We continue to taste-test wines from all over the world, and today bring you some from France, Italy and different regions of California. Some were great buys for both taste and price; some were fairly pricey. Most can be found locally.

BOLD: I’ll buy Crimson & Clover again

2009 Concannon Conservancy, Crimson & Clover, Livermore Valley, Calif. (Total Wine, $11.99)

The label says "red table wine," but this is mostly petite sirah, and I was happy about that. In fact, I was really happy about the entire experience with this Crimson & Clover blend. It has some cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel there, so the entire Bold family of preferred tastes came together beautifully. It’s a pretty purple wine, not opaque, but close to it. The nose is deep cherry and very fragrant.

On taste, it’s a big, chewy wine with a fruity blast. It’s got a smooth mouthfeel and was yummy from the first sip with cola, blackberries, a bit of leather and more dark fruit (cherries, currants). Quite a good wine, especially for the price. It’s on my "buy again" list.

2009 Redmond Ranch Syrah, Amala Springs, Sonoma, Calif. ($10 online)

This was a pretty garnet wine that promised light cherry on the nose. Unfortunately, the palate was a bit harsh; there was some light raspberry there, but the finish was extremely tannic and not pleasant. I corked it, stored it and tried it again the next night, hoping that it would have lightened somewhat, but I wasn’t rewarded.

2008 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Calif. ($39.99, Total Wine; $42.99, ABC Fine Wine; $49.95, Crown)

The nose on this dark purple wine has dark fruits mixed with some leather undertones. It’s a pleasant, deep wine, and also tastes of dark fruits (blackberries), bing cherries and a little brambly. It’s a bit tart on the medium finish, but in a tasty way. I aerated this wine, and it needed it.

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When it came time for the Swirl Girls to test sagrantino, an Umbrian grape they'd never heard of, the occasion called for a Sunday feast with pasta dishes and other Italian wines. (Jennifer Podis / Palm Beach Post)

Sometimes, the most inconspicuous thing leads to grandeur. In this case, a simple bottle review led to the grandeur of a big-bodied, bold, mysterious wine called Sagrantino di Montefalco.

After "Earthy" reviewed an Orvieto Classico last year, she was asked whether the Swirl Girls would be interested in trying a more obscure wine from Umbria, the region in which you find Orvieto.

Why, yes, we would!

And so, on our doorstep we found a bottle of wine made from a grape we had never heard of. Because it sells for more than $40, it went in our "special" wine category and we decided the 2005 Arnaldo Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco Collepiano DOCG was a wine we needed to experience together. It also provided an opportunity to create culinary excess.

We decided to include two other Italian wines we had received. Then we added some small plates to have with the wines. Then the plates grew, and when the three of us gathered on a recent Sunday night, the table contained a small feast. Funny how that happens.

The wines may have been in the higher-price range, but the food was definitely down to earth. Our pairings: a Soave white with marinated olives and an avocado/cucumber/scallion/lime salad; the sagrantino with two kinds of pasta and two sauces; and a Chianti with homemade pizza.

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With the holiday bills starting to arrive in mailboxes, we thought it prudent to list some of our thumbs-up wine reviews for bottles mostly under $20 (there are two that sell for $25). These are all good deals, and are all available locally.

Here’s to an economically sound 2012 – except for the occasional fabulous, more expensive wine that we just have to drink once in a while. Because life is for living!

2009 Estancia Zinfandel, Keyes Canyon Ranch, Paso Robles ($10.99 Total Wine)

Bold: Now I love my Paso Robles wine, that area having been one of my passions in 2011, so I was looking forward to this wine from artisan winemakers. It had a solid, good, clean taste with a little plum, some deep cherry and faint smokiness. It’s a full-bodied wine with a deep and smoky nose. It finishes well and would be great with any meat dishes.

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Syrah, Columbia Valley ($10.99 Total Wine)

Bold: This Washington winery produces one of my favorite sparkling wines (the brut) and it scores with other varietals, too. This syrah didn’t need an aerator, had a slightly spicy cherry nose, and tasted of mild spice and darker berries. It was smooth and even-keeled with wonderful spice/clove notes. It was a superb food wine and complemented my spicy sausage and Spanish rice dish .

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