Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia, the d’Arenberg estate has grown to 345 acres. Today, fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn leads d’Arenberg. The name “Stump Jump” refers to the South Australian invention, the Stump Jump plough. The plough became a popular piece of machinery for ploughing fields because of its ability to ride over stumps and roots, which saves valuable time and resources by not stopping the draught horse.

“Inviting fresh plum aromas leap out of the glass with raspberry and pretty pot-pourri notes providing more complexity. The palate is juicy and spicy with an abundance of red fruits that are fresh and vibrant. Licorice and rose petals come through on the mid palate and an under-lying earthy complexity is evident all the way through. The tannins are powdery and subtle on this juicy ready to drink red.” –d’Arenberg

2008 d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz (McLaren Vale, South Australia): Deep, dark purple. Very jammy with black cherry and spice on the nose; blackberry, black cherry, licorice, and a hint of black pepper on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $9 to $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2008 d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Columbia Crest, located in Paterson, Washington, has been one of our favorite sources of value wines for many years. Last year, Juan Munoz Oca took over as head winemaker from Ray Einberger. Einberger had been at the helm since 2002 when he took the reins from Doug Gore who had been the winemaker since Columbia Crest was founded in 1983. The Columbia Crest winemaking team has produced more 90+ scoring bottles of wine than any other winery in the world. For those of us who live in Washington State, it is nice to have such a consistent, affordable producer in our own backyard.

H3, an abbreviation for Horse Heaven Hills, is one of the tiers in the Columbia Crest portfolio and showcases the region in which their winery is located. All of the fruit used to produce H3 wines come from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. This red blend is called “Les Chevaux”, French for “the horses” and a reference to the wild horses that once roamed the region.

“Aromas of fresh blueberries, anise and earth lead to firm and supple tannins on the palate. This red wine blend presents incredible depth, with layered flavors of candied nuts, licorice and dark chocolate that lead to a mocha finish featuring ample, sweet tannins.” –Winemaker Juan Munoz Oca

2009 Columbia Crest H3 Les Chevaux Red Wine (Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 18% Syrah, 10% Malbec, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with bright red and black fruit, smoke, and pencil lead. Black cherry, black plum, smoke, pencil lead, and a hint of earth come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity and smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $10.99; Available elsewhere, $11 to $15

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Columbia Crest H3 Les Chevaux Red Wine was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Tapeña Wines, produced by the Ferrer family in Spain, are fresh and fruit-forward. Made to pair well with tapas (small plates), Tapeña wines feature a distinctive fork on the label. At every taberna in Spain, tapas are served communal style—each person armed with a glass of wine and a fork. Perhaps best known as the owners of Freixenet, the popular sparkling wine, the Ferrer family operates over 11 wineries in Spain. Gabriel Suberviola joined Freixenet in 1980 and has risen to become head winemaker for several of the Ferrers’ wineries.

“Opening with powerful violet-red hues, this wine has a tremendous concentration of ripe cherries and juicy candied fruits. The palate is intense in rich, ripe, dark fruits balanced by soft tannins and a lovely spicy mouthfeel. It is well structured, soft but lively, ending with a lingering velvety finish.” –Tapeña Wines

2010 Tapeña Garnacha (Spain): 100% Garnacha (Grenache). Medium ruby red in color. Aromatic with black cherry and a touch of barnyard on the nose. Fruit-forward with cherry, licorice, and earth on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $10; Available elsewhere, $7

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Tapeña Garnacha was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Plantagenet Wines was the first winery established in Western Australia’s Great Southern region. The Great Southern region is characterized by a cool, continental climate and granite-laden soils. Founded in 1968 by English immigrant Tony Smith, Plantagenet is named after the local Shire of Plantagenet. Smith’s initial plantings included Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Later, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Chardonnay were planted as well. Plantagenet’s Omrah line of wines is named for the SS Omrah ocean liner, which ferried settlers and soldiers to and from Western Australia’s shores in the 1900’s.

“Plush blueberry and plum with just a hint of characteristically regional pepper and spice notes. Subtle oak characters impart a sweet, vanilla chocolate note. The bouquet will evolve with time in the bottle providing further complexity.” –Plantagenet Wines

2008 Plantagenet Omrah Shiraz (Great Southern, Australia): Deep, dark purple in color. Aromatic with black fruit, oak, and a touch of earth on the nose. Fruit-forward with blackberry, black cherry, and a hint of smoke on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $13; Available elsewhere, $17

A Wine for Tonight: 2008 Plantagenet Omrah Shiraz was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Mission St. Vincent is a 12th century mission, which has been turned into a modern winery. Located between two rivers, the Garonne and the Dordogne, in the Entre-Deux-Mers region in France, Mission St. Vincent extends over fifteen villages. For over 25 years, plots of vineyard land have been carefully selected to obtain the best grapes in order to produce a quality wine.

“Strong color, bright red highlights. Pleasant nose combining the red and black fruit with a woody vanilla. The mouth is round, silky tannins with a lovely aromatic presence. A contemporary style.” –Mission St. Vincent

2008 Mission St. Vincent Bordeaux Rouge (Bordeaux, France): 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep red in color. Aromatic with vegetal notes and a hint of barnyard on the nose. Smoke, black fruit, and bell pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $10; Available elsewhere, $10

A Wine for Tonight: 2008 Mission St. Vincent Bordeaux Rouge was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

What’s a better way to ring in the New Year this weekend than with a good sparkling wine with a great QPR? The Blanc de Blancs is one of an excellent array of value sparkling wines from Domaine Ste. Michelle. Producing sparkling wines for over thirty years, Domaine Ste. Michelle is one of the largest sparkling wine houses in the United States, producing more than 300,000 cases each year. Rick Casqueiro has been head winemaker since 1994. Given the current state of our economy, I believe that celebrating the New Year with such an economical yet excellent bubbly is especially appropriate.

“Blanc de Blancs is made primarily from Chardonnay and has essentially the same fruit profile. Try substituting our Blanc de Blancs the next time you think about serving Chardonnay.” –Winemaker Rick Casqueiro

NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with honeysuckle and white peach on the nose. More white peach, pear, and floral notes come through on the palate. Dry, light to medium-bodied and crisp with small, fairly fast bubbles, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $9 to $15

A Wine for Tonight: NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

The Azienda Zenato, located in Lugana, Italy, is owned by the Zenato family. Sergio Zenato founded the winery in 1960. Sergio has a relentless passion for winemaking as well as experimenting with new vineyard plantings. Planted in 1975, the Zenato family estate vineyard is in the area of Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella and covers 20 hectares.

“With a ruby red hue, it releases an elegant almond-scented bouquet, classicly Valpolicella; the palate shows dry and full-flavored, with an excellent, velvet-contoured structure. Can be cellared several years.” –Zenato

2009 Zenato Valpolicella Superiore (Valpolicella DOC, Veneto, Italy): 80% Corvina Veronese, 10% Rondinella, and 10% Sangiovese. Deep red in color. Very aromatic with licorice, oak, and black fruit on the nose. Red and black fruits, earth, and licorice come through on the palate. Medium-bodied and crisp with medium tannins, and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $11 to $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Zenato Valpolicella Superiore was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Coming from a line of seven generations of grape growers, Michele Chiarlo founded his namesake winery in 1956. Today, Mr. Chiarlo is a leading figure in the Piedmont wine industry. Michele Chiarlo is definitely a family business with Mr. Chiarlo’s sons, Alberto and Stefano, now playing key roles. Alberto directs marketing and sales while Stefano manages vineyard operations and serves as co-winemaker.

“Ruby red with purple highlights. Elegant with fine intensity, hints of wild berries and mint leaves. Dry, full-fruity and well structured.” –Michele Chiarlo

2008 Michele Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti Le Orme Superiore (Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Piedmont, Italy): Medium-deep ruby red in color. Nice nose with earth and red fruit aromas. Fruit-forward with ripe red fruit, especially cherry and raspberry, earth, and black licorice on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and medium, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $14.49; Available elsewhere, $12 to $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2008 Michele Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti Le Orme Superiore was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Hedges Family Estate, located on Red Mountain, is the largest family-owned winery in Washington State. Founders Tom and Anne-Marie Hedges created an export company called American Wine Trade in 1986 to sell wine to foreign importers. Out of that business came the establishment of a négociant-inspired wine called Hedges Cellars. Tom and Anne-Marie bought land on Red Mountain, planted vines, and built the chateau that is now home to their wine estate. The House of Independent Producers is a Hedges Family Estate project directed under Christophe Hedges.

“Intense northern latitude West Coast style. Angular, sharp, and grown for food consumption. Apple, flint, citrus, and stone define the palette. A classic Northwest style. A true place of origin wine.” –House of Independent Producers

2010 House of Independent Producers Chardonnay (Dionysus Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Chardonnay. Pale greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with fresh citrus aromas. More citrus as well as honeysuckle, apple, and pear come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $14; Available elsewhere, $11 to $15

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 House of Independent Producers Chardonnay was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Spartico is produced by Bodegas Iranzo, Spain’s oldest estate bottled winery, by winemaker Francisco Galbardón. Bodegas Iranzo is located in the D.O. Utiel-Requena region, the second largest winegrowing region in Spain. Spartico Tempranillo is the first USDA Certified Organic No Sulfites Added (NSA) wine from Spain available for nationwide distribution. It is made from 100% USDA certified organic Tempranillo grapes, without the addition of any sulfites during production. It is available through Whole Foods nationwide and other fine wine retailers across the country.

“On the nose it shows a good intensity where there are marked tones of young red fruits. In mouth the wine shows balance and a good noticeable acidity that makes the wine appear very clean and fresh.” –Bodegas Iranzo

NV Spartico Organic Tempranillo (D.O. Utiel-Requena, Spain): Deep purplish red. Nose is a bit tight at first and then some red fruit and earthy aromas emerge. Red fruit, earth, and leather come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $11.99; Available elsewhere, $10 to $12

A Wine for Tonight: NV Spartico Organic Tempranillo was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.