You just can’t go wrong with Cain. (Actually, you can’t go wrong with most any wine from Napa in 2005 or 2006.) Cain opens slow, but once it opens it is very smooth and sweet. Online $43.95.

Hello, my Lovely. Have I ever thanked you for helping me get over my fear of ducks? I love ducks, yes I do – and do I ever love a pair of ducks. This wine is so dark, balanced and smooth – I love it like I birthed it. $48 online. (Just wait until it’s not 5 million degrees outside to order – trust me on this one.)

Tomorrow I’ll announce the Yurbuds winner and announce the next FREE gift!

Toxic’s comment reminded me its been a while since my last wine review. Here’s one sponsored by Chie Mihara, my new obsession. (See previous post) I’m considering adding a section to my site for shoe reviews, whatcha think?

Indecisive. I know, how odd. For some reason I remember liking the wine more the last time I had it. It’s pretty woody and, I hate to say it, just okay. I have another bottle, perhaps I’ll like the next better. In-store, $35.99.

Migration, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir, 2007. It’s not Goldeneye, but it’ll do. Oh boy, it’ll do. $34.95, online.

If you are a Cabernet Sauvignon fan you can pretty much pick up any vintage from 2005 Napa and be sure it’s going to be good. Here’s a 2006 from Oakville that I’m enjoying tonight. I can’t find the price, but I’m sure it’s under $40.00.

Please ignore the water spots on the glasses – air dried due to momentary lack of a towel – and it’s making me mentally ill just looking at the picture.

I’ve been on a Merlot kick the past few days, and this is one on the nicer Merlots I’ve had in a while. I wish I had some fancy pants terms like “exhibits loads of black cherries, currants, chocolate, mocha, and caramel”, but I don’t. I just like it and you will too. I believe the 2005 vintage is out of stock, but I hear the 2006 is just as good. Around $35.00.

This is one of those really good Pinots I was talking about – and true to the Oregon persona it is also corkless – you know I love that. But it doesn’t screw . . . it has a glass cap which pops right out of the bottle as smooth as silk. Very cool. Elegant and refined – you’ll like this wine. $35.00.

I’m a cab girl, I can’t help it. I love the color and the boldness. I used to be a pinot girl, but now I can only drink a pinot if it’s a really good pinot. I’ve loved Chappellet varieties for a while and I love the deep lasting impressions this cabernet brings, it is so rich you can smell it all the way across the room. Makes me want a glass right now. Priced around $45.00.

Everyone needs a prisoner, especially this one. This wine is a blend of Zinfandel (51%), Cabernet Sauvignon (23%), Syrah (12%), Petite Sirah (6%), Charbono (6%) and Grenache (2%). It’s an eccentric wine that really defies the laws of blending, it should be crap, but when these grapes are combined it makes a decadent wine with great complexity. So far, I’m digging the Orin Swift wines. It’s not often a guy just decides to make wine one day and then makes really good wine. Life can be so unfair. $35.00. 92 points.

A classic and another one of my buttery favorites. Varietal composition: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc.

Brilliant. Deep. Ruby. Wonderful. If you order it in a restaurant it’s ridiculously priced around $120.00 or so, but you can get it online or at a nice liquor store for around $39.99. Have I mentioned how much I hate the triple mark up? Another good reason to move to Australia. Where the wine is always free. And people eat kangaroos.

Vacation report coming up soon, I promise.

It’s no secret that Michael and I love some good wine in this house, so much in fact that we built in a small wine closet cellar in one of the rooms. And as we were drinking a bottle of an Australian blend last night, it occurred to me that I haven’t been sharing with you the wines we love. So Internet, I think I’m going to start listing them more often, or just often since I haven’t done it at all yet. I’m so generous with the world, sometimes I amaze myself.

My all time favoritist wine ever – Rocket Science – 2005 Proprietary Red – Caldwell Vineyards – California – $40.00 – it’s plush, big, bold and makes me think naughty things. You’ll love it too.

I have to say; Australians are damn good at blending wine. I’ve been drinking Australian wines for a while now and this cheapy one took me by surprise – 2005 Elderton Tantalus – Shiraz Cabernet Malbec Merlot – Barossa Valley – only $14.99. Honestly, I was expecting crap, but it turned out to be a delicious everyday table wine.

You want to know the other thing I love that a lot of Australian vineyards are doing? Screw tops. BEST. IDEA. EVER.