Sobon Estate - California Hillside Zinfandel (2008) @@@@ (4 corks!)

Retails: $10 (Total Wine)

While browsing the shelves at Total Wine in pursuit of the next round of blog entries, I came across this little number, displaying a stick-on sign announcing that this bottle had been "recently featured on Oprah." Hey, if it's good enough for Oprah, it's certainly good enough for me.

This is probably the first time in the history of Wine on a Dime that I've ever reviewed a bottle that was priced at $10 (really over ten if you count taxes) and boy, was it worth every drop.

I would compare the experience of drinking this wine as to that of consuming dark chocolate: smooth but harboring a powerful array of flavors that fills your palette. It's a full-on sensory experience. Dark cherries and chocolate are present from start to finish with the tart, pucker-y tannins delivering a final blow to your tongue. It's fabulous alone (or with chocolate!) but if you're planning on pairing it with a meal, I would stick with steaks and other super-savory meals.

For those who do not shy away from powerful, flavorful reds, this is a must-try!