Wine Review: Gift dad wine for Father’s Day

Father's Day is this weekend, and dad deserves an exceptional gift. There is nothing that fits that description better than a deep, dark red wine.

While the choice of a suitable red wine may be difficult and a mistake could be embarrassing, I would like to suggest some wines that dad will enjoy while also complimenting you on the excellence of your choice.

Aster Ribera del Duero Finca El Otero 2019 ($60)
This wine has been made by an ancient Spanish technique. The grapes were first sorted by hand so that only the darkest grapes were used to make the wine. The grapes were then fermented in an equally ancient Spanish method, in oak barrels. What resulted from all of this ancient care was a dark red wine that presents the aromas of dark summer fruits featuring blackberries and black currant – with hints of tobacco, spice, nutmeg and licorice. A gift of this wine would be the equivalent of giving dad a Spanish masterpiece.

Aster Ribera del Duero 2020 El Espino ($40)
This selection is another excellent Spanish choice. This is a wine that has a dark ruby color which offers the aromas of blueberry, blackberry, plum, licorice, cardamom and easily identifiable mineral nuances. Not only is this a good choice, but it also may introduce the beauties of Spanish red wines to dad if, by chance, he is unfamiliar with them.

Jordan Vineyards 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)
A true child of California, this wine stresses fruit flavors over the usually austere and stiff character of the grape variety. The color is deep and dark with the aroma showcasing cherries, spice and vanilla. These carry over to the flavor, where they mingle with a raspberry element and the very discernable flavors of chocolate and just a hint of oak. This wine has an impressive softness and reflects many of the flavors and aromas that are found only in well-aged wines. Rather than being saved to be served only with the heaviest of meat dishes, this wine's expansive flavor spectrum allows it to be used with a much broader selection of foods.

Cecchi 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva di Famiglia ($37)
This wine is a picture-perfect Chianti, with all of the flavors and aromas that made Chianti an international favorite. It is a big and robust wine that, despite all of its power, maintains a soft velvet-like character and a fruit aroma of plums and cherries. The flavor exhibits the same plum and cherry elements, mingling with sun-dried fruits and just the slightest hint of oak. As you may well imagine, this wine will go well with Italian foods, but it should not be relegated solely to that niche.

Feudi di San Gregorio 2018 Taurasi ($48)
Not exactly a run-of-the-mill Italian red wine, this wine has been made from the aglianico grape, a variety with a long history in Italy. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 22 months in French barrels, and then allowed to rest an additional 14 months in the bottle before being released to the public. This wine offers the unmistakable aromas of maraschino cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and anise, which can also be found in the flavor where they merge with the flavor of plum. If dad knows his red wines, this wine will be a pleasant and much-appreciated gift.

Il Poggione Poggi 2021 Rosso di Montalcino ($31)
This wine is about as Italian as a wine can get, as it has been made from Italy's favorite wine grape variety, the sangiovese. It’s alive with the aromas of sour cherries, red summer fruits and blood oranges. These aromas stay with the wine and continue on to the finish. If dad is a red wine enthusiast, I can almost guarantee that he will be more than pleased with you and the gift of this wine.

Wine columnist Bennet Bodenstein can be reached at frojhe1@att.net.