Graffigna Pinot Grigio 2009

This white from Argentina is extremely fruit forward with peach and apricot flavors and lacks the flintiness that one expectsa from a good Pinot Grigio. $8.99.

Gocce di Vino Merlot

A non-vintage wine, this Italian red comes from Puglia. It exhibits none of the bitter element that one so often finds in the cheaper Merlots; it has a nice blend of red cherry and plum elements, with a finish that has a hint of licorice. A fairly nice buy at $8.99.

Quadrant Paso Robles 2010

Again, we differ. My CDC really likes this, I'm not so sure. This CA red is a blend of four different varietals, meant to approximate a Rhone. It has raspberry elements, with a slightly acerbic finish. On sale at $5.99, at which price you might want to try it.

La Scolca Gavi Oro 2010

This Piedmontese white, which tastes more like a Ligurian, is very dry, with melon elements and a good deal of acidity. It went very well with our mussels, On sale at $8.99.

Basa Rueda 2009

Made by the trendy winemaker Telmo Rodrigez, this Spanish white from the region of Valladolid is mostly Vermentejo. It has sour apple and citrus elements with a touch of grassiness, is certainly tart, but not excessively so. At the sale price of $6.99 it's an excellent value.

Feuddi Sannini Taburno Falanghina 2009

This Italian white from the Campagna represents a conscious attempt to recreate one of the favorite quaffs of the ancient Romans. As is well known, their taste in wines was overwhelmingly for sweet varieties, and this is certainly not dry. If truth be told, my CDC refused to drink it, asserting that it was both too sweet and over the hill. For once I found myself not in agreement with her. I thought it quite pleasant, with a dark straw color, a fairly pungent, fruity nose, and elements of apple and orange, with just enough acidity to keep it this side of sweet. It would do nicely as either an aperitif or a desert wine. On sale at $7.99.

Shannon Rige Merlot 2008

Readers of this blog will be aware that I'm no great fan either of Merlots or of the cheaper CA reds. With this wine I have to admit to being in the wrong on both counts. It's a nice, well balanced, fairly light drink, fruit forward with elements of raspberry, plum and chocolate and just a hint of the Merlot bitterness which I dislike. It's not getting any younger but is still very drinkable. The sale price of $7.99 is attractive.

Peccorino Terre di Chieti 2010

What we have here is an Italian white from the Abruzzo. "Peccorino" is a name for sheep in Italian (think of the cheese) and apparently this was a favorite snack of the local herds, so much so that the varietal came to the brink of extinction. It was recently revived and now produces a wine that is pungent and distinguished by a strong element of white melon and citrus. $8.99.

Protos Verdejo 2010

This Spanish white comes from a vineyard in Rueda which, for whatever it's worth, has overwhelmingly female employees. I mention this because it was awarded the designation " best Rueda in Spain" bya jury made up exclusively of women so that one may put this in perspective. Anyway, it's a very nice, well rounded wine, with tropical fruit and citrus elements, and the slightly acid aftertaste typical of the grape. On sale at $6.99, at which price it's a steal.

Wine Sale

As those of you who live in PA undoubtedly know. the PLCB has an ongoing wine sale. Among the items included therein is the Dry Creek Chenin Blanc, previously very favorably reviewed here. It's now being offered at $4.99, a price at which you can't afford not to get it.

Seigneurie de Peyrat Red 2010

Like the white from this vineyard, this Syrah/Merlot blend is very much fruit forward, with red berry flavors and soft tannins. A nice country wine, unobtrusive but pleasant. $7.99.

Seigneurie de Peyrat White 2010

This pleasant country wine from Languedoc, a Vermentino/Colombard blend, is simple and fruit forward. Not by any means a subtle wine, but a nice enough everyday quaff. The vineyard is part of a huge combine which also offers stays in boutique hotels in the region if you have a desire to drink it in situ. $7.99.

La Petite Vigne Sauvignon Blanc 2010

This Languedoc white is far too lemony for my taste. Dry is ok, but tart crosses the line. $7.99/

Pepi Lignano Leopoldino 2009

This Tuscan white comes from the Maremma, the coastal region of the province. It's 88% Vermentino and 12% Viognier. The result is an intense blend of white fruit, mostly peach and melon, and quite a lot of citrus. A good accompanyment to white meats. It's not getting any younger, which accounts for its bargain basement price of $8.99. If you don't insist upon an absolutely dry white, you might like this.