Wine of the week: Peirano Estate The Other 2008

It's the holidays. You want wine. You don't want to have to think about it. That's what The Other is for.

It's a red blend from Lodi (mostly cabernet sauvignon and merlot with a splash of syrah) and yes, I can see the wine snobs shuddering. That's their problem. The Other ($14, purchased) is a fine value, it's well made, and it has never let me down. Look for black fruit, but in a sensible, this tastes good sort of way. Serve this wine with red meat, as an aperitif for people who want a glass of red wine when they come to visit, or in front of the fire when you're worn out from holiday fun.

It's true that most people who pick up The Other for the first time do so because of the label, which is the back of a naked woman. But the wine is consistent, and that doesn't happen often enough with less expensive labels. And, sadly, it's not $10 any more, which it was when I started drinking it. But that doesn't mean I still don't enjoy it.

More about holiday wine:
• Holiday wine guide 2010
• Holiday wines 2009
• Holiday wine in a hurry
• Expensive wine 12: Twomey Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2008

Comments

[JW]

08 is the first vintage of this I've tried. It is a fantastic wine and worth $14. I have found most of the Peirano wines to be excellent values. They have another blend called Red Shorts Red. Have you tried it? My only gripe with the Peirano wines is that they can be difficult to find in Maryland.

[Jeff Siegel]

Yes, I know the Red Shorts -- http://www.winecurmudgeon.com/my_weblog/2009/12/wine-of-the-week-peirano-estate-red-shorts-red-2006.html . I'm going to dry and do a longer feature on Peirano in the New year. I'm always amazed at the quality of their wines and how little attention they get.