Given to me personally by none other than the legendary Board-O at the now infamous June 15 dinner. "Grab-Bag Special"--please hold your applause.

15.1% Alc. Price approx. $25 (free for me). A field blend, mostly zin, with a mix of petite sirah and carignane. Full bodied, dark with very thick legs. Aromas of baked cherry pie and spice. Massive amounts of fruit on the attack--ripe plum, bramble fruit, and raisin. Oozing with jammy flavors and an almost tawny port-like flavors of caramel and spice. Long, complex, delicious finish. The wine's high alcohol is completely hidden by copius amounts of layered fruit. Tannins have softened a bit, but this wine could go at least 5 more years, given the massive amounts of fruit available. No good reason to wait though, this wine is drinking its best right now.

Probably unavailable in stores at this point, for $25, this wine defines QPR. 92 points.

Thank you very much for the generous offering, Board-O.

When I thought of having a grab bag exchange for June 15, I knew this was the wine I wanted to bring. I think I paid $22 and change for it. I'm glad you liked it as I much as I do. Just think, one week from now we'll be having dinner (well, maybe finished by this time).

We had a bottle of this tonight. It hasn't lost a thing, but there's no reason to hold it. If you ever have a chance to get a Marietta Angelie Cuvee, ANY VINTAGE, do yourself a favor and grab it.