Two Rivers Syrah 2008

Color: Bright ruby
Nose: Musty oak, sweet earth, roasted cherries
Palate: Warm, deep and earthy, this Syrah is all about the oak. Oh there's fruit too, and plenty of it, along with a bright tangy taste and soft, slightly dry finish. While it's likeable, I also think they went overboard with the oak which is a little overpowering.

It's like a Formula 1 race car: Racy and just barely under control.

Pertinace Dolcetto d'Alba 2005

Producer: Cantina Vignaioli Elvio Pertinace, Piedmont region, Italy

Color: Reddish-purple or deep raspberry
Nose: Leathery oak, roses and raspberries with a hint of cocoa
Palate: Racy with cranberry, cherry and berry fruits. Smooth-tasting with oak and a strong tannic structure. Cherry and strawberry linger on the finish.

Altair Sideral 2003

It's not often (enough) that the scent of a wine lures me in. I admit that sometimes I struggle to find the right terms to describe what smells like a typical red, for instance.

Not so with the Altair Sideral, a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. 4% Syrah, and 2% Sangiovese produced by Altair Vineyards and Winery in Chile. Plum, cherry and raspberry are on equal footing with leather and spice along with hints of eucalyptus and roasted peppers. The complex scent is quiet enough to make me want to taste it. Taste follows the nose on this very well-balanced, medium-bodied winner. This elegant wine finishes smooth with a bit of chalk, complementing the earth and spices.

O'Reilly's Oregon Pinot Gris 2008

Palest gold in color, this wine has sweet scents of melon, pear and pineapple that makes my mouth water. A quick hit of acidity on the palate is followed by a bright fruit medley including pear and green apple. The wine finishes with slight minerals.

O'Reilly's Pinot Gris, made by Owen Roe Winery, shows great personality. It's a crowd pleaser that straddles the line between dry and sweet, and goes great with light appetizers or alone.

A Grand Time for Great Wine Values - The Wall Street Journal

I know people whose wine budgets are small enough to seldom justify spending more than $10 per bottle. If that's you (or you'd like to know whether it's possible to drink well on the cheap), check out this article posted by The Wall Street Journal: The Best Wine Values of 2009 at $10.99 and under.

Among the world's great values: Chile, Argentina and Australia. But there are still bargains from just about anywhere if you know what to look for.

Cheers!

Bodega Teso La Monja Almirez Toro 2007

Tinta de Toro, the only grape used in this wine, is another name for Tempranillo: The great grape of Spain. In this case, the name refers to Toro, the region of its production.

I'll admit that Tempranillo (and its regional varieties) is among my favorites. I like it because it's more subtle than Cabernet, drier and less fruit-focused than Merlot, softer than Chianti, and generally goes wonderfully with bold and spicy dishes. In other words, it has a personality all its own.

The Almirez is deep claret in color and smells of rich earth, spices and stone fruits. The spice and earth carry through smoothly on the palate along with leather, oak, deep plum and fig. The softly tannic, rich and spicy finish lingers long enough to make me want another sip.

This is an elegant, rich and full-bodied wine that's totally enjoyable on its own or paired with equally rich and full-bodied food.