5 Red Wines for the Tasting

I feel it's also important to note that this article was written in 2010 and the vintages may need to be updated depending on when you read this.

The wine is listed in a suggested tasting order and you'll find winemaker notes on each of these producer's website or by searching them online.

These prices for these wines range from around $50 to $150 a bottle.

2007 Ken Wright Pinot Noir McCrone Vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon (around $50)

• Pinot Noir is still feeling all shiny due to its exposure from the movie "Sideways." It's a great red grape, one of my personal favorites, because it falls on the lighter side of most reds. Ken Wright's website is awesome for the wine novice as it has a bunch of "nuts and bolts" info that lets you know when to drink their wine (drinkability) and why. Go with Ken's Pinot Noir from Oregon, champions of this varietal. His 2007 is really rich, plummy, and chocolately with a big ol' nose. A strong addition with much to talk about for a wine tasting.

2006 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California (around $40)

• Duckhorn produces a classic Merlot and the 2006 vintage is superb with lovely fruit nuances like plum, black raspberry, and boysenberry balanced with smoky, spicy tones as well. Most guests really enjoy the accessibility of a Merlot's characteristics in a red wine tasting especially when it follows a Pinot Noir.

2006 Brancaia Ilatraia Maremma Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy (around $40)

• This "super Tuscan" has a lot going on! Along with a chocolate undertone, additional sweets from the kitchen can be detected like caramel and burnt brown sugar to perk up the ripe fruity notes of the Sangiovese and Cabernet grapes in this medium-bodied blend.

2006 Two Hands Shiraz Bella's Garden, Barossa Valley, Australia (around $50)

• A lush reddish-purple hue is the tone of this fruity, juicy Shiraz from the world's top producers of the varietal, Australia. You'll experience a nice, big mouthfeel with spicy notes and nuances of currant, black cherry, and berries in Two Hand's beautiful blend.

2004 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23, Napa Valley, CA (around $150)

• Back in 1976, it was a '73 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon that beat French red wines in the famed Paris Tasting as storied in the movie "Bottle Shock." So, even though it is triple the price of the others in this line up, I wanted to include it. The depth of color in this red gem is like that of a garnet. All your classic Cab flavors, such as black currants, cherries, licorice, even tobacco dance around on the palate with every sip. A full-bodied and fabulous finale to any red wine tasting.