$4 Sutter Home Zinfandel California Stater Bros.

This wine usually retails for $3.99 around here, but I picked it up on sale for just $2.79, nice! I'll be honest, with Sutter Home, it's really hit-or-miss. They have some real stinkers. But a few decent ones (like the Gewurstraminer) keep me trying out new ones in hopes of a winner.

So this is a 2010 Zinfandel and to be honest it smells a bit past it's prime. A few more sniffs and I pick up some currants, blackberries and a bit of meatiness. Upon sipping it's not quite as over-ripe as I had feared. It's actually quite bright and grassy. It is lacking fruit of any kind... there is maybe a teensy bit of... no, nothing. Not bad if you like a dry, non-fruity wine. It's got a few flaws, but hey, don't we all?

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

$5 Barefoot Red Moscato California Vons

Moscato is the new buzzword of wine these days... usually said by wine newbies who "have just discovered the best wine ever!" It is also mentioned in a few rap songs such as "Do it Now" and the ever-popular "No Hands" which have helped drag Moscato into the spotlight. (And here's a fun fact, Moscato is not technically a "dessert wine" as so many of us think.)

So now to add to the Moscato lineup Barefoot recently introduced a RED Moscato. Yes, you read that right. Moscato is made from the muscat grape and is usually made into a sweet white wine, but this one is a red... well more like a really, really dark pink, but close enough.

I have to admit this wine smells delicious. It smells like fruit salad and I almost want to take a bite out of the glass. Melon, peaches, apples, pears and berries... I am in fruit heaven. (Can someone just bottle this smell, please?) Usually Moscato is heavy on the apples and pears, but this has some nice cherry hints which I'm sure are stemming from the red aspect of the wine.

The first sip is very much not like Moscato- in a good way. I find that regular Moscato can be too syrupy, (not unlike the syrup in a can of pears) but this one is so well-balanced with a nice little zip to it, that keeps it refreshingly sweet without being too heavy. Really it's more like a cross between a Moscato and a rosé. It's very well balanced and I would pick this over a regular Moscato any day of the week. Well done, Barefoot!

I give this 5 out of 5 stars

(Warning, as of this post, Barefoot Red Moscato may not be available everywhere since they just unveiled it a few days ago. But it should be everywhere pretty soon... so keep looking if you don't see it right away.

$2 Hayden- Harlow Pinot Grigio California Stater Bros.

I have been pretty impressed with Hayden-Harlow wines from Stater Bros. The price is nice, and they are quite drinkable but some of them are lacking in depth and character... but hey they're $2 a bottle.

So I have pretty much the same thing to say about the pinot grigio. Totally drinkable, lot's of pears and melon and a tad sweet. A good solid pinot grigio overall, but nothing really stands out and makes me say "wow." But for just two bucks, I think it's a fantastic deal. I have tasted some bad pinot grigio that was much more expensive, so if you want a consistent mild, fruity pinot grigio, this is your best bet. And really, $2? That's cheaper than a Tecate tall boy.

I give this consistent wine a 4 stars out of 5.

$4 Green Fin 2010 White Wine California Trader Joes Organic

Okay, so I have to admit that the 2009 vintage of this wine was less than stellar. But I decided to try the 2010 vintage just in case. Boy, am I glad I did... the 2010 got the vague-ness of "white wine" spot on. Just the right amount of fruitiness, sweetness, tartness... you name it, it has it. It's right up there with a good pinot grigio. I'm usually not a fan of white "table wine" but this one is a winner. I will be buying several more bottles. Did I mention that this wine is made with organic grapes? Well that's just icing on the cake. Drink up!

I give this wine 4 stars out of 5.

$2 Hayden- Harlow Merlot California Stater Bros.

Now that Stater's $1.99 Douglass Hill has gone up a bit in price, I was interested to see the latest edition to the selection of dirt cheap wine. The new $1.99 Hayden~Harlow vineyards collection. I snapped up a bottle of the Merlot to test the waters. I like the concept of the eco-friendly bottle too. Now onto the tasting.

It has a rich, cocoa aroma with some cherries and coke. It is light-bodied and vaguely fruity on the palate with a long and spicy finish. I am a bit disappointed that the overall flavors seem very watered down but the nice finish somewhat makes up for the lack of fruit. Drinkable for sure, but not 100% satisfied.

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

$2 Charles Shaw Pinot Grigio California Trader Joes

I am a fairly big Pinot Grigio fan and was elated when Charles Shaw came out with their own Pinot Grigio. Previously the only white wines they offered were Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. It has a decent nose, fruity, melon-y with a touch of green apple. The first few sips are a bit astringent with very little of the promised fruit. After a few more sips, my palate adjusted, and the wine became more enjoyable. I still prefer the Sauvignon Blanc, but this is a decent runner-up.

I give this wine a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

$3 Crane Lake 2009 Pinot Grigio California Henry's Market

I'm just gonna lay it out for you- avoid this one at all costs. I usually enjoy Crane Lake, so I was stoked to try this one. It smelled kind of "off" but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. The first sip went from good to bad in about two seconds. For a moment, there was a nice fruitiness but then it was quickly followed by a strong, rancid honey flavor. I tried a few more sips to see if it would iron itself out, but no luck. I let it chill overnight and the next evening, I poured it through a wine aerator... still no luck. That horrible rancid honey taste was overbearing and it was just way to sweet for a Pinot Grigio. As a last ditch effort I chopped up some strawberries and let them soak in the glass for a while which made the wine taste like a bottle of Frutezia.

I give this wine 1 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.

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

Callaway Cellar Selections $4 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon California Stater Bros.

It's a bit over-aged on the nose with a light undertone of dark berries. I was not terribly thrilled with what I was smelling, but I am giving it the benefit of the doubt... I have liked Cellar Selections in the past.

The first sip yields barely-there fruits and a mild green pepper finish. After a few sips I began to pick up subtle cherry notes but overall it's lacking complexity of any kind. About half way through the glass I had some grilled meat, and that did bring out a slight jamminess, but it was too little, too late and I probably would not buy it again.

I give this wine a 3 out of 5 stars.

$5 Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc California Vons/Safeway

This light colored wine smells of crisp pears and honeydew melons, a perfect blend for a warm spring day. It tastes light and fruity just like it smells and it even has a touch of effervescence that tingles on the palate. Classic, clean and crisp. I would definitely keep this on hand.

I give this wine a 4 out of 5 stars

$5 Barefoot Pinot Noir California Stater Bros.

It has a nice purple-red tone, but a closed, tight nose. If I really have to dig, it's slightly jammy with a berry. Not any particular berry, just a generic single berry note.

And the taste doesn't vary to much from the smell. A bit of nearly imperceptible fruit, followed by a bitter tobacco flavor. Even though it is lacking flavor, it's still a bold, in-your-face wine but with an immature arrogance. It stutters with the faint taste of green chiles and unripe plums and ends with a long, tart finish. Overall, it is somewhat drinkable but I would not buy it again. Try the Barefoot Zinfandel, which is much better.

I give this wine a 3 out of 5 stars

$5 Barefoot 2008 Zinfandel California CVS

Barefoot is usually a dollar or two out of my budget but sometimes it goes on sale so I like to grab a few bottles when it does. I picked this one up at a 2/$10 sale with a couple of other varietals.

It's got rich, ripe cherries and berries on the nose with a touch of anise. It's very fruity tasting without being too jammy. The tannins are nicely balanced and it has a long finish that begins on the fruity side, and ends with some light nutmeg and cinnamon notes. This is a delicious wine and I will be back for more.

I give this wine a 5 out of 5 stars

3 Blind Moose $4 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon California CVS

It's got a tight nose, some slightly perceptible fruitiness and green bell pepper come through but that's about it. It tastes very earthy, with subtle black cherry. It's definitely missing the fruitiness that I usually enjoy in a Cab. It's got a long finish of aforementioned earthiness and it really tastes a bit past it's prime. I wouldn't bother getting a bottle, and if you have one on hand, drink it or use it pronto. This is another bomb by 3 Blind Moose, see my review of their Merlot.

I give this a 3 out 5 stars.

Redwood Creek $5 2008 Pinot Noir California CVS

It has a tight nose (not smelling a lot a going on in the glass.) Picking up some cola, prunes as well as some unexpected tropical fruit notes. The first sip yields some minerality and green bell pepper. It mellows out a bit after the first few sips, but then it gets very watery. It lacks flavor and complexity. I am not thrilled with this at all.

I give this wine a 2 out of 5 stars

$7 Barefoot Sparkling Wine Pinot Grigio California Stater Bros.

After years of avoiding Dirt Cheap Champagne (technically- "Sparkling Wine") due to limited variety, I am glad it's becoming more popular to offer a reasonably priced bottle of bubbly. I picked up this bottle at my local grocery store and was pleased that the label was modern and easy to read. I usually don't buy anything over $5, but I guess if you're splurging on bubbly, a few extra bucks won't hurt.

I grabbed this one because I have been on a Pinot Grigio binge over the summer, and thought this would be a good way to say goodbye to the refreshing varietal in exchange for the red wines I enjoy in autumn. But I think I may be in trouble since this bubbly is downright delicious! It was lacking that sharp, garish flavor that many budget bubbly's have and it did indeed taste of Pinot Grigio. It was nice to know the varietal before purchasing so that I could anticipate what I was getting.

This sparkling wine is a good in-between bubbly. Not too sweet, not to dry. (Unless of course you have an obsession with super brut sparklers in which case, it might be a tad sweet.)

I give this Sparkling Wine a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

$5 Barefoot Wine Pinot Grigio California CVS

Summer is coming to an end and so is my love affair with Pinot Grigio. It has kept me refreshed in the summer heat, but as the weather cools, I will turn back to reds for their boldness and warmth. Okay, enough poetic crap- onto the tasting!

It's a very light straw color, in low light it could almost pass for water. It has a tight nose with a quick blink of pears and a fleeting moment of lavender. A few more sniffs reveal some ripe pineapple and subtle notes of honey.

Upon the first sip I get some quiet woodsy notes, with a touch of ripe, yellow pears. It has a very slight effervescence which keeps it very light and refreshing. Overall, not terribly complex or overly fruity but a nice drinkable wine.

I give this wine a 4 out of 5 stars

3 Blind Moose $5 2007 Merlot California CVS

This wine is a nice translucent shade of purple-red. They should make a crayola color for it. Cherries are popping out of the glass while I'm pouring it... yum! It is rich and jammy on the nose with some espresso undertones.

The first sip is a bit on the bland side. Very generically fruity and light bodied. The finish is very dry but it's lacking the fruitiness that I look for in a Merlot. definitely not great right off the bat. Towards the end of the glass I started picking up some eucalyptus and some green peppers, but it never really came around.

I give this wine a 3 out of 5 stars.

$2.50 Oak Creek Chenin Blanc/Pinot Grigio California CVS

I bought 2 bottles of this, one says Pinot Grigio in dark letters and Chenin Blanc in light letters. The other says Chenin Blanc in dark and Pinot Grigio in light. Go figure. I have no idea what that means, if anything. Could just be a change in labeling. But with that labeling weirdness and the lack of year... I'm a little worried. Okay, so onto the wine. The nose is sweet and fruity with a crispness to it as well. It's an average straw tone, not to light, not to dark. I picked up on some honeydew aromas with some lemon notes. I was intrigued. Unfortunately, it smells way better than it tastes. Not much going on in this glass of boredom. I can hardly detect any fruit in it at all. This might make a good wine for sangria (trying to stay positive here.) This wine says "blah-blah-blah" to me. I would not get it again, nor recommend it. As Gary V. would say- "poor effort."

I give this wine a 2 out of 5 stars.

$3 Forestville 2007 Gewurstraminer California CVS

CVS carries a really big selection of wine- who knew? And with their awesome sale prices, I might be shopping there for wine more often. Okay, so moving on to the wine itself.

It's a nice, light straw color, usual for a Gewurstraminer. It has a peppery nose with subtle pear and lemongrass notes. The first sip is surprisingly crisp and lightly sweet. It is nicely balanced and tastes of pears canned in light syrup (not in a bad way- don't get me wrong) and lemon zest. After a few sips, the sweetness became more evident. This wine would be great for wine newbies, and it would make a great dessert wine to serve with some cheesecake.

I give this Gewurstraminer 4 stars.