Happy Halloween!

In honor of this weekend's festivities, we bring you a special post of wines with "spirit" to serve this Halloween. You won't find any whites here, only blood red varietals with bite!

Vampire Vineyards, 2007 Dracula Syrah
Paso Robles, California
$17.99, www.wickedwinesonline.com

Armida Winery, 2006 PoiZin (Zinfandel)
Dry Creek Valley, California
$25.00, www.armida.com

Orin Swift, 2007 The Prisioner
St. Helena, California
$35, www.deananddeluca.com

Vampire Vineyards, 2004 Vampire Merlot
Paso Robles, California
$10, www.wickedwinesonline.com

Spellbound Wines, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California
$10, www.medusawines.com

R Wines, 2007 EVIL Cabernet Sauvignon
South Australia, Australia
$10, www.wine.com

Twisted Wines, 2007 Merlot
California
$10, www.bevmo.com

Happy Halloween!

Greg Norman Estates - 2004 Chardonnay

In the late 1976, Australian golfer Greg Norman first visited California to represent Australia in the World Cup of Golf. While there, he soaked up the American culture, and discovered the wonderful wines that California had to offer. After much success in the 1980's and 1990's in golf, he began his estate by partnering with Berringer Blass to launch Greg Norman Estates, both in California and in his native Australia. Known as "The Shark" in the golfing world for his blond hair, large stature, and aggressive playing style, his golf enterprise carries over onto every bottle with his trademark shark logo.

This week's favorite: 2004 Greg Norman Estates Chardonnay
$14-17, local wine stores

This Eden Valley (Australia) Chardonnay is as bold as "The Shark". It is vibrant, with strong apple and pear notes, hints of citrus, and finishes fresh with the warm oak and vanilla that is typical in great Chardonnays. It is creamy and refreshing, and easily enjoyed after a few holes of golf.

This bottle would best be served with roast chicken breasts, stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese and wrapped in prosciutto, plated with a warm mushroom risotto and asparagus.

Clos du Bois - 2005 Shiraz

Over thirty years ago, the Clos du Bois winery was started by Frank Woods. In his plan to name the winery "Woods' Winery", his children, who were studying the French language at the time, came up with Clos du Bois, which loosely translated means "enclosure in the woods". With just 520 acres deep in the Alexander Valley, at the northern end of Sonoma County, Clos du Bois started with just two varietals of wine. Today, their vineyards not only span a larger area of the Alexander Valley, but also the Russian River Valley and the Dry Creek Valley, allowing them to produce three different lines of varietals under the Clos du Bois winery.

This week's favorite: 2005 Clos du Bois Shiraz
$7-15, local grocery or wine store

It was not until 2000 that Clos du Bois introduced their classic Shiraz. But what is great about their wines is that, bottle after bottle, the flavors remain true, and you can enjoy a great bottle every time. While I like their Chardonnay, their Shiraz is one of my go-to wines for everyday enjoyment. It has fragrant and bold flavors of blackberry, and the warm notes of black currants, plum, and pepper. It is dark and smooth, and lingers in your mouth like a decadent dessert.

I like to serve this with flavors of the fall... A warm, roasted chicken topped with rosemary and sage. Serve with a side of sweet potato mash, topped with butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Talbott - 2007 Logan Chardonnay

In 1982, Robert Talbott began his vineyards on a high mountaintop in Carmel, California, where cold temperatures and rocky terrain were not as ideal as the valleys in which other winemakers grow their fruits. After years of travel to France and Italy, he was determined to bring their wine making and flavors to the estate, and acquired the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in 1994 for the lush fruits he could add to his wines. The Logan Chardonnay was crafted as a specialty Chardonnay in their line, and is named after Robert Talbott's son, Logan.

This week's favorite: 2007 Talbott Logan Chardonnay
$17-19, specialty wine stores or online

This bottle is a true treat for any "whites" lover. The smell and color of a true oaky Chardonnay, the wine is surprisingly fruity, with notes of pineapple and citrus. It has smooth notes of oak and butter, with a hint of vanilla. The finish is dry, but very refreshing, like a beer on a hot summer day.

This bottle can be served with grilled chicken breasts, marinated in a Caribbean jerk blend of spices, fresh garlic, and olive oil. Serve it sliced over a bed of cold romaine or butter lettuce and drizzle with homemade Caesar salad dressing.