tradition for this column is to feature a bottom-shelf wine, which seems to be very appropriate this year in our post-holiday, belt-tightening, “fiscal cliff”-flirting world.

Barefoot — an E&J Gallo brand — makes very successful and quaffable bottom-shelf wines and has five versions of moscato. The wine is surging in popularity, particularly among younger wine drinkers. Nielsen Co. says more than half of moscato drinkers are younger than 45 and 30 percent are between 21 and 30.

This non-vintage pink version is blended with white grenache to achieve the rose color. It features a bouquet of flowers and typical moscato flavors of honey and orchard fruits. It would pair nicely with spicy foods.

Sherry: “Sweet and light-bodied, with flavors of delicate honey and pear.” 3 stars

Chris: “Flavors of pear, honey and peach.” 3 stars

Available locally for about $5.

Coming next week: Clos du Bois Rouge