Event: It’s First Friday again, and six great wines were presented, all at great prices. You could tell the weather is warming up, as a big crowd stopped by to taste the latest great finds at Wine World.
Every First Friday tasting is special, but this month’s seemed especially strong, from the unusual Italian wine [...]

J Vineyards Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Cost: $35-38
What: I’ve had the J Pinot Noirs several times and they never disappoint. Winemaker George Bursick selects great fruit from throughout the Russian River Valley to create a magical blend with an elegant style and grace. In Bursick’s capable hands, the Pinot grapes become a [...]

Frank Family Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay
Cost: $32-35
What: Frank Family Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay, California, 2008
Frank Family Chardonnay has become known for its balanced, elegant style. It opens with citrus and peach aromas. You anticipate the great fruit in the bottle and you’re not disappointed from the first sip to the last. It’s a [...]

Blackstone Merlot, 2007 California

Cost: $10-12
What: Blackstone Merlot is one of those wines that you can count on to be an excellent buy year after year. It’s usually not spectacular, but it never disappoints. I’ve had both the 2006 and the 2007 recently and they’re both terrific. The 2007 has some toasted oak aromas with lush [...]

337 Cabernet Sauvignon
Cost: $10-12
What: This is an incredible bargain wine that is packed with flavor, finesse and complexity. The wine is named for the 337 Cabernet Sauvignon clone that originated in Bordeaux, France. It produces great wine in France and it flourished when it was brought to the Lodi region of California.
The wine is soft, [...]

Candor Zinfandel Lot 2, California
Candor Merlot Lot 2, California
Cost:$18-20 each
What: Hope Family Wines has decided to go against the grain with these two wines, mixing vineyards, regions and vintages. Most American wines stick to grapes from one year, and many only use grapes from one region or even one vineyard.
The result is spectacular, producing [...]

Candor Zinfandel, Lot 2, California
Cost: $18-20
What: Settling in on a cold winter’s night to watch the national championship football game, I wanted something special to drink. I found it in Candor Zinfandel, Lot 2. This is a really nice offering from Hope Family Wines that has a lot going for it.
This is the essence of [...]

Venta Morales Tempranillo 2008
Cost: $8

What: Now that the holiday feasts are behind us and Santa has gone back to the North Pole, you’re probably ready to dig into some normal foods and try some simple wines to match. This wine is perfect for that.
Made from 100 percent Tempranillo grapes, it tastes much bigger than [...]

What: Still haven’t bought the Champagne for tonight’s festivities? It’s not too late. Here are some suggestions for Champagne and other sparkling wine to brighten up your New Year’s Eve.
And if you don’t see this article until 2010, you can still use it as a guide the next time you want to pick [...]