Vina La Reserva De Caliboro-Erasmo-Unfiltered Red Wine-Maule Valley-Chile-2004-$16.92-A nose of dark fruit, dark amber in color.  Blackberry, black currants, cherries, vanilla, full bodied, very dry, a big tart.  Second time I have tried in last few months,  similar result.      RP-91            WS-87            WE-88              CR-4               Good with steak, chicken, pasta.

Swanson Vineyards-Merlot-Oakville-Napa Valley-California-2005-$20.99-A spicy nose of dark fruit, dark in color.  Cherry, toasty vanilla notes,  red currants, and Asian spice.   A smooth enjoyable Merlot, I had not drank a Merlot for some time and so I am glad I tried this one.   Second time I have tried this year, a solid wine.                WS-87          CR-4.5          Good with chicken, steak, pasta. 

Bodegas Emilio Moro-Ribera Del Duero-Tinto Fino-Spain-2005-$24.99-A big nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color.  A smooth, delicious full bodied red, decanted for 2 hours,  blueberry, plum, black cherry,  smoke, minerals, a great mouth feel, long finish, a terrific value, have tried the 2005 and 2005, both outstanding.               RP-92                WS-92               CR-4.5-5            Good with meats, chicken, pasta.

Vina Cousino Macul-Finis Terrae-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Maipo Valley-Chile-2007-$19.99-A nose of dark fruit and smoke, dark ruby in color.  A smooth, full bodied blend, plum, cherry, currants, good smoky finish.               NR                CR-4                   Good with meats, chicken, pasta.

Bruce Wayne Winery-Syrah-Russian River Valley-California-2005-$11.99-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color.  A full bodied, dark fruit, some pepper, a bit disjointed, drinkable at this price level.              NR                 CR-3.5                  Good with meats, chicken, pasta.

Casa Lapostolle-Merlot-Rapel Valley-Chile-2007-$17.99-A nose of sweet cherries and some spice, dark amber in color.  A smooth medium to full bodied red, blackberry, red cherries, plum, good finish with herbal pepper.  A very good wine for it’s price range.                WS-87              WE-88             CR-4-4.5                 Good with chicken, beef, pasta.    

Casa Lapostolle-Cuvee Alexandre-Apalta Vineyard-Merlot-Carmenere-Colchagua Valley-Chile-2007-$17.99-A nose of dark sweet fruit, medium dark amber in color.   Currants, plum, spice, tannic, has rough spots, average at best.  I usually enjoy all the Cuvee Alexandre varietals, not this one.          NR             CR-3               Good with meats, chicken, pasta.

Europa-ChocoVine-Chocolate & Red Wine-Holland-NV-9.99-A nose of cocoa liquor, looks like Nesquick.  A delicious concoction of chocolate and red wine that somehow really works, great over ice, kinda like Bailey’s but lighter.           NR               CR-4                Good as a desert, or over ice cream.

Vina La Reserva De Caliboro-Erasmo-Unfiltered Red Wine-Maule Valley-Chile-2004-$16.92-A nose of dark fruit, dark amber in color.  Blackberry, black currants, cherries, vanilla, full bodied, very dry, a big tart.           RP-91            WS-87            WE-88              CR-4               Good with steak, chicken, pasta.

The Lucky Country-Shiraz-Barossa Valley-Australia-2008-$11.99-A nose of dark fruit, dark purple in color.  Cream de Cassis, blackberry, licorice, smoke, a bit hot, have had better Shiraz’s in this price range.               NR             CR-3.5             Good with burgers, ribs, pasta.           

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards-Prologue-Cabernet Sauvignon-Napa Valley-2006-$16.99-Good nose of dark fruit.  Nice dark ruby color.  A decent Cab, smooth, good mouth feel of dark fruit, not over oaked, did not enjoy it as much this time as I did last year.  Hard finding a Napa Cab at this price. The interesting difference between the 2007 (really liked the 2007) which I recently reviewed and the 2006 is quite different and a great example of how the vintage can change from year to year.          NR            CR-3.5            Good with streak, chicken, pasta.

Casa Lapostolle-Casa-Cabernet Sauvignon-Rapel Valley-Chile-2007-$12.99-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark ruby in color.  I really like most wines from this winery and this was no exception to that.  A smooth, easy drinking Cab, smoky, dark fruit, some spice, some cocoa, herbs, a great buy.        WE-90           CR-4              Good with chicken, meats, pasta.

Geo Wines-Chono-Reserva-Cabernet Sauvignon-Maipo Valley-Chile-2006-$11.99-A nose of dark fruit and roasted meat, dark amber in color.  A ripe, easy drinking full bodied Cab, good structure for a wine this price, dark fruits, some spice, currants.             RP-88            CR-3.5-4              Good with pork, chicken, pasta.

Symington Family Estates-Warre’s-Warrior-Special Reserve-Porto-NV-Portugal-$11.99-A ripe nose of spice and dark fruit, very dark, blackish in color.  A sweet full bodied port, dark fruit, spice, a good value for it’s price range, a bottle will last up to one month in frig after opening.               WE-87           WS-82             CR-3.5-4             Good with desert or alone.

Henry’s Drive-Pillar Box Red-Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Padthaway-Australia-2006-$9.99-A spicy nose of dark fruit, dark purple in color.  A mouth filling, but semi smooth, black cherry, cassis, a decent red that gets value for price level.  I with trend towards Wine Spectator rating vs. Parker’s.            RP-91            WS-85            CR-3.5          Good with chicken, pasta, meats.

Casa Lapostolle-Cuvee Alexandre-Apalta Vineyard-Cabernet Sauvignon-Colchagua Valley-Chile-2007-$17.99-A nice nose of sweet dark fruit, dark crimson in color.   A big mouth feel, dark fruit, black cherry, currants, meaty, delivers allot for this price point.  I really enjoy most wines from this winery whose founders are the Marnier Family who make Grand Marnier, especially the Cuvee Alexander brand.              WS-90            RP-87             WE-89             CR-4             Good with steak, chicken, ribs.   

Philippe Gimel-Saint Jean Du Barroux-L’Oligocene-Red Grenache-Syrah-Carignan-Cinsault-Cotes Du Ventoux-France-2004-$23.99-A distinct smell of brandy, kind of funky, amber in color.  I am not sure if something happened to the wine, I usually enjoy any Southern Rhone wine but that distinct brandy smell also was what the favor was, dark fruit, spice, kept trying to enjoy it but could not.             RP-90            CR-2.5             Good with another open bottle of wine to kill the taste.

Geo Wines-Chono-Reserva-Syrah-Equi Valley-Chile-2007-$9.99-A nose of spicy dark fruit, dark black in color.  A smooth easy going red, spice, blackberry, dark cherries and some minerals.  A good value, a mid week inexpensive drinking wine.             NR          CR-3.5-4           Good with steak, chicken and pasta.