With Stephen back in Chicago we've been drinking some good wine. For my 34th birthday dinner we did a nice selection of imported cheeses and a Nelson Estates 94 Cabernet Franc that was outstanding. I've got one more bottle left! With Stephen's return came 2 more cases of Bonny Doon Vineyards wine. I'll definitely miss having him at the winery, but love having him closer to home!

To celebrate my 32nd birthday, Kim grilled steaks, roasted potatos, and to accompany the dinner we opened a bottle of 1995 Ehlers Grove Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. This wine has held up very well in our basement. While we keep the wines out of the sun the temp varies, albeit slowly, from 55 in winter to nearly 80 in the summer. The 1995 still had plenty of life left in it - lots of tannins even after being open for awhile. I thought it tasted of cherries and while the finish could have been longer in my opinion for a reserve wine, it matched up nicely with dinner and I was sad to see the last drops run from the bottle.

We said goodbye to one of our favorite wines on Thursday, the 1996 Estancia Meritage. The 1994 was the first great wine we tasted and we would anxiously await each new vintage till the price crept out of our range. After holding on to the bottle for at least 4 years, we opened it with several outstanding steaks fresh off the grill. The wine had aged gracefully. Still a deep red in color, it smelled of pepper and black cherries. A taste found that it still had plenty of tannins. It was fruity with a bit of earth and a long finish. It mated with the grilled top sirloins wonderfully, holding its own against the beef as they complimented one another. The last drop was a sad moment, knowing that we'll never meet this particular friend again, but safe in the knowledge that this wine helped develop our tastes and love of fine wine.

I'll admit, I'm a hoarder by nature. I can't bring myself to throw anything out and so my treasures continue to expand. As a hobby then, wine collecting is a perfect fit. Well, collecting of course may be stretching it as to collect I suppose you need wines that are of course, collectible. And in that, I must say I am woefully short. No First Growths to be found and nary an expensive Napa Cab. Instead, I have amassed a collection of great wines that happen to be good values or individual wines that I just can't quite bring myself to uncork!

While most of the wine world is buzzing about "Two Buck Chuck", the Charles Shaw wines found at Trader Joes, I'll single out two great wines to keep on hand for your summertime entertaining.

White
2001 Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc - This has been a perrenial favorite in our house for several years. Generally found for about $8-10, this is a great value for the money. The outstanding vintage of 1998 caused the price of many Sauvignon Blancs to rise, but Geyser Peak kept the price low and we have definitely appreciated that by purchasing many bottles! The wine has a pleasant floral bouqet, but not much fresh-cut grassiness that is typical for the varietal. The wine has a light fruitiness that makes it excellent for sipping on a hot summer day.

Red
Torres Sangre de Toro - Any vintage - This wine is terrific for burgers on the grill or pizza! Robust and bold are words that come to mind with Sangre de Toro (Blood of the Bull). A deep red hue lights the glass and hints at the intensity of the wine. A meaty peppery nose greets you before you taste. The wine is dark cherry and blackberries with some earthiness. The $8 price makes it perfect for about any occasion and the plastic bull that is draped around the neck of the bottle is a nice touch!

After soliciting feedback on my site, my brother pointed out that I did not include a review of Bonny Doon. I will point out that he works there. So without further ado ...

Big House Red
Bonny Doon Vineyards Big House Red - Any vintage - No need for a corkscrew as Bonny Doon has declared the Death of the Cork. This is the first "mainstream" wine that I can think of bearing a screwcap. Yes, familar to lovers of Thunderbird and Boon's Farm, the screwcap has now arrived on real wine. I must admit that I am excited about this change. I have seen about 1 of every 12 bottles of wine corked and it is really upsetting to pull out a bottle and find it ruined. So, three cheers for the screwcap! Big House Red is one of our favorites. At about $6/bottle it is hard to beat the price and while not a terribly complex wine, it is a nice bottle to open when one of us isn't drinking! Lots of fresh red fruits are in abundance and it is spicy enough to handle our favorite foods. A great wine at a great price.