By Denman Moody, author, The Advanced Oenophile

Of the 200 or so red wines I have consumed over the last three months, here we have the cream of the crop!

$10-$45:

Fetzer Cabernet Sauvignon 50th Anniversary Selection California 2016 — A great value! $13

Z Alexander Brown Uncaged Proprietary Red Wine North Coast 2015 — $15

Z Alexander Brown Pinot Noir (Russian River and Stags Leap 2015) — Underpriced! $15

Z Alexander Brown Uncaged Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 — Z Alexan­der’s best-selling wine. $15

Michael David 7 Deadly Zins Lodi 2015 — Exciting, ripe berry flavors. Burgers and pizzas. $16

1000 STORIES Bourbon Barrel Aged Small Batch Zinfandel 2016 — “Charred vanilla, dried herbs and a hint of caramel.” I usually don’t recommend bourbon barrel wines. But this one is very good. $18.99

Don Rubin Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2016 — Lovely Pinot for under $20. $18.99

Scott Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco

Monterey 2015 — Excellent balance of all components. $19.99

ESanta Margherita Chianti Classico Riserva 2013 — Most Chiantis need food for their acidity to pair with. This one has ample fruit to work by itself! Excellent price. $20

Michael David Earthquake Cabernet Sauvignon Lodi 2015 — Cab, Zin and Petite Sirah. $24.50

Lucas & Lewellen Cabernet Sauvignon Valley View Vineyard Santa Barbara County 2015 — $24.95

Concannon Petite Sirah Livermore Valley 2016 — From the family winery

which first produced a single-vineyard Petite Sirah. Since 1961! $25EFreelance Wines Coup de Grâce Proprietary Red Wine Blend Lodi 2015 — Big and rich. $29.99

Sonoma-Loeb Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2016 — A $50 Pinot with a price tag of $34

J. Lohr Petite Sirah Tower Road 2014 — Rich and flavorful. $35

Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2013 — Dark and intensely flavored. $35

Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir Goodchild High Vineyard Santa Maria Valley 2014 — Lovely. $35

Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley 2014 — “Burger with gruyere cheese and stuffed mushrooms.” $35

Migration Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2016 — Roasted chicken or chicken pasta. $40

The Butler Butler Ranch Vineyard

Mendocino County 2013 — Made

from certified organic grapes. $45

Benziger Reserve Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2016 — Fabulous offering. $45

Chappellet Merlot Napa Valley 2015 — One of the very best Merlots I’ve tasted this year! $45

Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2014 — Beef tenderloin. $45

$50-$100:

J. Lohr Cuvée St. E 2015 — Very good rendition of a more expensive Saint-Emilion. $50

Bella Zinfandel Maple Vineyard Annie’s Block Dry Creek Valley 2015 — Lush — a tour de force. $55

Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2014 — Tasted blind with a $100 classified Margaux from the great 2010 vintage. The Jordan won hands down. $56

Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015 — Versatile and sublime with weight and complexity. $58

J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Carol’s Vineyard Napa Valley 2013 — Surprise! Reminiscent of Pichon Lalande! $60

Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel Sonoma County 2015 — Incredible taste of history. Unique. $60

Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley Atlas Peak 2015 — Absolutely divine. $75

Paraduxx Napa Valley Red Wine Howell Mountain 2014 — Voluptuous! $80

Sea Smoke Pinot Noir TEN Sta. Rita Hills 2015—A Burgundy Grand Cru look-alike! $82

Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley Confluence Vineyard 2015 — “…aromas of candied cherries and strawberry preserves.” Aged in 100% French oak (60% new). Plush and expressive. $84

Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2013 — Big, complex, gorgeous red. Ribeye. $98

Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvig­non Napa Valley Stags Leap District 2016 — A great brand, elevated and strengthened by the iconic Terlato family. $99

HdV Pinot Noir Napa Valley Hyde Vineyard 2016 — Love at first sight. $99.99

OVER $100:

Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Georges De Latour Napa Valley 2014 — With help from the great consultant Michel Rolland, B.V. is back on all cylinders! $125

Nickel & Nickel Element 28 Napa Valley — “An elevated bouquet of blueberries and cassis lead to flavors of boysenberry, violet and vanilla.” Hold for several years — if you can stand the wait. $135

Kind Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Howell Mountain Henry Brothers Ranch 2014 — Beautiful. $140

Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Atlas Peak 2014 — First of this producer — ACUMEN — that I have had the pleasure to taste. About as good as Napa Cabernet gets! $150

Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2011 — Tasted with Tancredi Biondi-Santi, seventh-generation owner. He says, “Do not decant, but open bottle two to four hours before serving.” This iconic winery has used the same type of Slavonian oak for 120 years. Biondi-Santi Riservas are the ultimate expression for this clone of the Sangiovese grape. The 2012 and 2015 Riservas should be even better. $500

Restaurant Kudos

Two restaurants have given us great pleasure recently. AMERIGO’S in The Woodlands not only has surprisingly good food, it has an eclectic wine list, including Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, all from the excellent 1995 vintage and all with excellent provenance! After driving by ARTURO BOADA’s multiple times, we finally tried it, and it exceeded expectations in every way. It also has a private little wine cellar room for two guests or even four, and it can be reserved at no additional cost!