2006 Joseph Drouhin "Laforet" Bourgogne (red)

This is a nice, straightforward Pinot for people who want a lighter version of the varietal - and it's a good buy on occasions. I picked this up for $12 at Whole Foods and it has gone well with both a hearty stew and a rich, stuffed fish dish. Cherry up front, without too much comlexity, and a clean finish. There's a little spice in the aroma too, but nothing over the top. A good bottle for a good price. 84/100

2006 Vivac Sangiovese

We finally tempted fate and cracked the first of the 6 New Mexican wines bought in early September near Dixon, NM. I bought 4 at Vivac, including this Sangiovese, which is the bulk of this wine, but which has minute amounts of Cab and Merlot for some fleshiness. And it needed it - I haven't seen a Sangiovese this limpid and pale in color since the early 80s when Tuscany was awash in bad Chianti. Still, a "correct" nose of vine-ripened tomatoes, with some oak/plum in the back, and a largely accurate replica in the mouth on the palate. This is decent - I probably won't go back for seconds, but it was fun to sample the first of our New Mexican purchases. I think the extraction level could be higher, and I wonder how much the young guys running Vivac actually green harvest their graps to improve concentration. 79/100.

2008 Verdemar Albarino

A nice, fresh, blast of pear and beach-stones are the first impression on both nose and palate. Typically light, clear and beautiful in color, we've had this with snail and shroom pizza, and a Mediterranean mezze. What a find for $9 at a local store here in S.Fe. 9.27-9.30.09.
85/100
Bottom line: Not complex, but for this price, its acidity could cut a pork belly. Very nice.

2008 Fontanafredda Briccotondo Barbera (Piedmont, IT)

Now this is more like it - a smooth, balanced, yet nicely acidic Barbera that played really well with the Basque Chicken I made last night. Plum-coated chocolate, nice dark berry compote scents and flavors for nose and mouth. $13? Party-time. Buy a case. Seriously. Right now.
90/100

2004 Navarro Correas (Limited Edition)

This blended Argentine held promise - and it was reasonable at $14 - with its 60/20/20 mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. But there's something off here - perhaps oxidized, perhaps simply sat in the sun somewhere along its journey. Think of the smell of a tar-pit; now combine that smell with the odor of burnt rubber and stewed prunes. Appetizing, isn't it? I didn't think so. The last wine I try from this producer.
70/100 - and that's being generous. You could use this wine for cooking, if you added about a cup of sugar to the reduction.

07 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon (reserve)

I really expected, and wanted, to like this wine. It's typically a solid wine, with great minty-currant Chilean fruit for the price (all of $10). But it stayed very shy for the first two nights, drinking like a low 80-pointer until the third evening. So if you crack it, let it breathe for about an hour (or two), either in a decanter or in a big glass - then you'll get the currant, eucalyptus, and caramel-vanilla notes that you deserve. Wonderful otherwise with a great short-rib beef stroganoff. 82-87/100 depending on when you approach this.

07 Bogle Old Vines Zinfandel

This was a surprisingly shy, but cheap, bottle of Zinfandel. There was none of the huge, strapping fruit and white pepper that I was hoping for. Instead, what we got, alongside braised short ribs and purple mashed potatoes, was nice, delicate jam-fruits. It was reluctant to turn into anything else, but it was balanced and had decent acidity. I can't complain given the price ($9) but still...it hardly drank like a New World Zin. 83/100.