Terroir Napa Valley-B. Shifrin Cellars-Howell Mountain-Napa Valley-California-Zinfandel-2005-$26.98-This is one of Wine Library’s Tribute Series wines that they make and bottle.  Bobby Shifrin is one of the original employees that has over 20 years at the Wine Library,  which is one of the most successful wine/liquor stores on the East Coast.  Has a big nose, fruit forward, still being 4 years old it can benefit from being decanted since it’s still a big wine.   Dark in color, dark fruit, great taste, once it opens, very smooth, well worth the money.    Available only at the Wine Library which is located in Millburn, N.J.   NR   CR-4-4.5   Great with pasta, steak, rips, burgers.

Chateau Faugeres-Saint-Emilion-Grand Cru-Red Bordeaux-La Reserve-France-2006-$26.98- Now I am not a big French wine drinker, but a good friend brought this wine to dinner after we had played a round of golf. It had a good nose, less earthly and more fruit and after we let it breathe some, was very good, especially for a wine that should sit for another 5 years before it starts to reach it’s potential.  It was too young to drink, had lingering tannins that had not smoothed out yet, but as it opened, we used a bottle aerator which to help the wine open and it got better as  the meal went along. A very good wine. especially since it’s a Grand Cru.    WS-91   CR-4-4.5   Great with pasta,  and most foods since a good French wine is so food friendly.