2006 St. Donatus Estate Balatonboglári Merlot

Year: 2007
Rating: "B"
Price: $6.00
Notes: medium red color, strawberry/raspberry on the nose, slightly sweet on the palate with a peppery finish. Not a bad wine but not easy to pair food with.

Sangria Recipe - aieeeeee!

Summer Sangria
# 1 1/4 liter of red wine [Omni suggests a Poggio or a red Rioja]

# 4 peaches, peeled and cut into chunks

# 2 plums, peeled and cut into chunks

# 1 orange, peeled and cut into chunks

# Juice of 1/2 an organic lemon

# Rind of 1/2 an organic lemon

# 6 strawberries, sliced

# 3 T sugar [optional]

Mix everything in a pitcher. Chill well to allow the flavors to merge. Overnight is ideal.

To serve: Spoon some wine-soaked fruit into a clear glass along with 3 ice cubes. Top with sangria.

Qupé Wine Cellars 2005 Syrah “Central Coast”

Vineyard: Qupé Wine Cellarsine Cellars
Wine: Syrah "Central Coast”

Year: 2005
Rating: "B"
Price: $18.00
Notes: Recommended by a customer in the "Wine and Cheese Cask" - Got this for valentines day '07 - Good spicy flavors not very smoky.Hints of berries

Vineyard: Casa Gualda
Wine: 2004 Sierra do Siles Tempranillo (Red)
Year: 2004
Rating: "B"
Price: $7.00
Notes: A good cheap wine

Black Mountain Vineyard 03 Cabernet Sauvignon

Vineyard: Black Mountain Vineyard
Wine: 2003 Fat Cat Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: 2003
Rating: "B"
Price: $6.00
Notes: A good cheap wine, full bodied, went well with mushrooms.Found it at Trader Joe's

Castoro Cellars Zinfusion Zinfandel

Vineyard: Castoro Cellars
Wine: Zinfusion Zinfandel
Year: 2004
Rating: "A-"
Price: $18
Notes: Paul and I had this with our New Year's Eve dinner of mushroom risotto with a red wine mushroom sauce with a side of asparagus. It was delicious and full bodied and held up well with the risotto.

The "Zinfusion" (formerly Vineyard Tribute) is a marriage of a select few vineyards that complement each other to produce a unique wine that showcases Paso Robles Zinfandel. The 2003 vintage was one of the biggest styled Zinfusions to date, and the 2004 follows suit. This wine is a Zin lovers dream wine! You will be engulfed in ripe and jammy fruit aromas and flavors as you enjoy this wine. This is a big wine and is enjoyed with rich pasta and meat entrees.

A Wine to Try - Firesteed Pinot Noir

http://www.firesteed.com/wines/pinot.htm