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.

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.

La Crema - 2007 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

La Crema Winery is unique because they own five estates in distinct wine making regions of California. The cool winds off the Pacific Coast help produce delicious grapes for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah varietals from the Anderson Valley, Los Carneros, Russian River Valley, Monterey, and the Sonoma Coast. La Crema's presence in different regions uniquely allows them to make the same varietal, such as Chardonnay, five different ways.

This week's favorite: 2007 La Crema Chardonnay

$15-19, your local grocery or wine store

For Chardonnay lovers who like strong oak flavors, this wine is not for you. However, for those who love a good Pinot Grigio, this is the perfect light-bodied Chardonnay. Light and vibrant, it has strong citrus and apple flavors, a buttery middle, and a lingering finish with notes of vanilla and caramel. Certainly a perfect Chardonnay for a hot summer night!

This wine would be best served with seafood and other light summery dishes. I would pair it with fresh crab cakes served on a rich bed of butter lettuce, tomatoes, yellow peppers, and topped with a creamy cilantro lime dressing. You can also garnish the crab cakes with a spicy aioli to compliment the buttery and caramel flavors of the wine. Enjoy!