Santa Julia Innovacion Tempranillo/Malbec 2011

This  Argentine red is a country wine, no more, but it/s pleasant to drink so long as you let it breathe for at least an hour and, at $6.99 for the one liter bottle, a stupendous bargain. If you're in the market for an affordable everyday drink, stock up.

Navarro Correas Coleccion Privada Malbec 2010

This Argentine red is the top of the line for this Mendoza Valley vineyard, and a very nice wine it is. It exhibits the expected plum and dark berry elements, with a touch of chocolate at the finish, all nicely balanced,  What a Malbec should be, and not badly priced at $10.99.

Secoli Pinot Grigio 2012

This very young Italian white from the Veneto is extremely light, so light as to be almost tasteless. Certainly not worth $9.99.

Corolilla Crianza 2010

Bobal is the signature grape of Valaencia, and this red is true to type: assertive, with pronounced black beryy elements, a goodly amount of acidity, and a hint of coffee. $9.99.

Chateau L'Hermitage Costieres de Nimes 2010

This red from the southern Rhone has a generous portion of Mourvedre along with its Syrah which gives it a somewhat flinty character. The taste is mainly dark berry and plum, with quite a lot of acidity. $9.99.

Chateau Cambis 2010

A Grenache/Syrah blend, this Cotes du Rhone Villages is a hearty red, with strongly accented red cherry and plum flavors and a touch of licorice at the finish. A little on the thin side to be taken seriously, but eminently drinkable. $9.99.

De Martino Sauvignon Blanc 2012

This young Chilean white is rich in peach and apple flavors and quite pungent. A pleasant quaff and not badly priced at $8.99.

Callabriga Alentejo 2011

Once it has breathed  for a good hour to allow a slight bitterness to dissipate, this is an assertive, powerful young red from southeastern Portugal. It tastes of ripe plum, with chocolate and moccha elements. A really nice wine and, for a change, a great buy at $8.99. I would think it will go for some years, so I wouldn't be afraid to stock up on it.

Alto Pumas Pinot Noir 2011

This Chilean red, redolent of blackberry and plum, with moderately assertive tannins, is a pleasing table wine. $9.99, which is somewhat below the market.

The Secretary Bird Sauvignon Blanc 2012

This young South African white is fresh, crisp and aromatic, with gooseberry and citrus elements. We found it to be just the right thing to go with our fried clam salad. (Don't laugh, this is good!) $8.99.

Mingo Tempranillo 2011

This Spanish red from Valencia is thin, simplistic, and, unless it's been allowed to breathe for a couple of hours, bitter. Not worth even $7.99.

.J. Bouchon Carmenere/Syrah 2011

I found this Chilean red blend to be a bit on the thin side, with perhaps a touch too much acidity. Not bad, but one can do better at the price of $9.99.

Travel Report Spring 2013

The complimentary wines on our Crystal cruise were the same that were offered last Fall, so there is nothing new to report there. except that the Santa Marghereta Pinot Grigio, which goes for a whopping 23.50 in PA, was among he free pours, which tells you a lot. In Spain we came across two reds that I liked: 1) Vade Mecum Syrah 2011. This Estremaduran is the house wine of the Guadalupe Parador. It's a rich, full bodied wine, with ripe raspberry and coffee elements and goes down very smoothly. Ca $8 in the stores. 2) Canferrado Tempranillo 2011. This La Mancha red is the house wine of the Ciudad Rodrigo Parador. Dark plum elements, with a fair amount of acidity, ca $9 in the stores. Neither wine is available in PA.

I might also mention that the April issue of the U.S.Airways magazine has an article entitled "Twenty Great Reds Under $20."  Insofar as these are available in PA (roughly half of them), they, without exception, sell here for more than the price indicated in the article.