From Dry:

2008 Benziger Cabernet Sauvignon – Sonoma County, California ($17 Total Wine, $20 Crown, $21 ABC) What a delicious wine and what a great value! This wine has a complex nose of red and black cherry, blackberry, vanilla and cinnamon with hints of red roses. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and smooth with ripe, sweet fruit and a nice, dry finish. A very good wine for the price.

2009 Tenuta Luce della Vite Lucente – Toscana ($24 Total Wine) This wine has a deep garnet color in the glass and a nose of red and black cherry, cranberry, dried earth, dried leaves, toasted oak and cinnamon. On the palate, the wine has sour cherry and cranberry fruit flavors, a medium body and tight tannins that mellowed as the wine opened. The wine is balanced and complex, with high acidity and long finish. This is one that can age.

2010 McManis Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – California ($9 Total Wine, $10 Crown) A deep ruby in the glass with a fruit-filled nose of black cherry, blackcurrant and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is fruity and smooth, with juicy dark cherry and vanilla flavors, a medium-body, fairly soft tannins and a short finish. A somewhat one-dimensional wine, but pleasant. 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Eroica Riesling – Washington ($17 Crown, $19 Total Wine, $25 ABC) The wine has a soft, fruity nose of lemon, apple and peach with hints of minerality. On the palate, the wine is mostly citrus fruit flavors with a high acidity and a dry finish. A very zesty and refreshing wine.

2008 Tormaresca Trentangeli Rosso – Castel del Monte, Italy ($21 online) A blend of aglianico, cabernet sauvignon and syrah, this is a big wine with aromas of black cherry, currant, blackberry, earth and toasty oak with a hint of spice. On the palate, the wine is big and powerful with dark fruit flavors, a nice acidity and well integrated tannins. It’s a big wine but very well-balanced, ready to drink now and very enjoyable.

2007 Gerard Bertrand Grand Terroir Tautavel – Cotes du Roussillon, France ($16 online) From the south of France, this wine has a deep ruby color with aromas of red raspberry, cherry and currant with hints of grilled herbs and leather. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and smooth with nice acidity and soft tannins. Juicy red fruit blend with herbal notes for a fresh, dry wine.

2010 Terre de Asorei Albarino – Rias Baixas, Spain ($15 SRP) A bright lemon color in the glass with a juicy citrus nose of lemon and pineapple with hints of apple, white peach and fresh flowers. On the palate, the wine has a nice medium weight with juicy fruit flavors of apple and pineapple, balanced acidity and a fresh, clean finish.

2007 Zaca Mesa Reserve Syrah – Santa Ynez Valley, California ($26 online) A deep garnet-colored wine with a juicy and spicy nose of dark berries and pepper. On the palate, the wine is big and juicy, full of dark berry fruit. It’s a round and smooth wine with fairly soft tannins, somewhat of a fruit bomb with a kick of alcohol.

2011 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Sauvignon Blanc – Martinborough, New Zealand ($18 online) A single vineyard sauvignon blanc, the wine has a pale lemon color in the glass and a ripe nose of green apple, lemon, lime and grapefruit with hints of cut grass and fresh flowers. On the palate, the wine is light and crisp with zesty acidity and flavors of lime and white flowers. The finish is clean and dry.

2007 Zaca Mesa Z Cuvee – Santa Ynez Valley, California ($17 online) A blend of Grenache, mouvedre and syrah, this wine has a nose of wild berries, white pepper and grilled herbs. On the palate, red rasberries and strawberries mix with darker wild berries for a very fruit wine with a nice acidity and integrated tannins. The alcohol gives a bit of a punch.

2009 Yarden Chardonnay – Galilee, Israel ($18 Total Wine, $22 ABC, $23 Crown) A very different sort of chardonnay with a fragrant aroma of fresh jasmine, pear and banana with hints of caramel and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is round and medium/full-bodied with fresh fruit that is nicely balanced with subtle oak usage. Fruit flavors of banana, apple and pear blend with buttery and caramel flavors along with a strong floral component and a long, dry finish.

2011 Barkan Pinot Noir – Negev, Israel ($12 Crown) A very subtle nose of sour cherry and raspberry with hints of earth. On the palate, the wine is very light with some red fruit flavors and a grapey-fruit punch kind of taste, non-existant tannins, and a finish that seems to end before the wine is even swallowed. A very simple wine and not recommended.

2008 Yarden Pinot Noir – Galilee, Israel ($25 online) A pretty, fragrant nose of cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and leather. On the palate, the wine is light and soft with ripe red fruit, very soft tannins and a smooth mouthfeel. A nicely balanced and pleasant wine.

2010 Benziger Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc – Sonoma County, California ($13 ABC, $14 Total Wine, $15 Crown) A pale, straw color in the glass with ripe citrus and tropical fruit aromas. On the palate, the wine is fresh and fruity with ripe flavors of grapefruit, apple, pear and pineapple, a medium body and clean, dry finish.

2009 Treana Red – Paso Robles, California ($35 ABC and Crown, $43 Total Wine) A deep garnet color in the glass with a very fruity aroma of blackberry and blueberry jam. On the palate, the wine has the same juicy fruit flavors with a medium body and soft tannins. The wine has a slight bitterness on the finish. A somewhat simple wine, and not a great value at this price point.

Blandys Alvada 5-year rich madeira ($19 Total Wine, $21 ABC) This dessert wine is a deep amber color in the glass with aromas of caramel, hazelnut, walnut, honey and coffee. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and sweet with flavors of honey-coated nuts. The alcohol is a bit sharp.

2009 Vale do Bomfim – Douro, Portugal ($12 online) A deep purple color in the glass with a nose of juicy dark fruit and earth. On the palate, the wine has slightly candied fruit flavors of black raspberry and wild berries. There’s also a grapey, Beaujolais-esque character to the fruit. The wine is medium-bodied with a nice acidity and soft tannins.

2009 Gamla Cabernet The Reserve – Galilee, Israel ($16 online) A deep ruby color in the glass with a nose of black plum, black cherry and blackberry, with hints of earth, cinnamon and toasted oak. On the palate, the wine has a medium-body and fairly tight tannins. As the wine warmed, it seemed to fall apart, with sharp and sour fruit flavors and a bitter finish.

From Earthy:

2008 Gérard Bertrand Terroir Minervois – Minervois, France ($12 online) Minervois is an appellation from the western Languedoc in France and this wine is made from 50 percent syrah and 50 percent carignan. What a delicious aroma of sweet plum, blackberries and sweet chocolate it has! But deceptive, as the palate is quite dry and earth-driven. It has a full body of sour plum, blackberries and black currant, but the mouthfeel is soft and elegant. I didn’t find it complex or captivating, so I’d categorize it as a pleasant table wine.

2010 Gérard Bertrand Réserve Spéciale Chardonnay – Pays d’Oc, France ($12 online) The bright yellow color glimmers in the glass, with an ample aroma of lemon and apple. There’s some crispness on the nose, but you also get a hint of the wine’s softer side. In the mouth it’s clean and fresh, with predominant citrus and mineral notes. Although 70 percent of the wine is aged in barrels and the rest in stainless steel vats, I tasted very little toast and oak on the palate. It’s a good choice for those who don’t like heavy-handed oak in their chards.

2007 Stoller Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir – Dundee Hills, Oregon ($40 stollervineyards.com) Interestingly, and admirably, Stoller became the first LEED certified winemaking facility in the United States attaining the rare Gold level certification. According to the Stoller website, it integrates gravity-flow winemaking techniques, energy-efficient heating and cooling, and waste-water reclamation to reduce negative environmental impact. It also uses sustainable farming practices.

The pinot noir’s aroma is light, but fragrant. It smells velvety and smooth, like a spiced cherry pie sprinkled with exotic spices, just pulled from the oven. The palate presents more earthy flavors than fruity and is fairly dry, but quite elegant and reminiscent of some Burgundy wines I’ve tasted.

From Bold:

The Climber Cabernet Sauvignon, Clif Family Wines – California ($14 Total Wine) I reviewed the white wine in this line, so was interested in trying the cabernet sauvignon. This is a bag wine - the pouch-shaped bag holds 1.5 liters of wine, and has a tap on the bottom. The idea is to put it on a shelf and fill the glasses underneath, or clip it on your belt while ascending the face of the nearest mountain. It being Florida, I opted for the bag on my counter and put the wine glass in place. Unfortunately, the tap was defective, red wine squirted everywhere and I couldn’t shut the tap off. Once I cleaned up both myself and the kitchen, I tried the wine. It had a nice nose of deep plum, and a bit of spice on the palate. I found some light tobacco, which wasn’t unpleasant, and some black currant highlights. It’s a medium-bodied wine with a medium finish. I kept the white version in my fridge for about two weeks, and the white wine lasted that long and tasted just fine. Because of the defective tap on this bag, I couldn’t try that with the cabernet, but it probably would have lasted just as long.

2007 Kunde Reserve Century Vines Zinfandel – Sonoma Valley, California ($30 online) I generally like the Kunde wines, especially the reds, and this one was no exception. It’s from old vines planted in the late 1800s, so the grapes are concentrated and the wine reflects that. I expected a big bomb of a wine, and found that in the fragrant smell – big cherries with some leather. On taste, though, it was not as big as it smelled, but still quite good: a little pepper, more cherries, some blackberry and a some currants. It’s on the lower end of a big-bodied wine, and is a good wine for the cost.

Last reviews from Sweet, who has since left The Palm Beach Post:

2007 Spring Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley, California ($50 Crown & Total Wine) This delicious Napa Cab smells like a big pot of stewing fruits - plums, prunes, blackberries, raspberries, all melded together and creating a delicious aroma. It's heavy, dense, thick and well-balanced. It's not a lean, refined Napa Cabernet but instead a big, heavy, oaky wine that lumbers rather than dances. Still, since many Americans love wines like these (including me) it will probably please just about everyone out there that likes Napa wines.

2007 Col Solare – Columbia Valley, Washington ($70 Total Wine, $77 ABC) This Washinton wine is composed of 75 percent cabernet sauvignon, 20 percent merlot and 5 percent cabernet franc. A lovely woodsy smell of evergreen, oak, under bush, blueberries, blackberries and brambles. Smooth, sophisticated and fairly delicious. It's velvety, with no sharp edges and a full-body with a lingering finish. It's a tasty, food friendly, luxurious wine that's worth the occasional splurge.

2009 Quivira Zinfandel – Dry Creek Valley, California ($20 Total Wine) I first fell in love with Quivara in 2009 when Dry and I tried the 2007 zins with a big steak topped with blue cheese. That's still a great choice for this big, fruit bomb of a wine though I'm sure Bold would enjoy it on a front porch. Quivara Winery is located in Northern Sonoma County and practices biodynamics. The wine is 83 percent zinfandel, nine percent cabernet sauvignon and rounded out by petit sirah, syrah and grenache. It's rich, opulent, dense, fairly alcoholic (well, it is a zin!) and is fueled by a smell of raspberries, black raspberries and other dark fruits with a hefty dose of spice and pepper.

2009 14 Hands Merlot – Washington ($12 Total Wine, $14 ABC) Washington wines are increasingly noticed for their delicious rieslings and red wines, and a surprising affordability. This wine is no exception, clocking in at $12, with a softness that surprised me for a merlot. It didn't taste like a cabernet dressed up as a merlot, as so many California merlots taste like to me. It tasted like a softer, lighter, easier to swallow (literally) red wine that will work with a variety of dishes and be excellent with a mid-week pizza.

Candor Merlot Lot 3 – Central Coast, California ($19 Total Wine) What was interesting about this is that it was made from several vintages from several regions in the Central Coast. This merlot is made by the Hope Family Winery - who created my much loved Treana blend. While it was a toothy, large, Cabernet-like big boy, it wasn't my favorite inexpensive merlot. It lacked a sophistication and maturity and I'd probably pass on it for the future and go back to Treana, which isn't too much more than the $19 this retails for.