Wherein I get back on the STBNY horse with some robust reds from Michel Chapoutier.

This is one of the most enjoyable wines I’ve had all summer. And I’d say that even if it weren’t $14.99, a darn good price for a wine with this much personality.

We’re back from our weekend in the Finger Lakes, and I’m pulling together my pictures, videos, and thoughts, many of which I’ll be sharing in the coming days. Here are a few first impressions.

When a friend suggested I write more about wine labels on STBNY, I immediately thought of Michel Chapoutier. What sets Chapoutier’s labels apart is not their look (elegant fonts, neutral colors, classic crests) but their feel.

My dear friend Gary was clearing out his boss’ office and came across a bottle of wine. Would I, he wanted to know, be interested in trying it? You bet I would.

Believe it or not, I do get sick of wine. My palate goes numb and I wonder if it’s all just a waste of time and money — at the end of day, it’s just fermented grape juice. And then. Then I taste a wine that reminds me why I fell in love with wine.

My first installment of Behind the Label, wherein I discuss wine labels, the story behind them, and what they can tell you about the juice inside the bottle.

As some of you may already know, I’m housebound thanks to a fractured foot. The bad news is, I’m on crutches for another week and in one of those damn boots for a month. But the good news is, I’ve had more time to catch up some recent wine news to share with all of you.

We’re living in the golden age of wine — never has so much good wine, from so many regions, been accessible to so many of us — but we do pay a price for that choice.

Happy 2010! Here are my wine resolutions for the year — and my hopes for the world of wine over the next 12 months.