I was on vacation last week - took a cruise with my family.  I brought a couple bottles of wine with me to try out.  The first was the IO Syrah which we had on sale a few weeks ago.  I'm not even sure if any is left.  Anyway, the wine was excellent for under $20.00.  It was soft with some nice fruit.  Not a lot of tannins here, so you big Cabernet drinkers may want to look elsewhere.  If you are looking for something soft and elegent, this would be for you.  I think there was a little Grenache and Mouvedre blended into it.  The IO is from California.

I then had the Chateau Coutet Sauternes.  Sauternes is a French dessert wine from the Sauternais region of Graves in Bordeaux.  It is made with Semillon, Sauvignon blanc and Muscadelle grapes that have been affected by what is called noble rot.  This causes the grapes to partially raisin.  Anyway, this wine was wonderful and paired great with both chocolate and fruit.  We bought this on a closeout a while ago, and at $29.99, this is an unbelievable steal.  I would imagine that a 750ml of Sauternes like this should be well over $50.00.

If anyone has any comments, please leave them.  I am now back in town and on vacation from my vacation - if you have kids (and I have 3), you know what I mean.