Ortas Prestige Rasteau 2013
Ever on the look-out for great BBQ wines, recently I came across a wine from the southern Rhône called Ortas Prestige Rasteau 2013. Traditionally a blend of 50% Grenache Noir, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre, this well-priced, easy-drinking wine is all about flavour. Dense purple in colour it shows vanilla oak and spicy plum on the nose; medium to full-bodied on the palate, its fruit-driven black plum flavour is well balanced with acidity, firmly structured and finishes on a smoky note. It costs $20.95 at Vintages outlets. Ideal for pepper steak. That’s Ortas Prestige Rasteau 2013 from France. For Post City Magazines, I’m Tony Aspler, 680 NEWS ($20.95, Vintages #985929) (89)

Catena Zapata D.V. Catena Historic Vines Red Blend 2015
Catena is one of my favourite Argentinian wineries. Their historic vines were planted in 1902, a field blend of Malbec and Petit Verdot at elevations of 950 metres and 1120 metres. From these venerable vines they produce a wine called Catena Zapata D.V. Catena Historic Vines Red Blend. The 2015 vintage, just released at Vintages outlets, is dense purple in colour, offering a cedary nose of spicy black plum. Medium-bodied and dry, its well-extracted ripe black fruit flavours and rich and full on the palate and beautifully balanced. It costs $19.95 at Vintages and works well with BBQ meats. That’s Catena Zapata D.V. Catena Historic Vines Red Blend 2015 from Argentina. For Post City Magazines, I’m Tony Aspler, 680 NEWS. ($19.95, Vintages #555466) (89)