Pacific Edge "Hell n' Back" - Red Zinfandel @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $7.99 (Total Wine)

This is a devilishly good red zin for under $10. Zinfandel is a new endeavor for me and I've been enjoying every bit of it--it may become my new favorite red! I skipped the whole process of acquiring a taste for wine and started my love affair straight up with merlot---I don't play around. Though, to be honest, this was mostly influenced by the fact that my folks had a big merlot phase right around the time I became of age to drink (legally).

Typically, I enjoy my reds at room temperature, but I was gifted a wine cooler that I've been using to chill my reds slightly. In some cases, the wine needs to warm up to exude all of its flavors. However, in the case of red zin, I've found that being slightly chilled works to its benefit (I keep it at about 59 degrees Fahrenheit--which is cool since I live in Florida and keep my house at 70).

For people just beginning to venture into more full-bodied reds, Zinfandel is a good choice. It's a stepping stone from sweeter reds, like Shiraz/Syrah. It contains some of the dryness found in more full-bodied wines like merlot and pinot noir, but it's not quite as heavy on the tannins. For people who are just acquiring the taste, it's not a heavy wine to partake. It's light, some berry flavor, and just a slight dryness in the finish. I strongly suggest a red zin for "intermediate" red wine drinkers. Pacific Edge's Hell n' Back Red Zin is an excellent choice.

Final Word: YUM!