Continuing with the Best Buys of the year, this time we’ll look at the red wines locally available.

The compiled list of red wines on the national listings from the top wine journals totaled 134 wines, but we found only 23 of them on our local retailer’s shelves.

It seems that many of these wines are not distributed in Michigan, but only on the east coast (New York) or west (California). Why we don’t get them in Michigan is difficult to say, but probably because of lack of demand. But of the 23 we found, some of them are outstanding.

Here’s our list of the top 10 best buys in red wines, locally available:

1. Don Rudolfo Viña Cornejo Costas Malbec, Cafayette Valley, 2005, Argentina. Malbec, a French vareital grape, has been known for centuries, but it has found a new home in Argentina where it grows high on the mountainsides, this one at over 6,000 feet. This is a big, rich, deeply flavored red with notes of red berries, cassis and plums. It is perfect with a big, grilled steak. $12-13 at Aremia’s in Grand Blanc and Oxford Wine & Beverage.

2. Georges Duboeuf Morgon, 2005, France. It’s not very often that we find a Beaujolais in the best buys listings. Duboeuf is one of the best producers in this region, 2005 was on outstanding year and Morgon is one of the 10 top villages allowed to market its Beaujolais under the village name, Morgon. It is light, fruity, and delightful with beef, pork or grilled chicken. $13-15 at Oliver T’s and Aremia’s in Grand Blanc, or Oxford Wines.

3. Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot, Columbia Valley 2004, Washington. Almost always on the best buys list, it is probably the best Merlot made in this price range. $12-14; Lapeer Wine & Spirits, Metamora Foodland, Oxford Wines and Meijer.

4. Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Colchagua Valley 2005, Chile. You can’t find a better Cab in this price range anywhere. $11-13; Oxford Wines and Oliver T’s.

5. Yellow Tail Shiraz, The Reserve, Southeast Australia, 2005. This is not the regular bottling of Yellow Tail but The Reserve. Quite nice, rich and jammy, just what you want in a Shiraz. $12-14, Lapeer Wine, Kroger, Oliver T’s.

6. Panarroz, Jumilla, 2005, Spain. An outstanding example of the new wines coming from Spain. Rich and fruity with that old-world rustic taste. $11 at Oxford Wines.

7. Five Rivers Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005, California. A surprising find in this price range, most Cabs from this region are much more expensive. $10 at Kroger.

8. Paul Jaboulet Ainé Côtes du Rhône Parellèle 45, 2005, France. Always an excellent example of the blends of the Rhône valley, big and rich. $13-15, Oxford Wine, Oliver T’s and Aremia’s

9. Columbia Crest Grand Estates Shiraz, Columbia Valley, 2004, Washington. Another good one from Columbia Crest. $10-13, Kroger, Meijer, Foodland, Oliver T’s

10. Fuedo Arancio Nero d’Avola, Sicily, 2005, Italy. Interesting grape variety found only in Sicily. $11, Oxford Wines, Lapeer Wines.

That’s it for this year. Some outstanding red wines and excellent prices. Happy tasting!

Dave Ethridge is a nationally known wine writer, certified wine judge, and the Director of the Lapeer Chapter of Tasters Guild International.

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