Best Medium Red Wine 2016

Expressive fruit and modest tannins are tame enough for fish yet flavourful enough for pepperoni pizza or meatloaf.

Expressive fruit and modest tannins are tame enough for fish yet flavourful enough for pepperoni pizza or meatloaf.

medred-fontodiCATEGORY WINNER: Fontodi Chianti Classico 2011Italy$31.99 +533315It’s fair to call this classy Chianti runner-up for Best of Show, so close was the gripping final ballot among our judges. Sited in the heart of the Chianti Classico region and organically farmed since 2008, this all-sangiovese wine is aged in old barrels. Judges praised its fruity, spicy, earthy, oaky layers, all given extra dimension from a warm and generous vintage. It’s a true and pure expression of the grape and terroir.medred-damilanoDamilano Lecinquevigne Barolo 2010Italy$43.99 +484634Perfumed, leathery, muscular wine typifies the “tar and roses” of Barolomedred-twohandsTwo Hands Angels’ Share McLaren Vale Shiraz 2012Australia$34.99+57752Powerful yet elegant wine from prized old-vine shiraz in ancient terroirmedred-langheGiovanni Rosso Langhe Nebbiolo 2012Italy$26.99 +779702Nebbiolo’s distinctive flavour, for a stealmedred-sibarisUndurraga Sibaris Pinot Noir Gran Reserva 2013Chile$13.99+761205Eloquently transmits the exceptional terroir of the chilly Leyda Valleymedred-coldstreamColdstream Hills Pinot Noir 2012Australia$26.09Cool-climate Yarra pinot noir that’s sleek and silkymedred-fioleBrotte La Fiole Côtes du Rhône 2013 France$17.49 +194498Silky smooth, spicy southern Rhône blend for your next hearty braisemedred-casaplanetaCasa Planeta Syrah 2013Italy$15.59 +130252Judges adored this dense but juicy syrah from famous Sicilian estate Planetamedred-altosAltos Las Hormigas Malbec Reserva 2012Argentina$30.99 +522870Exceptional malbec that’s an internationally acknowledged benchmarkmedred-montesMontes Cabernet Sauvignon 2012Chile$23.99 +322586Plush and polished cabernet from one of Chile’s great valleysmedred-castiglionCastiglion del Bosco Rosso di Montalcino 2012Italy$24.49 +628974Think of this as baby brunello for earlier drinking and less moneymedred-bodegasBodegas Piqueras Castillo de Almansa Reserva 2011Spain$12.29 +270363Pour, sip, repeat, and pat yourself on the back for scoring such a stealmedred-stagsleapStags’ Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012USA$49.99 +473389Pedigreed Napa cab with powerful black fruit from a superb vintagemedred-vistabelVistalba Corte C 2014Argentina$20.49 +12070Memorable malbec blend from prestigious Mendoza terroirmedred-mooncurserMoon Curser Carmenere 2013Canada$42.90 +634014Chile’s signature grape clearly loves the Okanaganmedred-neroCusumano Sicilia Nero d’Avola 2013Italy$16.29 +143610Sicilian warmth and terroir shines through chewy fig and cassis flavoursmedred-mezzoMezzomondo Salento Negroamaro 2014Italy$8.99 +135178Soft, fruit-forward red is well-built and well-pricedmedred-105Telmo Rodriguez Viña 105 2013Spain$19.79 +603753Robust bistro red from savant winemaker Telmo Rodriguesmedred-luccarelliLuccarelli Puglia Negroamaro 2012Italy$12.99 +295287Cheerful bargain red from the heel of Italy’s bootmedred-brunelloPiccini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2009Italy $34.99 +36012One of the very best bargains from one of Italy’s most prestigious regionsmedred-clospegaseClos Pegase Mitsuko’s Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir 2012USA $51.99 +5603Bold, dark-fruited pinot with oak and Burgundian elegance<< BACK TO CATEGORIES