Now that we’re a couple of months into 2010, I took a look back at the wines I tried in 2009 and present to you my list of Favorite Red Wines of 2009! Fave 2009 Whites coming soon!

• Pine & Post Cab Sauv – $9
• Simonnet-Febvre Pinot Noir – ~ $10
• Finca el Origen Malbec – $11
• Lucky Star Pinot Noir - $9
• Mark West Sonoma County Pinot Noir – $12
• Memo Montepulciano – $11
• Morande Pionero Pinot Noir – $10
• Spellbound Petite Syrah – $13
• Alexander Valley Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – $?
• Angeline Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – $14
• Oyster Bay Pinot Noir – $15
• G5 Puerta Bonita Garnacha – $15
• Eos Estate Zinfandel and Petite Syrah – $15ish? and $16
• Bliss Cab Sauv – $15
• Chateau Fantin Bordeaux Superioeur – $16
• Big Fire Pinot Noir – $18
• Poppy Pinot Noir – $16
• Rivola Sardon de Duero Cab Sauv – $17
• Vina Robles Cav Sauv – ~ $18
• Le Signal Domaine Ligneres Carignan – $19
• Murphy-Goode Cab Sauv – $20
• Wirra Wirra Church Block Cab Sauv – $20
• Chateau Robin Cotes De Castillion – $22
• Louis M. Martini Cab Sauv – $15-$20
• L’Oustal Blanc Minervois – $21
• Twenty Rows Cab Sauv – $23
• Oberon Cab Sauv – $24
• Molnar Family Pinot Noir – $26
• Douglas Green Shiraz Reserve – $20ish?
• Obsidian Ridge Cab Sauv – $29
• Patricia Green Pinot Noir – $30
• Hartford Zinfandel – $30
• Chateau Rollan de By Medoc – $30
• Louis Latour Domaine de Valmoissine Pinot Noir – $??
• Anne Amie Pinot Noir – $??

You might remember from some previous posts that I’ve been exploring some new economically priced wines. Lucky Star Pinot Noir has been a winner. Leaping Horse Merlot… not so much. Pine & Post Cabernet Sauvignon, hailing from the Columbia Valley of Washington State is the latest experiment. Pine & Post is a Cab blend with 84% Cabernet Sauv, 10% Sangiovese, 3% Syrah, 3% Cabernet Franc — and it’s absolutely amazing! For under $10, this is an amazing value – stock up!

Origin: Washington
Where: Publix
Price: $9
Next time: Get a case!

Willamette, Oregon often delivers some fabulous wines, especially Pinots. Unfortunately, this one didn’t measure up, and neither did the dinner that went with it.

The wine seemed very light and watered down, and none of the flavors seemed fused together. It just didn’t deliver on flavor, texture, or balance.

Origin: Willamette, Oregon
Where: Smyrna WOB
Price: approx $20
Next time: I’ll pass.

Big Fire Pinot Noir

Since I first had this wine at Canoe about four years ago (my dad and I split a bottle about a year after I graduated from Emory!), this has been a personal favorite! Of course, I’m a sucker for the interesting mix of type faces on the label as well as the bold design. Usually, a great label design equals the worst wine imaginable — thankfully, not in this case.

http://www.rstuartandco.com/

This wine is simply delectable. Everything you’d want and expect from a pinot. Medium bodies and fruity complexity with depth. Very drinkable, not too acidic or too many tannins… very smooth.

Upon checking out their website, the wine lives up to their talk. One of their “house rules” is:

A little wood goes a long way. No need to mask great fruit with too much new oak.

Exactly.

In addition, they’re a fan of the screw cap. I know some people are traditionalists… However, it is SO NICE when you get ready for a glass of wine and you don’t have to go hunting for the wine opener. Or if you’re like me, I’ve broken three rabbit wine openers in the past three years and have finally switched back to the waiter’s variety (thanks to the generous folks over at Highland Wine & Crystal… more great info on them soon!). Or you’ve arranged for a fun, romantic picnic… but you forgot the wine opener! Or you finally get it open… and it’s corked. Needless to say the screwcap is practical from a wine health and integrity standpoint as well as ease of opening standpoint. How could you possibly go wrong? I’m hoping to see more wineries switch over to the screwcap as time progresses.

Origin: Yamhill Valley, Oregon

Where: Smyrna WOB, approx $16-$18

Next time: Get a case!

Erath Pinot Noir

Origin: Dundee, Oregon (Willamette)

“Grapes from the EARTH, wines from the HEART… ERATH.”

www.erath.com

Luscious aromas of ripe strawberries, vanilla, graham, and a sinful hint of caramel. Bright flavors of red currant, raspberry and orange peel.

I absolutely love the “Wine History” section from the winery’s wine notes online — this completely sums up what I love best about Pinot Noirs:

The ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir is the cornerstone of the Earth wine portfolio. A blend of different vineyard sites from Oregon, this wine is a fruit forward, ready-to-drink style of Pinot Noir designed to highlight the varietal’s best characteristics. Our goal with this wine is simple – make the best Pinot Noir in the world for under $20.

Where: Smyrna WOB; $15.99

Unfortunately, after all my initial research about the wine, which made it sound so promising, the wine itself didn’t live up to my expectations. It wasn’t as light and refreshing as I was hoping, and it seemed to have a slight amount of mustiness and earthyness to it that just didn’t mesh well, in my opinion. Overall, it was “just okay” but I had certainly hoped for more.

Next time: I’ll pass.

Veramonte Reserva Pinot Noir

Origin: Casablanca Valley, Chile

Where: Smyrna WOB, $15.99 bottle

Tried this one last week — it was good, not spectacular. Spicier than I expected it would be for a Pinot.

Next time: I’ll pass.

A to Z Pinot Noir

Earlier this week, I enjoyed a fantastic dinner with family at Taverna Fiorentina in Vinings. The food was absolutely fabulous. However, I was not thrilled with any of the three Pinot Noir selections that we got… 2 by the glass and 1 by the bottle. I was most disappointed with the Siduri Pinot Noir, especially after spending $85 on the bottle. The other two, Peter Zemmer and A to Z , were reasonably priced by the glass but didn’t have any of the fruit-forward, punchy taste that I’ve come to expect in a Pinot. What a wine let-down.

Now I’m not looking forward to the bottle of A to Z that I had previously bought at Smyrna WOB. $18.99 bottle.

Next time: I’ll pass.

Tried a new Pinot tonight at Canoe for a very special occasion. The wine was perfect and everyone was thoroughly pleased with it. Chosen based on its origin from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where I’ve had luck wth other wines and also its price by the bottle at a restaurant was reasonable for the quality of the wine. I was even more enthusiastic that the winery is an organic one.

Presenting…

Anne Amie Pinot Noir and their very cool blog.

Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Patricia Green Reserve Pinot Noir

What an amazing wine… Retail about $30, unfortunately. Perfect with a nice dinner out.

Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Next time: Special occasion!

Where: Wisteria, Rathbun Steak, Smyrna WOB