Entertaining evening

The downside to entertaining is all the leg work that goes into getting ready for guests.

The upside is the host/hostess gifts -- especially when that gift is wine.

My wife and I hosted two other couples from church for a nice, leisurely dinner. The wine flowed, and it was good.

We started with a Baron Herzog 2005 Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon ($13, Trader Joe's). This medium bodied Cab Sav was smooth, with a bouquet most defined by blackberry that paired nicely with cheese appetizers. Bottled along California's central coast, the wine is lightly filtered, meaning some sediment might find its way into the bottle. The upside, the wine will continue to mature with age.

Next we opened another Trader Joe's Cab Sav from California. The 2006 Bear's Lair was slightly more tannic (read "pucker power") with more oakey tones. The fruit flavors of this more full-bodied wine ($8-$10) hints a blueberry, blackberry, cherry and plum. It was a great match with the pork tenderloin dinner course, and at the price, would be a great gift offering. It makes more than a $10 impression!

Finally, we opened a 2006 Chianti from Melini, a noted Tuscan winemaker since the early 18th century. Certainly the most full-bodied of the night's three wines, this wine exemplifies the Chianti variety, with a peppery bouquet and a smooth, soft finish. Highly recommended for those who prefer a hearty wine.

In all, it was a great evening and a great chance to expand my wine selection.