Doural Tinto 2009

This Portuguese red is spicy, with cherry and red berry flavors, and is fairly heavily oaked. It should preferably be paired with red meat as it will overwhelm anything else. $8.99.

Motos Liberty Pinot Grigio

This CA non vintage wine is strongly flavored, overwhelmingly pear alon with some apple. It is, however lacking in acidity and there is not even a hint of the flintiness typical of a good Pinot Grigio. The good news is that its being remaindered at $5.99.

Pirineos Mesache Tinto 2010

Grown in Northern Aragon, in the foothills of the Pyrennees, this Spanish red is intended to be drunk young (mesache in the local dialect means muchacho). It's a fruit forward blend, mostly Garnache and Monistrel, in which plum and red cherry are dominant. $7.99.

Fuente Elvira Verdejo 2009

The Verdejo grape, planted almost exclusively in the Iberian peninsula, must be treated with great care and harvested at night, in cool temperatures, as it's prone to excessive early oxydation that produces an unwanted sweetness. Even reputable producers sometimes get this wrong in hot years, and that seems to have been the case with this Spanish white from Rueda. To my taste, it seems more like a dessert wine than a table wine. It does display the nuttiness characteristic of the variety. $7.99.

Le Village du Sud Pinot Noir 2007

A humdrum, fairly light bodied Languedoc red, this is an unremarkable, fruit forward wine. It will do if you simply want something to wash down a simple meal and, at $5.99, it's certainly cheap.

Vina Maipu Torrontes 2011

This white from Argentina's Mendoza Valley can best be described as a combination of flowery and citrus (mostly grapefruit) elements. Some will, as I did, find it almost overpowering but I suspect that the ladies, as my CDC did, might rather like it. Let's face it, there is such a thing as a woman's wine. $9.99.

Trivento Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010

Pretty much top of the line for this mass production Argentine combine, this red is a very nice wine for the money. It displays a pleasing combination of dark berry and plum elements with a moderately tart finish. $7.99.

Roc du Chateau Vieux 2009

Another of my dearly held prejudices is A.J. Liebling's dictum that the only rose worth drinking is a Tavel. This Rose d'Anjou, while certainly acceptable, doesn't precisely change my mind. For my taste it's neither crisp, nor dry enough. $7.99.

Donati 2007

Another victim of the longevity axe, this CA red blend (mostly Merlot) was apparently made t0 expose two of my prejudices, against Merlot and against affordable CA wines, as utter falacies. This is a very pleasant, very smooth drinking wine with black berry elements and an interesting, peppery finish. A real bargain at $8.99.

Muro Bujanda Crianza 2007

Doubtless because it's nearing the end of its useful life this Rioja red is being remaindered. It exhibits a deep red cherry flavor with, of all things, a touch of coconut, and a fairly tart finish. A very nice wine, and you don't find many Rioja Crianzas at $7.99. Do let it breathe for at least an hour.