blend

Last night, I popped the cork on this 2003 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve Red ($35). The wine wasn't a single varietal (like Syrah or Zinfandel), but rather a Bordeaux-style blend of several different grapes. Red wine from France's Bordeaux region implies a blend of several different varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The hue was a deep purple, and the taste bone-dry with a velvety finish and full body. Drinking the wine reminded me of the pleasures of Summer — blackberries and cherries — with a hint of chocolate.

What else did the wine remind me of? The person who sent it to me as a gift. As my favorite wine columnists say, "Wine can conjure up memories in a way that few other things can."

It's certainly true that drinking this wine conjured up great memories of our friendship. Does the same hold true for you when you drink wine?

PartySugar mentioned that we were fortunate enough to meet Michael Chiarello last week - she also mentioned that we got to taste the wines from the Napastyle Wine Club. What she didn't mention was that one of the wines really stood out from the rest. I even had to take a picture of the bottle and remind myself to look it up when we got back. The wine was a 2004 Ars Nova from Tandem winery in Spain's Yerri Valley. It was a smooth rustic red blend consisting of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. According to Napastyle's website the "Fancypants Adjectives" (their wording!) associated with the wine are "dry and lean with cherries, violets and cedar hints." I couldn't have agreed more. It had a nice fruity taste, reminded me a bit of chocolate and was incredibly smooth. And although it could be consumed perfectly on its own, I want to get my hands on a bottle to pair with grilled lamb chops!

Contact your local wine merchant to locate a bottle of your own, or order it online at Oddbins (UK) for £9.49.