It’s Not A Zin To Eat This Burger

What: When my son and I went to pick up burgers at our new favorite burger shop–Five Guys Burgers and Fries–I ran into old friends Charley and Marion, both of whom love red wine. It was great to see them, and great to see that they had such great taste in fine cuisine. Charley asked what wine would go with my burgers. I had been planning on something like Coors or Red Stripe, but now I had to respond to the challenge.
It didn’t take long, because nothing goes better with burgers than Zinfandel, the All-American wine. “Gotta be a Zinfandel, Charley,” I said as we maneuvered out of the crowded restaurant.
The burgers at Five Guys are out of this world. They’re thick and juicy and come with all kinds of condiments. I’m a sucker for grilled onions, and they come standard at Five Guys. The regular burgers include two patties of beef. You can get a small burger, which is just one patty, but I didn’t see many REAL men order those. In fact, I didn’t see anyone order anything smaller than a regular burger.
They also have fresh French Fries, heaped into your bag. The bags of fresh Idaho potatoes are stacked all around the restaurant, and there’s a sign that says from which Idaho city today’s potatoes come from. It’s a nice touch.
But back to the wine. I chose a Gundlach Bundschu Zinfandel, Rhinefarm Vineyard, 2005. It’s a fantastic wine, especially with a hamburger, or nearly any grilled meat. It opens with intense aromas of white pepper and dark red berries. With the first drink the flavor explodes with red berries and lush fruit. This wine can stand up to any grilled meat. At $38 it might sound a little pricey for a burger meal, but this wine packs a punch, and it’s worth it. Life’s too short to be a cheap bastard all the time. The Sonoma County winery, one of the oldest in California, says the wine will cellar well for 2-7 years after the vintage.