Syrah / Shiraz

Can be drunk with the guys, but they'll groan and call you names when you go find a tree to relieve yourself. The fairer sex will bitch too much, to even try to pass this off as yesterday's fare. If the food is strong or spicy, you could safely use this to deglaze a pan.

For having no distinguishable flavors, this is a pretty tasty wine. Maybe I'm starting to like bland more than I use to? While not for your highly sophisticated crowd, it goes well with any casual event. Water sprites, tree nymphs, or even a mountain satyr bud, this goes well with all.

It’s a much better effort than their Chardonnay, which should be avoided at all costs. But this one is a nicely drinkable wine, and maybe even good for dinner too. An even better buy if you can get it on sale (like I did).

It’s got a cute rooster on the label but frankly the wine itself is unspectacular. Perhaps with a couple of bottles and the 47 pound bird (read the back label), you might have a really nice Cou au Vin. For a party of 20!

The worst I’ve tasted tonight. It’s another problematical wine from Argentina. I don’t have a clue what the “Wine Bible” has to say about the region. Hopefully, it’s not “and up and coming wine region.”

For the price, it's not a bad Shiraz to be drinking.

Another split decision. I liked it for what it was. Silenus had other ideas.