Great Summer Reds for under $20.

A friend of the Rampant Oenophile asked for a recommendation for a good summer red that met her standards for "inexpensive, mellow, and not too dry." Like me, this friend doesn't enjoy dry Cabernet Sauvignons, especially on a hot summer afternoon. Summer is for cook-outs, dips in the pool, and refreshing glasses of cool, soothing, fruity red wines that pair nicely with grilled steaks, burgers, and seafood at the beach...

Here's a list of quick finds under $20 that will perk you up without drying out your palate...

Montevina Terra d'Oro Zinfandel, 2006. It's tough to beat sweet and savory combinations for Summer enjoyment, especially if the sweet comes from ripe red and black fruit, and the savory comes from full bodied spicy overtones. This Zinfandel offers good fruit without being jammy, and gushes texture without getting dry. At just $16.49 with $0.01 shipping, Wine.com makes it too easy to buy a bottle, or six!

I'm a fan of Ridge winery, but their vintage stock stays just out of my wine budget for day to day consumption. Ridge offers their Three Valleys blend, 2007, though that meets all of their high standards for wine making, but delivers quality at a value price. The 2007 blend offers rich fruit and solid spice on the tongue. It's filled with the body and spice of a good Zinfandel, but malolactic fermentation smooths out the rough edges of the wine for a very mellow but rich drinking experience. Find this one for about $15 anywhere fine wines are sold.

The world-wide recession isn't necessarily bad for everything. In fact, as prices recede and imports to the US get cheaper, bargains in French wines abound. Delas S. Esprit Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge 2007 is a careful blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Carignan grapes. The blending processes magnifies the flavors and dilutes the immaturity of the wines included, which typically makes for a smoother and more mellow wine. In the case of this Syrah-based blend, expect the deep red color and subtle spices of that varietal, but enjoy the blackberry and plum tones to soften the punch of the spice and mellow this young wine. Wine.com offers this bargain for just $9.99, so buy a few for the rest of July.