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