Wines of the Week

Now, I'm not going to claim to have the expertise of a sommelier, but I've begun to learn a thing or two about good wine. I hope to be able to post about the wines I've tried and liked (or occasionally, disliked) fairly regularly. I'm going to create some kind of rating system but for now I'll give each wine a score out of ten. My score is based not only on taste, but also on value. As a broke recent law school grad, I'm on the prowl for high quality wines, but not at a high price.

My first wine for this week is a Pinot Meunier. Crafted by Domaine Chandon, a winery in Napa, this is a unique single varietal wine. The grape is normally used in champagne, but Domaine Chandon has done an amazing job of creating a deep, dark and delicious red. The website says it pairs well with grilled meats and I can certainly attest to that. The last meal I paired this with was grilled venison wraps and barbecued ribs. The wine stood up to it and still maintained its own distinct flavor. Might be a bit on the expensive side for some at $30-35 a bottle but well worth it to splurge once in a while. Click on the picture to find out more. My score: 8/10


My second wine is the 2005 Concannon Petite Sirah, brought to you from Livermore Valley, California. Great value, great wine. This is a dark red wine with a bold red taste. I've had too many bottles of this to count but it has shown itself to be very versatile. It's great to drink on its own or paired with dinner. As far as red wines go, you can't beat this one as an every day bottle. And as I finish my last sip from the bottle as I finish this post, I know just how right I am. Click on the label to visit the Concannon Vineyards website. My score: 9/10