Schild Estate Old Bush Vine Grenache Mataro Shiraz 2007, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: A superb value from this family estate, this full-bodied blend of 55% Grenache, 25% Mataro (a.k.a. Mourvèdre) and 20% Shiraz is sourced from old vines with an average age of 70 years! Supple and approachable in style, it’s packed with black cherry, licorice, blueberry, earthy notes and spicy black pepper. Soft and voluptuous, this wine is carefully crafted to offer immediate enjoyment. My note: A big hulking red with a black heart. Gorgeous depths of flavor. Mint and dark chocolate. A warm embrace of fruit. 108183 14.50% D 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 91/100. August 19, 2008 Full Review

Wits End The Procrastinator Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Grenache 2006, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: The Procrastinator celebrates Wits End’s patriarch, John Harvey, and his inability to finish one task before something else more interesting arises. It’s a blend of 60% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Grenache that was aged in a mix of old and new tight-grained French oak. Let’s not dilly-dally now, though. This is a delicious, easy-drinking wine that is filled with blackberry and raspberry aromas and flavors. My note: A robust, lusty red with full-bodied notes of black cherry, blackberry and raspberry. Terrific smoky finish. 684100 14.50% XD 750 mL  $17.25 Score: 89/100. September 12, 2009 Full Review

Two Hands Wines Lucky Country Shiraz 2007, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: Two Hands quickly established itself as one of Australia’s elite producers. Founders Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz (the ‘two hands’ themselves) set up their winery on the French négoçiant model, purchasing fruit for their wines from only the top growers. They consistently earn 90+ scores from top critics. Your guests will count themselves the lucky ones if you pour this concentrated, flavor-packed Shiraz at your next event. My note: Savory and deep with rich notes of black plums, black raspberries and cherries and a smoky finish. Full-bodied with mouth-watering layers of flavor. 77883 14% D 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 89/100. September 12, 2009 Full Review

Remo Farina Classico Superiore Ripasso Valpolicella 2005, D.O.C., Veneto, Italy: Vintages Wine Panel: Ripasso (or ‘re-passing’) involves fermenting the wine a second time on dried Amarone grapes. This process deepens the wine’s color, body, aroma, taste and ageability. Farina’s Ripasso features aromas of pepper spice, licorice, cherries, and ginger, all contributing to a medium-bodied, long-finishing wine. My note: A smoky dark wine with dark red berries and fruit. Full-bodied and tasty. Drink it while watching The Sopranos. 999946 13% D 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 88/100. August 1, 2009 Full Review

Sartori Superiore Ripasso Valpolicella 2006, D.O.C., Veneto, Italy: Black cherry liqueur depth and concentration: full-bodied and smooth. Big palate-whacker. Violets and vanilla with bacon fat notes. 117234 13.50% XD 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 88/100. August 29, 2009 Full Review

Tommasi Le Prunée Merlot 2007, I.G.T., delle Venezie, Italy: Vintages Wine Panel: Any dinner parties on the horizon? With its deep ruby-red hue and its lovely chocolate, berry and cappuccino notes, this single-vineyard Merlot is sure to wow dinner guests. This easy-drinking, food-friendly red makes a natural partner with pastas. My note: Dependable and straight-forward with tasty notes of black cherries and dried herbs. Full-bodied and smooth. 24505 13% XD 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 87/100. August 29, 2009 Full Review

Lan Gran Reserva Tempranillo 2001, D.O.C.a, Rioja, Spain: Gorgeous depth of taste and savory notes of blackberries, espresso, anise and mocha. Full-bodied with a long, long finish. 928622 13.50% XD 750 mL  $34.95 Score: 90/100. August 29, 2009 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Mas Estela Quindals Garnacha Syrah Carinena 2005, D.O., Empordà, Spain: This organic wine contains only 6 mg/L of free sulfur. This wine is a blend of 90% Garnacha, 5% Syrah, and 5% Carinena grapes. It was matured 12 months in French oak. Deep, rich and full-bodied: rich, dark fruit with a smoky finish. 133033 15% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 89/100. September 12, 2009 Full Review

Cellar No. 8 Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, California, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: The history of the Asti Winery dates back to the 1880s when Italian Andrea Sbarboro established a winemaking community in Sonoma. Cellar No. 8 is named for an actual cellar where Sbarboro aged his red wines. My note: A simple, full-bodied red that leads with mocha and dark chocolate followed by blackberries and black plum. Round and luscious on the palate. Enjoy tonight. 68486 13.90% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 88/100. September 12, 2009 Full Review

Clos du Bois Zinfandel 2006, North Coast, California, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: Clos du Bois adds 3% each of Petite Sirah and Carignan to this Zin; they then age the wine in new oak barrels, thereby introducing accents of coconut and mocha. These combined measures add layers of complexity to this robust, blackberry- and raspberry-scented wine. It’s a delicious partner for barbecued back ribs My note: Extremely pleasant Zinfandel with lovely rich berry aromas, not too much, not too little. Full-bodied with a nice finish. 38000 13.50% D 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 89/100. August 29, 2009 Best Value Red Wine. Full Review