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.

Warwick Valley Winery Cabernet Franc 2010 (about $15)

About the Wine:  Cabernet Franc is a relative of Cabernet Sauvignon.  Sauvignon transaltes as "savage" and Franc translates as "noble."  Cab Franc is more refined than its cousin, though the former is also more difficult and expensive to grow.  For that reason Cab Franc is most often used as a blending grape rather than as the primary ingredient.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is ruby red with a pink rim.  Sour cherry and fig define a nose that I found frankly unpleasant.  The fig delivers on a rich palate that ends.  There's no finish to speak of.  The palate just ends.

Drinking This Wine:  The lack of a finish makes food pairing difficult.  Red meat, I suppose.

Overall Impression:  This would be okay as a ten dollar bottle mostly because I don't expect much of a finish or any complexity at that price.  At fifteen it is badly overpriced.

Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (about $12)

About the Wine:  Rothschild is one of the most prestigious wine makers in the world, with labels from France, Spain, and North and South America.  As is often the case with good makers, Rothschild makes many different brands and has underbrands that can be purchased on a hipster budget.  Los Vascos is the Rothschild version of an inexpensive South American Cabernet Sauvignon.

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark purple with a blood red rim.  Oak and cassis are prominent on the nose and those flavors deliver on a fairly tannic palate that ends in a dry finish with light spice.

Drinking This Wine:  Not bad for a dark sipping wine.  This would also work with pork steak or burgers.  It is important to let it breath for at least half an hour and preferably an hour after opening.

Overall Impression:  The wine is cheap, versatile, and tasty.  At twelve dollars a bottle it is a good value.

Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (about $16)

About the Wine:  Charles Krug is a member of the Mondavi family who started his own line of products.  Whether his products do any credit to that name depends on who you ask and what Robert Mondavi products you've had.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is very light yellow with a clear rim.  Light lemon is present on a weak palate that leads into a fairly pleasant tropical fruit finish.

Drinking This Wine:  It would be good with seasoned whitefish.  There is not really enough flavor on the palate for a sipper.

Overall Impression:  I can find better wines for ten bucks.  This wine is not bad, but is badly overpriced.

Terra d'Oro Zinfandel 2009 (about $14)

About the Wine:  I reviewed the previous vintage of Terra d'Oro Zinfandel several months ago and enjoyed it thoroughly.  Changes in vintage can mean anything from glorious improvement to disastrous decline, depending on any number of factors.

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark red and fades to a pink center, significantly lighter than the previous vintage.  Plum, oak, smoke, and spice are present in the nose.  Sadly, this wine smells better than it tastes.  Red berry is prominent on the palate but contends with fairly sharp tannins.  The palate ends with a nice cherry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a bit too tannic for a sipping wine.  It would go well with barbecue.

Overall Impression:  The wine is not bad but neither is it great.  At fourteen dollars a bottle it is reasonable for the price.