Nathanson Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

venturing back into the budget priced wines, i picked up this bottle at a local wine store, just because it had a low price and i liked the label. i really don't try many wines that i truly dislike. some are just not ready to drink. others are not bad. this one however was really not good at all. it wasn't corked, it just wasn't good. the nose was cherry, and sour ones at that. the taste was very fruit forward but it was more sour cherries and a bit too thin and green. not really sure what the wine maker was trying to accomplish with this. if you have tried this and liked it, please let me know why. i was not impressed at all. sells for about $7, and i would pass on this one.

Ménage à Trois 2007 Rosé

back to the bargain bin and this under $10 rosé. just enjoyed this with a few friends and while i am not a big rosé drinker, i was pleasantly surprised with this one. it is an interesting blend of merlot, syrah and gewürztraminer. the nose was fresh red berries and floral notes of rose petals. the taste was strawberries, raspberries, some spicy plum notes and the floral rose petals as well. not overly dry as some rosés tend to be, this will make a perfect patio pounder for the coming warm weather. this could be a nice way for a white wine drinker to take the leap into red wines.

Cimicky 2005 Trumps Barossa Valley Shiraz

i purchased this some time ago and had it laying in the cellar. i have been tasting quite a few under $10 wines lately so i decided to step up a bit and try this one. the nose was plums and blackberries, with typical australian shiraz pepper notes. the taste was big and bold, with raspberries and pepper. i also picked up some anise and tobacco flavors. a very complex wine that did not disappoint. sells for about $18 and is worth buying a second bottle to lay down for the future, which will only make this one even better. if you like big, bold reds, this is a must try.

Frontera Carmenere 2007

another offering from chile. i tried the sauvignon blanc recently and it was not bad for the price so i decided to go red this time. the nose of the carmenere was blackberry, black pepper, and vanilla. i also picked up a slightly minty, eucalyptus aroma as well. the palate was black cherry and anise, with pepper notes coming through also. the wine was a bit tight and green, but overall, it was not bad. sells for about $7 and worth another try.

Bohemian Highway Sauvignon Blanc 2007

i tried their chardonnay about a couple years ago and it was not bad so the comely brunette and i decided to give the sauv blanc a whirl. we've tried a few of these varietals at this price point and had some luck, most notably with barefoot. the bohemian highway is a nice comparison. the nose was tropical, mostly guava, but it had hints of grapefruit and pineapple. i also got some grassy notes on the nose as well. the taste was very fruit forward with flavors of lemon and tropical fruits. the finish was very crisp and clean and lingered on the palate for quite some time. and at a price of about $7, well worth it. this is another one to remember for the coming summer season.

Stone Cellars by Beringer 2006 Merlot

here is another offering from the beringer stone cellars group. this is a nice, inexpensive merlot that should please most red wine drinkers. the nose is cherries, spicy notes and earth. the flavor was strawberries and blackberries. i also got a bacon note and a spice note of cinnamon. this wine got better the second day, getting more complex, with more earthy flavors coming through. all for the nice price of about $8 a bottle. well worth the price when you are looking for budget wines that are worth more than their selling price.

Stone Cellars by Beringer 2007 Chardonnay

if you like a nice, fruit forward, crisp chardonnay at a reasonable price, give this one a try. this is not a big, buttery chardonnay. the nose is tropical fruits, citrus and a little spice from the oak. the taste was full of apples and tropical fruits with a nice long finish. sells for about $9 and i will remember to have some of this on hand for this summer. it will be a nice deck wine to enjoy with warm weather foods.

Frontera Sauvignon Blanc 2007

here is an inexpensive white from chile that i had with a spicy curry chicken dinner. the nose is peaches and citrus. the palate was citrus, and not the big grapefruit flavor you get from New Zealand Sauv Blancs. i also got melon flavors and a nice crisp finish. for a price around $8, this was a nice surprise. it complemented the meal really well, bringing out some spice notes in the wine. i will have to remember this one later this year when the warm weather returns and sitting on the deck to enjoy a crisp white is in the plans.

Beringer Founders' Estate 2007 Pinot Noir

here is another lower priced pinot noir that i tried recently. as i have said before, finding a nice pinot in the under $10 range can be difficult, but this one should be on the list of one to try. the nose was cherries, red licorice and subtle spice notes. the taste was very fruit forward with black cherry as the dominant flavor. i also picked up plum and spice notes. the finish was medium length and very pleasing to the palate. a very nice pinot for around $8-10 depending on where you shop.

Funky Llama 2007 Malbec

i tried this cheap malbec over the weekend and i use "cheap" as the descriptor instead of inexpensive for a reason. i have tried several lower priced malbecs and only a few were really good, like alamos. this one sells for about $6 a bottle and is probably worth less than that. the nose was red berries. the taste was very fruity cherry and maybe a slight hint of licorice. slightly tannic but not very interesting otherwise. i would rather spend a dollar or two more to get something a little better (although the alamos malbec sells for about the same price and is way better). i don't think the funky llama will be making an appearance at the baldwinegeek home again any time soon.