A fun wine that won’t break the bank is the Non-Vintage Bruno Hunold Cremant d’Alsace from France. For $20, you get a wine with floral, lemon and brioche aromas and flavors of apple and nectarine. The 2009 Mollydooker “The Boxer” Shiraz from the McLaren Vale region of South Australia ($22) has flavors of boysenberry, blueberry and smoky cherry with notes of peppery spices. The 2008 Murphy-Goode “Liar’s Dice” Zinfandel from Sonoma County, California ($20) has ripe and juicy flavors of blackberry jam, black boysenberry and dark cherry and hints of clove. If you’re looking for a gift to bring to a holiday party, try a bottle of Dow’s Trademark Reserve Port from the Douro Valley of Portugal. At $20, it has flavors of black fruit, dark chocolate and toffee. Another wine to try: The 2007 Bodegas Muga Blanco from the Rioja region of Spain ($20).
