Felino Malbec 2011 (about $19)

About the Wine:  Some vineyards prefer to release their reds young to give them a distinctive style and taste.  This Malbec is an example of that.

About THIS Wine:  The center is purple with a pink rim.  Cranberry, plum, and hints of green pepper are all present in a fairly mild nose.  Some red fruit is present on the palate but tannins dominate both the palate and finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is too tannic for a sipping wine.  Heavy meats are the only thing I can think of that might work.

Overall Impression:  Felino is simple and overly tannic.  I have had ten dollars wines that were more pleasant and had more complexity.  This wine is badly overpriced.

Bodega La Flor Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (about $15)

About the Wine:  When I looked at the vintage on this Cab I said, "If this was any younger we could be charged with statutory rape."  The representative from the vineyard assured me that this is part of the vineyard's distinctive style.

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark red with a pink rim.  Jammy, velvety dark fruit and oak combine with hints of green pepper for a very rich and pleasant nose and those flavors deliver on a palate that ends in a spicy, jammy finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Drinking this gave me an urge to eat a nice, juicy steak.

Overall Impression:  To taste this wine I would have guessed the price closer to twenty dollars than fifteen and that makes it a good value.

Pulenta Pinot Gris 2011 (about $15)

About the Wine:  Pinot Gris is made from the same grape as Pinot Grigio but it is grown and produced in a French style.  Pinot Gris is generally more bold and fruit forward than its Italian cousin.  This Pinot Gris hails from Argentina.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is hay colored with no distinct rim.  Melon, citrus, and honey are common to the nose of Pinot Gris and are present here.  Hints of sea breeze are also present.  The palate is fairly sharp with flavors of slightly tart pineapple leading into a green apple finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are usually too acidic to have without food and this one is no exception.  It would go well with cheese and fruit.

Overall Impression:  I have not seen a better Pinot Gris for less, so I have to say this one is good for the price.

Soplo Tinto 2009 (about $10)

About the Wine: One of the curious aspects of working in the wine business is that you can try a wine, love it, and then forget about among the dozens of other wines you might try in a given month.  I tried Soplo near the beginning of my time in the wine business, liked it, and promptly forgot the details.  This made for some awkward sales pitches.  "This wine is great.  It's either light and fruity, or thick, tannic, and oaky.  I forget which."  Fortunately, I just retasted it.

About THIS Wine:  The center is purple with a red rim.  Raspberry, cinnamon, and plum make up a rich and pleasant nose.  The palate is disappointing because the nose is so good.  The palate is thick, jammy, and dry with no finish to speak of.

Drinking This Wine:  Soplo would go well with hearty stew or rice dishes.  It could also work as a casual sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  It's not spectacular but it is only ten bucks.  Soplo is good for the price.

90+ Chardonnay 2010 (about $11)

About the Wine:  90+ is a concept wine based on the following premise: many wine critics use a one hundred point scale to rate wines.  Anything over ninety points is considered very good or excellent.  90+ buys overstock of wines rated ninety or higher and repackages it to sell cheaply.  They have a confidentiality agreement with the original makers so no one will know that the same wines can be purchased for less.  The upside is that it makes for a good value wine.  The downside is that the wines come from different makers so there is no consistency in style from one varietal to the next.  This is not so bad, as many winemakers make one varietal very well and fail miserably at others.

About THIS Wine:  The color is a golden yellow with no rim.  This means that the wine is either heavily oaked or it is Madeirized.  The vintage and the fact that it is from California indicate the former.  Oak, melon, honey, and citrus make up a pleasant and complex nose.  The palate is creamy and buttery with strong notes of apricot leading into a creamy citrus finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a pretty classic California Chard and as such would do well with lobster or roasted chicken.  It would also make a decent sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  This wine could easily go for fifteen dollars a bottle, and probably does under another label.  It is a good value.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Red Blend 2010 (about $18)

About the Wine:  Indian Wells is the new line from Chateau Ste. Michelle which, I am told, is somehow different than all the other lines from that portfolio.

About THIS Wine:  The center is purple with a red rim.  Blackberry, cooking spice, and raspberry make up a thick, rich nose.  The palate is dry, fruity, and tannic.  Dry red fruit lingers in the finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Probably not a sipping wine.  This would do well with juicy meat or pasta dishes.

Overall Impression:  This is a very good wine.  Eighteen dollars is not cheap but the wine is worth it.  This one is reasonable for the price.

Cooper Hill Pinot Noir 2010 (about $14)

About the Wine:  Oregon is basically the hot spot for Pinot Noir right now.  Producers there have developed a reputation for rich, full bodied Pinot Noirs that drink almost like Cabs.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it very light, almost pink, with a pink rim.  Smoke dominates the nose though cherry is also present.  The palate is very light with dry cherry and raspberry and a mild finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This would go very well with turkey.  It might make a good sipping wine if you can past the taste.

Overall Impression:  This is a very unimpressive wine.  At ten dollars a bottle it would be fair.  At fourteen it is overpriced.

Lamberti Rose no vintage on bottle (about $13)

About the Wine:  This is dry rose of Prosecco, the sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir.  It is a wine store employee's nightmare as it necessitates convincing customers that wine can be pink and bubbly without being sweet.

About THIS Wine:  The color is a uniform pink with no rim. The smell reminded me of nothing so much as strawberry lemonade without the sugar.  That flavor delivers on the palate with crisp acidity and a dry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Any breaded fish would go well with this.  It is too dry for a sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  Unique, pleasant, and reasonable price.  This wine is good for the price.

Fonds De Pericots Bordeaux 2010 (about $10)

About the Wine:  Discussions with wine enthusiasts about brands like Barefoot and Yellow Tail will often elicit a lot of vitriol.  These and other mass market brands, many claim, have served to ruin the wine market and create a breed of wine drinker who lack any of the sophistication and curiosity once associated with the beverage.  There is undoubtedly some truth to these claims.  It is also true that the emergence of these inexpensive brands has upped the ante for cheap wine. Makers of wine in the ten and under range now face a much more competitive market than they once did, leading to the development of some surprising gems.  Whether this Bordeaux is one of them remains to be seen.

About THIS Wine:  The center is purple with a violet rim, fairly standard coloration for a Red Bordeaux.  Smoke and oak dominate the nose with hints of mocha.  The palate is smooth and dry with no finish to speak of.

Drinking This Wine:  It is a little too dry for a sipping wine.  It would go well with burgers or tacos.

Overall Impression:  This wine is fairly pleasant and easy to drink.  For ten bucks that makes it reasonable for the price.

Golan Sion Creek Red 2011 (about $11)

About the Wine:  This is blend of Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Sangiovese.  Sangiovese is the primary grape in Chianti.  Gamay is a relatively obscure grape used to make Beaujolais wines and is sometimes mistaken for (or passed off as) Pinot Noir.  It is grown in the Golan Heights of Israel

About THIS Wine:  This wine is light red in the glass with a pink rim, about the color of most Pinot Noirs.  The nose is all Gamay, very rich with a lot of spice and plum.  Red fruit and spice make up a heavy palate with a lingering plum finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This would be a good sipping wine.  Strangely, the best food pairing I can think of for this kosher wine is honey baked ham.  It would also work with chicken or turkey.

Overall Impression: I am very partial to Gamay so it is difficult to be objective on this one.  This one is not significantly better than other Gamay-based wines I have had in the same price range, so I will say that this is reasonable for the price.

Yarden Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (about $11)

About the Wine:  Sauvignon Blanc has its origins in France and is also grown in Spain, California, Australia, Chile, and New Zealand.  Yarden is an Israeli winery that has decided to give it a whirl.  Most of Israel is too hot for wine grapes to grow but some of the mountain regions are suitable for it.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is very light, almost clear.  The nose is very floral with hints of nectar.  The palate is acidic with lots of citrus and lemon that lingers in the finish.  In many ways it strikes me as a more potent Pinot Grigio.  I suspect this is a result of the Mediterranean Terroir.

Drinking This Wine:  Could work as a sipping wine and would go very well with herb chicken.

Overall Impression:  This is a pleasant and accessible Sauvignon Blanc at a very reasonable price.  This one is a good value.

Cusumano Nero d'Avola 2010 (about $10)

About the Wine:  Nero d'Avola is a relatively obscure grape grown in Sicily that produces a hearty, tannic red.  I first tasted Cusumano at a grand tasting in Manhattan a few months and was very impressed with it at that time.  I did not write about it at that time because roughly two thousand other alcoholic beverages were featured as well and it was just too much too take notes and write about all of them, and also because I was in no condition to write my own name by the end of the tasting.

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark red with a pink rim.  Red fruit, tomato, and spice combine for a nose that reminds me of pasta sauce.  The palate is thick and tannic with hints of tomato and raspberry.  This is not a sweet wine, but their are hints of sweetness on the palate.  The finish is spicy and lingering.  Tannins are prominent throughout.

Drinking This Wine:  This is much too tannic for a sipping wine.  I tried drinking it with a meal of spicy sausage.  The spicy wine paired with the spicy meat was a bad a choice as "Sweatin' like a whore in church," does not nearly cover what I was doing by the end of the meal.  Milder meats or pasta with red sauce would make a good pairing.

Overall Impression:  Not the best wine I have ever had but still rich, complex, and full bodied.  At ten dollars a bottle this is a good value.

Alba Rossa Primitivo 2009 (about $13)

About the Wine:  At my first wine seminar I learned that there are something like four thousand wine varietals cultivated in Italy.  Around two thousand of those are clones of wines produced in Italy or elsewhere.  Apparently many Italians want their wine to be different from every other wine, even if it isn't.  Primitivo is a red that greatly resembles Zinfandel.  Whether it is an actual clone or just a wine with similar characteristics is beyond my qualifications to determine.

About THIS Wine:  The color is blood red with no distinct rim.  Tart raspberry, earth, and forest floor make up a fairly heavy nose.  Raspberry is very prominent on the palate along with spice and hints of black coffee.  Those flavors linger in a long finish.

Drinking This Wine:  The intensity and lingering finish make this good as a sipping wine.  It would also do well with pasta and meaty red sauce and other rich, meaty dishes.

Overall Impression:  Drinks like a twenty dollar bottle.  If anyone knew what Primitivo is then this wine would retail for more than it does.  At thirteen dollars this wine is a steal.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling 2010 (about $17)

About the Wine:  The Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York is probably the best wine growing region in the state and Dr. Konstantin Frank is one of the better producers from the Finger Lakes.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is clear with no rim.  Citrus, melon, and grapefruit make up a fruity and pleasant nose.  Those flavors deliver nicely in a very dry and crisp palate that lingers in a pleasant finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This would do very well with seafood pasta.  It has a little too much acidity for a sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  This wine is not for everyone.  It is crisp, acidic, and blunt in its flavors.  This does not mean that it is bad, it just means that it is very particular.  For anyone looking for that style of wine this is reasonable for the price.

Bollini Pinot Grigio 2010 (about $13)

About the Wine:  There is not much I can write about Pinot Grigio that I have not already written.  To recap, it is a dry white that is lighter than Chardonnay and not as sharp as Sauvignon.  The ease of drinking and the fact that it is usually served chilled makes it the classic summer white.

About THIS Wine:  It is very light yellow in the glass without any distinct rim.  The smell made me wince as I poured it.  The wine buyer where I worked said it smelled like duck liver.  I have not recently gutted any ducks, so I will have to take his word on that.  Acidity overwhelmed the palate for me.  The wine buyer said he did not taste much acidity but that he did not taste anything else either.  Whether the palate is very acidic or I got nothing else because there was nothing else is, I suppose, a question for the ages.  Fairly pleasant citrus made for a surprising finish.

Drinking This Wine:  If you must drink this wine then have it with soft cheese or something else that can absorb the acidity.

Overall Impression:  I misplaced my tasting notes and for most wines that means I would not write a review until I had a chance to retaste.  Bollini Pinot Grigio is not most wines.  The awfulness of it left a deep impression that will take some time to erase.  This is cooking wine and as such is horribly overpriced.

Allegri Moscato Frizzante no vintage on bottle (about $10)

About the Wine:  Frizzante is a designation for wine that have some carbonation but do not bubble as much as Champagne or Spumante.  The designation usually applies to Moscato.

About THIS Wine:  Clear in the glass with no rim.  Sweet peach dominates the nose, as is typical for a Moscato.  More sweet peach makes up the palate, which ends in a tart finish.  This wine is definitely sweet but not nearly as sweet as most Moscatos I've had.

Drinking This Wine:  Definitely a patio pounder, though it might work with spicy Thai food.

Overall Impression:  I tasted Allegri a few months back and promptly forgot all about it until the store where I work opened a bottle for a tasting.  This wine is generally unimpressive but not unpleasant.  At ten dollars it is reasonable for the price.

Toad Hollow Dry Rose of Pinot Noir 2011 (about $12)

About the Wine:  Pinot Noir is the lightest of the red noble grapes and easily the most versatile, being one of the few reds that pairs well with white meat.  One of the distinguishing features of Pinot Noir is its lighter color.  The wine is so light that it can be mistaken for a blush.  A blush made from Pinot Noir is bound to be interesting.

About THIS Wine:  The center is bright pink and the rim is clear.  Roses and red fruit make up a crisp and pleasant nose.  Raspberry, strawberry, and tart dark fruit form a pleasantly complex palate with a dry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Too light for red meat and too heavy for unseasoned white meat.  Enjoy with spicy chicken or ham.

Overall Impression:  The wine is pleasant and the price is low.  This one is good for the price.

Barone Fini Merlot 2009 (about $10)

About the Wine:  Italy is best know for its indigenous grapes and blends, such as Chianti, Barbera, Pinot Grigio, and Moscato.  They do also produce varietals more commonly associated with France and California, including Merlot.

About THIS Wine:  The center is red and fades to a pink rim.  Plum, blueberry, and prune make up a dark fruit nose and those flavors deliver on the palate, which fades into a mild fruit finish.

Drinking This Wine:  I was in the middle of a lunch of pepperoni Hot Pockets when the wine buyer of the store where I work gave this to me to try.  The pairing was a good one.  This wine would drink well with pizza, lasagna, or any other heavy cheese and sauce dish.

Overall Impression:  I was a little skeptical of Italian Merlot, but this wine is excellent and the price is amazing.  This Merlot with an Italian accent is a great value.

Gabo Do Xil Godello 2011 (about $15)

About the Wine:  I have no prior experience of Godello but reading the first few entries of a Google search taught me that it is a dry white from Spain that is often used in the making of Sherry, a fortified wine first produced in Spain.  The first wine that I really liked when I got into the business was Tempranillo, so I have an affinity for Spanish wines in general.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is a very light yellow with a clear rim, similar to a Pinot Grigio.  Citrus and Peach make up a fairly pleasant nose.  The palate is sharply acidic, so much so that it is difficult to make out any flavor.

Drinking This Wine:  No idea.  Maybe Colby cheese would moderate the acidity.

Overall Impression: I love Spanish wine, but not this wine.  This wine combines the unpleasant sharpness of some Sauvignon Blancs with the blandness of some Pinot Grigios for a truly unpleasant drinking experience.  This one is not worth it at any price.

San Felice Chianti Classico 2009 (about $17)

About the Wine:  Chianti is probably the best known of the Italian reds.  Mild, dry, and easy drinking, it is a standard compliment to tomato dishes, especially pasta dishes.  Chianti Classico is Chianti from the heart of the Chianti region, which Wikipedia assures me is in Tuscany.

About THIS Wine:  The wine is fairly light with a red center and a clear rim.  Green pepper, grass, and other verdant things make up a nose I would not normally associate with Chianti.  Rich, full red fruits with hints of clove make up a very nice palate with a finish of green pepper and spice.

Drinking This Wine:  This works well as a sipping wine.  It would also go well with pasta in red sauce or red meat dishes with sauce.

Overall Impression:  This is a very pleasant drinking experience.  It is reasonable for the price.

Matchbook Chardonnay 2010 (about $15)

About the Wine:  Two things immediately come to mind when I think of California wines.  The first is bold, lush, delicious Cabernet Sauvignon.  The second is undrinkable Chardonnay.  The impact of California Chardonnay on the domestic market is such that when I worked at a New York winery the first thing we said about our Chardonnay was how it was nothing like the Chardonnays that come out of California.

About THIS Wine:  The wine is hay colored with no distinct rim, about the right color for an oaked Chardonnay.  Jasmine is prominent on the nose, reminiscent of a Washington Dry Riesling.  Layers of apricot, honey, citrus and orange make up a remarkably complex and pleasant palate that fades into a lemon finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is very nice as a summer sipping wine.  It would also go very well with honey roasted chicken, lemon chicken, or lobster.

Overall Impression:  This wine is a pleasant surprise and drinks like a twenty-five dollar bottle.  It is a great value.

Oops Cabernet Franc Carmere (about $13)

About the Wine:  The Oops line focuses on Carmenere and on Carmenere based blends.  Carmenere is closely related to Merlot and has a similar flavor profile.  The French stopped producing this grape and the South Americans started producing it thinking that it was Merlot.  The story is covered in more detail on the label of every Oops bottle including, for some reason, the unblended Sauvignon Blanc.

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark red and fades to a pink rim.  Velvety red fruit defines the nose and is complimented by hints of green pepper.  The palate is very heavy and tannic, reminiscent of a lot of South African reds.  The green pepper notes are a staple of South African red wine but are also fairly common in wines where the stems are left on the grapes during processing.  Destemming makes a smoother wine but also one with less character.

Drinking This Wine:  This would be good with heavily seasoned meats dishes.  Beef tacos is what comes to mind.

Overall Impression:  I like the wine quite a bit and I like the price more.  This one is good for the price.