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They say variety is the
spice of life, and it's definitely a
great thing when it comes to wine varieties as
well. Drinking the same Cabernet, Merlot
and Pinot Noir day in day out gets to be
pretty dull. While these three red wine
types are far and away the most prevalent
you'll find, why not broaden your horizons to
include some of the less 'common'
varieties?
Here's our five picks for uncommon red
wines you'll want to get to know:
#1
- Nero d'Avola
Nero d'Avola is Italian for "The
Black Grape of Avola", a reference to the
Sicilian town of Avola. While some regions of
Italy are gaining renown for their ability to
grow non-Italian varieties (such as the rise of
the 'Super-Tuscan' wines), this is a wonderful
indigenous variety that
offers mouth-filling texture in an
easy-drinking style. Also offers excellent
value.
Our Nero
d'Avola Pick:
2008 Colosi Nero d'Avola, Sicily
($18)
#2
- Carmenère
One of the traditional
red grape varieties of France, Carmenère is
today grown rarely in France but has flourished
in Chile. In France, this grape was decimated
by phylloxera in the 1800s but
Chile's isolation protected its plantings.
Velvety but with more backbone than Merlot, I
find Carmenère to be the wine I often wish
Merlot was, and is one of my favorites from
Chile.
Our Carmenère
Pick:
2008 Terra Andina Carmenère, Valle
Central ($10)
#3 - Mourvèdre
/Monastrell
Traditionally grown in both France
and Spain, this variety is known as 'Mourvedre'
in the former and 'Monastrell' in the latter. A
sun-loving variety, it is widely grown in
Chateauneuf-du-Pape and the Bandol appellations
of Southern France, and in the Jumillla region
of Spain. This grape produces dark, intensely
tannic wines, some of which may benefit from
aging.
Our Mourvèdre /
Monastrell Pick:
2007 Casa Castillo Monastrell,
Spain ($10)
#4 -
Dolcetto
While the Italian region of
Piedmont is most celebrated for its long-lived
and pricey Barolos and Barbarescos, it also
produces Dolcetto - very much on the other end
of the wine spectrum: light-bodied, with low
acidity, and meant to drink now. This
charming wine shows exuberant fruit character
in a mild style. Also called 'Charbono' when
made in California.
Our Dolcetto
Pick:
2008 Giacosa Fratelli Dolcetto d'Alba "San
Rocco", Piedmont ($20)
#5 -
Pinotage
If you don't know Pinotage, the
first time you see it you might think the
name's a typo. Do they mean Pinot Noir? In
fact, Pinotage was created in South Africa as a
blend between Pinot Noir and Cinsault (known as
Hermitage in that country). Less refined than
Pinot Noir alone, this often shows slightly
more sauvage, brambly character and is quite a
bit darker.
Our Pinotage
Pick:
2005 J Wine Pinotage, Russian River
Valley ($38)
Next Article:
Uncommon White Wine Varieties
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