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 >>

merlot, 14.5% Cabernet Franc, 9.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5.6% To me, sometimes fruit is a better thirst quencher than a simple glass of water. And the Macari Rose 2010 from Long Island's North Fork is a case in point. The wonderful wet aromas of a freshly cut watermelon. luscious ripe strawberries picked this morning. MORE >>

From The North Fork of Long Island, Macari produces this delicious blend of 42% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. alcohol, retails for $42/bottle. Disclaimer: This sample was provided by Macari Vineyards 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 >>

85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc. 56% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot.Fabulous rich ripe fruit (more figs, ripe plum, spikes of blue fruit), with a long finish of sultry nuances of chocolate, tobacco, anise. La Tour du Pin. Le Petit Cheval. Second Wine. MORE >>