2005 Duck Pond Pinot Gris

Winery: Duck Pond, Willamette Valley
Wine: Pinot Gris
Retail: $10.99

Description: "Extracted and minerally with intense flavors and soft acidity; Alsace-style, long and complex."

Review: 85. Round mouthfeel, dull flavors. Mineral finish. Pass on this one.

2005 King Estate Pinot Gris

Winery: King Estate, Willamette Valley

Wine: Pinot Gris

Retail: $15.99

Description: "Color: Pale straw with brilliant luminosity.
Aroma: Citrus, honey, pineapple, grapefruit and orange blossom.
Mouthfeel: Lively tropical/citrus fruit, balanced acid with nice texture."

Review: 87. Complex nose of perfume and flowers. Decent round mouthfeel, slight peach, pear and citrus with long and not completly clean finish.

2006 Canaletto Pinot Grigio

Winery: Canaletto

Wine: Pinot Grigio

Retail: $6.99

Description: "Bright fruity fresh and crisp. Serve chilled on it's own or with fish, polutry, salads, or light pasta dishes."

Review: 87-88. Lovely. Rich and yet light. Floral, light apples, and apricot on the pallet. Champange like quality. Great wine for price.

2005 El Felino Nativo Collection

Winery: Nativo
Wine: Malbec

Retail: $17.99

Description: "A wine of fine depth and energy, the bright and fruit-forward El Felino Mabec is a solid performer from Argentina; excellent with a savory lamb sandwich and a Greek salad."

Review: 88. Rich; dust and earth; intense. Syrah like structure. Gamey, with currant and red cherry, mildly complex, the dust is the selling point.

2006 Bodega Norton Mabec

Winery: Bodega Norton

Wine: Malbec
Retail: $9.99

Description: "Deep red color with violet highlights. Complex aroma of plums and mature black fruits, licorice and black pepper. Delicate, spicy notes. Tannins of firm, sweet and mature texture. Very good concentration. Round, wide in the middle of the mouth, long and harmonious finish."

Review: 85-86. A basic wine good for grilled foods. Tasty. However, there are vastly superior Malbecs out there, and althought this one is very common, I'd try and find Conquista or some other choice, as a good Malbec is spectacular, and this one dosn't represent the varietal.

NV Jest Red

Winery: Jest Red

Wine: Red Wine

Retail: $9.99


Description: "Giddy pleasure, leaping grace... this red wine, blended from seven noble grape varietals, was crushed by the sirenic hymn of 69 beautiful women reaching for the high note in the wee light of dawn one misty October day. The nose is deeply perfumed with wild dewberries, Himalayan breeding musk and horehound candy, while the flavors, so titillating they may only be disclosed in the Ecstatic Singing Mantra, will remain cloaked in silence until the bottle is uncorked. Sip delicately, sing with abandon."


Review: 84. This one is catered to folks who pick wine because the label is funny. Little attention has been paid to making anything quality. Grapey, too much raisin, spicy tannis, and overall overripe. Much better wines are out there even in this price range.

NV Marietta Old Vine Red Lot 42

Winery: Marietta
Wine: Red Wine: Zin, Petite Sirah, Carignane
Retail: $11.99

Description: "Old Vine Red is a proprietary red wine that is round, smooth, “Zinfandel-like,” and noted for its balance, approachability, and consistency. It is primarily comprised of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carignane as well as smaller amounts of Cabernet and Syrah. Various Italian varietals round out the blend."

Review: 88. Ruby, port like appearance. Very fruity and bright, accessible, with light spice and background structure. Strainghtfoward and yummy. Great choice for a 'beginner' red or basic table wine.