Cab from Mendoza delivers

There's a lot of buzz about the Mendoza valley in Argentina producing great reds-the classic Bordeaux varietals. Me, I have not had many of these wines and despite the critics going nuts over them, I have not really been impressed....that is until now. The Cassone Mendoza 2009 Cabernet is excellent-not only that, it is only $ 8.99 at Shopper's corner in Santa Cruz -this makes it into my 'weekday' price level . The wine is complex and not overly sweet like some Aussie and Calif. reds so it pairs well with main dishes rather than dessert. I'll give it 8 1/2 swiggs and say that it merits weekend status in spite of it's sub-$ 10.00 price.

Piedmont on the cheap from Trader Joe's.

Here are two Italian reds from very well regarded areas that usually are out of my price range.
Wine # 1 is the 2008 Barolo from Rocca Dell'Olmo. This might not be the deep rich Barolo that you would pay $ 40-60 for, but then it is $ 13.99 so you won't have a reason to complain. It isn't really complex but it is a nice dinner drink for the money. I'll give it 7 swiggs.
Wine # 2 is also from Rocca Dell'Olmo but it is a 2009 Barbaresco-lighter, fruitier and has a lot more going on flavor wise. I really feel that this is the killer deal of the two, only $ 9.99 and definitely more attractive than the Barolo. I really liked the black cherry flavors and depth of the wine, even though it was a lighter body and color than the Barolo. Normally, I would pick a Barolo over a Barbaresco hands down but this is an exception. I'll give it 8 swiggs-definitely the pick of the litter.

Two weekday gems from T.J.'s.

 Wine # 1 is the Napa Station 2008 Cabernet. The grapes are supposedly from the Atlas peak area-this is textbook Napa Cab for $ 9.99 and it is ready to drink. I'm always on the lookout for wines like this-a big red you won't want every night but something to pair with hearty food. I'll give it 8 swiggs.

Wine # 2 is the Black Shiraz Barossa Berton vineyard 2010. Most wines from Barossa ( Australia) are big and jammy-this one is maybe a bit more understated and possibly a more versatile wine as a result. Reds from Barossa at under $ 10 are really rare, so this one at $ 6.99 is a steal. It is a bit lighter bodied than the Cab but has bold flavors that are charcteristic of the region. I'll give it 7 1/2 swiggs-a real weekday bargain.

Local Pinot is a blockbuster !

All the wines from Storr's in Santa Cruz are big and intense-even this 2008 Santa Cruz mtns. Pinot . These wines live by a different set of rules than most. The intensity of the flavors rivals wine from hotter climates such as the Sierra Foothills. I am very partial to this winery and find them to be extremely reliable from year to year for their quality and consistency. If you want big, look no further-this is no delicate Pinot. I'll give it 9 swiggs. Available at local stores and the winery.

Ravenswood Zin comes through

I had this wine at a wedding last month and was pleasantly surprised with the quality-so much so that I bought a bottle to try to see if it would be a good budget weekday red. I think it passed the test. This Ravenswood old vine 2010 Zin  isn't a blockbuster but at $ 6.99 it delivers some good flavors. I think it is better than a lot of similarly priced wines and I'll give it 6 swiggs. From Trader Joes.

Well, this used to be a reliable cheapie.

Ten years ago when I was looking for a nice under $ 6 bottle I could always depend on the Perrin Reserve 2010 Cotes du Rhone. Well, times have changed and this wine was not as good as I remembered. It is drinakble and not offending but it might not stack up well against other $ 5.99 wine.....and that's kind of sad. I'll give it 5 swiggs.......it will  do when you need a dry red for dinner and can't find something better at the price. From Trader Joes.

Amador zin

This Stonehedge Amador Zin 2010 is not typical of the wines from this region. That said, it is a pretty good drink for $9.99. There's an abundance of raspberry flavors in this rather light bodied entry from the Sierra foothills-most noted for high alcohol wines that will knock your socks off and pretty much clobber your tastebuds with goodness. This one is so light that it is in danger of being trampled by a dwarf. Still, tiny and thin though it may be, it is tasty. At Trader Joes.  6 1/2 swiggs.