Hernando Cortes Pinot Noir 2009 (about $12)

About the Wine:  2009 was an excellent year for California Pinot Noir so finding one at this price point could potentially be a great find.  Less encouraging is the fact that the front label list its origin as "California" which is a pretty big place and not at all specific in wine making terms.

About THIS Wine:  A pink rim surrounds a violet center.  The nose made me wince with strong, one could even say offensive aromas of forest floor.  Red fruit and sour cherry are prominent on a reasonably good palate but there is no finish to speak of.

Drinking This Wine:  This would go well with roast duck.  I generally expect a little more flavor and finish from a sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  I have had ten dollar bottles that were better.  This one is overpriced. 

Restivo Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (about $13)

About the Wine:  Argentina is know first, last, and always for its Malbec.  They also make excellent Cabernet Sauvignon but the terroir does not seem to give it anything all that distinctive so Argentinian Cab has yet to gain recognition.

About THIS Wine:  The center is reddish purple with a violet rim.  Cranberry dominates the nose and delivers on the palate.  The finish is fairly dry.

Drinking This Wine:  This is pretty standard steak wine.

Overall Impression:  There is nothing special here but you can do worse for thirteen dollars.  This one is reasonable for the price.

Orzada Carignan 2009 (about $20)

About the Wine:  Carignan is well known as . . . Just kidding, this one is pretty is obscure.  Carignan is a grape originally cultivated in France and used mostly for blending.  Like many other French reds it grows better in South America than it does in its mother country.

About THIS Wine:  The center is purple with a violet rim.  The nose is very floral with notes of violet and orange blossoms.  The palate is thick and velvety with a lot of orange and hints of green pepper.  The finish is pleasantly syrupy.

Drinking This Wine:  This Carignan is a little too overbearing for a sipping wine.  It would go well with meaty dishes like beef and noodles or steak.

Overall Impression:  It is expensive but worth it.  This Carignan is reasonable for the price.

Babor Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (about $10)

About the Wine:  South America is best known in the wine world for its bold, robust reds.  Malbec, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Carmenere, and Cabernet Sauvignon have all found good homes in the vineyards of Chile and Argentina.  Less known are South American whites, including Chilean Sauvignon Blanc.

About THIS Wine:  It is very light in the glass, almost clear.  Floral notes and hints of citrus make up an agreeable nose.  The palate is light for a Sauvignon Blanc, though there is enough sharp citrus present to clearly identify the varietal.  It finishes with light citrus.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a pleasant sipping wine for hot weather but it does have enough structure to be drinkable in the colder months.

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

Machmer Gewurztraminer 2010 (about $15)

About the Wine:  Gewurztraminer can be sweet, dry, or medium depending on how late it is harvested.  Spatlese wines are almost invariably on the sweeter side.

About THIS Wine:  It is hay colored in the glass with a clear rim.  Lemon is strong on the nose with prominent mineral notes.  Sweet citrus defines a slightly acidic palate that fades into a mild orange finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a good patio pounder for anyone who likes something sweet.

Overall Impression:  This is a good wine but fifteen dollars is a bit steep for a simple, sweet wine.  This one is good, but overpriced.

Esperto Pinot Grigio 2010 (about $12)

About the Wine:  I have written about Pinot Grigio several times before.  It is the biggest seller among dry wines in the summer, being lighter and easier drinking that Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.

About THIS Wine:  Esperto is straw colored with a clear rim.  Acidic citrus is prominent on the nose with hints of musk.  Lemon and orange flavors are present on a moderately acidic palate and the citrus flavors linger in the finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a little too acidic for a sipping wine.  It would be good with a fruit platter.

Overall Impression:  The wine is cheap and it is a good representation of Pinot Grigio.  It is reasonable for the price.

Columbia Crest H3 Merlot 2009 (about $14)

About the Wine:  Columbia Crest is one of the largest and best known producers in Washington State.  They make several low end productions that have sapped the prestige of the brand but in the wine world it is crucial not to judge any product until its been tasted (except White Zinfandel.)

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is opaque with a dark purple rim.  Vanilla and jammy blueberry are prominent on the nose and those flavors deliver on the palate, which is thick and heavy.  Blueberry and spice linger on the finish.

Drinking This Wine:  It is a bit heavy for a sipper.  Lamb would pair well with it.

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