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Packed full of juicy fruit, some cedar and vanilla flavors, this well balanced Merlot from the Trinchero family really hit the spot. We’re getting a case of this one for sure.

A fantastic wine for under $10!

Winemaker’s notes:

The goal with all of our Trinchero Family wines is to offer the purest expression of the grape variety; fruit-driven and delicious. The 2004 Trinchero Family Merlot is dark, rich, lush and remarkably smooth. It delivers ripe juicy red cherry and jammy currant accented with black tea and roasted jalapeno. The ripe fruit and spice carry through to a velvet-textured finish.

Get this Trinchero 2004 Merlot - Red Wine here

We recently had some family out to visit that had arrived with this great bottle of Cabernet from EOS. (Paso Robles, CA) Filled with aromas of toasted oak, black cherry, berries and molasses, this wonderful red wine did very well with our grilled tri-tip steak. Tastes of raspberries and plum with a nice long finish of dark chocolate and spice really made our evening enjoyable. What a great full-bodied gift!

Food pairing ideas:
Serve with grilled meats, prime rib or aged cheddar cheese.

Technical details from the Winemaker:
The EOS 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is comprised of 83.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.5% Petite Sirah, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec and .5% Petite Verdot. Was in the barrel for 15 months in 3% new French oak, 24% new American oak, 12% one-year old, 35% two year old and 26% neutral oak. Harvested in September 2004.

Order it online from EOS

And in case you were wondering where the “EOS” came from…
The EOS Estate Winery was named after “Eos,” the “Goddess of the Dawn” in Greek Mythology. Eos was the inspiration for the winery’s harvesting of its Estate winegrapes before, or right after the sunrise, to keep the fruit cool and help retain fresh varietal character. For more of the story, check out their website.

To get your Christmas spirit going, what better way to taste some great wines along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail in early December. Located north of Santa Barbara, California the Foxen Trail contains several wineries from Los Olivos to Santa Maria Valley. Each year some of the wineries get together and do a “one price tastes all” package that’s just fantastic. We had a great time with this last time we went and we’re already anxious to do it again! Problem is, after calling several of the wineries and leaving a message through the contact form, we just can’t figure out the exact dates for it this year. Does anyone know the dates for the 2007 Foxen Canyon, “Christmas along the Trail?” If so, please leave a comment on this post.

Foxen Canyon Wineries Include:
Andrew Murray, Bedford Thompson, Byron/IO , Cambria, Cold Heaven, Cottonwood Canyon, Curtis Winery, Fess Parker, Firestone Winery, Kenneth Volk, Koehler, Rancho Sisquoc, Zaca Mesa

We were hoping their website (http://www.foxenwinetrail.com/) would give dates but it has yet to release them. Soon as they do, someone please comment. Thank you.

We were in our local Target the other day and stumbled upon the wine section. (Not sure if that is just a California thing?) Found this Pinot from New Zealand which was marked down from $15 to $10.50 a bottle, so we decided to pick up a few bottles to try. To our surprise, it was very drinkable. Nothing spectacular, but a pretty good red wine for the buck. Plum, cherry and oak on the nose. Tastes of cherry and a hint of oak on the palate with a pleasant aftertaste.

Also try the Kim Crawford 2006 Sauvignon Blanc

This 2004 Napa Valley Bordeaux-blend really hit the spot. We immediately knew we were drinking a quality red wine and not something that came out of the bargain bin over at Von’s. As part of our Rutherford Hill wine club, we occasionally get a bottle or two of Terlato wine. Thus far they’ve all been fantastic.

After letting this “Devil’s Peak” blend breathe for a half hour in the decanter, we poured our first glasses. Color was a beautiful velvet ruby. Nose was berries and currant and the taste…ahhh, very enjoyable! Full-bodied fruit and spice makes the complexity oh so nice!

An amazing blend of 59% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine is well worth the $40-$45 a bottle price. (Wine club members get 20% off)

Food pairing ideas:
We enjoyed this wine with grilled filet mignon and crab legs. (slightly smoked with cabernet wood chips) Paired wonderfully.

Order directly from Terlato online
You may also want to check out the Terlato Vineyards 2003 Syrah

We’ve had several good bottles of Mark West Pinot within the last few years. The ‘05 was good and now the ‘06 vintage is just as good. Well maybe it COULD sit for a year to develop a little more edge…but why? For around $10 a bottle, you should just sit back and enjoy it without any worry about the cost. Nice black cherry flavor with hints of oaky spice. Easy to drink and easy on your budget.

Food pairing ideas:
Try this Pinot with anything. Goes well with beef, fish and chicken. (creamy or spicy)

We’ve seen this bottle of Pinot Noir in several of our local grocery stores as well as in most wine or liquor stores.

A great buy under $10!

The lighter side of the Malbec varietals… This wine from Alessandro Speri’s Prodigo was probably our least favorite Malbec. Nose and color fine, initial taste was ok but far from wow. Probably would pass next time on this one.

What better on a warm sunny afternoon than this very refreshing white wine. This dry signature white wine from Argentina really hit the spot with nice aromas of citrus and flowers on the nose along with a sweet and fruity taste. Again, extremely refreshing and very enjoyable all the way down!

Food pairing ideas:
Try it with some grilled shrimp, crap or lobster! Or even great with cheese and crackers before dinner.

More on the Torrontés Varietal
Buy it online when it’s available!

Not a bad tasting wine for the price. A nice blend of a young red from South Australia.
39% Cabernet, 27% Petit Verdot, 24% Shiraz, 6% Merlot, and 4% Malbec

Pick up a few bottles at Cost Plus World Market WHEN they have it on sale.