Spanish Monster

The grape is Monastrell, in France the same grape is Mourvedre. In the hands of Juan Gil of Jumilla in Spain it is a monster red wine. Spend $19.99 on a bottle of a big juicy rich red wine that is equally at home with a steak on the grill, roast of lamb or a big hunk of sharp cheese like a Manchego from Spain. You will get more than your money's worth. The wine is so big of flavor you might not finish it the first night, don't worry, the wine holds up well for finishing with leftovers on the second night. Fruity, rich and a nice smokiness to the wine is probably at its best with the hunk of meat off the grill, but it is complex and enjoyable to sip on its own. Just dont forget to share.

Pacifist and Delicious

For those of you old enough to remember DMZs in Vietnam and Korea, the De Morgenzon farm in South Africa has come out with two wines that are huge values. The labels, attractively made and with the letters DMZ in big BIG print are hard to miss. Both types retail for $14.99 a bottle.

The red is made from Syrah, labelled Shiraz, legal name, but the style of the wine is more French than Aussie. Linger over the glass as aromas of coriander, cinnamon, blueberry, vanilla, and back to more brown spices waft out of the glass in no particular order. The wine is not a heavyweight, but rather an elegant middleweight that will compliment the fall dinner palate perfectly. I had it with a braised lamb shank.

As fantastic as the red is the Chardonnay is even better. The use of ageing the wine in a blend of Alliers and Nevers oak barrels, the classic Burgundy style, the wine is a dead ringer for high quality Meursault but at only a third of the price. Fruit flavors and aromas in concert with balancing oak flavors can only remind you of classic French White Burgundy. Live on the East Coast? This is the wine for that special lobster dinner. I had it with an herbed pork dish.