Red wines come in several flavors.
Napa Valley, California is recognized as one of the leading wine-making regions in the world. With a plethora of wines to choose from, it's important to consider flavors and aromas that appeal to you. Nine North, Altamura and Frog's Leap Wineries have been making acclaimed wines in Napa Valley for years. Most of these wines are priced well under $50, so you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to get the quality you deserve.
2006 Chasing Lions Red Wine
This Napa Valley red wine is mostly a Merlot in composition but also contains Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Petit Verdot. It has a 14.1 percent and exudes flavors of mocha, licorice, toasty oak and black cherry. Prices for this wine hover around the $10 mark for a 750 ml bottle.
2008 Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc
Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc was dubbed a "Prince of a Wine" by the New York Times in 1982. It is 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc. The wine has slight mineral notes with white flower and lemongrass aromas. High acidity and low alcohol content along with peach, grapefruit and lemon zest flavors are distinguishing features of this wine. A bottle of Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc goes for around $10.
2007 Castle Rock Cabernet Sauvignon
Black cherry, ripe plum, spice and light oak are all flavors this wine exudes. With a 13.5 percent alcohol content, this wine is 90 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 10 percent Merlot. It has been branded a "Best Buy" by "Wine Enthusiast" magazine and named one of the "Top 100 Values" for 2010 by "Wine & Spirits" magazine. It also falls within the $10 price range.
2006 Novy Napa Valley Syrah
"Wine Enthusiast" magazine described it as voluptuous. The 2006 Novy Napa Valley Syrah comes in at around $20 a bottle and is made from grapes in the Page-Nord Vineyard which lies at the southern end of Napa Valley. Novy Wines are made by a technique in which the Novy family bleeds a portion of the wine juice two-thirds of the way through fermentation and then lets the wine continue fermenting in new oak barrels. This innovative wine-making process gives the wine a richer and creamier finish.
2006 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon
"Wine Spectator" magazine compared several Cabernet Sauvignon wines with some going for well over $100. The 2006 Altamura Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was the highest-rated wine under $100 in this comparison/review. A 2010 price search of this wine showed ranges from $60 to $100 per bottle. It is 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and has espresso roast, white chocolate and creme de cassis aromas.
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