Chapel Vineyard - 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

Started in 1842, Vina La Rosa winery is one of the oldest in the Valle Central, Chile, one of the most prominent wine regions in the country. Vina La Rosa was started by the Ossa Family with grapes from France, and since 1842, has used grapes only from its vines to produce its wine collection. The "Chapel" part of its label name comes from the fact that a tiny chapel sits in the middle of the vineyard.

This week's favorite: 2007 Chapel Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
$10-14, specialty wine stores, wine clubs

This bottle is a wonderful Cabernet, with the lush plums and blackberries of a good Chilean wine. Its reddish-brown color gives good indication of spices mixed into the warm fruits. It finishes dry and smooth, and is a great choice if you are looking for a true Chilean red.

This wine would be best served with a Slow-Roasted Prime Rib, topped with au jus and cremini mushrooms with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. The smoky flavors of the meat will pair nicely with the bold spices of the wine to truly enhance your dining experience.

Long Boat -2008 Sauvignon Blanc

While Sauvignon Blanc has long been a staple in France, its New Zealand production is really beginning to turn heads. The Long Boat winery, based in the Marlborough region in the southern island of New Zealand, produces this vintage with its sunny days and cool nights in its high, rolling hills. The higher altitudes create grapes with more aromatics and more intense flavors. The Marlborough region makes up over 60% of the vineyards in all of New Zealand, and their Sauvignon Blancs are becoming a world favorite, even rivaling those of France.

This week's favorite: 2008 Long Boat Sauvignon Blanc
$15-20, specialty wine stores

For the last days of summer, this bottle is a refreshing treat! Since the Long Boat Winery ferments some of the grapes in cold stainless steel, and others in French oak barrels, this Sauvignon Blanc has hints of the warm oak in a Chardonnay. It has bright flavors of grapefruit and clean notes of lime that make this bottle smooth and dry. A Sauvignon Blanc that even Chardonnay lovers can appreciate!

This bottle is best served with seafood. I would pair it with homemade crab cakes over a bed of butter lettuce and the summer's last bits of fresh fruit. Slices of oranges and pears with a light vinegarette will enhance the citrus flavors of the wine.

Francis Ford Coppola - 2006 Merlot

"I like to drink wine more than I used to..."

-'Don Corleone', The Godfather

In 1975, famed screenwriter, director, and producer of the Academy Award winning Godfather movie series, Francis Ford Coppola purchased part of the Inglenook Estate in Napa Valley. He produced his first bottle in 1977, using wine making methods passed down through his Italian family. After much success in his wine production, in 1995, he took over the remaining portion of the Inglenook Estate, and renamed the property the Rubicon Estate Winery. The Coppola Family has since purchased another winery in Sonoma County to produce more wines in their collection, and as in this week's pick, they combine fruits from both wineries to create the vintages in their Diamond Collection.

This week's favorite: 2006 Francis Ford Coppola Merlot
$14-18, local grocery and wine stores

Like his movies, Francis Ford Coppola's wines never disappoint. This Merlot is traditionally Italian, a medium bodied wine, dark in color and bold in flavor. Plums from the Napa Valley region provide the sweet beginning, while blackberries from the Sonoma region create balance with their tangy flavors. The earthy spices of currants mixed in with a warm vanilla create a smooth finish.

To stay true to Francis Ford Coppola and his Italian heritage, this wine is best paired with a meaty lasagna or fettuccine bolognese with a side of warm garlic bread. A viewing of The Godfather while finishing the bottle sounds like an award winning date night to me!

Mirassou Winery - 2007 Chardonnay

For six generations and over 150 years, the Mirassou family has been making wines at their vineyard in the California Central Coast. The longer, cooler growing season allows the winery to develop more intense flavors from their grapes, and they harvest them in the early morning hours to preserve these flavors as the fermentation process is begun. The Mirassou Winery features a large selection of wines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and some specialty vintages.

This week's favorite: 2007 Mirassou Winery Chardonnay
$7-10, your local grocery or wine store, discount wine stores

This bottle is a good bang for your buck! In preparation for our Anniversary Party, we purchased this wine in bulk as the Chardonnay selection for the evening. This medium bodied, creamy Chardonnay drinks like a $15 bottle. It shows a great balance of vibrant fruits with vanilla, but still has the earthy oak flavors typical of a good Chardonnay.

We served this wine with fresh fruit and vegetables, with a homemade Blue Cheese dip. Later in the evening, we had a sandwich bar, and this wine was perfectly paired with a turkey and bacon sandwich, topped with fresh sliced tomatoes and a bit of Greek Taziki sauce. A refreshing wine perfect for a light, summer meal!

Mockingbird Hill - 2004 Merlot

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
- Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

One of my favorite books growing up was To Kill A Mockingbird, and this bottle's name instantly made me think of it. Mockingbird Hill wines, a Napa Valley Vineyard, is an up and coming vineyard known primarily for their Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay vintages. However, a new varietal to the vineyard is the 2004 Merlot.

This week's favorite: 2004 Mockingbird Hill Merlot
$16-18, specialty wine stores, on-line here

Not your typical Merlot. Like the quote, this wine doesn't taste like a Merlot until you let it breathe for a few minutes and sip it slowly. The first sip reminds you of a Pinot Noir, bold and dark, but instantly lightens to flavors you can't quite recognize. As you sip it, the cherry flavors of a typical Merlot begin to come through, intensifying with each sip. Afternotes of currant are a bonus in the extremely dry finish. With this bottle, its taste is an adventure in itself, so take the time to "walk around in it" to truly enjoy it.

This wine should be enjoyed with a simple steak, a New York Strip seasoned only with Garlic and black pepper, topped with some sauteed mushrooms. Serve with fresh green beans with almonds for a simple meal to compliment this complex wine.