"One lonely night I slid beside a pretty strawberry blond at the bar. 'A glass of house red' I ordered, wanting her to think more intellectual than brut. On her other side, a guy like me...'give me something BIG' he says, 'I want a red that's smooth and in-charge.' 'I'll have one of those, too,' she smiles in his direction.

There are moments in life when brawn outshines brains ... "Heavyweight Red." Thus reads the back label on this week's Wine of the Week from Music of the Vine. We didn't think we could say it any better than that so we quoted it verbatim. It's definitely a knockout! The nose is big and brambly with aromas of black raspberry, Marion berry, milk chocolate and hints of vanilla and baking spices. The palate is dominated by rich, fruit flavors of blackberries, currants, and raspberries and accented nicely with black licorice and soft oak. The finish is lengthy and pleasant with jammy fruit flavors evident.

The fact that this wine could be considered a "fruit bomb" is a little surprising since it is composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Syrah and 10% Zinfandel.

Due to its big fruit flavors, it is perfect to drink by itself. Trust us, though, it is a knockout combination paired with steaks, cheeseburgers, pizza or stews. When you combine the quality of the 2005 Heavyweight Red with its affordable price tag, you have a new undisputed champion! Music of the Vine asks that you enjoy wine responsibly and never drink and drive.

- Music of the Vine is located at 2805 Blaine St. (in the Willows complex across from Dennis Dillon). Call 454-1228 or visit from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and noon-11 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday. Online: www.musicofthevine.com. Any wine tips, reviews, etc. that you would like to share? E-mail 3g@idahopress.com.