Bodega Elena de Mendoza Chardonnay 2010

Although this Argentine winery produces mainly Malbec, they have branched out into whites. This Chardonnay is extremely full bodied, with strong notes of apple and maple. Not quite sweet, but it comes close. American Chardonnay devotees (let's face it, women for the most part) will probably love it. $6.99, which is the best available price at the moment.

Green Truck Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

For those of you to whom this is important, this CA red is organically produced. The wine is a little on the raw side, although this diminishes somewhat after airing. The taste elements are cherry and red berry. Currently on special at $6.99.

*Auntsfield Chardonnay 2008

It may be that this Newzealand white, an unoaked Chardonnay grown in the oldest vineyard in the Marlborough Valley, is past its prime. It doesn't exhibit any of the flinty character one would expect, never mind the grassyness. What you get instead is a semi sweet wine, with peach and nougat flavors predominating. In its present state it makes a great desert wine and, at $8.99, its certainly cheap.

Ecco Domani Moscato 2011

Alright, this is a mass production enterprise, but sometimes you can find something drinkable in such surroundings. The makers call this North Italian white "off dry", while Nancy pronounced it to be outright sweet and refused to drink it. I, by contrast, found it to be a relatively harmless blend of ripe pear and apricot, slightly effervescent, not a bad sipping wine for a hot summer day.
A closeout at $6.99 in the Hummelstown store.

*Bodegas Ruiz de Vinaspre RV White 2008

This white Rioja has a sharply defined fruity character, white peach mostly, along with quite a bit of acidity. Although not precisely sweet, it comes close to being what I'd consider a desert wine. In my opinion it's on the verge of turning, but this slight unpleasantness goes away if you allow it to breathe. $9.99.

*Chateau Capion IC 2008

This is a white Cotes du Languedoc. It's on the gentle side, with apricot and pear elements. A blend of Chardonnay, Roussane (a local grape) and Chenin Blanc, it's a nice summer sipping wine. $8.99.

Hector Meli Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

To begin with, this Argentine Mendoza red needs to breathe for at least an hour to get rid of a slightly bitter taste. Once it's done so, it's a pleasant enough wine with dark fruit elements and soft tannins. $9.99.

*Chateau Soucherie Anjou Blanc 2007

This white Loire is meant to be a vin de garde, meaning that it can be cellared for some years, and this five year old wine certainly bears that out. Now, keep in mind that , while this is a Chenin Blanc( although the label does not reveal that fact), it's highly atypical. Instead of the dry flintiness you would expect what you get is a fruit forward blend of pear, apricot, and even a little honey, set off by a nice citrust acidity. The overall effect is not quite sweet, but certainly not dry. It's an eminently drinkable and even interesting wine, you just have to adjust your food pairing accordingly. Very nicely priced at $9.99.

*Branchini Pignoletto 2007

Nancy made a face and said this had gone definitely bad. My thought was, almost but not quite. This straw colored Emiglia Romana wine, if you get hold of a good bottle, is meant to be fruit forward, with elements of pear and honey, a fairly heavy white to go with heavy cream sauces. As it is, this tasted vaguely like a Chateau d'Yquem from a bad year. If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive desert wine this might just do, otherwise pass it up. $9.99.

*Chateau de Monluc Gros Masteng 2008

For once, we differed seriously. Nancy wrinkled her nose and pronouced this Gascon white, made from an indigenous grape, to be sweet. I didn't thinks so. I am very fond of the Gascon whites, many of which exhibit a lovely, crisp flintiness, which is admittedly entirely absent here. What we have instead is a very fruit forward wine, made interesting by a strong citrusy element. It's evidently near the end of its useful life, which accounts for the sale price of $8.99, well below the market. If you can put up with something outside the usual norms, go for it, the PSLB has just extended free shipping for another week.

*Vega Sindoa Chardonnay 2009

Grown in a region of Navarre in the north of Spain that has only recently made a comeback after a long period of neglect, this is an extremely full bodied Chardonnay, not for the faint of heart. It tastes of pear, with a hint of caramel, and a definite smoky element. Many Americans, accustomed to light bodied, easy sipping Chardonnays, will probably not like it, but it has its good points. Probably will not go for much longer, so drink it now. $8.99.

*Finca la Cuesta Luna Beberide 2007

This will be yet another series of reviews of wines from the current On- Line- Only sale (*). The Luna Beberide, made from the Menas grape, comes from the Bierzo in N.W. Spain, the region with that country's most obscure, but for all that highly ardent, separatist movement. The wine befits the local temperament, it's highly delineated, even aggressive, with very present blacberry elements and contrasting tannins. Not a wine to be easily put in the background, it could overwhelm a bland meal, but with a dish that can stand up to it, a splendid quaff. Not close to being over the hill in spite of its age, and a huge bargain at $11.99.

Mountain Door Malbec 2011

There's nothing subtle about this young Argentine red from Mendoza, it comes on like a house afire with strong, overly defined raspberry and cherry elements, with a country wine sharpness at the finish, $9.99, a dollar less in N.Y.

Mazzei Belguardo Serrata 2009

A San Giovese with an admixture of Alicante, this Super Tuscan red from the Maremma is a very nice wine, with predominantly subdued cherry elements and nice, soft tannins. For once, the PA price of $9.99 seems to bethe lowest available. By all means stock up.

Castello Monaci Liante 2009

You must let this red from Salice Salentino, inApulia in the extreme south of Italy, breathe for at least two hours so that it can shed itself of an otherwise unpleasant aftertaste. Once it's done that, it'll reward you with a pleasing mix of very ripe cherry and plum and a vaguely chocolaty finish. At the closeout price of $8.99, a very attractive buy.

Muro Bujanda Crianza 2006

I can't say that this red Rioja does a whole lot for me. It's very fruit forward, mostly red cherry, with a somewhat acrid finish. One would expect more of a Crianza. It may be that it's showing its age. $7.99.