One of my favorite wines is Rodney Strong’s Rockaway Cabernet Sauvignon.  This single vineyard 2005 vintage from Alexander Valley is composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot.  All of the wine is made completely from free run juice from the best spots, “sweet spots”, in the best lots. 

The wine itself is very inky, and dark garnet in color.  The wines aromas favor blackberry, blueberry, and plum.  The wine is extremely bold and tannic with a long finish of cherry and earth, this wine will age beautifully. 

 Nothing better than a bottle of Rockaway and a nice flat iron steak on a cool summer night.

2 0 0 8  SONOMA COUNTY HARVEST FAIR
W I N E A W A R D S

DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL
2006 SAUVIGNON BLANC – RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

Today’s spotlight and one of my favorite wines is on Justin’s 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is the most planted grape in their vineyards and thrives in the harsh, dry climate and the unforgiving soils. The nose finds dark fruit, vanilla and spice and the taste brings you strawberry jam and licorice. This wine can be enjoyed today or can be stored for years, with each year bringing on a more subtle earthy, leathery note. I love this wine for its versatility and great quality. Retail price is $26.25, but your can save 20% by joining the Justin Wine Society. Pair this Cabernet with grilled steaks smothered by grilled red, green and orange peppers, served with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh lightly steamed asparagus. Enjoy!!

One of my favorite wines is the Sin Zin 2007 Zinfandel from the Alexander Valley. It has an amazing combination of blueberries, black raspberries, vanilla, and a peppery spice. Sin Zin has medium tannins and has a very strong oak taste at the finish. The perfect meal to pair this Zinfandel with would be barbecue chicken or steak. It averages around $20 a bottle and is very popular in many restaurants across the nation. When looking at the bottle you wouldn’t think that the wine could be as good as it truely is.

My favorite wine is the 2007 Ménage a Trois by Folie a Deux. It is one of the best blended wines for a reasonable price ranging from $8.00 to $12.00 depending on where it is purchased. The wine contains a composition of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. It is a fruity wine but is not too sweet and has medium tannins which come from the Cabernet Sauvignon.   It is great when paired with Talapia fish, rice and a large spring salad.  This is a perfect bottle of wine to open with a great meal or on a mellow night while hanging out with some good friends.