Wine of the week: Red blend

It's not easy to find really tasty, inexpensive California varietals, but there are some dandy blends at friendly price points. Among the best is the Masked Rider "Gunsmoke Red," which has a lot of cabernet sauvignon and petite sirah and a little bit of merlot and cabernet franc. It's got a thick but smooth mouth feel and layer after layer of dark fruit and wild herbs. At the dinner table, it's a meat lover's delight.