Reds to find for party tasting:

Cabernet Sauvignon

1. Bodegas Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina)
2. HdV “La Belle Cousine” Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Napa Valley, CA)
3. Chateau Lynch-Bages (Pauillac, Bourdeaux France)
4. Pauillac & Margaux district (Bordeaux, France)
5. Graves & Medoc (Bordeaux, France)
6. other districts with high classification: Saint-Estephe, Saint Julien, Listrac, Moulis (Bordeaux, France)

 

Merlot

1. Chateau Petrus (Pomerol, France)  **most expensive Merlot $$$$
2. Swanson Merlot (Oakville, Napa Valley, CA)
3. Leonetti Merlot (Walla Walla, WA)
4. Ferrero Merlot Maremma Toscana “Me” (Tuscany, Italy)
5. best are from Saint Emilion & Pomerol (Bordeaux, France)

 

Pinot Noir

1. Saintsbury Brown Ranch Pinot Noir (Carneros, CA)
2. Patz & Hall Hyde Vineyard Pinot Noir (Carneros, CA)
3. Domaine Serene “Evenstad Reserve” Pinot Noir (Williamette Valley, OR)
4. Faiveley, Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chamberrin (Burgundy, France)
5. search for Pinot Noir from the Cote de Nuits (Burgundy, France)

 

Syrah

1. Spice Route “Chakalaka” Swartland (South Africa)
2. d’Arenberg McLaren Vale “The Dead Arm” Shiraz (Australia)
3. Arnot-Roberts, Adler Springs Vineyard Syrah (Mendocino County, CA)

 

Sangiovese

1. Altesino “Montosoli” Brunello di Montalcino (Italy)
2. Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG (Italy)
3. Benessere Vineyards Sangiovese (Napa Valley, CA)
4. Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (Italy)

 

Tempranillo

1. Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga (Spain)
2. Marques de Riscal Rioja Gran Reserva (Spain)
3. Viader DARE Tempranillo (Napa Valley, CA)
4. Tandem Ars Nova Navarra Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Spain)

 

Zinfandel

1. Storybook Mountain Vineyard Estate Mayacamas Range Zinfandel (Napa Valley, CA)
2. Ravenswood Zinfandel (Sonoma County, CA)
3. Rosenblum Cellars Monte Rosso Vineyard Reserv Zinfandel (Sonoma Valley, CA)

 

Malbec

1. Achaval Ferrer “Finca Bella Vista” Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)
2. Antigal “1” Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)
3. Ladera Vineyard Malbec (Napa Valley, CA)

 

This list taken from the book “The Everything Guide to Wine” by Peter Alig.