Cline Zinfandel 2011 wine review by (PB)

Nice rich black cherry hue with good Zin nose of solid black berry and wild forest floor or brambly goodness with a touch of cocoa.

Rigid foundation with good acidity, rather intense borderline jammy black berry that is really good for a wine at this price point.

Cline makes this front line Zin as their table Zin and is my go to Zin over the years as it is almost always reliable. I have reviewed numerous vintages of this wine so check out the blog if interested.

I paid under %8 for this at Sam';s Club and its a decent Zin and a value wt this price point so raise a glass!

Erath Oregon Pinot Noir 2010 wine review by (PB)

This Oregon Pinot is a very light colored cherry hue with light sweet chery and strawberry bouquet. Slight rose petal and spice notes make this endearing.

Palate--If I didn't know better (screw cap closure) I would say this wine is a touch corked. It is uncharacteristically austere with tight red beerry flavor with shallow strawberry hints. There seems to be a tea suggestion in the finish as well as a smokey ending.

This is not what I was expecting; the aromas was quite nice but the palate just seems muted and out of whack. This runs around $18 though I think I paid $14 which is disappointing. Erath does better than this; if this wine is not "off"raise a glass of a something else.

Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford-- Napa Valley 2010 wine review by (PB)

Straw hue with distinct bouquet of grass and wet hay with guava paste.

Palate--Rigid acidity with forthright flavors of lemon and guava. Finishes bitter with some grass on the end.

I expected a lot more out of this but wound up with more frog than leap. For $15 or higher--take a pass and go whip up some frog legs!

Zenato Pinot Grigio 2011 wine review by (PB)

Apple and pear with citrus and slight melony notes in the bouquet.

Palate--Wild acidity with substantial apple and lemon flavors; note-- the acidity i this wine may leave your tongue bleeding. (I love acidic whites but holy cow...)Short and fleeting finish.

I have been focusing on Pinot Grigio this year following the lead of (NW's)wisdom in focusing on a particular grape each year. I wasn't eager to do so because my limited experience with the grape is generally lack luster and blah. This Italian from Delle Venezie is a good example of what I mean.

I paid $13 on sale from $15 and I paid about $8 too much. I thus far found only one Pinot Grigio (Murphy Goode)worth a second look and found it for $8 on sale.

In fairness, it should be noted that I focus on the lower end price point seeing that is what most people drink so don't write of the grape--yet.

Beaulieu Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Inviting nose of dark berries and black licorice

Full bodied on the palate

Raspberry, gamy notes, and spice on the finish

Summary:

One of the ways to summarize this wine is to say that it's very Cabernet-like. It has the dark fruit and black licorice profie of many good wines that accurately express the varietal.

Beaulieu Vineyards makes many Cabernets, and this one is the basic Napa Valley bottling that runs $20 or so. I found it for $15 and grabbed a couple bottles because it's an easy go-to wine for the Cabernet crowd. Pair with a good meat dish, and raise a glass!

Louis M Martini Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Co) 2010 wine review by (PB)

Fairly intense black cherry hue with aromas of bold black berry, cassis, and sweet dark berry jam.

Palate--biting tannins with solid black berry fruit in big supply with a hint of blackberry jam and a touch of smoke on the ending.

This wine is just too young to be drinking right now. Shows promise for a few years down the road but this is not their best!

I snagged 3 bottles for $12 which is below the normal price point of around $18 or so. At $18 I would have been disappointed; at $12, Lay it down and then raise a glass!

Cougar Crest Viognier 2009 wine review by (PB)

Ever so light straw with tantalizing bouquet of sweet fruit loaded with green melon, green apples sunny fruit melange!

Palate--Gloriously bracing acidity that is razor sharp with nice creamy texture and a veritable fruit salad in your mouth. It finishes quite long with a touch of vanilla cream.

This Walla Walla Valley (Washington State)creation from the grape of the Rhone Valley in France would be lovely with a butter soaked Maine lobster but it is a really nice summer aperitif as well all by itself. I pad $13 for this wine normally priced at $20 so I wish I had bought more! Raise a glass.

Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel Resalte Ribera del Duero Crianza 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Rich wild berries and licorice on an expressive bouquet

Full bodied and dense on the palate

Long, layered finish of dark fruit, licorice, espresso, and a balsamic woody note

Summary:

This is an excellent wine from the Ribera del Duero region in Spain. It's dense and flavorful with a long, layered finish. Made from 100% Tempranillo, it showcases the modern style from Ribera del Duero.

Don't overlook this region of the world when selecting big, structured red wines. Spanish wine lovers need no reminder of this, but it helps to understand that the range of styles produced from Tempranillo may be more broad than any other grape in the world. Ribera del Duero is a region where some of the powerful and dense versions are made. Expect to pay around $35 for this on retail shelves. Raise a glass!

Hogue Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Berries, currants, and a plastic note on the nose

Full bodied on the palate

Simple finish with dark fruit and roasted notes

Summary:

This wine, at $9, is priced right but it carries and odd plastic note. It has been better in the past, and many other Hogue wines are really nicely done. Take a pass on the Cab for 2011!

Michele Chiarolo Barbera D'Asti 2010 Superiore Le Orme wine review by (PB)

Bright cherry hue with earthy bouquet of sweet cherry and port like nuances with slight raisin. Nice.

Palate--Supple foundation with zesty mouth feel with nice fruity cherry presence and a funky kind of forest floor favor that is often a good quality trait of certain Italian wines.

I paid $13 for this Barbera and its what you would expect at that price point; a sound wine that will pair well with some pretty hefty foods or is tasty all by itself so raise a glass.