CUPCAKE CENTRAL COAST CHARDONNAY - 2007

13.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale yellow water color with aromas and flavors of apple, light oak, butter and citrus. Very clean, dry and crisp with good minerality. Finishes with honey and just the right amount of acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

Under $10? Almost too good to be true. A really solid and impressive effort for the money. I've had Chardonnay that is triple the price that doesn't deliver the basics that this wine does. For all of those out there buying cheap Chardonnay that doesn't really taste good and has out of balance alcohol and nothing but oak, you really need to try this. An enthusiastic recommendation!

BODEGAS Y VINDEDOS DE MURCIA JUMILLA SIERRA CARCHE - 2005

Made in French and American oak. 50% Monastrell, 25% Malbec, and 25% Petit Verdot.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark purple-red color. Goji berries and sour cherries on the nose. Lots of cherry, oak, black pepper, intense blueberry-grape jam, pencil shavings, chocolate covered raisins, blackberry, black currant. Sweet tannins at the core. Black cherry candy on the finish. A wine with great finesse and power.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

93 PTS

Complexity abounds. There is a lot going on here and all quite harmoniously. Really a pleasant surprise. This wine rocks and delivers on balance, structure, flavors and aromas. The alcohol is also in check. For $30 this wine delivers the goods. Highly recommended.

ANTINORI TENUTA GUADO AL TASSO IL BRUCIATO - 2006

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Syrah. 14% alcohol. 2nd label of Guado Al Tasso. Bolgheri Super Tuscan.

TASTING NOTES:

Barnyard, red berries and leather on the nose. Flavors of black currants, meaty-oak-char, black cherries, plums, and blackberries. Soft and smooth. Finishes with dry tannins and a hint of sweetness.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

Purchased for around $24. Really liked this bottle. I'm a sucker for Italian blends and this one delivered enough enjoyment to recommend.

VDP DU GARD DOMAINE MONPERTUIS VIGNOBLE DE LA RAMIERE-CUVEE COUNOISE - 2006

13% alcohol. From the Counoise Rhone grape in the South of France.

TASTING NOTES:

Medium red color. Dark chocolate, black currant, grape jam, and black pepper on the nose. Blackberry, black currants, pepper on the palate. Huge plum finish. Tannic and dry. Also hints of metals on the finish and some charred oak.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88+PTS

This is pretty complex for a $13 wine. Definitely a hidden treasure in its price category. This often overlooked varietal that makes an appearance in Chateaneuf-du-Pape shines in this bottle. One of the better value wines out there in marketplace.

CARMEN GEWURZTRAMINER - 2007

Curico Valley, Chile. 87% Gewurztraminer, 13% Semillon. 13.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Greenish yellow color with lychee and floral notes on the nose. Good minerality, honeysuckle and honey on the finish. Crisp, refreshing and good acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

85 PTS

A nice wine to compliment light summer meals. There's enough acidity to balance the fruit. Enjoyable with some sweetness upfront but the wine finishes dry and crisp. If it wasn't for some heat on the back-end I think I would have scored this a tad higher. Suggested retail is around $10.

CARMEN SAUVIGNON BLANC - 2008

Central Valley, Chile. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 13.3% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Green-yellow color. Grassy nose with citrus. Decent acidity. Citrus, grapefruit, minerality on the palate. Clean but not quite palate-cleansing or refreshing. Lacks some balance.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

83 PTS

An okay entry level Sauvignon Blanc, but the fruit is not vibrant enough. Leaves you yearning for more substance, character and crispness. This is a highly competitive category with New Zealand producing SB extremely well for affordable prices. Hard to recommend.

CARMEN ROSE SYRAH-CABERNET - 2008

From Maipo Valley, Chile. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah. 13% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Beautiful cherry-pink color with light strawberry aromas. Soft with muted berry fruit flavors and a hint of sweetness. Some heat on the back-end.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

75 PTS

Once we get beyond the color there's nothing here to satisfy. The fruit is evasive and the nose is rather closed. Suggested retail is $10 but would not recommend at any price point.

CARMEN CHARDONNAY - 2007

Central Valley, Chile. With 14% alcohol. No malolactic fermentation. 100% Chardonnay.

TASTING NOTES:

Straw yellow color with pear and citrus on the nose. Citrus and pineapple on the palate with good acidity. The fruit is muted. Some alcohol showing through.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

83 PTS

This Chardonnay falls below average in my book. Outside of the acidity, it is lacking in every critical department: taste, nose, balance, complexity. Suggested retail is around $10, which means you can find it for less, but I still would not recommend. There are better value wines out there for the price.

JOH JOS PRUM GRAACHER HIMMELREICH AUSLESE - 2006

8% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale yellow color with spritzy frizzante in the glass. Light, lean, effortless with restrained and contained sweetness balanced by high acidity. Roses and petrol on the nose. Pear, citrus, lime, and minerality. Hints of nectarine. Tremendous balance.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

94 PTS

Delicious acidity and sweetness. Harmonious. Retails for around $35 making this a steal. Everything you look for in an Auslese.