Need to find a nice, red wine for my boss!

My boss has asked me to recommend a red wine to accompany an italian dinner he's having for his boss. I often read that good wines are available for $10-15.

My boss lives near 610 Magnolia, and I just read that the owner also has a retail wine shop across the street.

Can someone recommend a red, please, and even better a red that could be purchased from 610 guy?

Thanks very much!

Go to one of our excellent locally owned wine stores like Old Town, Gemelli, or St. Matthews Wines, and ask them for an Italian red around $15.

Since we don't really know what food he will pairing with the wine, you might want to go with a light-bodied, dry red..like a D.O.C.G. Chianti. Banfi makes a nice one in your price range.

Go with a Chianti Classico Reserva...usually a safe bet for a decent Italian red some are more expensive than others. When you go to the store ask for one of those for around $15...or something that compares in "quality", even if it's a different varietal/type.

[Robin Garr]

Sally, here are some reds from Tuscany and Abruzzo that I've purchased in Louisville in recent months around the price you're looking for. I'm afraid you'll be hard pressed to find a decent Chianti Classico Riserva at your price point, but you might shop for Toscano Rosso, which is usually a decent Santiovese-based red that's a cousin to Chianti and can often be found around $15.

As the others have said, try asking for advice at the better at the local wine shops, including Old Town, Gemelli, the Wine Rack and The Wine Market as well as 610's Wine Studio. They'll be happy to help you.

Caldora 2006 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($11.99)
Caposaldo 2005 Chianti ($8.99)
I Campetti 2005 "Castruccio" Monteregio di Massa Marittima ($12.99)
Nicodemi 2003 "Dei Colli Venia" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($19)
Farnese 2005 "Farneto Valley" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($8.49)
Casamatta 2004 Toscana ($15.99)
Castello di Farnetella 2004 Chianti Colli Senesi ($11.99)
Donna Laura 2004 "Ali" Sangiovese di Toscana ($9)

Instead of listing particular wines, here are a few categories to look for that provide a great bang for the buck...

Dolcetto
Barbera
Chianti
Montepulciano
Rosso Conero
Salice Salentino
Barco Reale
Valpolicella
Nero d'Avola

You can find fine examples of any of these from the right importer. Importers to look for are...

Winebow
Marc de Grazia (Vintner Select - my company )
Paterno
VinDivino
Empson
Palm Bay
VIAS

I'm sure Robin could chime in with more.

Happy hunting!!

A few that we carry on the other side of the river, if looking to make the drive are
Anime Valpolicella (13.99),
La Vis Pinot Nero (14.89),
Solo Marema Micante (14.99)
or Quattro Mani Montepulciano (9.99)

I find these a little more universal than a Chianti but great value (heck, I actually prefer them to a Chianti, but that is a personal preference)

I'm not sure if these are available in Louisville, but I'm sure there are equivilant brands of those varietals available.

Try a beautiful Chilean red, "Root:1" - a Cab with a great profile. Bob and Carol C gave us a bottle of this and we drank it with a rare steak and some olive and artichoke pasta and it was AMAZING!

Edited to say "we drank it" instead of "we ate it"...heh.

You might consider a real nice California red zinfindel. You didn't specify that the wine had to be Italian. You'll get more bang for your buck...plus many think zinfindel comes from southern Italy originally.

I recommend Cims de Porrera Priorat Solanes. It is inexpensive and has always scroed above a 90. It is a blend of five grapes, and made in Spain. It is wonderful and definately would go well with an Italian dinner.

Thank you very much, everyone. He sure to have a successful dinner with these great suggestions!