In my last article on the IVSA trade tasting of wine, beer, and spirits, I concentrated on sparkling wines, but at the end of the tasting, I did take some time to taste a few red wines, and I was pleasantly surprised by all of them, so I am listing them here for you.
My Red Wine Picks
Ceci Antico Bruscone Guiseppe Verdi, NV, Italy – I posted this wine in my previously sparkling category as it is a Lambrusco (red) sparkling wine. But it also fits in this article, so I am posting it again. This wine is medium garnet in colour. Light raspberry and black berry nose. Dryish, light body, with a lean, soft mouthfeel. Light berry fruit flavours and light acidity. 
Baettig Vino de Viñedo Los Parientes Pinot Noir, Chile – the wine was fermented with 10% full clusters and indigenous yeasts followed by nine months in barrel, 13% of them new 300-liter oak barrels and the rest used 228-liter barrels. The vineyard for the grapes comes very the very south end of Chile, so it is truly a cool-climate Pinot Noir. It has a medium intensity, clear garnet colour. Nice aromas of berry fruits and oak. Dry, medium body, smooth with a soft mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. It has tasty berry fruit flavour and some pepperiness. 
Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône 2024, France – made from 100% Syrah grapes using biodynamic principles. It has a deep ruby colour. Strong berry fruit aromas, reminding me a bit of Lambrusco with the berry fruit following on the palate. It is dry, smooth and soft on the palate. Medium acidity and light tannins. Also has a touch of pepperiness.
Pindarie Western Ridge Shiraz 2021, Barossa Valley, Australia – Opaque black-garnet in colour. Juicy blackberries and black pepper aromas, plus a touch of blackberry syrup. Dry, medium-minus body with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Ripe, juicy blackberries and black pepper flavours. Medium acidity and light tannins.
Falernia Carmenere Gran Reserva 2021, Chile – this wine was made with the appassimento method, where some grapes are dried before vinification, giving the wine a richer flavour and intensity. This wine has a darker garnet colour. Smoky and dark fruit nose with more on the palate, plus capsicum and some coffee flavours. You also get juicy black berries and some pepperiness on the palate. Slightly off-dry or just nicely, fruity flavours.
Falernia Pendriscal Single Vineyard Reserva Carmenere, 2020, Chile – A deep garnet colour in the glass. Medium intensity aromas of sweet spices and ripe blackberries. Medium body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Medium acidity and light tannins. Ripe blackberries and light pepperiness on the palate. Also some char on the palate. Good quality.
