Redwood Creek 2004 Pinot Noir

made sausage, spicy pasta with mushrooms, onions, celery, side of spring salad w. cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and a very strong caipirinha with real sugar. Joe liked it, but asked for less lemon in the next one. Dessert was sliced nectarine with cointreau/equal sprinkled on top. Dinner was tasty, and the wine worked well as inspiration for the cook. The last 2 bomb pops did the trick and joe is on his way back to SI.

Alcohol: 13%
Country of Origin: USA
Region: California
Variety: Frei Brothers

Robert Mondavi Woodbridge 2004 Pinot Noir

Suzanna and I returned home from a great time at the Total Wine Bar. She warms up her pasta for us and we open up this bottle. Although a bargain bottle, it tastes standard, nothing extraordinary. I think my palate is still screwed up from the spicy crawfish etoufee. It's smooth at least. Dinner time.

Country of Origin: USA
Region: Woodbridge, CA
Paid $7.99 for 750 mL @ Lehigh Wines, Bronx, NY

Dancing Bull 2002 Zinfandel

Long day at work, Amy gave her first journal club and it was a great success, of course I still gave her a very hard time in front of my students--always take the opportunity to instill fear, especially since it is still very early on. Finally made my way to Pathmark for groceries--only to find that it is large, but still very ghetto. Will resort to free parking at Key Foods by work. Boiling some drumsticks for chicken stock AND chicken salad. My first culinary venture with the magic bullet which my wonderful boyfriend so graciously purchased for me several weeks ago. I just realized today that we forgot to get the a/c unit from my parents house when we were in MD last week. I finally get a second to breathe while I do some work and sip some of this pleasant zinfandel. I was very tempted to rip into my white in the fridge cuz it is pretty hot in my apt with all the cooking, but I should save it for when Peter is present. I am going to start dinner around 9:30--sausages/ mushroom / celery/ onions/ spicy sauce/ pasta.

Alcohol: 13%
Country of Origin: USA
Region: California
Vineyard: Rancho Zabaco
Paid: $9.99 for 750 mL @ Shawn's Wine & Spirits
Recommended by: the bull

Cellardoor Riesling

After winning 7 points in the Wednesday Night Mixed Trio League (catapulted to 5th place) I was feeling great. This wine was warm (Suzie was drinking during the day), but it was sweet, yet not syrupy like usual dessert wines. Even though this wine begs for a food pairing, this is a nice change of pace.

Country of Origin: USA
Region: Rockland, ME
Paid $14.99 @ Cellardoor Winery
Recommended by: Ex-New Yorker Converted Maine Wine Enthusiast

Cellardoor Riesling

Honeyed pear, very sweet. Pleasant. True to tasting in Maine, nice summery drink for a lazy day off, waiting for Pete to come home from bowling. 2 cuts on Rockstar Supernova and an exciting new episode of Project Runway.

Alcohol: 12%
Country of Origin: USA
Region: Rockland, ME
Paid: $14.99 @ Cellardoor
Recommended by: Ex-New Yorker Converted Maine Wine Enthusiast

Blue Lobster Blue 2006 Blueberry

Dinner at Pete's with Johnny-boy. Our first pasta express failure with wheat penne. Salvaged dinner with a fresh box of pasta the traditional way. Shake&Bake chicken with baby grill sausage failure (still super tasty !!!). This fun unique wine fizzled at our wine tasting in maine, but from a fresh bottle chilled tastes more like sparkly blueberry juice, VERY TASTY ! Even the anti-wine drinker Johnny-boy wanted another taste. Major disadvantage -- only sold as half bottles. Can't order them online either. Rats !

Alcohol: 10%
Country of Origin: USA
Region: Rockland, ME
Cellardoor Vineyard
Paid: $8.99
Recommended by: Ex-New Yorker Maine Wines Enthusiast

Millbrook 2003 Chardonnay

It's a scorching 100 degrees outside, so I bring over this chilled Chardonnay. Hailing from Millbrook, it smells fruitty, tastes crisp and is nicely chilled. It works well with the Red Baron pizza.

Country of Origin: USA
Region: NY
Paid $17.99 for 750 mL @ Astor Wines, New York, NY