2005 Two Hands Ares

Dark purple with black pepper, black berry, tar, black raspberry, black cherry and an aroma of vanilla. Wow.

ADDENDUM: While dining at the Boston Morton's in the Seaport District. The 2002 Darioush Shiraz followed later than evening along with some Mickey D's. I paired the Darioush with BBQ sauce and chicken nuggest. Following that was 2006 Two Hands Bella's Garden. Fun night, thanks P and Jill Feeney for the outstanding service.

There's also a funny story from that night of a blind tasting with my mother, cousin, yours truly, Morton's AGM Scott Platt, and burgundy cooking wine.

2006 Four Vines Maverick Zinfandel

I bought this after upon seeing a Four Vines bottling without a screw top, e.g. Stelvin closure (Here's one example of a winery using them, and then there's Plumpjack or the Rhone Rangers' Bonny Doon (Flash required).

This is a 14.9% fruit bomb from Amador County filled with bright and jammy fruit, leather, and black pepper.

Think steak au poivre or for cheese: a creamy robiola like La Tur, Pecorino Toscano, Blue Ledge Farm's Lake's Edge or Cypress Grove's Humbolt Fog, Jasper Hill Farm's Bayley Hazen or their clothbound cheddar, and King's Island Dairy's Roaring 40's blue.