Tablas Creek 2011 Esprit de Tablas Paso Robles

• TABLAS CREEK 2011 ESPRIT DE TABLAS PASO ROBLES:

For those of you enjoying prime rib during your holiday dinners, this is the wine for you. A high scoring wine rated by many wine critics, it won’t last long in the marketplace but it’s well worth seeking out. Their flagship red, this Rhone blend is built upon mourvedre and blended with grenache, syrah, and counoise grown in their certified organic estate vineyards. I loved the impressive depth of flavors with luscious dark blackberries, the signature Rhone meatiness, and exotic spices. It’s beautifully balanced from the start to the long, lingering finish. It’s as delightful on its own as it is with beef, lamb, duck, or game. They changed the name to honor the region in which this fine wine is grown, and it does indeed. It’s a rock solid value for this quality at $55 ($44 club members) at the Paso Robles tasting room.

La Ferme Julien 2012 Ventoux

• LA FERME JULIEN 2012 VENTOUX :

This tasty French rosé is pretty darn good considering the price, and there’s usually plenty available. A good choice as a sipping wine on the porch. Its zesty strawberry, raspberry, and cherry flavors make it tasty enough to enjoy with a chicken wrap, or a clam pizza. But it’s certainly not my choice for a fine meal or to impress a wine aficionado. Still you can’t beat the deal for a wine made by the Perrin family, grown in Rhone vineyards, that’s only $4.99 at Trader Joe’s. I’ve seen it at $10 retail or more at other stores.