Tapeña Garancha (Spain, 2007)

3 stars (out of 5)

We picked this one up at the local wine store because we recently tried Tapena’s 2007 Temparnillo and enjoyed it. Although perhaps a good value wine, this garancha was not as much to our liking as the previously-reviewed Tempranillo. The wine was deep ruby purple in color, and promptly stained my plastic cup from top to bottom. The musty cherry aroma was somewhat unsettling, but the wine opened up a bit in our mouths with flavors of dark cherry and fig. The finish was spicy like a Christmas cookie, cinnamon and clove.

Cline Zinfandel (Sonoma, California, 2007)

3 stars (out of 5)

The best of the bunch, I selected the Cline because I like zinfandel and it had recently been featured on a podcast to which I subscribe. This wine tasted earthy, like freshly turned fields, and had a lingering finish described by different tasters as lingonberry, dark cherry, or currant. Clearly a young wine, it was not very robust and would probably benefit from aging a year or two in the cellar. Overall, I would rate it a fair value at $13.99 but am not sure I would reach for it again so soon.

Anton Bauer Gmörk Gruner-Veltlinger (Tracken, Austria, 2007)

Having just found out that we are hosting Thanksgiving, I visited our local wine store to get some recommendations. Truthfully, they have all been great and we’re having a tough time deciding!

Anton Bauer Gmörk Gruner-Veltlinger (Tracken, Austria, 2007)
4 stars (out of 5)

Although I am a little unsure about serving an Austrian wine at such an all-American holiday, this gruner-veltliner would pair delightfully with a variety of autumn flavors. Elizabeth said the nose on this one “smells like wine,” but others detected aromas of citrus and hard cider. It was crisp and light on our tongues, with a long floral finish and nice minerality. Overall, an excellent value ($13.99) and will probably be at our Thanksgiving meal.

Tapena Tempranillo (2007)

4 stars (out of 5)

The vintner describes this wine perfectly - a pinot noir in blue jeans. One of the lighter red wines we drink, this vintage could have stayed on the wine rack a year or two longer for me, but is ready to drink now for new wine drinkers and those of you who typically drink whites or lighter reds. Served with homemade red sauce and ground beef over pasta, we found the taste full of dark berries with a hint of smoky flavor and a strong alcohol scent. On its own, the wine was light and short-lived but when paired with food the finish was long with a hint of spice. I recommend this wine at the end of a warm fall day with good company. A terrific value for under $10 ranks it four stars out of five.

Folie a Deux Menage a Trois (2007)

4 stars (out of 5)

Besides loving the name (come on, how could you not??), this wine has recently become one of our favorites under $15. A food-friendly blend of merlot, zinfandel, and cabernet, this wine tastes like fresh summer strawberries and has a spicy finish -- sort of like berries all grown up. Delicious with a wide variety of Italian food, the Menage a Trois can also stand up to hearty summer barbecued meats and spicy sausages.