Wine Of The Week

2001 Napa Ridge Coastal Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi ($10). This Napa Ridge wine isn't from Napa - or anywhere close to California's most famous wine region - but it is, nevertheless, a solid value in red wine. It's a medium-bodied wine with intense black-cherry flavor, a bit of spiciness and soft texture. The Lodi region of California's Central Valley has been emerging as a good source of affordable varietal wines - not simply the jug wines it was known for in the past. This affordable, true-to-type cabernet is a good example of its potential. Serve with red meat, roast chicken or pasta dishes.