I've tried many good wines, more bad and some fantastic. What rare varietal

[LAUGHING MAGPIE]

or vintage or producer would you suggest? That would dazzle me.

[Jokickaz]

From Spain, I would suggest, a rioja. "La Rioja Alta". (one of my favorite "all purpose wines".)

Pinot Noirs from Oregon are exceptionally good. "Raptor Ridge "2004 is awesome and at about fifteen dollars a bottle is an great value.

Chardonnays..you still cannot beat a lot of the ones from California. I would go with a" Flowers", 2003 Sonoma Coast

Merlot. I know they are passe' with some wine snobs, but I still like the Sandhill 2001 Red Mountain.
Hope this helps. Salut!

[Zsoka]

This is a great resource for wine lovers. It not only explains the wines but rates them. http://www.epicurious.com/drinking/wine_dictionary/

I like Orvieto Classico myself. Cheers,

[loveholio]

i'm a cabernet fan so i can only suggest cabs. in no particular order...

1. 2001 or 2002 duckhorn cabernet
2. 2002 frog's leap cabernet
3. 2002 pine ridge cabernet
4. 2002 silverado cabernet
5. 2001 or 2002 stag's leap cabernet
6. 2001 artesa cabernet
7. 2001 robert mondavi reserve cabernet
8. 2001 opul one cabernet
9. 2002 caymus cabernet

[nathanyarnold]

A consistently great Pinot Noir producer coming out of California these days is Kosta Browne -- everything they make blows me away.

The best bottle I ever had though was a 1990 Chateauneuf-de-Pape from Margoux -- it was amazing.