We feel that in our rush to tell you about all of the white wines for summer we have neglected the reds. While white wines may be the perfect accompaniment for seafood, salads and all of the other light summer dishes, they cannot stand up to the fare of the great American pastime; no, not baseball, outdoor barbequing. It takes a red wine to accompany the intense flavors of barbecued beef, hamburgers, hot dogs and ribs. So, to correct our oversight, we shall take a look at some really interesting red wines that will fit perfectly with outdoor summer cooking.

Let’s start with a really outstand and somewhat off the beaten path red wine, the Langetwins Family Winery and Vineyard 2010 Generations Petite Sirah Petit Verdot ($16). To get one question out of the way, the winery is run by a set of twins and their families who are the fifth generation (thus the name of the wine) to be engaged in winemaking. For a small winery to get off the well beaten path and produce wines that are not of the same old familiar varieties takes a lot of courage. This wine pays off for that courage. The Langetwins 2010 Generations Petite Sirah Petit Verdot takes two up and coming varieties and blends them in such a way as to make an outstanding whole. It has a dark almost inky black color which cradles a huge aroma displaying blueberries, cherries and a hint of perfume. The flavor is as expansive as is the aroma, concentrating on summer berries, cherry and oak. There is however a caveat. While we always try to write about wines that are currently in national distribution, this wine may be hard to find. To solve that problem, contact Langetwins at http://www.langetwins.com/contact/ and ask if there is a local source for their wines or order directly from them. Whichever you choose you are in for a great treat.

Another outstanding red wine is the Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards, Alexander Valley 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($22). This is a true California wine, stressing fruit flavors over the usually austere and stiff character of the grape variety. As is the case of most Alexander Valley red wines, the color is deep a dark ruby and displays an aroma which showcases plum and boysenberry. These carry over to the flavor where they mingle with cherry element and the very discernible flavors of chocolate followed by a hint of oak. This wine has a wonderful softness about it and reflects many of the flavor and aromas that can be found only in well-aged wines. As is usual of Rodney Strong Vineyards, this is an excellent wine
When looking for a fine red wine, one could do no better than a wine from the Robert Mondavi Winery and if that wine is a Pinot Noir you are getting one of the best made in California. The Robert Mondavi 2009 Pinot Noir ($27) is a perfect example of what a fine Pinot Noir wine should be like. The color of this wine is a bright cherry red and the aroma is heavy with the scents of cherries, red raspberries and oak. These aromas carry over to the flavor where they are melded with a layer of warm spices. There is an almost perfect balance between the fruit and the acid. What is rare about this Pinot Noir is the soft and smooth tannins that are all too often missing in most California Pinot Noir’s This is an exceptional wine, which can hold its own with the best from anywhere in the world.

The deep violet color of the Alamos Vineyards 2010 Malbec ($10.49) tells you that you are in for something different. This wine is alive with the flavors and aromas of plum and spice, with coffee and vanilla dancing in the background. Here is another red wine that can accompany all of the barbequed red meats as well as many of the spicy Italian or Spanish dishes.