2003 Bodegones del Sur Tannat

Last night I bought a bottle of 2003 Bodegones del Sur Tannat to a party. The wine comes from Uruguay and is made from the Tannat grape. The wine is a very dry, full bodied red with a smooth finish. At $13 a bottle, it's a must-try.

This is part of my ongoing effort to not buy wines without trying them first. Sam's Wine makes this easy by having informal tastings on weekends. Just show up at the store and there will be a broad spectrum of wines you can try, usually about twenty or thirty different wines in total. While you're there, be sure to listen to and absorb the knowledge from the servers.

2004 Mary Michelle Cyntiana

This past weekend, I tried a bottle of 2004 Mary Michelle Cyntiana. It's a wine created right here in Illinois. The Cyntiana grape (a.k.a. the Norton grape), grows well in the southern Illinois climate. The wine is a light-bodied, medium-dry red with a fruity (but not sweet) flavor and a clean finish. At $10 a bottle, it's a great value. Try one out and support the Illinois wine industry!