Selaks Sauvignon Blanc 2008

This New Zealand white is a very nice wine indeed. It comes at you with a pungent whiff of new mown grass in the best Marlborough valley tradition and exhibits a well defined and long lasting mix of citrus and tropical fruit flavors. The acidity is just sufficient to make it a really interesting bottle. The price too is right at $9.99.

Alamos Chardonnay 2008

Alamos used to be a mass producer of plonk in Argentina. Some time back the label was acquired by the Catenas, a reputable family of vintners, as their entry level wine, and completely transformed. Like the other varietals from the same vineyard previously reviewed here, this is an eminently successful product. In general, I avoid the cheaper Chardonnays, they tend to be extremely dull, but this one shows nice balance, with a nose suggesting freshly mown hay (for you history buffs, there is no poison gas involved here) and flavors evoking apple and melon. And at the sale price of $7.99, it's a steal.

Alamos Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

As is the case with the Malbec and the Torrontes from this Argentinian winery previously reviewed on this site, this is a very successful product. The wine is not complex, but offers a nice nose and an even blend of red fruit, mostly cassis, and caramel tones. At the sale price of $7.99 it is a remarkably good buy and if you're looking for an everyday staple, you might consider stocking up on it.

Solnia Rioja 2007

This straightforward Spanish red, made from the Tempranillo grape and aged for six months in steel barrels, presents a pleasant enough blend of cherry and dark berries, with a caramel finish. At $10.99 it is somewhat overpriced.

Tohu Sauvignon Blanc 2007

This white from a (the only?) Maori owned winery aspires to a place among the superior wines of New Zealand. It exhibits a nice blend of citrus and herbaceous flavors, with an element of acidity, but, on balance, doesn't quite make it. The finish, in particular, disappoints. $13.99.

Casillero del Diablo Shiraz 2005

Like its two stablemates previously reviewed here, this Chilean red is robust, with plum and quite a lot of spice, but perhaps a shade less interesting. Still, at the sale price of $7.99, it represents an excellent buy. It complemented our porterhouse very nicely.

Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2008

The really good New Zealand Marlboroughs, like the Giesen, go well beyond the merely citrus tastes that characterize the cheaper ones. The good ones have a truly delightful element of newly mown grass about them, but are expensive. This bottle, while it does not quite reach that level of distinction, nevertheless has a nice combination of lime and pineapple tastes and at least a hint of grassiness. At the sale price of $8.99 it's a genuine bargain. Get it while it lasts.