Domaine de Carteresses Tavel 2011

I've been going on about Tavels, the roses grown in the southern Rhone region, for so long that, finding one at a more or less acceptable price, I obviously couldn't resist. Tavel is the queen of roses and this one certainly lives up to the designation. Dry, austere, yet with a certain strawberry amiability, it is the perfect companion to any assertive main course, such as our pork ribs. Nancy was of the opinion that she could drink this every night. $12.99, and well worth it.

Fairview Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2011

This young South African white has grapefruit elements and a smooth, buttery finish. A pleasant drink for $8.99.

Tilia Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

This young Argentine red is pleasant enough, with a reasonably defined tang at the finish. Nothing remarkable, but certainly drinkable and, at $6.99, very affordable.

*Valdivieso Eclat 2006

A premium Chilean red blend from the Maule valley, this is a hearty, fruit forward wine with just the right amount of acidity at the finish. A lovely wine and, at $10.99, a really remarkable bargain, still at the heighth of its power.

*Quintana da Carregosa Reserva 2007

What we have here is a superior Portuguese red,powerful and convincing. There's a fine blend of soft tannins and red fruit flavors, with a sufficiently acidic finish to impress it on your palate. A real buy at $9.99.

Wild Rock Pinot Noir 2009

Serendipity lives! I thought I was putting a New Zealand white in the icebox to go with our shrimp. Of course it turned out to be a red, and a very good one indeed. The plum and cherry flavors were sufficiently muted by the cold temperature to make them compatibled with the seafood and it was altogether a very nice experience. $8.99, which is a lot cheaper than you can get it most places. I must admit, another PSLB plus.

*Roger Sabon Chapelle Maillac Lerac 2007

This red is from the Cotes du Rhone. Lerac is on the West bank, immediately across the river from Chateauneuf du Pape. In order to qualify for the Lerac designation, a wine has to be a blend of at least three local varietals, as this one is. What we have here is an extremely subtle blend of soft tannins, red fruit flavors, and tobacco inspired acidity. A truly delightful wine, now at the heighth of its powers, and a stupendous bargain at $9.99. So, that's for those of you who claim that I can only ever render negative judgements.

*Domaine du Poujol Rose 2010

While this is no Tavel, this rose from the region of Montpellier in Languedoc, produced by an Anglo/American couple, is nevertheless an extremely nice, fresh wine with not a hint of sweetness about it. The attack is crisp, the finish long, the price, $5.99, is a real giveaway, you can easily pay three times as much for the same wine. A real winner.

Perrin & Fils Cotes du Rhone Village 2009

Only premium Cotes du Rhones may bear the name Village. This Grenache/Syrah blend, from the area that is the home of the famous Chateauneuf du Pape, is a hearty, plum flavored wine, with a definite spicy finish, a little rough drinking if insufficiently aired. $9.99.

*Last of this year's On Line Sale

I've ordered a number of wines from this renewed free shipping offer and shall be reviewing them presently, marked with thew usual *. For once following my own advice, I eschewed the whites and got several reds and one rose.

Domaine Henri Chauvet La Ferme 2011

This is a Cotes du Rhone from the Drome. A beautifully smooth drinking wine, it has black cherry and raspberry elements and great presence for so young a red. I imagine it will age well in the bottle. A very good value at $9.99.

Telia Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

This young Mendoza red from Argentina is light; pleasant, with cherry and spice elements. An unpretentious but neverheless rewarding quaff, well worth the modest price of $6.99.

Torres Gran Coronas Reserva 2008

85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Tempranillo and aged in oak for at least a year, this Catalan red is a very nice wine, extremely smooth drinking, with dark cherry and plum elements. $11.99.

Coppola Diamond Collection Chardonnay 2009

This CA unoaked Chardonnay is a blend of pear, guava and melon flavors, with a pronounced citrus finish. If one puts aside all of the Hollywood hype, not a bad wine. $7.89, which is about as cheap as you can get it.