Wine pick of the week
The Koonunga Hill lineup from Penfolds, line-priced at $12, offers excellent value and flavor across the board. All of their newest releases - a 2006 Chardonnay, 2005 Shiraz, 2005 Shiraz-Cabernet, 2005 Merlot and 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - are recommended. But even in such a consistently excellent group the shiraz always seems to be the standout. Loaded with honest fruit flavors of blueberry, boysenberry, pepper and baking spice, this checks in at a moderate 13.5 percent alcohol. (Distributed by Noble).Paul Gregutt, special to the Seattle Times