Purple Cowboy - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $10.99 (Target)

And so, the tide recedes.

To say that I've had an eventful past seven months is an epic understatement.

In between my last entry and now there have undoubtedly been innumerable pleasurable bottles of wine, many of which were consumed during a time of enormous heartache, difficulty, disappointment, confusion, and utter life questioning, sleepless nights. If it had not been for good friends and family who build my solid foundation, and a resolve to not become another defeated person (woman), I'm sure I would not have consumed, but would have been consumed.

Before I delve too deeply into the details, first, the wine.

I came across this little beauty while in one of my absolute favorite guilty pleasures--Super Target, (the "super" being superfluous since ALL Target is super in my opinion...I digress). The descriptive label boasted of both cherry and cola flavors -- cola? So, in essence, we're comparing this Cabernet Sauvignon to cherry coke --- needless to say, sheer curiosity overtook any logic behind my buying power, and I immediately placed the bottle in my red cart.

The smell does have a certain Robitussen familiarity about it. I mean that in the absolute best way. In the same manner in which Robitussen cough syrup is cherry-esque, I would say this wine embodies the same quality. It's not sweet but there's a stone fruit palatable bitterness about it. There's almost a hint of eucalyptus vapor, probably adding to the cough syrup resemblance. It's a difficult wine to describe, my one critiques is that the dryness can be a bit overpowering. This is a completely full-bodied wine, definitely not for the faint of heart. If you're brave enough to follow-through, you'll find a beautiful blackberry flavor lingers on your tongue, inviting you back for more. Intriguing, complicated, absolute perfection for this moment.

Back in December, the final nail was hammered into the coffin of my marriage. After a long thirteen months, after enduring yet another brutal fight, I finally found the courage to admit to myself, to my ex-husband, and to the world, that I couldn't stand to live another miserable day feeling "less than."

I've spent an inordinate amount of my young adult life feeling less than. One failed relationship after another, I've frequently been made to feel less than, and when I chose to get married, I felt I had finally escaped the cycle. I worked hard, harder than I've ever worked at anything to resolve difficult situations and cultivate a sense of ease but more importantly, a sense of love in the home I had created.

But, as one of my favorite Wilco songs simplistically says in the most articulate of ways, "I thought that if I held you tightly, you would always love me like you did back then," suddenly became the absolute truth. It became clear that this person's anger and rage towards me were never going to cease. The name calling, the hurtful words were only going to get worse and more painful. I was paying the price for someone else's mistakes.

Perhaps, after many, many years, these kinds of troubles can be resolved in a marriage, but within the first year, coupled with all of the other difficulties, I felt as if I were barely surviving as it was. I couldn't sleep, my entire immune system was incapable of functioning properly. The stress was literally killing me slowly. And for what? At the end of the day, I didn't even have a partner, I had a roommate who lived down the hall who I slowly felt less and less for until I finally felt absolutely nothing at all.

It took a long time for me to finally find the courage to end it before it would end me. I was afraid of what people would say --- shocking, I know. Many of my closest friends were entering parenthood or blissfully newlywed, how could they understand? Then, of course, there's the sting of the divorce stigma -- and after only thirteen months?! The horror! Somehow, I felt guilty that I couldn't handle the "pressures of being married." I had somehow convinced myself that what I was going through was completely normal---but is walking on eggshells out of fear around the one who's supposed to love you most, normal?

Probably the most difficult thing to come to terms with in the whole situation was the fact that I truly wanted to be married. I've wanted nothing more my entire life than to have my own family and feel the security of having a home full of people who love you and whom I love -- no matter what. I felt like a complete failure for not being able to resolve all the problems and make the situation work.

I moved out just before the holidays, my stuff lay in purgatory between my old home, my parents' condo and storage. I spent Christmas and New Years Day alone--and if it weren't for a couple of amazing friends, I would have also spent the two Eves' alone, too. Thankfully, work was amazingly busy so I was able to fully dive into this distraction.

That is, until I got laid off.

Yes, just after the holidays, I got laid off--I couldn't have been more devastated. Not only had I in the New Year, moved into a new apartment specifically chosen for its proximity to work, but I also had worked the holidays rather than going home and grieving my loss. My marriage had failed and I had failed at the only real job I had ever had. The kind of hell I fell into is indescribable. "It's a fresh start," literally everyone I know, said. Yes, I would agree, but nothing could have prepared me for losing absolutely every part of my past life. My divorce might have been my decision, but it was nevertheless a complete destruction of the person I had become. My getting laid off was the last piece of my former life to part with. Perhaps it hit me worse only because it wasn't at all on my own terms.

Luckily, during this difficult time, I found solace in a new found hobby --- no, not drinking an extraordinary amount of wine or other liquor---but, I began, for the first time ever, distance running. The one stroke of good luck I had in January, brought me in as a last-minute fill-in for a runner on a relay team in the Ragnar relay series. Running 200 miles in a 36 hour period from Miami to Key West, our team of 12 conquered an incredible feat at the start of the new year. If it weren't for this experience, the friends I made doing this and the new-found hobby, I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have caught the next wave--

I'm a big believer that we are all floating in a giant body of water, waves come along and pick us up, carry us for a while, the energy coming ever-closer to entropy...to slowly end at shore, or die abruptly in the waters...only to be carried into another wave that will lead us further into The Journey.

So, after my whirlwind adventure running the relay, after getting laid off -- my luck finally began to change.

Out of nowhere, my former employer called to re-hire me. Under better terms (and salary), I hopped back on-board doing what I've been doing -- and actually feeling appreciated for the kind of effort I bring to the job at hand.

Out of nowhere, a former love is slowly becoming a new love all over again. Organically. That's probably the most exciting thing, the prospect of starting all over again, all over again, with someone who during "round one" (as I affectionately call it), I was pretty damn convinced was the one I'd end up with -- if it weren't for a bunch of outside circumstances (distance, too much travel, burgeoning careers, life). And I would have been lucky to have ended up with him.

As he so eloquently put -- "right bus, right seat, wrong time" -- couldn't agree more and I absolutely cannot wait to see where this bus (wave) will take me this time.

Buffalo Grove - Cabernet Sauvignon @@ (2 corks)

Retails: $8.99 ($12.99 1.5 L)

I'm in a funk.

I'm not sure if it's the workplace, a case of the dulldrums, a looming birthdate, babyfever, lack of friends, lack of funds, missing people, lack of creativity, or a simple case of the blahs...or a combination of all of the above (shit).

...and like a good blogger, I reached for a bottle that ALSO turned out to be shit. Great! To make matters worse, I started on this ranting blog and my computer completely rebooted without warning further leading me to believe that I've stumbled on some seriously bad mojo...or something.

Either way, unlike the red zinfandel from this same label, this Cab is awful. It's drinkable but that may be entirely based on my desperation.

So, what's a gal to do when in an unexplained funk? Well, for me, it involves my husband politely leaving me to my mood while I watch old episodes of Sex and the City snuggled up with my dog, Roxy, who celebrates her fifth birthday tomorrow.

Yes, friends, I'm one of those crazy dog ladies. Fully committed and unapologetic, my dog is amazing and yes, she is the namesake from which this blog derives its name. You see, Roxy Cape was the fake name I gave out at bars in college (along with a fake number that led fools to my alma matter's automated daily menu, the "to eat" line...yes, I'm that kind of clever.)

Roxy seemed like a wonderfully ironic name for my puppy who I truly believe chose me--I've never had a dog before, my family's more feline-oriented.

I was on my way to a haircut and happened upon a puppy shop (clearly puppy mill puppies but, you know, fuzzy!) I had been in the market but not super motivated to look. I came upon a pen of adorable puppies when a little black, furry puppy who studied me curiously with an air of, "have we met?"

Needless to say, after my hair appointment, I hurriedly ran back to the shop and snatched her up before the shop closed. I thank my puppy for getting me out of the worst relationship of my life and eventually guiding me to meet my husband --- no, really, we met at the dog park it doesn't get any more blatant than that.

As I turned on the television to begin my Sex and the City marathon this evening, she snuggled up on my lap giving me the look of -- "this again? What's wrong now? Pour yourself a cocktail--it's necessary sometimes, lady-- forget this wine, scratch your dog behind the ears, you'll be fine in an hour." Sometimes my dog really is my best friend (or my unorthodox therapist?)

Either way, Roxy my dear, Happy 5th birthday. You are my little furry soulmate.

Cupcake Vineyards - Red Velvet @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $8.99 (Total Wine)

Life has a *charming* way of throwing gas on the fire just when the flame has smoldered to coals, doesn't it?

Luckily, we have wine.

As rich as a mouthful of caramel centered milk chocolates, Cupcake Vineyard's "Red Velvet" wine delivers on decadence. I do find it a bit too overpowering for everyday drinking or when accompanying a meal, but it is delicious all on its own.

For people (like me) who are not particularly keen on sweet dessert wine, this is a welcome substitute. It holds up well on its own, with rich berry and cherry flavors and very little dryness. I would consider pairing it with a dessert or with light appetizers. I could absolutely see this being served at a wine bar to welcoming palates.

The last six months have proven that you can never be certain what's around the bend. I'm a tried and true over-analyzer and no matter how hard I try and predict the outcome of different situations, I'm always pretty surprised. I'm an "organizer" by career and mentality, and it drives me crazy when things don't go according to plan. It's not that I'm uptight per se, but I do enjoy a certain amount of predictability in the assorted variables that can transpire from day to day. In my moments of shear frustration, my husband will quip, "Well, isn't this life?"

Nothing has prepared me for what life has thrown my way as of late -- kids, marriage, new career, custody battles, merging career, additional work, financial woes, a move, a new pet, significant weight loss, unexpected blessings, a million weddings and babies to celebrate...

To provide each individual variable with the appropriate amount of attention and response has proved mind numbing. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not accustomed to change all at one time. I'm someone who almost requires a waiting period between significant events, but, as life has shown, that isn't always an option or possibility.

It also doesn't help that when I get my mind wrapped around a particular endeavor I can't help but try and accomplish it immediately (see: moving), thankfully my husband is exactly the same way. We may not have the majority of things in common, but we can absolutely agree on accomplishing a common goal as soon as is humanly possible. (re: neurosis).

After all of this, all I can say is, THANK GOD for wine!

Fetzer - Gewurztraminer @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $7.99 (Total Wine)

Gewurztraminer (guh-voorts-truh-mee-ner). As if the guttural, spit-inducing, dry-heave-of-a-word didn't give it away, this is a German white wine (grown in California). Quite a good, German white wine, I might add. About two months ago, a co-worker asked me for a recommendation on a German wine to give as a gift to a neighbor. Having never reviewed a single one, I was at a loss as to what to recommend and put my "roxy.cape dot com" stamp of approval on. How embarrassing! Yes, as of recently, my reputation around the office has been that of "wine connoisseur"--- in truth, I'm probably the office wino, a title I graciously uphold and am honored to have (will they let me have business cards though, that's the question...)

This is a delightfully rich white wine best consumed ALONE--yup, it's a loner. It isn't bad with a meal, but it does tend to be a bit overpowering. It's a solid dessert wine, honey-sweet at first with a slightly dry, crisp finish -- somewhat reminiscent of green apples.

In other news, my fiance and I celebrated our dating anniversary this past weekend --- yes, we celebrate our dating anniversary. By tradition, we head up to Tampa's Channelside district, right near the cruise ship port. We rent a hotel room and walk to all of the bars and restaurants at Channelside. In particular, we enjoy some bowling at Splitsville --- both for its club-like atmosphere and the sense of irony in going to a venue called Splitsville for your anniversary. This particular year, however, we ended up getting food poisoning at Stumps Supperclub, resulting in my making a mad-dash to the bathroom at Splitsville in the middle of our second game, and calling it a night at 9:00 where we spent the rest of the evening taking turns in the bathroom. Happy Anniversary!

Fetzer - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Publix)

Strong oak flavor with a tinge of smoke in the aftertaste, Fetzer Merlot is a solid medium-bodied wine that I am enjoying from my new space in the home. Yes, I've reclaimed a piece of it for myself, it's every (wo)man for himself here at the abode !

When you live in a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo with your fiance, space can get a little tight. Although we are fortunate to own a home that encompasses an astonishing 1200 square feet, even still, there could always be more room. When his two children spend the weekends with us, they take over the spare bedroom (and every other available corner). My fiance likes to occupy the living room (that's where the xbox lives). So, that leaves me with few options for a space of my own --- the kitchen (standing room only), the bathroom (an obvious no), or the bedroom (no wine allowed).

I took it upon myself to reclaim a forgotten corner of the condo -- the porch (or lanai as we call them in Florida). One weekend, I took an entire afternoon to scrub every corner of the porch to make it livable. After removing the cobwebs, sweeping the dust and appointing it with some colorful lanterns and a giant fan for the especially hot summer days, I uncovered a small sanctuary. I've dubbed it the "girls club" -- Roxy, my dog, and I can now sit in peace and quite in the giant papazan chair doing as we please--drinking some wine, reading a magazine and in this case, blogging (the wifi reaches out there !) Sometimes, it's not that you need space, it's just that you need a space...

We're in the process of becoming the primary care givers for his two elementary school aged children, two boys ages 7 and 9. It's a long story of how we came to this point in the road so I'll spare the back story, a culmination of the past two years. In essence, things weren't working out with them living with their mother (his ex-wife) for a number of reasons and so, over the past few months, my fiance has been coaxing her into mulling over the idea of exchanging custody rights. To our surprise, two months ago she filed on her own accord. In a month, we'll have the court's official decision.

Where am I in this sudden shift from fiance to step-mom? I'm excited, but it's a bittersweet sort of excitement. I don't know a single person in this same situation and hardly anybody knows how to react to the news. I know that you single guys and gals out there in your mid-twenties (or older) are staring, mouths a-gape at the thought of coming into a situation like this. At one time, I, too, literally said I felt I was "much too selfish" to take care of another human being. But of course, at some point you grow up. At 26, almost 27, I've lived a very full, very incredible life--I've seen and experienced things that most people have not at my age -- and I don't see that stopping just because I'll be helping to raise two children who aren't mine by blood, but whom I love all the same. The adventure of life doesn't have to end just because you have children !

So, to each one of you who has said, or has thought at some point, "wow, that sucks" or "oh, you poor thing," your pity is hurtful. You wouldn't tell your pregnant friend "wow, that sucks" if she told you she was pregnant, would you ?

I knew my fiance had kids from the first day we began dating so I have been fully aware for quite some time of what I could be getting into. For him, it's the first time in six years that he'll be able to reclaim his place as full-time father and provide his children a stable, loving home life. That's a pretty exciting thing for someone who has missed out on many milestones due to the current circumstance and I can't wait to be there for the rest. Yes, it will be challenging, but regardless of whether they are your own or not, children are a challenge. Period.

Life is all about encountering new challenges and learning how to coexist and learn from them. And when times get tough, or require a bit of thoughtfulness over wine, I've got my new space to retreat to.

Robert Mondavi Private Selection - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $8.99 (Total Wine)

Rich, almost velvety on the tongue, this Cab gives you more than you bargain for. Cabernet Sauvignon gets a bad rap. It's frequently brushed off as the "neophyte-drinker's" red. I happen to find that there are quite a few Cabs that deserve their time in the sun. Just check out the other Cabs that make my list.

I was recently speaking to a potential print vendor who, as it happened, was fairly well-versed in wines. I get hounded by printers who want our business. At least weekly, I have a sales rep wanting to "get together for lunch," "have a moment of my time" to tell me the wonders of their printing capabilities. And, as usual, after a 20-minute pitch about web presses and 6-color processing, I finally get them to cut the shenanigans and get real. This is where the true business relationships come from---getting real with your potential clients/vendors and showing them who you really are (kind of a like a first date, right?).

Probably about 15 years my senior and married to a woman who wrote for a high-end cruise line, this vendor had traveled the globe as her passepartout to some of the most mouthwatering wine venues on the globe---in addition to other remarkable locales that most of us only dream about. In fact, he had actual been to the famed Chateau Le Fit in France. He gave me recommendations on location in California to visit on my honeymoon (yes, we're thinking about hitting up California to visit San Fran, Big Sur, Sonoma and Napa) but he certainly did have strong opinions about Cab. Oh, and, every bottle he loved was well within the $40 range. But, another part about client-vendor relationships, you gotta talk the talk and honey, I can talk the talk.

Don't hate the Cab. It's one of the most universally grown varietals. It's also the most common "house red" you'll find in bars and restaurants---so if you're looking for un verre somewhere random, you're likely to get a Cab. Embrace the Cab, my friends. Several, like this one, will deliver a smooth, rich, indulgent wine. It's like the comfort food of wines, never underestimate the power of a familiar, glorious glass of cab.

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!

Target Wine Cube - Pinot Grigio @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $8.99 (Target)

My name is roxy.cape and I LOVE this wine-in-a-box.

I went into this with absolutely no expectations. I've never had wine-in-a-box, never thought to even attempt to consume a wine that comes from a box. Don't get me wrong, I adore Target for its inexpensively priced, quality goods--there's a SuperTarget right by my work and I have to admit, 90% of my wardrobe comes from its racks---and I consider myself a relatively fashionable person--No, scratch that, I AM a fashionable person. Boo-yah.

However, I had no intention of liking this wine. At all. I figured the true test of this brand of box-o'-wine would be to try one of their white wines---as we all know, I'm notoriously apprehensive about non-reds.

I'm completely drinking my words. This Pinot Grigio is light but not flavorless. It is a total-mouth experience, attacking the palette with an intensity usually reserved for red wines. There's a presence of dryness in the finish that isn't overpowering but merely serves to cap-off your senses' experience in this box-o-wine exploit.

Essence of honey and apricot lingers on the tongue. My only complaint is the acidity-- it's a little too much for my taste, but this is an attribute that I typically associate with white wines to begin with---too much acidity. As much as this could be a red wine drinkers' white, white wine drinkers won't be disappointed either.

For the price, you can't beat it. Within this compact cube you get the equivalent of two bottles of wine. TWO. The spout doesn't drip and it occupies a nominal amount of space within your fridge (as you can see, it snuggles easily with my coffee creamer and orange juice). If you're having a large group of people over, this is a really inexpensive yet satisfying wine to serve.

Final Word: Consider me converted!

Barefoot - Merlot @@@ (3 Corks)

Retails: $8.99 (4-pack, BP Gas Station)

I'm sitting in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere--the Everglades to be exact. I'm on a shoot tomorrow at the Miccosukee Reservation and I decided to stay the night before at their hotel/casino---yes, apparently the stereotype holds some truth in this instance. As soon as I walked through the doors, the fairy-princess-twinkle of slot machines and the overwhelming stench of cigarettes greeted me. The decor is identical to the "entertainment decorating" of Disney World and Carnival cruise ships---nauseating patterns accented by over-the-top bright colors with neon lights for an accent. Opting for the economical dinner option, I chose to eat at the buffet (what casino doesn't have a buffet?!), big mistake. The only thing on the menu was a heartattack. As I awkwardly ate half-ass bites of lard-encrusted roast beef alone, I noticed that in an entire room I was the only person under 50. I know you snarky non-Floridians out there are saying "But Florida is ALL old people." No. It isn't. It's about 65% old people, thank you, and I cannot remember a single instance where I literally could not find anyone within 20 years of my age. (20 YEARS!!)

Luckily, I came prepared. Fully knowing that this hotel would be located in the middle of nowhere, I stopped into a BP and picked up a "classy" 4-pack of Barefoot Merlot. No, I'm not planning on drinking all four, but from experience, the 4-pack is a better bet on the road than a full bottle. So, before hopping on Alligator Alley (the passageway between Naples and Miami that runs you right through the Everglades), I stopped into a BP for a pee break and to snag some wine for the destination.

Considering that I got this from a gas station, I'm impressed. I was shocked that this BP carried something other than Sutter Home, heck, I didn't even know Barefoot came in a 4-pack. As far as Merlot wines are concerned, it's nothing to write home about, but it's not bad. It's absolutely drinkable. It's making an otherwise lackluster evening watching American Idol (don't judge, all hotels offer an appaulingly small amount of channels) and surfing the net in an ashtray, into a slightly more luxurious experience. Slightly.

Travel for pleasure and travel for work are two different experiences. I've stayed in some extremely terrible and extremely lovely locales and in each instance, relaxing with a glass of wine at the end of the day has been able to keep me from completely going mental. So, should you ever find yourself under similar circumstances, I suggest you run down to your local gas station and snag yourself a 4-pack of Barefoot Merlot.

Beringer - Pinot Noir @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $6.49 (Total Wine)

After the succcess of Beringer's Merlot at our Girls Night wine tasting, when I came across the Pinot I HAD to give it a shot.

At the same time, I've just recently acquired a Sam's Club through my work, which if you happen to have an employer who offers this as a benefit, you should absolutely take them up on it. I did a little bit of research while I was there today, mostly loading up on bulk toiletries, and the wine/liquor section's prices are IDENTICAL to Total Wine! Although Sam's Club offers awesome discount on most bulk items, if you happen to have a Total Wine nearby you'll save just about the same amount off of normal retail prices (without the cost of a membership!)

Beringer's Pinot Noir is quite good, it definitely requires some breathing time after uncorking. The flavor tends to rest in the middle of your palette, be sure to give it a good swish in your mouth to really get a full sense of the flavors. Tons of beautiful cherry notes with good deal of dry, tannin flavor in the finish. For the price, not a bad wine in the slightest.

Coastline - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $8.99 (Total Wine)



Coastline's Cabernet Sauvignon actually has quite the informative label. As the name implies, Coastline Cellars is all about its coastal California location: the fertile valleys caressing the Pacific ocean, the sweet breath of the ocean creating the perfect atmosphere to cultivate grapes...to me it sounds like prime real estate.

It also mentions something about Franciscan Friars being the first to cultivate grapes here...not sure if this is factual, I'll have to consult Wikipedia later...

Let's get down to taste: definitely heavy on the plum flavors, slight peppery taste with a hint of dryness in the finish. A very flavorful wine, it will absolutely overpower delicate flavors, however, it's the perfect compliment to a hard day's work. My honey had a glass waiting for me when I returned home today, I knew there was a reason I kept him around. Today is Tuesday. All I have to say is forget Mondays as being the hardest, I think Tuesdays are the new Mondays. Here's to wine, the perfect apres travaille aperitif.

Kitchen Sink - Red Table Wine @@@@@ (5 Corks)

Retails: $8.99 (Total Wine)

One of the things about Total Wine I enjoy most is the professionalism of the staff. If you're a first-time buyer with absolutely no clue, they are dedicated to helping you find something you'll enjoy. If you're a seasoned buyer, they're equally as willing to help you find something new. This past week while shopping at my local Total Wine, I was appraoched by one of the sales staff. After explaining that I wrote for a blog, he was full of useful recommendations, including this blend of reds, Kitchen Sink.

Kitchen Sink's mentality is to aproach wine like a chef would aproach creating a new meal to enjoy. A careful selection and balance of different grapes has created the interesting complexity found within this wine. I am almost certain that no bottle would taste exactly the same.

A power-house blend of California-grown grapes, this red wine is delightfully fruity with a slight peppery taste that finishes with a beautiful tannin flavor. Within this wine you will find Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Syrah grapes lending to its complex flavor. It is an excellent 5 o'clock drink on its own but isn't overpowering. I would caution novice red wine drinkers---I tested this wine on my boyfriend and he found it a little too strong for his liking. I'm restraining myself from drinking the entire bottle in one sitting by myself, it's just that good.

Summerfield - Chardonnay @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $5.99 (Total Wine)

Drum roll please...I LOVE this Chardonnay. There. I said it. Contrary to my typically un-conformist, failing to go with the popular majority on wine (or pretty much anything)...I Love Chardonnay...or at least THIS Chardonnay.

Crisp, fruitful yet deliciously tart and dry in the aftertaste, THIS is a Chardonnay to conform die-hard red wine drinkers (like me). Unlike many, some expensive, Chardonnays I've encountered in my past, this one bares none of the astringent undertones or lack of flavor. It may have successfully transformed my palette into one that will openly accept whites with baited breath and excitement, as opposed to the snarky cynicism which has been my trademark towards white wines.

One of the most ubiquitous wine varietals produced, Chardonnay grapes are said to originate in Burgundy but can now be found from England to New Zealand. It is said that as far as growing grapes are concerned, growing the Chardonnay varietal is a "rite of passage." It is the white wine's cabernet sauvignon, dominating over 400,000 acres (which is, in fact, more acreage than cabernet currently commands). The grapes have a taste that lends itself very well to being infused with other grape varietals or taking on some of the flavors of whatever kind of material it is aged within (in most cases, oak).

I highly recommend this wine to anyone who has previously turned their nose at white wines. Consider me convereted.

Turning Leaf - Merlot @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $4.97 (Wal-Mart)

Another inexpensively priced gem from brothers Ernesto and Julio Gallo, Turning Leaf Merlot is actually quite a tastey bottle for the price. Certainly, I've had other reds within this similar price range that have wow'd me more, but it's not bad. Frankly, I'm pretty surprised, after my previous post on their Gallo brand Zinfandel, I was not expecting a whole lot.

The marketing for each brand under the Gallo umbrella is fascinating to me. This particular brand follows the tradition of allowing a wine to "breathe" by encapsulating their entire marketing strategy on wine as allowing the consumer to breathe: "Before you uncork a bottle of Turning Leaf wine, we invite you to take a deep breath, let the day slip away and renew."

Let's get down to taste: it's not quite as flavorful as I'd like it to be but it's pleasant nonetheless. The best part is the finish: slightly dry with a smokey aftertaste. No offensive tastes on the palette so this is definitely a good choice for beginner red wine drinkers.

Cardiff - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

Now here's a Cab with some serious flavor. Cardiff's Cab is smoke-y and mysterious. Tannins and dryness? Check. Is that cherry I taste? Is it blueberry? Whatever it is, I'm having another for sure.

It's the 4th of July and I've had an amazing evening. I live relatively near the famous Sunshine Skyway bridge that connects Palmetto, Florida to St. Pete. Years ago, there was a different bridge in its place that collapsed after a boat struck a pillar. The remaining landings on each side are now fishing piers. From these piers, you can see no fewer than 10 firework displays going off all around you, Palmetto, Bradenton, Anna Maria, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Tampa. Probably the most incredible place to celebrate the 4th for sure.

I hope everyone is enjoying a festive, and most importantly safe, 4th of July weekend. Cheers!

Vin Ordinaire - Cheap Red Wine @@ (2 corks)

Retails: $5.99 (Total Wine)

"The most important thing about wine is that you enjoy it, regardless of vintage or style." Vin Ordinaire's Cheap Red Wine claims to be nothing else than a very straight forward California red. A melange of several varietals, this red wine presents a no-frills approach to wine drinking. To use a metaphor, most of the bottles I rate are like designer knock-offs--equally delicious bottles, gussied up like their pricier counterparts that don't come with the designer pricetag. This bottle makes absolutely no attempt at being anything but cheap. The bottle's simple brown label with "cheap red wine" stamped on the front conveys quite simply, what thrifty wine shoppers are looking for. It's shabby-chic--something kinda ugly and unkempt that is made to be kind of modern and forward in thinking. Is Vin Ordinaire (Ordinary Wine) onto something? I think this all sounds like a bunch of marketing ho-ha if you as me. I'd almost be insulted if it wasn't clever at the same time.

But, as they say, proof is in the punch. Cheeky label aside, this is an OK red wine. Not horrible, not great, just OK. After a couple days of being open, it begins to sour so it's best to be consumed on the day you open it. It would have been far more impressive if hidden within the unremarkable packaging there happened to be a true gem of a wine. Unfortunately, Cheap Red Wine turned out to be just that.

Gallo Family Twin Valley - White Zinfandel @@ (2 corks)

Retails: $5.99 (Wal-Mart)

The Boss family in America when it comes to exporting wine is Gallo. If Tony Soprano (of The Sopranos) were into wines, he'd be Julio and/or Ernest Gallo.

The Gallo name is a paradox for me. They are synonymous with both high-end wines and also the crap that comes in a four-pack at your local 7-11--don't lie, we've all been there. I can remember days when I was on the road with the video crew and we'd be in some po-dunk town and have nothing better to do than raid the local convenience store for cheap beer and wine in a 4-pack. Gallo distributes wines under several brands including Ecco Domani, Bella Sera, Turning Leaf and Barefoot. If you're an avid wine drinker, you know that there's quite a bit of difference in price between Ecco Domani and Barefoot.

Twin Valley is one of their lower-priced varieties and I can say truthfully, it tastes more like a very diluted cranberry juice than wine. Don't get me wrong, if you're not in it for the taste and rather, in it for the after effects, it's not a bad wine--FYI white wines will give you less of a hangover than reds because the amount of sulfates in this and other light colored liquids is less. But, if you do enjoy a more full-bodied wine, this is probably going to leave you somewhat disappointed.

Forest Ville - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@@ (5 corks!)

Retails: $5.99 (Total Wine)

My parents live up North and call me every weekend to discuss our lives---primarily weather related since I'm 2,000 miles south and blessed with continuously beautiful weather here in Southern Florida. This past weekend, my father, an avid mandolin player, had a "gig" which my mother attended. At the "gig" they ordered a glass of cabernet sauvignon. It was so good they "each had two glasses a piece!" They found out what the name of the wine was and the waiter kindly noted, "it's so cheap you'll want to buy a case of it." With a review like that, I had to try it for myself.

Total Wine, being the Target of all things alcohol-related, had it in stock so I had to try this out for myself. WOW. For $5.99, you can't beat this highly drinkable red table wine. Fruit flavor bursts onto your palette; swishing it around in your mouth, the robust flavor explodes on your taste buds and ends with a slight dryness on the back of the tongue. Perfection in a glass all for under $6.

Final Words: It's easily drinkable by itself but the flavors will stand-up against even the most sumptuous of meals. Tasty!

Pacific Peak - Merlot @@@ (3 corks)

Retail: $6.99 (Total Wine)

Pacific Peak Merlot is your classic California merlot. It needs time to breathe, a swift swirl of the glass, and a little swishing in your mouth, and its flavors are fully delivered. Not for the novice wine drinker, this wine requires a certain fondness of earthy flavors and dryness. The dryness playfully dances on the tip of your tongue and slowly makes its way back to the roof of your mouth. The dryness resonates but is not a disadvantage to this wine: slight, not too hindering to other flavors. You will enjoy the earthy tones of cinnamon and bergamont hidden within the dryness of this classic merlot.

Final Words: Enjoyable, but nothing I'd keep in stock on a regular basis.