LUIGI BOSCA FINCA LA LINDA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - 2007

13.8% alcohol. From Argentina. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Matured in French and American oak. Appellation Lujan de Cuyo.

TASTING NOTES:

Purple-red color. Medium bodied. On the nose, there's some black fruit but the palate is completely dominated by red fruits. Cranberry-pomegranate-goji berry flavors on the mid-palate with light, spicy oak and black cherry candy on the finish. Smooth with vibrant acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

89+PTS

This wine took me completely by surprise. If I tasted it blind, I would have guessed it was a Rosenblum Heritage Clones Petite Sirah. There's just so much red fruit, not a lot of vanilla oak and it does not taste like most Cabernets. If you are seeking a traditional tannic and dark fruit-based California Cabernet, this isn't it, but if you want to try something intriguing the La Linda won't disappoint. Retails for around $11 and is an absolute steal. Amazing value.

CONCHA Y TORO CASILLERO DEL DIABLO CABERNET SAUVIGNON - 2008

13.6% alcohol. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carmenere. 70% of the wine is aged in American oak for six to eight months. 30% is aged in stainless steel for 8 months. From Chile.

TASTING NOTES:

Medium red color with black currant, dustiness and plum on the nose. Vanilla oak, plum, and black fruit. Somewhat disjointed and simple in its approach. The finish is out of balance and has a sharp bite from the alcohol.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

83 PTS

This effort doesn't quite come together. Given how nice the 2008 Carmenere tasted I would have to fault the Cabernet grapes in this wine. This is an average to below average wine that retails for around $11. There are better options in this price range.

CONCHA Y TORO CASILLERO DEL DIABLO CARMENERE - 2008

14% alcohol. 85% Carmenere, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah. From Chile.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark purple-red color with aromas of plum, toasty oak and black fruits. Black currant, plum, black cherry candy on the finish. Smooth with great signature charred oak flavors indicative of red wines from Chile.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

86+PTS

This is a great value wine. Very easy to drink. Good fruit. Nice balance. Captures some of Chile's signature toasted oak flavor profile. Paired extremely well with pasta. A nice find for $11 a bottle.

CONCHA Y TORO CASILLERO DEL DIABLO MERLOT - 2008

13.8% alcohol. 90% Merlot, 10% Carmenere. From Chile, South America.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark red color with vanilla, smoke, oak and black fruit on the nose. Very smooth with plum, cassis, and herbs.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

85 PTS

A very simple, mouth-pleasing Merlot. Very much a wine I would expect to find at a big cocktail party or event since it would be a general crowd-pleaser, but for the wine aficionados out there this one is probably too simplistic. It is missing character and/or a dynamic expression that would make it something special. Retails for around $11 a bottle.

FRED LOIMER LOIS GRUNER VELTLINER - 2008

12% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale green-gold color with a hint of frizzante. Apple, pear, and citrus on the nose and palate. Clean, crisp, some minerality. Citrus and acid lead the way through to the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87 PTS

A solid offering that retails for around $15. Didn't have enough character or depth to take it to the next level. It was pleasant to drink but left me craving something more.

DOMAINE WACHAU FEDERSPEIL "TERRASSEN" GRUNER VELTLINER - 2008

From Austria with 12% alcohol. 100% Gruner Veltliner.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale gold tinted hue with lychee, apples and pears on the nose. Medium-bodied with citrus and dominant candy banana "circus peanuts" on the mid-palate. Good acidity and great depth of flavor.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88+ PTS

This is a very solid offering for this varietal. Gruner Veltliner can sometimes be too thin or drift into sour acidity. This has a great balance of ripe fruit and acid. Clean, dry but with a touch of sweetness. Retails for somewhere around $16 making it a good value for the quality in the bottle.