Best Medium Red Wines

KWV Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 

South Africa  $19.99   +328567

  Very impressive wine combining French structure and lip-smacking fruit fresh from the Cape. Lovely cassis and black cherry aromas with leathery smokiness underneath.


Tormaresca  Paiara Rosso  2006

Italy  $11.99 +378182

Gutsy rustic red from Puglia.


Cheviot Bridge Long Flat Cabernet Shiraz 2006 

Australia  $12.99 +212373

Very solid Aussie blend.


Palo Alto Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere Syrah 2007 

Chile  $14.97  +024059

Exemplary Chilean blend with big curranty herbal flavour.


Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Shiraz 2004

Australia  $16.99  +091538

Massive value from prestigious producer.


Norton Reserva Malbec 2005

Argentina  $19.99  +572743

Plummy fruit and toasty oak.


Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz 2006

Australia  $19.99  +098327

A Barossa beauty—briary, gamey, but not too heavy.


Perrin Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau 2006 

France  $21.99  +125856

Very refined Rhône red.


Ricossa Barbaresco Riserva 2003

Italy  $21.99  +929406

This is a steal! Astonishing value at $22.


Beronia Rioja Reserva 2001

Spain  $22.99  +216770

Superbly mature aromas and flavours.


Kaiken Ultra Malbec  2006

Argentina  $25.95  +920793 (various private stores)

Big, rich, herbal Malbec.


Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz  2006

Australia  $28.99  +057646

Sleek, stylish, superbly well-balanced Shiraz.


Galil Mountain Yiron Cabernet Merlot  2005 

Israel   $29.99  +658088

A revelation: classically structured Israeli red.


Red Rooster Reserve Merlot  2006

B.C.  $34.99  +208330

Fresh claret-like cool-climate Merlot.


Quinta Ferreira Obra Prima  2006

B.C.  $35  +851618 (private wine stores)

Funky full-throttle red from Okanagan newcomer.


Muga  Rioja Reserva  2004

Spain  $36.99  +049254

Mellow old-school Rioja.