As much as we love american wines, there’s a great big world out there, and one of the best things about wine is the incredible variety. So our tasting panel has picked a handful of wines from around the globe, which are easy to overlook, but are well worth a try:

Locations “P” 4 Red Blend

Grape(s): Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, and Touriga

Region: Portugal

Price: 15-20

Tasting Notes:

Aromatics of cherries, boysenberries, and plums combine with suggestions of pepper and wild flowers on the nose. The palate comes forth with flavors of blackberry, cherry, and boysenberry and flows into expressions of black pepper, dark chocolate, and floral earth. Polished tannins frame nice fruit, making this a good bottle to open when serving chicken, lamb or streak kabobs.

Rating: 90

 

Bodegas Hijos de Juan Gil 2015 Jumilla Red Wine

Grape(s): 100% Monastrell

Region: Spain

Price: 10-15

Tasting Notes:

A lovely combination of raspberry, blackberry, and boysenberry aromas meld with suggestions of smoky oak and balsamic on the nose. That nice core of berry flavors takes center stage on the palate, but highlights of cedar, herbs, and balsamic play a part, too. Refined tannins and nuances layers make this a fine choice to serve with a variety of Spanish tapas.

Rating: 90

Tarapaca 2015 “Gran Reserva” Carmenre

Grape(s): Carmenre

Region: Chile

Price: 15-20

Tasting Notes:

A bouquet of dark fruit, herbs, and spring flowers rises up from a glass. There’s nice fruit on the palate, with blackberries, cherries, and figs leading the way, before highlights of green chili, violets, and herbs come in. Supple tannins combine with a solid complexity to make this a good buy for fans of South American wines.

Rating: 90

Locations “NZ” 7 Sauvignon Blanc

Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Marlborough, New Zealand

Price: 15-20

Tasting Notes:

Lots of lovely citrus fruits, along with whispers of wild grass and passion fruit rise up from a glass. The palate takes shape with flavors of grapefruit leading the way and then some passion fruit, coming to a finish of minerals and wild grass. Nice body and bright fruit make this a compelling wine.

Rating: 90