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.