As we celebrate the new year of 2008, we reflect on some of the best of our wine experiences from the year 2007. One of these was the Merlot from Concha y Toro under their Marques de Casa Concha label that we enjoyed so much at the steak cookout at the lake last October. And now in 2008, Wine Spectator has made the Syrah from this label the wine of the week in their "Sips & Tips" section for the first week of the new year.

The 2005 Concha y Toro Syrah Peumo Marques de Casa Concha is scored a 90.

The description is as follows, "Dark and plush with espresso, fig paste and plum sauce notes pushed by mocha and dark licorice on the finish. Rich smoky finish shows fine-grained tannins and the density for moderate cellaring."

The wine has just arrived in the Atlanta market and is available at our store. I love a good Syrah and find it to be a great companion for any hearty meat dish -- and in the cold weather, it would be best with Beef Burgoyne or Hunter's Stew.

World Beverage
6190 Highway 400
Cumming, GA 30040
678-513-6284