The Gatekeeper Shiraz 2001

Served With: BBQ

Five Things: dark cherry, sandlewood, leather, dusty, long finish

COO: McLaren Vale, Australia

Notes: A wine I would like to swim in on a hot summer day. A juicy, earthy shiraz with a long finish that might still be going on... glad I waited to pull this one from the cellar. Paired with BBQ, a very, very good match indeed.

Rating: Delicious

Tags: The Gatekeeper, Shiraz, 2001, McLaren Vale, Australia

Coturri Albarello 2001

Served With: Pasta with Red Sauce

Five Things: intense, dusty, chocolate, deep, terroir

COO: Sonoma County, California

Notes: San Marzano tomatoes from Italy have an almost mythical wine-like terroir status in the culinary world due to the volcanic soil in the region. Tony Coturri's wines have that same ability to transport you to a specific place and time, in this instance, Sonoma Valley, California, 2001.

Website: Coturri Winery

Rating: Very Good

Tags: coturri, albarello, 2001, sonoma, california