Red Wine--So Fine!

My love of red wine began about thirty years ago with my first visit to Napa and Sonoma counties in Northern California. I've been a wine lover/student/enthusiast ever since. I've learned to swirl, sniff, and spit with the best of them, or at least I like to think so.

I've grown extremely fond of California wine. Truth is, I love it. It's my favorite. I firmly believe it's tough to beat a California red. Granted, there are numerous well-crafted red wines from many regions of the world--certainly France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Canada, and many other areas of the world. (I drink these too. I do keep an open mind about all this.) I tip my hat to them all! But my palate is really geared for the rich Cabernet Sauvignons and gnarly Zinfandels of California.

Today I'm sharing some of my current favorite red wines. In addition, these selections are from wineries that I believe can be depended upon for a good product. So, if you need to take a bottle of wine to a dinner party, or a pot luck, or a barbecue on the back deck, or a Super Bowl Party (yeah, I realize this is more of a beer venue and arriving with a bottle of wine instead of a six pack might be quite "deflating" to the other guests-pun intended, but, hey, that's their problem.) I suggest a Rodney Strong, or a Geyser Peak, or a Kenwood, or a Cline. Let's look at each one:

Rodney Strong

I've never met a Rodney Strong I didn't like, especially the 

Cabernets. The Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2012, is a particular favorite at this time. It is fruit forward with a bouquet that is cherry and peppery. It also looks very pretty in the glass (Not only do you eat with your eyes, you also drink with your eyes.) Make sure you have taken the time to prepare a delicious meal as an accompaniment. This is a good Saturday night or Sunday afternoon wine. You need to allow yourself time to enjoy it. I also suggest opening it about an hour before drinking to allow some breathing time. A beef dish would work well with this selection, like a stew, or stroganoff, or a grilled steak.

Cost of the wine will vary from place to place. I find it at $16.99 in my market.

Geyser Peak

The Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 is one of the delicious wines produced in the lovely Alexander Valley of Sonoma County. It's a great place to take a drive and, of course, taste wine along the way.

The 2012 Cab is dark and rich with a variety of berry flavors. I find it "earthy" in flavor. I can't really describe to you how earthy tastes, but I know it when I taste it. Some good, sharp cheese along with some crusty bread pairs great with this. In fact, you got yourself a meal, no muss no fuss.

Again, costs of wine can vary, I find it for $12.99.

Kenwood

Currently there are a large number of red wine blends on the shelves. I'm finding them quite interesting to taste, some really nice blended flavors out there. I particularly like the Kenwood Vintage Red Wine 2011. It, too, is from Sonoma County. Are we seeing a pattern here?

This Kenwood has a well-rounded blend that goes with anything chicken, pasta, meat, popcorn! It might be a bit heavy for a delicate fish but probably would be fine with salmon or sea bass, or other "meaty" fish.

This can probably be found in the $11.99-$13.99 range. I bought mine at wine.com in a mixed case. I did not buy it at my local market.

Cline

Here we go again with another Sonoma County wine. I have a tough time moving out  of this region, but on the other hand, it produces some of the greatest wine on the earth.(If only I could move there.) The Cline Syrah is no exception. It is a smooth, rich wine with a wealthy bouquet. Red wine lovers will probably enjoy this. Good with about anything you would like to eat with it. I don't get hung up with the pairing thing. Drink this with whatever food you happen to want at the time, and that goes for any wine. The point is: Enjoy!

Keep in mind that vintages will eventually diminish, followed by a another harvest and new vintages. So, drink up when you find a wine you really like enjoy it while you can. But look forward to discovering new wines along the way.

God Bless the Winemakers!