Forty-Six Diamonds at Fleming's

Fleming's Steakhouse & Wine Bar on Park Plaza is noteworthy for more than juicy prime ribs. It features an award-winning collection of 100 wines by the glass – the aptly named "Flemings 100"—acknowledging our preferences to sample many wines before, or rather than, committing to one (expensive) bottle. National wine director Mariam Jansen complements this by also having a dynamic wine flight tasting program and an overall impressive wine list, which keeps getting improved as no self-respecting restaurant should sit on its laurels.

Last month, Fleming's introduced its newest private label wine (its first was in 2007) – Forty-Six Diamonds Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley, 2008. It is now available at each of its 64 restaurants across the country. Marian Jansen partnered with famed California winemaker Walter Schug and his son Axel of Schug Winery to bottle this handcrafted boutique wine, which is made from grapes sourced from four premium Sonoma vineyards.

On the website, Marian describes this wine as "big and polished with dark cassis, plum, blueberry and black currant flavors, fine tannins and a long, smooth finish". In other words, classic food-friendly Cabernet.

To craft the label for Forty-Six Diamonds, the restaurant commissioned Thomas Arvid, artist and wine aficionado whose wine-themed paintings grace the walls at Fleming's and who assisted in blending the wine.

So they've truly embraced the concept of the art of wine. The taste remains for you to judge.

Forty-Six Diamonds is not part of the by-the-glass selection, though. It's only available by the bottle for $76, which is a reasonable price for a premium Sonoma Cabernet. And since December is gift-giving time, it's a perfect opportunity to splurge on a cool wine experience.