Location: Midway Mini-Mart (unsuspecting red Conoco Station halfway to Whitefish on U.S. 93 North)
Owner: Dan Scheffer, ordinary guy with a loud voice
Physical Coordinates: Middle of the store next to soda machine
Appearance: Stacks of great wine
Target Wine: D’Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz/Viognier 2005
Parker score: 93 points
Suggested retail: $40
Mini Mart Price: $19.99
Many scores are bogus politics. But his wine deserves every point of this accolade.
Wine writers use terms like “flamboyant” and “sexy,” “opulent” and “voluptuous.” You get the picture. It’s like a wine with the proportions of a Barbie Doll. Open this wine an hour before your going to drink it. Apply liberally with full flavored meats.