Grenache blend from Santa Barbara county

I looked at the blend of grapes in this wine and thought " Chateuaneuf du Pape" . The Curtis 'Heritage Cuvee' pretty much delivered on the promise of a nice southern Rhone style blend. The dry red wine is very nice with food and will cost barely half of what you would pay for the same blend from France. Granted, new world wines will not have the same exact style even if the varietals are the same but still, this is a really nice blend of Grenache 39%, Mourvedre 26%, Cinsault 19% and Syrah 16%. I was hoping for of a bit more of the Syrah to come through but that isn't a deal breaker for me. I really enjoyed the wine. 8 swiggs and it is $ 16.95 at Shoppers corner.

Italian red from prestigeous area

One of the most sought after wines from Italy is Bolgheri. I have seen these wines for sale but have not been able to afford one until now. The Greppicante 2008 Bolgheri is only $ 19.95 at Shoppers corner and really is a treat. I like the dry richness of this wine. It isn't as pruny or tannic and some of the other top-flight Italian offerings and it went well with our dinner of pasta and salad. I'll give it a solid 8 swiggs and recommend that you pick up a bottle for a weekend dinner some time.

It doesn't get much better than this

I like Tobin James wines pretty much across the board but this one is a knockout. Of course, it isn't cheap at $ 55 , but if you join the wine club there is a really hefty discount on this and other flagship offerings from thei Paso Robles institution. The 'Fatboy' 2010 Zinfandel is crafted from 50+ year old vines and is a big bodied monster of a wine, registering  15.4 % alcohol. I think it really shined after dinner when the dessert had been served. There was another bottle open on the table but I didn't need or want to have more wine. I don't think anything can follow this act. Available at the winery. 9 1/2 swiggs.

Monterey Primitivo

Looking for a red for the hot summer afternoons ? This isn't bad for the money. The Mica 2009 Boar's skull vinyard Monterey county Primitivo is tasty and light , not like the big bold Zins from central California. The wine is light body and not high in alcohol at 13.9% so it won't overpower your food or make you feel a bit slow the next morning. Even though I was expecting something different I was still pretty happy with this $ 9.99 wine and will give it 6 1/2 swiggs, definitely above average at this price and a real deal for a 'vinyard designated' wine. -From Shoppers corner.

Cassone again !

Yes, it's another Cassone wine but this time it is a Malbec. The reserva 2007 Malbec is definitely a great wine for folks who really like the taste of a wine that has had a few years in the bottle. The flavor reminds me of Bordeaux wines I used to enjoy before the prices became too high. Yeah, I know it is a Malbec but honestly, the flavors speak to something a bit more than what you normally associate with a Malbec. This is available at Shoppers corner and is right now $ 14.99 putting it in the weekend category. That said, I would stock up. It is super good right now. The label states that it will be enjoyable until 2016 -I think it is perfect as of this week. 8 1/2 swiggs.

Sierra foothills zin deal

 Today I'm going to Trader Joe's to try to get more of this Boeger El Dorado county 2011 Zin. At $ 8.99 it is a really affordable way to have a taste of the high octane Sierra foothills Zin. There's a lot to like-tons of flavor and a pretty good level of alcohol to balance. I'm thinking that it would be a good pizza wine, maybe nice to have at a BBQ. Either way, the price is right and it will probably cellar for a few years. I give it 8 swiggs......nice score for something that is under $ 10.00  and hopefully not sold out !

Tobin James weekend

 Yes, I joined a wine club. No, it's not local but it is a place I stop by whenever I'm traveling south. These two wines are really great and don't break the bank, especially with the ample savings from being a member of the club. Without joining, the wine above-Primo Sangiovese will set you back $18.00, hardly a fortune for such a flavorful wine. This isn't like an Italian Sangiovese, more like a Sierra foothills explosion of fruit. I'll give it 8 1/2 swiggs. You might be ale to find this at better grocery stores but I got it at the winery just outside of Paso Robles, Calif. on Hwy. 46.

This is their everyday low cost wine, Chateau le Cacheflo. At $ 11.50 this Rhone blend is really affordable for such a good wine. I'll give it 8 swiggs. The winery has a 20% off per case if you are in the club.....they didn't pay me to write this ! I'm just a big fan and have been for many years. If you like super flavorful wines and aren't afraid of 14+ % alcohol , give Tobin James a try. They offer about 20 different bottles, some humble such as these two on up to fancy reserve stuff that can stay in the cellar for special occasions.