$5 Black Swan Merlot 2009 California Stater Bros.

I am a huge fan of the Black Swan Cabernet Sauvignon so I am hoping the Merlot is nicely done as well. The nose is somewhat bland, very little fruit. The first sip is rather nice though... slightly fruity, with a nice grassiness about it. After a few sips I begin to pick up some nice jammy berry flavors with a touch of cinnamon and dried apricot. It certainly lived up to my expectations. I would definitely buy another bottle.

I give this Merlot a 5 out of 5 stars.

Round Hill $5 White Zinfandel 2009 California Online

White Zinfandel has gotten a bad reputation for several reasons... it lacks complexity, it can be too syrupy and it's a favorite among middle-aged women earning it the affectionate nickname "cougar-juice." But before you pass judgement on the pink stuff, it might be time to revisit White Zinfandel.

I love what is on this bottle, "committed to sustainability" and the label includes all kind of "green" info about the winery and wine. But I guess what's in the bottle is more important.

This particular one doesn't have much in the way of a nose, maybe a light fruitiness, but that's about it. Surprisingly the taste is very fruity and a bit more crisp than a typical White Zin. It also has some floral notes and tropical fruit punch flavors. I would say the sweetness level is a little sweeter than a Reisling, but not too much. This would be perfect served with a fruit salad or a cheesecake. It's sweet and fruity, yet drinkable. Now I remember why White Zin is a great starter wine for those that don't normally drink wine.

I give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars for a White Zinfandel.

Dirt Cheap Wine- Top Picks of 2010

These wines are the ones I found myself re-buying often because they were easy to find, super-affordable and consistently good. Try them out and leave a comment!

#1
Archeo, Nero d'Avola 2007 found at Trader Joes for $4
At first is smells of smoky, woodsy notes, more specifically, pine. But after letting it breathe after a hefty swirl, subtle cherry notes came through. The first sip is quite delicious, a bit read more...

#2
Crane Lake, Pinot Noir 2009 found at Henry's Market for $3
Oh my, does this one smell good! Super-berry aromas with plenty of cherry notes, yum. Smells like something I might taste at a fancy-schmancy winery. But did it deliver? Why yes, it did. This Pinot Noir is very nice, I am impressed. It is full of read more...

#3
Douglass Hill, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 found at Stater Bros. for $2
This one was one of my go-too wines when I wanted something I new would be good. And for the price, you couldn't go wrong. It is very consistent from glass to glass and read more...

#4
Diablo Creek, Pinot Grigio 2009 found at Vons/Safeway for $4
Light and crisp, a bit of citrus and some mango. The first sip is pretty decent, with some green apple and more citrus in the way of lemons and grapefruit. It has a consistently long finish, sip after sip and it seems like it's ...read more

Vinas Chilenas $3 Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Chile Trader Joes

Delightful nose of grapefruit, mango and bursting with bananas. I thought I might need to add an umbrella to my glass. The first couple sips were a bit on the harsh side, very acidic and overly floral. After it had time to be swirled around a bit and mellowed out, it became very likable. The mango and bananas really stand out after you get past the strong bitter floral notes. Drinkable, but not stellar.

I give this wine a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Douglass Hill $2 2009 Syrah California Stater Bros.

Most Douglass Hill wines are quite drinkable, but nothing to write home about, so I my expectations weren't incredibly high when opening this bottle. The color was really pretty, a bright ruby tone and it smelled of cranberries and cherries. The sip was mild, lacking complexity and lightly fruity. It has a medium finish with notes of dark chocolate. Nothing spectacular, but very consistent from the first glass to the third.

I give this wine a 31/2 stars out of 5

Il Valore $4 2009 Sangiovese Italy Trader Joes

I just love a good Sangiovese and I was excited to try this one- so affordable! The nose was absolutely yummy with the richness of figs, the fruitiness of black currants and hint of dark chocolate and black pepper. But on the first sip, the disappointment set in. It tasted nothing like it smelled... there was an intense bitterness right off the bat, totally lacking fruit and a medium finish of more bitterness. Yikes, this was really bad. Before dumping it, I popped on my wine soiree (aerator) and poured a bit through it. It softened the bitterness quite a bit, but it still overwhelmed the wine. I was ready to give this wine a 2 out of 5 stars, but then I forgot about it on the counter for four days. I figured I would give it one more shot before the drain, and poured a bit in a glass. And you know what, it wasn't half bad. It still wasn't great, but definitely drinkable. So the moral of this story is that if you get a bottle of this, plan ahead to decant and aerate the heck out of it before attempting to drink it.

I give this wine 3 out of 5 stars