Casella - Malle Point Shiraz @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $5.99 (Total Wine)

As usual, Total Wine's "Wine of the Month" has not failed me. Almost always priced under $10, Total Wine's monthly selection is almost always stupendous, this is no exception.

I've never been a huge Shiraz fan. Frequently, they're too sweet or acidic for my tastes. This one is very well balanced. Very aromatic, hints of vanilla and cinnamon fill your nostrils. This Shiraz is full-bodied, slight smoke-y flavor with a nice bit of dryness in the finish. There's an interesting, warm, butterscotch flavor within the palette which is especially unusual. It's a smoldering, seductive quality about this wine that makes it difficult to not stop at one glass. Enjoy!

Hardy's - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $3.99 (Total Wine)

Shockingly lucious for a wine priced under $5!

Beautiful, full fruit flavors create a bouquet of tastes to be enjoyed. Berry, ripe cherries, tart pomegranite whisk away to reveal a smoke-y flavor that lingers within your entire palette. It's thoroughly enjoyable and delightful by itself but is even more enjoyable with a flavorful meal. My one word of advice is to not let this wine breathe too much. It is best consumed in one sitting, the flavors become a little less pronounced, the tannin flavor begins to take over. Otherwise, enjoy this super-cheap, excellent wine!

Forest Ville - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@@ (5 corks!)

Retails: $5.99 (Total Wine)

My parents live up North and call me every weekend to discuss our lives---primarily weather related since I'm 2,000 miles south and blessed with continuously beautiful weather here in Southern Florida. This past weekend, my father, an avid mandolin player, had a "gig" which my mother attended. At the "gig" they ordered a glass of cabernet sauvignon. It was so good they "each had two glasses a piece!" They found out what the name of the wine was and the waiter kindly noted, "it's so cheap you'll want to buy a case of it." With a review like that, I had to try it for myself.

Total Wine, being the Target of all things alcohol-related, had it in stock so I had to try this out for myself. WOW. For $5.99, you can't beat this highly drinkable red table wine. Fruit flavor bursts onto your palette; swishing it around in your mouth, the robust flavor explodes on your taste buds and ends with a slight dryness on the back of the tongue. Perfection in a glass all for under $6.

Final Words: It's easily drinkable by itself but the flavors will stand-up against even the most sumptuous of meals. Tasty!

Double Dog Dare - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks!)

Retails: $2.99 (!!) (Total Wine)

Seriously, for the price, this is one heck of a deal!

It may not be fancy like many other wines I've got on here, judging by the name they are apparently aware of how inexpensively priced their wine happens to be. I took the dare, and darn it all, it's a super good value.

Rich, crimson color; bold, classic, merlot taste. The flavors edge on the berry-side of taste with the teeniest bit of dryness in the finish. It's good with food or without, it has enough flavor to hold up against a sumptuous repas.

Final words: I'm speechless, really. I can't get over the explosion of flavor in contrast with the price. I've had way more expensive merlots in the past that weren't nearly this good. Seriously, worth a shot.

Obviously - Argentina Malbec @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $4.00 (Wal-Mart)

Good wine lurks in the most uncommon of places. You don't need to go to an expensive wine boutique to get something unique and unexpected.

I was doing my usual grocery shopping at Wal-Mart --- in this economy it's cheap and it happens to be right around the corner from my condo complex --- and I just happened upon this Malbec.

I'm a sucker for good advertising. I'm often caught buying a bottle because it has a good label or a clever name --- in this case, the name struck me...I've been told I'm somewhat of a smart ass. I thought, "what the hell, I might as well give it a shot." Malbec's aren't a common wine found at most Wal-Marts anyhow, so the novelty was intriguing as well.

To my surprise, it's not half bad! Hidden beneath the smirky title is actually a pretty decent wine. (As you may recall from a previous blog, Malbec is quickly becoming the unofficial "wine of Argentina")

Good, smooth taste with a kick of dryness in the finish. I'm tasting some rich blackberry flavor, the finish is delightfully dry with the essence of tannins, but not overpowering. The only part I don't like is the slightly sour aftertaste, but it's not overwhelming. It's a very drinkable red wine that holds up well against a hearty meal (we had parmesan encrusted chicken and rice with cheese). I wouldn't serve it at a dinner party, but, if you're looking for a cheap, every-day kind of red, this is a good find.

Final Word: Again, not a stellar Malbec but drinkable for sure!

Oak Leaf - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails : $2.97 (Wal-Mart)

This is probably one of the cheapest wines I have ever purchased and one of the most surprising cheap-wine buys! I remember about 3 years ago, Barefoot was one of the cheapest brands you could buy at most major grocery stores, retailing for under $6 on average. Now, with its gained popularity due to its cheap price, it has risen in price to about $8 on average. I'm almost convinced this is the case with Oak Leaf.

For a wine priced at basement prices, Oak Leaf is a hearty. My father, quite the wine enthusiast, enjoyed a glass with me over dinner and was astounded at this flavorful varietal with an unbelievable price. I'm less enthusiastic about other varietals that this brand makes. The cabernet, however, is a great every-day kind of red. Very drinkable, slight dryness in the finish, but overall it’s every bit as tasty as its higher-priced brothers. When you break it down, that's about 75 cents a GLASS!

Final Word: Cheap in price, but not cheap in taste!

Gumdale - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@ (4 Corks)

Retails: $4.99



Gumdale's Cabernet Sauvignon is a bargain that doesn't sacrifice on flavor! Deep crimson in color, this Australian varietal comes from a vineyard surrounded by eucalyptus trees. Oddly, some of the crispness of eucalyptus comes through in the wine. The earthy aroma greets your nostrils with a full-bodied texture of smells. The initial taste is crisp and tingles on the taste buds, finishing with a smoke-y, slightly dry favor that politely lingers on the tongue without overpowering.

Final Word: DEEEELISH! @@@@ (4 corks)

Carlo Rossi - Burgandy @@@ (3 corks)

Retails - $9.99 / gallon (Total Wine)

I used to be a part of a traveling video crew who ventured to San Antonio, Texas on a week-long trip. During our exploration of the famous River Walk, we followed our ears one evening to a tiny Italian Restaurant called Delores del Rio that featured live jazz music nightly. We were thrilled, for one, to find a restaurant serving something other than Tex-Mex, and second, this place had a certain off-kilter charm that drew us back night after night. Delores del Rio was the kind of hangout where all of the furniture was mismatched and dimly lit by 70's style lamps found at a garage sale. (Photo: My fellow blogger Amon Focus )The clientelle looked more like New Yorkers than Texans. Tiny circular tables had candles protruding from empty wine bottles, they drizzled candle wax all over the bottle and table. The food was incredible and the restaurant was about the size of your living room. My co-workers and I had found our "hang" in San Antonio. Plus, the house red was delicious. So, delicious, that it prompted us to ask, after three glasses a piece, what the wine was.

The waiter stammered and said "oh, it's some bulk wine we buy." We persisted until finally he admitted that the "bulk wine" was in fact none other than JUG wine---Carlo Rossi to be exact. The funny part was, they were passing off the Carlo Rossi Burgundy as a "Chianti" and pricing it at $7 per glass! We were completely fooled.

This Burgundy/Chianti is undefined, undoubtedly a mix of a few grapes, hence why this restaurant was able to pass it off for something other than true Burgundy. Having none of the signature brusqueness that Burgundy possesses, this wine was extremely drinkable. Very light, fruity, with a touch of acidity, the wine went down easily with our Italian fare. The moral of the story is, although we may turn up our noses at jug wine from time to time, there are in fact some good varieties out there that are worth a shot. And for under $10 per GALLON, throw a party and fool your friends with your bulk "Chianti."

Final Word: Totally drinkable especially if you're pinching pennies @@@ (3 corks)