My wine pick this week is a big, bold pinot noir which we enjoyed on one of the chillier days last week. I'm ready for fall reds, which is when I usually pour myself pinot noirs and shirazes and the occasional malbec.

Pinot noir to me screams bold comfort, and the 2007 Cartlidge & Browne Pinot Noir is no exception. This rich and ever so wonderfully dry red came on the recommendation of John Nehring at G. Groppi's food market, and while the label recommends pairing it with grilled lamb or salmon (both of which would have been great with it), it did wonders with a homemade pasta and meatballs dinner as well.

The Cartlidge & Brown hails from Napa, Calif., and is described by the bottler as "redolent of plum and berry with notes of Asian spice and anise."

This one is striking enough I may consider pairing the next bottle against a Delmonico rib eye.

Happy sipping!