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 – $??

This lovely Pinot debuted on Valentine’s Day Eve with a simple meal of baked chicken with rosemary and roasted red pepper flakes, baked sweet potatos, and steamed broccoli. The garnet-colored Pinot was a great balance of bright fruit and supple tannins. I love a Pinot that shows off its fruit without being a fruit bomb, and this is an excellent example!

Although I can’t find a website for Arthur Wilbanks, the label describes the wine nicely (except for the usage of the “&” sign versus spelling out “and”… grammer nerd, I know!

Wine, like music, should be savored, cherished & involve the senses. Our gentle sloping vineyards rest in a cool maritime climate allowing a lengthy ripening period accentuating the smooth, succulent character. Soft & delicate with elusive tannins, red fruits, and carressing structure, our wine harmonizes with vast cuisine and lively conversation.

Also, this wine goes great with watching the Vancouver Winter Olympics!

Origin: Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo, California
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $12
Next time: Get a glass!

Generally, I’ve had some really positive experiences with wines, especially Pinots and Sauvignon Blancs, from New Zealand. I’m a big fan of the kiwis, and I was really intrigued by this wine – according to the label, this winery was the first in NZ to produce Sauvignon Blanc. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed by their Pinot Noir. It seemed very acidic and unbalanced… it was just a weird wine.

Origin: New Zealand
Where: Hop City
Price: ?? around $13
Next time: I’ll pass.
Screw cap

I remember trying this wine for the first time a couple of years ago at New Year’s, and loving it. This wine is a great example of what two years of tasting some really excellent wines can do to your palate. I’ll tell you what… it makes this wine taste like a horrible fruit bomb, an extreme adult version of fruit punch.

I’d say, if you’re a newbie to wine, give this one a try. You might enjoy it. Otherwise, steer clear.

Either way, do go to their website and check out this extremely fun game – Ad Libs! W and I have found it’s really more fun the more inappropriate the words are that you put in.

Origin: Vin de Pays D’Oc, France
Where: Publix
Price: around $10
Next time: I’ll pass.

Wine number two from New Year’s Eve, the Simonnet-Febre Pinot Noir is a tasty, enjoyable Pinot from southern France, especially for the price. Price-wise, I’d compare this to something like a Jargon or a Hangtime, something affordable enough to drink often and without too much fuss. Taste-wise, it knocks those guys out of the water – great strawberry flavors as well as soft, yummy tannins with a great balance. This wine is tied with Lucky Star Pinot for my top economy Pinot.

Origin: Vin de Pays des Portes de Mediterranee, France
Where: Highland Wine
Price: Need to verify, but I think it was under $10
Next time: Get a case!

A New Year’s Eve wine, this Molnar Family Pinot Noir was a treat to help ring in the new year during our celebrations with friends in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Coincidentally, I’ve recently written about another wine called Obsidian Ridge – it just so happens that Molnar Family and Obsidian Ridge are made by the same great folks over at the Tricycle Wine Co. (remember the cool Fly Over video?) That’s one of the things I love about delving just a bit deeper into wine – you start running across the same names and the same locales… winemakers coming and going to different wineries, family-owned and generational vineyards, fun collaborations between top talent. You really start to see the wine community as an evolving organism in itself. And at the same time, it reminds me of the music industry – nothing is ever set in stone, each artist is always trying to create something new and different, maybe even inspiring… and it’s so fun when different artists join forces and learn from each other about the craft they love so much. I get the feeling it might be a similar world in the wine craft.

If you’re interested in the more technical aspects of the wine making as it relates to the climate and geological/topographical features of the land, then be sure to check out their description of the Poseidon Vineyard where these grapes originate (here’s a short snippet from their site):

At high tide the river tastes of salt, a reminder of the sea’s proximity and reach as well as an inspiration for the name Poseidon. Pacific winds blow through the Petaluma Gap from the west and bring cooling fog throughout the spring, summer, and fall, tempering the generosity of California sun. Although Poseidon was the god of water, in his additional role of god of earthquakes he created the uplifted Mayacamas Range, which provides the soils and gravel of our vineyard.

With this inaugural New Year’s Eve beauty, you’ll find a beautiful ruby-hued wine with very fresh berry flavors and a great balance with the tannins. If you like the Morande Pionero Pinot Noir, then you’d LOVE this Molnar (except for the price difference). Give it a try with this yummy baked brie and mushroom appetizer – you won’t be sorry! Even better, if you’re lazy in the kitchen like I am, don’t even worry about the thyme and just use pre-sliced, pre-washed white or baby bella mushrooms from the grocery store. Easy.

Origin: Carneros, Napa Valley, California
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $26
Next time: Get a glass!

You might recall this Stephen Ross Pinot from an earlier post where W and I attended an absurdly delicious wine dinner at Muss & Turner featuring Stephen Ross Pinots. This Aubaine Vineyards Pinot was one of my favorites at the dinner, so we got a few bottles to enjoy at home.

We popped this one open for my birthday dinner (after the Holly’s Garden Pinot Gris). W cooked this amazing Mahi Mahi with a tomato and olive sauce – delicious! Unfortunately, the wine didn’t pair very well with the tomato and olive sauce, so it wasn’t the match made in heaven I was envisioning. The intensely flavored sauce just overwhelmed the subtle flavors of the Pinot, although it also had more tannins than I remembered. My guess is that my first tasting involved a pairing with a buttery gnocchi, rather than the leaner, much vegetable-based sauce, so there were fewer things to tone down those tannins.

Origin: San Luis Obispo County, California
Where: Muss & Turner
Price: around $40 (it was a special occasion!)
Next time: Get a glass!

For $10 or less, you can’t beat the value on this Pinot Noir. And the taste measures up – stock up on Lucky Star as a new staple to keep on hand. Great for big family and friend gatherings — won’t kill your wallet, but your guests will appreciate the silky berry flavors!

Also – love the little blurb on the back.

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT, YOUR PINOT NOIR WISHES HAVE BEEN GRANTED. WITH RIPE RASPBERRY AROMAS LAYERED WITH NOTES OF RED CHERRY AND A SILKY FINISH, OUR WINE IS DAZZLING PAIRED WITH GRILLED MEATS, LIGHT PASTAS AND HEARTY SALADS. MAY OUR WINE SHINE BRIGHTLY AT YOUR TABLE AND BRING GOOD FORTUNE TO YOU AND THOSE WHO SHARE IT.

Unfortunately, the Lucky Star website is under construction. I really would love to learn more about this winery! I’ll keep checking back.

Origin: Sonoma County, California
Where: Highland Wine and Muss & Turner’s
Price: $9
Next time: Get a case!

This Angeline Russian River Valley Pinot seems to have taken Atlanta by storm lately. And for good reason – it’s amazing! We popped this bottle after the Memo ran out during the shrimp and cornbread casserole dinner with my parents. Just a fabulous flavor and moderately priced as well. The production is fairly limited, so if you see this wine – grab a few bottles or a case.

Origin: Russian River Valley, California
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $14
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.