*Finca La Cuesta Luna Beberide 2007

The Bierzo region in N.W. Spain produces some remarkable reds, and this is certainly one of them. What we have here is a pleasing mix of dark berries and plum, with a slightly acidic finish. A wine that will last at least a few more years, so if you're minded to stock up, have no fears. A really good buy at $7.99.

*Cooper Creek Riesling 2007

We really differed on this New Zeeland: Nancy pronounced it sweet and refused to drink it. My take was that, while it certainly had a sweet element to it (as one would expect of a Riesling), it was at the same time a full bodied and subtle combination of apple and tangerine flavors that is rather pleasant to drink. If you don't insist upon absolutely dry table wines you might well like this, and the sell out price is an absolutely amazing $3.99.

*Domaine Salvat Sauvignon 2006

Unfortunately this white from Roussillon in the French Pyrennees has started to turn, so that instead of the fresh citrus flavors you'd expect what you get is an intense and slightly sweet wine. Adaptibility being the secret of of a successful life, if you're looking for an acceptable, really cheap dessert wine, this would be it, as it's being remaindered at $4.99.

Flaco Tempranillo 2010

From the southeastern outskirts of Madrid (who would have thought that this area, dedicated to strip malls, strip joints, and stripped cars, would produce wine?) this country red is assertive, fruit forward and fairly acid. If allowed to breathe long enough, it's by no means unpleasant, although badly overpriced at $7.99, being available for as much as three dollars less elsewhere.

Huru Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Still another New Zealand white from Marlborough, this one is light bodied, with peach and tropical fruit elements and a citrusy finish but not a hint of the new mown grass that one looks for in these wines. A nice summer quaff, $7.99.

PLCB is having another no shipping fee sale of close-out items, I shall be reporting on a number of these soon (*).

Henry Fessy Broully 2007

This red from Beaujolais is a mix of cherry and raspberry elements with not much in the way of tannins. An agreeable wine, nearing the end of its useful life. $8.99.

Castelvero Barbera 2010

This Piedmont red has a red fruit element overlaid with a distinct caramel taste. A pleasing but not exceptional wine. $ 9.99, available for two dollars less in N.Y.

Callabriga Dao 2009

Once it has breathed for at least an hour, this Portuguese red blend is a full bodied mix of red cherry and plum, with soft tannins and just enough acidity at the finish. A very nice wine for $8.99.

Notro Tinto Fundacion 2010

Yet another red from Argentina's Mendoza Valley, this blend of Bonarda, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a powerful punch of red fruit flavors, mostly strawberry and red plum, with a sufficiently spicy background to make it interesring. $9.99, which is about right.

Bodega Elena de Mendoza Malbec 2010

Allowed to breathe for two hours, this Argentine red, a product of a lady vintner working for the global octopus Gallo, is a fairly pleasant, if unremarkable wine, with red berry and plum elements and a tart finish, without, however the typical Malbec chocolate taste. A decent buy at $6.99.

Anekena Sauvignon Blanc 2011

For those of you looking for summer picnic wines, this is now on sale in the Magnum bottle at $9.99, which makes it a really great bargain. I don't think you'll find anything to match it at this price.

Oyster Bay Chardonnay 2010

Another white from New Zealand's Marlborough Valley, this is a very fruit intensive, fairly heavily oaked Chardonnay. The prevailing flavors are peach and tangerine, so that the citrus element is a subdued one. $7.99.

Giesen Sauvignon Blanc 2011

For reasons that escape me this excellent New Zealand white, which is among our favorites, was suddenly available at the Hummelstown store for $9.99, which is well below the market. Although the '11 does not have as much of the freshly mown grass element that characterizes other years, there is otherwise absolutely nothing wrong with it. If you can find it at that price, by all means stock up.

Rigal Malbec 2009

Cahors, in the valley of the Lot in SW France, is where the Malbec grape was first cultivated. Cahors produces mainly two sorts of wine: a Cabernet Sauvignon that is intense, inky, and almost overwhelming on first acquaintence; and a Malbec, also very dark, but much more sophisticated and reserved. This is a very good one, very different from the Argentinian model, more subtle and complex, with red plum and dark berry flavors intermingling and very soft tannins. A really nice wine, and a great bargain at $8.99.

Piper Ranch Malbec 2011

It would seem that I can't resist trying Argentinian Malbecs. This one is fairly typical of the breed, with fresh plum and dark berry elements and the expected chocolate finish. A relatively nice buy at $7.99.