Fronteira Douro 2007

This Portuguese red is an extremely smooth blend of cherry, plum and soft tannins, with an only slightly acidic finish. A really pleasant wine and an excellent buy at $8.99. Get it and drink it now.

Broquel Chardonnay 2007

My CDC, like the majority of her sex, is a big fan of Chardonnay, and she loved this one from Argentina. I liked it too. It has a big presence, an unexpected but intriguing mix of apple and apricot, with a fairly crisp finish. A good buy at $8.99.

Sogrape Callabriga Douro 2008

This Portuguese red, grown in a region more famous for its Port, has a strong presence of red fruit, mostly cherry and raspberry, balanced by hints of chocolate and black pepper. It's a country wine, but given time to breathe, a good one, and the price of $8.99 makes it very attractive.

*Baron Ladron de Guevara Crianza 2007

The last of the wines that I got from the on line sale, this red may also well be the best. A really zesty Rioja(90% Tempranillo), aged for two years in oak, it opens up with a veritable explosion of cherry and blueberry flavors, tempered by soft tannins and a licorice/black pepper edge. An excellent wine, but you must let it breathe properly for it to show off its best. Well worth the on line price of $11.99.

Villa Pilla Borgoforte 2007

With the proviso that you let it breathe for at least an hour, this Tuscan red is a very nice wine. Grown in the heart of the Chianti region, it can't be sold under that appelation because, as a blend of San Giovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, it falls outside of the defined parameters. So it's what these days is called a Super Tuscan. There are elements of plum and dark berries, with some oak and licorice at the finish. Nicely priced at $8.99.

Copa del Rey Chardonnay 2008

Here we have a Chilean white that is what these days is called "fruit forward". There are strong elements of pear, pineapple and tropical fruit and not much in the way of oaking or citrus to balance these. My CDC liked it, I found it a bit on the lush side. Still, the price is right at $6.99.

Banfi Centine 2009

This Tuscan white from one of Italy's largest wineries is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (40%), Chardonnay (30%) and Pinot Grigio (30%). The result is a fruity, ever so slightly sweet wine, with notes of pear and apricot. It's pleasant enough but lacks sufficient acidity to give the finish a convincing contrast. $7.99.

Los Boldos Momentos Carmenere 2010

This young Chilean red, made with that Country's signature grape, is medium bodied, has a relatively high alcohol content, and tastes of plum and black pepper. Not bad but nothing special. $6.99.

Saint Martin Muscadet 2009

This white from Sevre et Maine in the Loire exhibits in full the tart, astringent and mineral qualities for which Muscadets from this region are known. It's aged for three months su lie ( the dead skins left over from thr pressing) which make it a pungent, zesty quaff. $8.99.

Nederburg Manor House Shiraz 2008

This South African red is distinguished by dark cherry and plum flavors, rather heavily accented by cinnamon at the finish. It's very dry for a Shiraz. $13.89.

Tohu Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Here we have a distinct improvement ovet the 2007, previously reviewed here. In particular, the herbaceous note carries on to the finish, and the price, $9.99 is much more acceptable.

*Chateau la Graula 2008

This claret from a minor chateau offers up some elements of red cherry, along with a fairly heavily oaked finish. My CDC rather liked it, to my taste there was a bit too much of an acrid finish. $7.99 on line.

Folonari Pinot Grigio 2009

With Memorial day just around the corner, you might consider this white from the Veneto as a thirst quencher for the assembled multitudes. Among the mass production Pinot Grigios it comes pretty close to the top, with a nice blend of pome and citrus elements. $9.99 for the magnum.

*Garcia Carrion Antano Reserva 2005

This red Rioja is 80% Tempranillo, with admixtures of three other varieties. In spite of its age it's still a very nice wine, very even, with elements of cherry, chocolate, and a slightly peppery finish. A real buy at the internet price of $6.99.

*Grange des Dames 2009

Grown on the slopes of Mont Ventoux, the mountain that Cezanne painted over and over again, this Provencal white blend is light, very drinkable, but without any noteworthy characteristics. $7.99 on line.

Casa de Campo Malbec 2010

I reviewed this Argentine red on one of my Colorado trips. I still like it, it's a nice, uncomplicated country red, and now priced very attractively at $7.99 (although you can also pay two dollars more for it, such are the mysteries of the PLCB).

*Muralhas de Moncao 2009

This Portuguese vinho verde, the product of a huge commune, is a nice blend of white fruit flavors, mostly apricot and peach, with a touch of pineapple, a slight effervescence, and a citrus finish. It should, as the name for the variety suggests, be drunk young, so drink up. Very civilly priced at $7.99 on line.

*Murailhas de Moncao 2009

This Portuguese vinho verde, produced by a huge commune, has a nice combination of white fruit flavors, mostly apricot and peach, with a touch of pineapple, a hint of carbonation, and a dry, citrus finish. These wines are meant to be drunk young, hence the name, so drink it now. A nice quaff at the on line price of $7.99.

*Mencos 2008

Like most red Riojas, this wine is made from 100% Tempranillo grapes. It has a nice mix of black cherry, rapberry and oak,with a peppery finish. A very good bottle and a real buy on line at $7.99.

Clifford Bay Pinot Noir 2009

Another New Zealand Pinot Noir: This one is even lighter bodied than the Oyster Bay and doesn't quite have the depth. A nice enough everyday wine, but nothing out of the ordinary. $7.99.

*Abbaye de Saint Hilaire Cuvee Domeni White 2009

This is the mid range white from this winery and we liked it the least of their three wines we have tried. The adjective that came to my CDC's mind was "nondescript", and that just about says it. The wine, without being in any way offensive, is neither dry nor sweet, neither light nor full bodied, neither fruity nor acidic, it's just there. $7.99 on line.

*Rocca delle Macie Vernaccia 2009

Although by far the greater production of wine in Chianti is reds, the region does grow some whites, and this one, from San Gimignano, near Siena, is one of the good ones. It's fruity and fairly light, and is given the necessary balance which keeps it from being sweet by a substratum of almonds in the finish. $8.99 on line.

*Faustino VII Blanco 2009

This Rioja white, from one of the region's largest wineries, has subdued citrus elements with a not entirely pleasant tangy aftertaste. Eminently forgetable, $7.99 on line.

Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc 2010

This highly aromatic young Chilean white is a reserve bottling from the huge San Pedro combine. It is fresh, citrus elements predominate up front, with an element of pear just discernible. Nicely priced at $6.99.

*Abbaye Saint Hilaire Cuvee du Prieur 2006

This is the top of the line red from this Provence winery and is a very nice wine indeed, subtle and differentiated. It's relatively light, rather on the dry side, with notes of rasberry and dark cherry, and an underlying presence of vanilla. It goes on our list of favorites. A steal at the on line price of $8.99.

*Adega de Pegoes 2008

This Portuguese red from a region close to Lisbon is a decent, restrained table wine, rather light, with elements of cherry and blackberry. $7.99 on line.

*Castello di Meleto Rosso Toscano 2007

This is an uncomplicated but very pleasant Tuscan red with elements of cherry, blackberry, and prominent but not unpleasant tannins. The internet only price of $7.99 is very favorable.