World Wine Groups Says...

Since Merlot took a back seat to Cabernet after 2004's Sideways, wine drinkers everywhere have been looking for bold red wines that are different than Cabernet.  Zinfandel is best bet for bold red wine drinkers.  Often times confused with White Zinfandel (a table wine, jug wine or boxed wine sold at convenience stores) a good red Zinfandel will satisfy any experienced wine drinker’s palette and make fans out of novices.

Bottles You Can Buy

Cline 2005 Sonoma Zinfandel - Red Wine
Kenwood 2003 Sonoma Zinfandel Reserve - Red Wine
Kenwood 2005 Sonoma Zinfandel - Red Wine

Food Pairings

Zinfandel pairs like a traditional bold red wine: grilled steak, lamb, gorgonzola cheese, and dark chocolate. 
Also pair well with rich, creamy pastas, grilled or rotisserie chicken, and baked Italian dishes like lasagna and canelloni. 

About the Wine

Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California wine vineyards.^[1] DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in the 'heel' of Italy (Puglia).

Sonoma county has the second-largest Zinfandel-producing land area after San Joaquin.^[40] The county contains the warm Dry Creek Valley AVA, known for its juicy Zinfandel with bright fruit, balanced acidity and notes of blackberry, anise and pepper.^[4][38] Dry Creek Valley produces Zinfandels in a variety of styles ranging from the high-alcohol Amador style to balanced spicy wines.

Read More here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinfandel

World Wine Groups says...

Why not give it a try...if for no other reason than it is fun to say.

Bottles you can buy

Chapoutier 2005 La Bernardine Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Rhone Blends Red Wine

Chateau La Ner2003 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee des Cadettes - Rhone Blends Red Wine

Domaine du Vieux Lazaret 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Exceptionelle - Rhone Blends Red Wine

Food Pairings

Grilled meats, game, roasts, sausages, lamb, spicier cuisine

About the Wine

The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône river valley and produces numerous wines under various Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) designations. The region's major appellation in terms of production volume is Côtes du Rhône AOC. The region is generally divided into two sub-regions with distinct vinicultural traditions, the Northern Rhône (referred to in French as Rhône septentrienal) and the Southern Rhône (in French Rhône méridional). The northern sub-region produces red wines from the Syrah grape, sometimes blended with white wine grapes, and white wines from Viognier grapes. The southern sub-region produces an array of red, white and rosé wines, often blends of several grapes such as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an AOC for wine made near the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône wine region in southeastern France. It is the most renowned appellation of the southern part of the Rhône Valley. Vineyards are located around Châteauneuf-du-Pape and in the neighboring villages Bédarrides, Courthézon and Sorgues between Avignon and Orange and covers slightly more than 3 200 hectares or 7,900 acres. Over 110,000 hectolitres of wine a year is produced here.^[1] More wine is made in this one area of southern Rhône then in the entirety of the northern Rhône region.^[2]

Read more here: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teauneuf-du-Pape_AOC