Trivento Reserve Malbec 2022, Argentina: Trivento Reserve Malbec 2022, Mendoza, Argentina is a plush, fruit-forward red that greets you with aromas of ripe blackberry, plum, and blueberry, laced with hints of mocha, violet, and a touch of spice. It’s medium to full-bodied, smooth on the palate, and carries 13.5% alcohol with a rounded, juicy style that feels generous without being heavy. Serve it just below room temperature to let its velvety fruit sing. Fascinating fact: Winemaker Germán di Césare has been crafting wines at Trivento for over two decades, helping the estate become one of Argentina’s most awarded wineries. Trivento has also been recognized as the world’s best-selling Argentine wine brand, proving that Malbec’s rise is no passing trend. And honestly, if Malbec were a person, this one would be the friend who insists you have “just one more glass”—and you actually do. This Malbec has a short-to-medium aging potential: best enjoyed now through 2026 for its vibrant fruit and supple tannins. Food pairings: Pair it with grilled steak topped with chimichurri, where the wine’s dark fruit and spice echo Argentina’s most beloved culinary duo. Or try it with roasted eggplant and tomato pasta, where the smoky vegetables match beautifully with the wine’s plush, juicy core. Drink: 2024-2027. 160994 13.50% XD 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 91/100. August 16, 2025 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Trivento Reserve Malbec 2023, Mendoza, Argentina: A plush, fruit-driven red with aromas of ripe plum, blackberry, and blueberry, accented by notes of violet, cocoa, and a touch of vanilla from oak aging. It’s medium to full-bodied, dry, and velvety on the palate, with smooth tannins, fresh acidity, and 13.5% alcohol lending balance and depth. Serve it at room temperature to let its fruit and spice unfold. Fascinating fact: Trivento, named for the “three winds” that sweep across Mendoza, has become Argentina’s best-selling Malbec brand worldwide, showcasing the grape that defines the region. This Reserve Malbec is crafted for enjoyment now but will age gracefully for 4–6 years, gaining complexity with time. Drink: 2025-2028. 160994 13% XD 750 mL  $14.95 Score: 90/100. November 22, 2025 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Malma Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2023, Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina: Malma Pinot Noir lifts saffron-tinged cranberry and cherry aromas over a veil of leather and roast-beef savoriness, while fine, blood-orange-driven tannins dance through a fleshy, elegant mid-palate. Try it alongside duck breast or wild-mushroom risotto. Drink: 2025-2030. 46775 14% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 93/100. October 11, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Terrific Turkey Wine Full Review

Cicchitti Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Mendoza, Argentina: Cicchitti's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon shows cassis and kirsch with grilled-herb and smoked-cedar accents; medium-full and chalky, with a succulent mid-palate—decant and serve with barbecued ribs. Drink: 2025-2028. 24849 14.50% XD 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 90/100. November 8, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review

Wakefield Estate Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, South Australia, Australia: Wakefield Estate 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a terrific value red from cool-climate vineyards in the Clare Valley and Limestone Coast. Bold and flavourful, this full-bodied wine shows layers of dark berry, red cherry, roasted herbs, cocoa and a hint of toasted nuttiness, all supported by vibrant acidity and smooth tannins. Matured in French oak, it strikes a harmonious balance between richness and finesse. Pour with beef short ribs or grilled portobello mushrooms. Drink: 2025-2032. 744235 13% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 95/100. October 25, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review

Kilikanoon Golden Hillside Shiraz 2020, Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia: This ripe red 2020 Golden Hillside from Kilikanoon brims with blackberry and cake-spice perfume edged by hazelnut and warm florals; the palate is fleshy and silky with a long, lush finish—serve with roasted pork or nut-crusted lamb. Drink: 2025-2036. 45346 14.50% XD 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 94/100. November 8, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Luscious Lamb Wine Full Review

Santa Carolina El Pacto Agreement N°2 Carmenère 2021, Los Lingues, Central Valley, Chile: Santa Carolina's 2021 El Pacto Agreement No.2 is a great value. Bright plum and cherry aromatics lift from the glass, edged by tobacco leaf and warm spice; crunchy, generous and juicy with fine-grained tannins—drink now or cellar short-term. Drink: 2025-2027. 42107 14% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 93/100. November 8, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Heavenly Hamburger Wine Full Review

Marty Mariposa Alegre Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Colchagua Valley, Chile: This 2020 Gran Reserva Cabernet from Marty Mariposa shows plum and dark-chocolate layers with vanilla-oak and violet perfume, balanced by fresh acidity and medium tannins. Try it with venison or roast leg of lamb. Drink: 2025-2027. 44671 14.50% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 93/100. October 25, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review

Louis Bernard Louis Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2023, Côtes du Rhône, Rhône A.O.P., France: This 2023 Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages from Louis Bernard melds compote-dark fruit, tapenade and garrigue with ripe tannic texture—juicy and vigorous, pair with lamb or grilled vegetables. Drink: 2025-2027. 561290 14% XD 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 92/100. November 8, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review

Château le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2022, Côtes du Rhône, Rhône A.C., France: Château le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu offers bright red-berry fruit, savory herb and peppercorn detail with fine tannins—fresh and versatile; serve with burgers or grilled pork. Drink: 2025-2027. 224592 14.50% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 90/100. November 22, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Heavenly Hamburger Wine Full Review

Rémy Ferbras Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2023, Côtes du Rhône, Rhône A.O.P., France: Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu is ripe and generous—dark-cherry and garrigue aromas with warming oak spice; broad, juicy and excellent value—pair with grilled beef or hearty holiday fare. Drink: 2025-2028. 538009 14.20% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 90/100. November 22, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Plush Pork Wine Full Review

Maison Fontan Tattoo T&M Rouge 2022, Côtes De Gascogne I.G.P., Southwest, France: This Tannat-Merlot blend shows pronounced blueberry and cassis with mixed spice and a chalky mineral seam; Merlot softens the tannic frame—approachable now through 2027 with grilled meats. Drink: 2025-2027. 43894 12.50% D 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 89/100. November 22, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review

Vicente Faria Animus Red 2023, Douro D.O.C., Portugal: A bold blend of native grapes like Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz that delivers intense aromas of blackberry, plum, and violet, followed by rich dark fruit flavours with notes of chocolate, leather, and a touch of Mediterranean herbs. The finish is long and warming with velvety tannins that coat your palate. This is a wine with serious personality and main character energy. Animus means spirit or soul in Latin, and this wine captures the passionate character of Portuguese winemaking. Drink: 2025-2027. 535641 13% D 750 mL  $13.50 Score: 90/100. November 22, 2025 Full Review

Vicente Faria Lisbon by Night Red Blend 2022, Douro, Portugal: A smooth, seductive red that opens with aromas of ripe black cherry, plum, and blueberry, layered with notes of cocoa, vanilla, and a hint of black pepper. It’s medium-bodied, dry, and velvety on the palate, with gentle tannins, bright acidity, and 13% alcohol creating a beautifully balanced, easy-drinking style. Serve it just below room temperature to let its dark fruit and spice unfold. Fascinating fact: Winemaker Vicente Faria, one of Portugal’s most celebrated enologists, crafts Lisbon by Night using native grapes like Tinta Roriz and Castelão, capturing the lively, coastal character of the region’s cool Atlantic breezes. This wine is best enjoyed young within 3–5 years to savour its vibrant fruit and silky texture. This mysterious Portuguese blend captures the romance of Lisbon’s cobblestone streets with its complex mix of native grapes creating layers of dark fruit, smoke, and spice. This is your liquid passport to Portugal, transporting you to a Lisbon wine bar with fadistas singing and the scent of grilled seafood in the air. The wine revels in blackberry liqueur notes intertwined with tobacco and a hint of Mediterranean herbs, finishing with warming spices that linger like a perfect autumn evening. Lisbon by Night is crafted by Vidigal Wines, a small but adventurous winery founded in a 19th-century monastery, where the vaulted stone cellars are still in use today. Fun fact: Lisbon, the wine region around Portugal’s capital, has a maritime climate, and wines from coastal regions tend to have higher acidity and fresher flavours than wines from hot inland areas. That Atlantic Ocean breeze helps preserve acidity and brightness. I’d pair this with grilled octopus with smoked paprika and roasted red pepper coulis where the char from the grill echoes the wine’s smoky notes and the sweet peppers complement its fruity richness transporting you to a Portuguese tavern on a crisp fall night. Or try bacalhau à brás featuring salt cod shredded into golden matchstick potatoes bound with scrambled eggs creating comfort food that sings with the wine’s savory complexity. Also partnering well is pork tenderloin with fig compote where the caramelized exterior gives way to juicy pink meat while sticky-sweet figs bridge the wine’s fruit and spice. Or finally dark chocolate torte with sea salt where bitter cocoa and mineral salt draw out the wine’s depth creating an elegant finish to your evening. Drink: 2025-2028. 18998 13% MD 750 mL  $10.95 Score: 89/100. October 25, 2025 Full Review