Somebody looked at my blog! Here is what they suggested in April: Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2005, California

"I'm an Oregon Wine enthusiast (snob). I rarely buy wine from out of state. However, this caught my eye.

The taste: fruit forward, not jammy, hints of cherry and some orange. I served it at 61 degrees F. It may have become a bit more earth-complex if served it closer to room temp. The tannins were mouthy and round with just a hint of oak- rather than the bitter-barrel. It paired very nicely with Morton crackers from Costco and smoked salmon.

Very drinkable and versatile.

NOTE: Recently it occurred to me that 2003-4 (the so called 'good years') have been too sweet. This Mondavi is my 3rd varietal (red) from the west coast of the USA from 2005. Superior flavors and not the jammy-sweets. Also, not any hint of acidic or vinegar."

Garnacha del fuego 2005. $?/2-3 stars

Heavy Garnacha.

Abrazo del Toro Garnacha Tempranillo 2005, Spain. $ 7.99/ 2 stars

Light Garnacha.

Redwood Creek Pinot Noir 2005, Pays D'Oc France. $?/2 stars

Pinot that could be confused with a white wine in a blind taste test: warning! if you do that type of thing. Light- Med body, cherry pit/marzipan hits after the initial wine bite. Distinct.

Druigutti Malbec 2004, Mendoza Argentina. $8.99/3 stars

This is a pleasant wine, a little sweet, medium bodied. Consistent flavor.

Wild Gaucho Malbec, Mendoza 2004. $8.99/2 stars

Clay, reeds, claret, spice, acid. Or, medium to thin bodied wine with acidic finish.

Yellow Tail Shiraz, Australia 2006. $5/2 stars

Old reliable. Sweet, grapey with the teeniest bit of spice. My Indian friend who doesn't really like wine chose this one.

Balcom & Moe, washington Red Table WIne 1998. $8.99/3 stars

Been a while since we had this one, remember it was medium bodied, not too sweet, balanced and really good.

Penner Ash, Rubeo 2005, Oregon. $20/3 stars

This is an awesome blend of syrah and pinot noir. More full bodied and sweet than just pinot. It may be awesome because it is the cheapest wines direct from vineyard in the Willamette Valley. They say the best pinots in the world come from there. Our backyard, who knew?

A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir 2005. 2 stars/$?

This is slightly sweeter than I like, but comes from premier Pinot country.

Pepperwood Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, California. 3 stars/?

Yummy, full bodied and satisfying. Not a standout but good.

Washington State Red WAWA 4 Red Table Wine, 2005. 2 stars/$5.00

Marked down from $10 for mislabeling? The back sticker overlaps the front. It was worth the sale price, but nothing super special. Medium bodied, not too sweet, assault on senses gauged, consistent.

Folie a Deux Menage A Trios Red Table Wine 2005, California. 1 star/$?

Who added the sugar? The label is catchy, but it tastes like poop. Sweet and cloying poop.

Covey Run Cabernet Sauvignon ?2005, Washington. 2 stars/$7.99

Columbia valley. Smooth, medium bodied, well balanced, just didn't really stand out. Totally drinkable and worth buying again.

J.W. Morris Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, California. 2.5 stars/$2.99

The taste is kind of like the picture. You can tell what it is, though it isn't something you focus on. Great value for $2.99 though. Not syrupy.

Butterfield Station 2005 Shiraz, California. $5.99/1 star.

The fake oak flavor must be to cover up the poor grape quality.

Epicuro Beneventano Aglianico Red, Italy. $5.99/2 stars

Thin-medium bodied, tannic, sour, strawberry. Still hits the spot after a day of skiing. Worth the $6. Supposedly a regional highlight if you believe what they tell you at Trader Joe's.

Marques de Caceres Crianza Roja 2003, Spain. $?/2-3 stars

Everyone seems to like this wine. Medium-bodied, a touch spicy, nothing that stands out too much.

Renwood Zinfandel 2003, California. $8.99/3 stars

This is so easy to drink: pleasant/robust/well balanced/not too sweet/nice finish. Wish I'd bought two bottles.

Chateau La Baume Costieres de Nimes, France. $9/1-2 stars

France is getting a bad rap here. Violet, then mellows out. Musty. Thin. From Tarragona.

Domaine de Ferrairaolles Fleu de Ciste Fitou 2003, France. $10 /1 star.

This one is again, alas, French. Plum & pie cherry pit/tart and crisp. . .and reedy. Tarragona.

Domaine De L'Auster Mosaique Faugeres 2004, France. $10/1-2 stars

Light in color, full flavor, musty but in a good way. It's the thin reedy elusive french wine thing that earns the one star. Not my style. Tarragona.

Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, California. $2.99/2 stars

Cheap yet good in bathtub spodie. Worse wines will cost you more ($3). Trader Joe's Standard.

Jest Red California Red Table Wine, Year? $9/2 stars

Raisin and walnut in a kind of medium-thin sauce, nice finish. If this description doesn't sell you, just read what the winemaker has to say. QFC.

Snoqualmie Syrah 2003, Washington. $7, 2-3 stars

Medium bodied with the trad. spicy start.

Trader Joes Chariot Gypsy 2003, $7.99, 1 star

This is some TJ's commissioned blend. It is fruity, like grape juice, with no complexity. It is sweet and easy to drink, but really nothing special. Should have known with a name like Chariot/Gypsy.

Carlos Basso, Vendimia Tardiva 2005, Argentina, $13, 2 stars

Sweet but not cloying desert wine with distinct ricola (?) finish. Tarragona.

Tabali, Carmenere Reserva 2004, Chile. $10, 1 star

Really interesting. Dark tarry/tobacco flavors. A stark contrast to "normal" wine flavors. Not bad, but not my style. At the Tarragona tasting Friday.

Duval-Leroy Brut

Hey- If you want to spend $55 ($30 on sale at QFC), your girlfriend will say you're sweeter than the champagne. 2-3 stars.

Durigutti, Malbec 2004, Argentina. $10 2-3 stars

Yummy and drinkable like most Malbecs. Tasted it at Tarragona where they sell it for$10.
88 points, Wine News, "Warm aromas of mulberry and cedar box. Tart flavors of just-picked strawberry and crushed rose petals. Tries to sweeten up a bit in the finish" - 2004 Vintage

Carlos Basso, Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Argentina. $10/3 stars

Wow! A green, musky, fresh and full white wine worth drinking again!

Wine tasting at Tarragona. Salentein Syrah, 2003 Argentina. $17, 3 stars

Tried this one at the wine shop down the street. Friday tastings are free: www.tarragonawine.com. Full and bold, not peppery but satisfying dried fruit aroma, "well balanced" according to Audrey. Really liked it. 3 stars.

Wine wheel for the kids.

Need some adjectives? Australian wine wheel.

Reverendo Tinto 2004, Spain (2 stars)

Winey, red, thin and crisp but still tastes good. The finish is acidic, then goes smooth.

somebody else tried the pine and post merlot

http://www.mercurystate.com/2006/04/pine-and-post-2004-merlot.htm

Pine and Post Merlot 2004 (2-3 stars)

On sale at QFC for $5. Wine flavored, red, light merlot not syrupy.