Cartlidge & Brown - Pinot Noir - 2003 California

I think I've found a wine that is just as good if not better than the all-time favorite I listed a while back, (see Angeline.)

From the first sip - Utter divinity! Sooooo smooth and delightful. We tried it with smoked Gouda and some pepperoni/sausage slices. Together, the flavors actually made my toes curl! I will be purchasing many bottles of this in the future!

Its available at Old Town Liquors in the Highlands, and I assume any Liquor Barn or Party Mart too. I don't remember it being anymore than $10.

Folie à Deux - Ménage à Trois - 2003

This is quite simply a lovely wine. Affordable. Reliable. And a wonderful flavor. Delightful. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this wine. It is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet.

And the name can make wonderful double entendre during the evening's conversation!

Folie à Deux, Ménage à Trois, 2003. Vinted and bottled by Folie à Deux Winery, St. Helena, Napa County, California 94574. http://www.folieadeux.com/

Windtree - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2001

Was the first bottle served before last Friday's dinner. It was brought by our dinner guest. Not amazing, but not bad. A passable cab-sauv, but nothing that really made it special. I wouldn't go out of my way to find more. Probably in the 15-25USD range, from our guest's comments.

Windtree, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2001. Produced and bottled by Windtree Vineyard, Healdsburg, CA.