San Benito county Zin

There are some really hot days where this wine comes from. The heat does similar things to the wine that characterizes Sierra foothill wines but there is a difference. There's something a little lighter, maybe a little brighter when the wine comes from a hundred miles-or-so west. The De Rose 2007 Cienega valley dry farmed old vine Zin is a very nice example of the area.....high in alcohol but lots of flavor to balance it. I'm a fan, especially as it is available close by at New Leaf market and it is only $ 14.95....a lot of wine for that price. 8 swiggs.

Dry Creek Petit Sirah

The wines from Unti always impress me. I don't think they are following any popular winemaking trends to satisfy the wine writers-I feel that they are making wines that really speak to the grape and the location of the vines. This 2007 Dry Creek Valley Petit Sirah is really great in that it does not go for the super high alcohol fruit bomb formula but retains the nice dry earthiness of the fruit. This approach makes for a wine that really compliments meals rather than dominates with jammy, overbearing raisiny flavors. I'll give this 8 1/2 swiggs-available at the winery and through K&L liquors.

Blockbuster local Pinot

A couple of vineyards here in Santa Cruz make seriously extracted full throttle wines and Ahlgren is definitely that type of wine. This '08 Pinot from the Veranda vineyard may not be what Pinot lovers would expect as the flavor is ballistic like a sierra foothills Zin or Barbera. This might not be the choice for a compliment to a delicate fish dinner but wow.....it really is impressive. For this type of flavor experience I'll have to give it 9 swiggs but if you are looking for a Burgundian Pinot Noir expeirence, best not mess with this one......it's like bringing a bazooka to a water baloon fight.

Washington merlot , just like you would get in coach

Yeah, sad to say-this wine did not display the kind of earthy richness I have experienced from Washington state reds-at least it wasn't too expensive . The Buried Cane '08 Washington state Merlot $ 6.99. does not really say much other than " I am red wine" It does not say 'Merlot' or Washington......it just is. While I have had much worse wines I have had much better, even at this price. I'll give it the neutral 5 swiggs......good enough to drink but not really distinctive. The screw cap is handy, though......

Everybody loves Raymond

There's nothing like a classic Napa Valley red wine on sale to warm my heart. The regular price of this Raymond Napa Merlot 2006 is $ 23.95 but you can deduct $ 10.00 if you happen to be a member of Cost Plus imports. How do you become a member ? Just give them your phone number-no junk mail or even emails will show up, just discounts. This wine for $ 13.95 is a steal and it isn't some bland run of the mill Merlot. It is drinking perfectly now and is delicious. I'll give it 8 1/2 swiggs , very good for a wine under $ 15.00 .

Amost a Brunello !

This is a wine I had never seen before but was intrigued with the label . This 'Rubio' San Polo from Montalcino was $ 14.95 , pretty much a Chianti price range but the look of the lable promised more. The wine delivered beautiful flavors and really came close to what normally costs three times more in terms of richness and complexity. The vintage is 2008 and the wine is available at Shoppers corner. I'll give it a solid 8 swiggs.

Perfection from the Rhone

I'm partial to the wines from Chateauneuf du Pape and it is pretty much a region with great wines across the board. There are a few standouts however and this Domain du Pegau 2005 is no exception. I think it would be difficult to find many wines in the class of this outstanding Rhone blend and the richness and complexity is absolutely amazing . This wine is great now but I think it would be just as good 10 years down the road. There's a ton of flavor , very much like a new world wine in how bold it is but it really shows authenticity of the region in spite of how dense the flavors are. I give it a 10 swiggs rating. I think you can find this one for the $ 60-75 range at finer wine stores.