Conha Carmenere 2006

If you've never had this kind of wine before, good out and try it! It has a juicy fruity flavor with a hint of spice at the end. I had this at an Argentinean steakhouse and it cost $35 which means it retails for around $15.

Muga Rioja Reserva 2005 (Spain)

I love, love, love Spain. But I cannot say the same for their wines. I have never had a Rioja that I liked. It's too classic old world for me. Translation: earthy, like dirt, leather and tobacco. Very tannic. I prefer wines that are smoother and lighter.

Broman Savignon Blanc 2006 (USA)

I like Savignon Blanc. Really. But alot of them have this acidy grapefruit taste that I really hate. This one is from California, and I think that grapefruit flavor may be a typical NZ quality.

In any case, this wine was delicious - light, fresh and minerally!

Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir 2007 (USA)

I don't love too many pinot noirs in the $10 range, but if you go a few dollars up (this one is a fave and is $19.99) you get some delicious wines!

The flavor is cherry (without being too fruity) and wood. Not too soft for a pinot noir which means it will go well with any meal.

Sofia Coppola Blanc de Blancs MINI!!! (USA)

Say what you will about her performance in The Godfather Part III, but she has attached her name to some darn good sparkling wine. Why do I love this stuff so much? Let me explain:

1. It's not just sparkling wine (which I love) - it's GOOD. Great flavor, perfect bubbles... mmm!

2. It's in a can. Yes, a can. 4 individual servings run $13.99.

3. A PINK can.

4. With a straw.

5. A BENDY straw.

It makes me happy. Really happy. Like when I pop a can, nothing else can be wrong with the world. Not the nerve-wracking phone interview or my less than stellar cooking performance tonight (tzatziki is harder to prepare than I thought) could make me unhappy with one of these in my hand. I'm going to go back to my bendy straw and smiling now!

Dibon Cava Brut (Spain)

I didn't hate this sparkling wine, but it was very light - too light in fact. It didn't have much flavor except for a minerally after-taste. There are so many other inexpensive sparkling wines out there (this one was $8.99), that I probably won't get it again.

Justin Cabernet Savignon 2006 (USA)

It's a Cab... Nothing too different from other cabs except for the smell. It had a bit of an unpleasant musty smell. Good with a meal, but I woldn't drink it alone.

Mirth Chardonnay 2008

This is a chardonnay for those people who think they hate chardonnay because it's too buttery or too oaky. This non-oaked chardonnay has a very mild amount of mallolactic fermentation (ie. what makes it buttery). Unfortunately, I'm in the camp that loves the richness of buttery chardonnays. That said, I still enjoyed it. In fact, it tasted better the second day!

But since it was slightly higher than what I'm spending on wine these days ($13), I didn't love it enough to buy it again.

Michel Redde Sancerre 2007

Lots of people don't know much about Sancerre. It's the French Savignon Blanc, but with nothing of the typical citrus flavor of a New Zealand Savignon Blanc. I really don't love a strong grapefruit taste that is common with many NZ wines, but I still prefer the pop of flavor that those wines give. The French ones are a bit too light with food, but good for drinking while watching VH1 reality TV with friends.

Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir 2006

My in-laws introduced me to this wine this past summer and brought it over last night for dinner. I first had in the summer - for those who know me well this will seem strange. I usually prefer white to red, and usually exclusively drink white in the summertime. But this wine is something else. It's very light and smooth - perfect for any season.

Ménage à trois Red Wine 2008

Yes, it's "table" wine. Yes, it's $9.99. But it has a cool name, so when my friend Lisa bought it, I had to try it. I've bought it a ton of times since and have been happy with it since. It's a great gift wine with the fun name. I promise you, it's yummy - no flavors come out too strongly but it's also not a "taste your hangover" kind of wine.

Sterling Reserve Merlot 2002

mmmmmmmmmmmmm!

I received this as an engagement gift from all my business school friends and was told to open it on a special occasion. I felt the 5 year anniversary of my 1st date with TK fit the bill.

What great friends I have! I'm not usually a fan of Merlot (no sideways jokes, please), but this is a bit older and "Reserve", and was so smooth and fun. No crazy flavors, just rich, smooth, red happiness!

Vina Alarba d.o. calatayud Granacha/Syrah

Yep, it's got the fruitness of a granache and the spiciness of a syrah. And the appeal of going to stores the day after Thanksgiving. I tend to not like wines from Spain and this was no exception.

Dona Paula Shiraz Malbec 2006

Why, why, why would you muddle a wonderful wine like Malbec by blending it with Shiraz? I'm sorry Dona Paula and Shiraz lovers, no offense - I like Shiraz, really. I love Shiraz by itself or blended with a Cab or Merlot because of the strong spiciness and the richness it adds to other stronger wines. But not my soft, sweet, light Malbec. It takes over like a weed. So, Shiraz + Malbec = not for me.

Babich Savignon Blanc 2008

Classic, low-priced NZ Savignon Blanc. It was $32 at the restaurant, so probably retails around $15. It's VERY drinkable... as evidenced by the number of bottles my friends and I went through as we watched the Yankees clinch their 27th World Series win!

Rayun Chardonnay 2008

I went to one of my favorite restaurants last night before the Opera - Province. One of the things I love about this place is that they have "house wine", taking a much needed cue from Europe. The white is delicious and you can't beat it for $6 a glass! It's light with a straw, mineral-like flavor, not at all like any Chardonnay I usually drink. The reason? It's from Chile! Also, since the restaurant charges so little, it must fall into the "it's a recession, so I don't buy wine more than $10 a bottle" category. I hope my local wine store has it!

Macon-Ige Chardonnay 2007

It's pretty rare to find a French Chardonnay for under $10, and when I drank this $9.99 bottle, I knew why. I didn't DISLIKE this wine, it just didn't have the flavor of a great chardonnay. Actually, it didn't have much a flavor of anything at all. Maybe it was the spicy soup that I was eating while I drank it, though... I may buy this again, but try to not eat anything when drinking it and just enjoy it!

Top 10 Under $10

10. Pomelo Savignon Blanc: classic grapefruity Sav Blanc. Definitely not as good as some other New Zealand ones, but it's the only one under $10!

9. Cristallino Cava: great sparking wine whether you're making mimosas or celebrating, this is a great bet.

8. Menage a Trois Red: fun name, great red wine. Blends are usually a good bet for drinking on the cheap and this one is a yummy, drinkable wine!

7. Bogle Savignon Blanc: smoother than New Zealand Sav Blancs - great, refreshing summer wine.

6. Apaltagua Carmenere: delicious South American red - smooth and slightly spicy.

5. 2 Brothers Big Tattoo Red: another great blend with a cool name. Every sip will make you happy.

4. Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Savignon: easier to drink than most Cabs, but still has all the flavor.

3. Shoofly Buzz Cut White: I usually stay away from Aussie whites, but this blend is great - it's got the best elements of every great white!

2. Bogle Chardonnay (honorable mention: J. Lohr Chardonnay): classic buttery chardonnays, not too oak-y.

1. Trapiche Malbec (honorable mentions: Terrazas, Altos Las Hormigas, Maipe, Alamos): I've never had a Malbec I didn't like and I've never met anyone who didn't like Malbec, so of course this is number one on my list!

Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Savignon 2006

This is one of my favorite wines of all time. Not knowing this fact, a friend brought it over for dinner last night.

I first had it at a wine tasting at a popular wine-focused restaurant here in Chicago (Bin 36), and was stunned by its deliciousness and affordability. I actually used this wine for a "cheap v. expensive" wine tasting (v. a Frog's Leap cab), and most people liked it more! This wine was also served at my wedding.

So... why do I like it? I find cabs usually to be too tannic for me, or as I like to say "I can taste my hangover". But, they go well with most food, being a good balance between a super flavorful shiraz and a smooth pinot noir. And, it's a good wine to curl up with on a cold winter night. Gladiator's cab: it's just got a soft red fruit flavor without being extremely juicy and is very easy to drink. The label is pretty cool, too - it got some press about being risque! (It's a drawing of a semi-nude woman, but tasteful like Renaissance Italian art).

I've also tasted all of the other Gladiator wines (shiraz, pinot noir, chardonnay) and love them all!

Muller-Catoir Riesling 2003

Finally, the dessert wine of the three wines my friends brought...

This is a German Reisling, but too sweet for anything other than dessert. It was the perfect after dinner drink and went well with my banana nutella wontons! If you don't like anything sweet, though, this probably isn't your drink. But, that means more for me!

Mark West Pinot Noir 2007

This is the second of three wines my friends brought over for a dinner party. Interestingly enough, another friend had given my husband the same bottle for his birthday!

This is a light red wine with a ton of juicy, red fruit flavor. This is a versatile wine that I'd like to drink on the porch on a warm summer evening or in front of the fire when the snow is coming down outside!

Gallo Family Vineyards Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2005

This is the first of 3 wines my friends brought over for a dinner party. We opened all three, of course! They have great taste in wine and always think outside the box. I'm always introduced to new wines thanks to them!

We started with the white... This is a great, classic chardonnay for people who don't think they like chardonnay and those who love it alike. It's not too buttery, nor is it oak-y.