Flichman Malbec Reserva 2007

This may be an obsession of mine, but, once more, this Argentine red from the Mendoza district has to be allowed to breathe. Once it has, it yields a nice blend of plum, dark berries and, in the Malbec tradition, chocolate. $8.99.

Redcliffe Sauvignon Blanc 2008

This New Zealand white from the Marlborough valley has a light nose but then comes on with a nice blend of citrus (a lot of grapefruit) and melon and just a hint of the lemon grass so characteristic of the region. Not a bad buy at the sale price of $7.99. It also comes in magnums, and if those go on sale, stock up.

Chapel Hill Angelica 2007

This Australian white, from a Swiss owned vinery, is made from the Verdelho grape, generally associated with Portugal. It is a nice blend of citrus and melon flavors with a good nose and a decent finish. At the sale price of $6.99 it is something of a bargain.

Green Point Cabernet Shiraz 2004

Australian Cabernet/Shiraz blends are meant to produce a wine that, while fruity, is not overwhelmed by tannins, which many wines from South Australia are. This exemplar tastes of plum and black berries, with more than a hint of pepper, but has a rather weak finish. Drinkable, but no great bargain at $8.99.

Mastroberardino Radici Fiano di Avellino 2006

This Italian white from Campania, near Rome, is an expensive wine, being remaindered at $6.99. The reason is clearly that it's somewhat over the hill. The mixed pome flavors, along with an element of nuts, still come through, but rather faintly. Still, if you're looking for a decent everyday aperitif wine you could do a lot worse at this price.

Sanleonino Chianti Classico 2004

A note: This is now being remaindered at $6.99. Get it!

Swanson Pinot Grigio 2006

Unlike most whites, this Napa Valley wine must be allowed to breathe for some time, else it comes on with a bitter taste. What you get afterwards is a decent but modest Pinot Grigio, with the usual mix of apple and citrus, but the taste dissipates quickly. Still, at the present sale price of $5.99, you might consider this as an everyday quaff for this summer.

Sieber Road Shiraz 2005

This Australian red displays a nice mix of dark fruit flavors, cherry predominating, with accents of oak. There is just enough spice to make it interesting. It complimented our spaghetti primavera very nicely. Not, by any means, a great wine, but a good one and decently priced at $7.99.

Nandu Malbec 2006

This Argentine red turns out to be something of a disappointment. It has, along with cherry and strawberry flavors, just a hint of the chocolate that one expects of a good Malbec, but there is rather too much tannin and a tangy element that, in the aftertaste, stops just short of bitterness. At $12.99 it's clearly overpriced.

Te Awa Boundary 2002

This New Zealand red is a blend, whose components vary from year to year. In '02 it was made up of two thirds Merlot and a third each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The latter grape gives it an intense fruitiness, which is tempered by plentiful tannins and cedar elements, with detectable licorish in the aftertaste. At $9.99 it represents relatively good value, but it must be allowed to breathe and should probably be drunk soon.

Sellaks Sauvignon Blanc 2008

This New Zealand wine has all of the intense aromas and strongly pronounced melon and citrus flavors that characterize the whites from the Marlborough district, but lacks the hint of fresh grass that the best of them display. Still, it's a very agreeable sipping wine and can go with chicken or more strongly flavored fish dishes that would not be overwhelmed by it. $9.99.