Today's recommended wine
(Non-vintage) Bennett Family Vineyards The Big Red Monster California , $11
This scary label is not the one you want to pour when the boss comes for dinner, but I'll bet he (or she) would love it. It's one of those "potluck" wines that uses whatever leftover wine happens to be around, and it's pretty good! It's a blend of Syrah, Zinfandel and Petite Syrah from multiple vintages, all California, and created by two very good winemakers/consultants: Bob Pepi, formerly of Robert Pepi Winery, and Jeff Booth, formerly of Conn Creek. And it's cheap! $11! It's medium-bodied but full-flavored. It's got that ol' punch of intense fruit and color from Petite Sirah; it's got the spice of Syrah and the pepper-spice of Zinfandel. It's made for Bennett Family Vineyards in Rutherford, Calif., for William Grant and Sons USA, a subsidiary of the big Scottish distiller. (Label courtesy of www.grantusa.com.)
