My second choice was a 375ml bottle of white Merlot that was given to me by winery owner Dave Mansfield when I visited his Three Brothers Winery in May. Our visit to the winery just happened to be the same day that the white Merlot was being bottled. The white Merlot has been released and can be purchased at the winery for $17. MORE >>

Of course, I did come to the rescue with a Cabernet Franc Rosé just brought home from my recent Keuka Lake Wine Tour and a visit to McGregor Vineyard and Winery. McGregor Vineyard and Winery Rose' d'Cabernet Franc 2009 ( $15 ), Fantastic Tonight Shirley made one of her classic catastrophes. digress, now back to my Rose'. MORE >>

The St Emilion maker of bold blend of merlot and cabernet franc paid for the placement in cash and wine. Jean-Bernard Grenié told me today that the laws prohibiting advertising wine in France made the producer pursue a strategy of product placement in movies. Grenié said that they “loved&# the wines. TV and movies MORE >>

Here are a few of my favorites: Channing Daughters 2007 Sculpture Garden 88% Merlot from the Sculpture Garden vineyard (the oldest on the South Fork, planted in 1982) and 12% Blaufrankisch from Sylvanus vineyard, aged in French and Slovenian oak barrels for twenty-two months. Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% million per year. MORE >>

You will find Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Vigonier here along with Tannat. Have you ever considered moving to what some people think is the 'end of the world?" The landscape in this remote part of Uruguay is somewhat luner, yet it's the special terroir that makes the wines of Alto de la Ballena so good. MORE >>