$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.

$4 Sutter Home 2007 White Merlot California CVS

In my search for a budget Rose, I picked up a bottle of this in hopes of a light, crisp Rose that would pair well with grilled chicken and summer picnics. The color is that of a melted pink popsicle and it smells of strawberry jolly ranchers and strawberry jam. It is horrendously sweet in a very manufactured way and tastes like a syrupy version of Strawberry Hill mixed with Welches white grape juice. I would stay far, far away from this monstrosity. I could see some pimple-faced teenager sneak-drinking this out of a paper bag in the back of a hand-me-down '91 mini-van. This is the kind of crap that gives cheap wine a bad name. Blech. There is no saving this bottle.

I give this wine a ZERO out of 5 stars. That's a first!

$4 Sutter Home 2009 Zinfandel California Stater Bros.

It smells of cola and chocolate with subtle undertones of cinnamon and spice. It tastes of berries and cocoa with a nuance of maraschino cherries. At first it is very bold with a sharp finish, but after my palate adjusts, it became slightly jammy with a long, lingering mild finish.

I give this wine a 5 out 5 stars.

$4 Sutter Home Pinot Grigio 2008 California Stater Brothers

I guess this warm weather has driven me to white wine for the time being. On tonight's tasting menu is a Sutter Home Pinot Grigio from Napa Valley. The nose is light and refreshing with pears and lemons and I couldn't wait to taste it. The first sip is a bit harsh and somewhat tart and lacking in fruit. The finish is short and compact. There is not much fruitiness and it's rather bland. About half way through the glass, I began to pick up flavors of sweet melon and the finish improved slightly. But overall I'm not impressed and I don't think I will be buying another bottle of this anytime soon.

I give this one a 2 out of 5 stars