Carmen Syrah 2006

I'm happy to end this week with a wine that reaffirms my belief in the superiority of red wines over any other type of wine. Finally!

I should say that I'm relieved, more than happy, because I strayed this past week. I cheated and had affairs with a sample tray of Lancaster County (PA) brewed beers, multiple glasses of sangria, and a single glass of pinot grigio. Harlot! Before you judge me further by the amount of alcohol I've consumed this past week, I should explain that it's been my Birthday Week Extravaganza. Or Hell Week, if you're my husband. It's the annual celebration of all things 'Joy' and this year I managed to stretch the festivities out for a whole week. Over the course of this glorious week I didn't have any red wine and in fact, I believe I purposely sought out alternatives. My loyalty has been tested lately because I haven't quite found a favorite red wine that costs less than $10 through this blog or otherwise. I was starting to think I had expensive taste in red wine and couldn't be satisfied with cheap red wines. Luckily, I poured myself a glass of this Syrah tonight and realized all is right in my world. Tasty yet expensive red wines be damned. This one's a keeper.

According to the label, this wine hails from Chile's oldest wine house and this particular line was inspired by the legacy of one man's love for his wife Carmen. If my husband was ever inclined to create a wine in my honor, I imagine he wouldn't call it Joy, especially after this particular week. Unfortunately for him, I don't think he'd get too far marketing bottles with the names he'd come up with. Though who knows, a bottle labeled 'Obnoxious' is bound to catch the eye.

I had a very spicy bowl of chili before drinking this wine and was quite pleased with the effect. The label on the back of the bottle specifies that this Syrah pairs well with red meats, spicy foods, and strongly flavored cheeses. However, I think this wine does fine on its own. No need to pair it with other flavors. I imagine I'll have a glass of this wine to wind down after a long, hard day at work. It's very smooth and lacks the sharpness that most Syrahs I've tasted have.

I'm pleased to give this wine an 8.5 out of 10.

Wine.com, $8.29

*Interesting side note: If you ever find yourself in Lancaster, PA, please visit the Lancaster Brewery. They make damn good beer. Or is that just the sample tray talking?