If there's one season better than another for sipping the blood of the vine, we're in it. And this Merlot, dark and ready as a ripe black plum, has the added allure of having been produced just east of the Transylvania Alps. A clean nose of black cherry and herbs gives way to sparkly mouthfuls of white pepper and sticky prunes you can really sink your teeth into. (Recommended heads above Vampire's 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1999 Pinot Noir.) Found at Dorignac's, Langenstein's, select Sav-A-Center locations and The Wine Seller. -- Roahen

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