Tasting - Crane Lake Merlot

Crane Lake 
Merlot
Region/Country: California, USA
Year: 2011
Price: $5
With food?: Yes, pasta.

Review from Cheap Wine Reviews: Very wet, with almost no structure. The second glass I had was chilled, which was much better in my opinion. Very light oak.

All-in-all, if you want to impress someone with a large quantity of wine on your premises, Crane Lake wine is the wine to do it with! Otherwise, I would try something like Marcus James or “2 buck-Chuck” that are in the same price range.

My review: This is my second Merlot I have tried, so I tried to compare this one to the Sutter Home Merlot. This one was a lot weaker than the Sutter Home. It had very little smell or taste of alcohol and wasn't very acidic, so it was very easy to drink - much easier for me than most reds. It was still fairly flavorful; it had a distinct bitter berry/grape taste. It also wasn't as dry as the last one. I had it with pasta and I thought it was a good match. It was also very, very cheap, which was a plus.

Tasting - flipflop Chardonnay

flipflop
Chardonnay 
Region/country: California, USA
Year: 2010
Price: $6
With food?: No

Review from Bargain Wine Time: "Another bottle with a cute label. What is this world coming to? But never fear, flipflop wines promise us; “to each, their own.” And for the most part, this Chardonnay delivers!
I served this flipflop Chardonnay about 20 minutes after taking it out of the refrigerator – I don’t like my whites ice-cold! In fact, I find that the fruity flavors develop as the wine warms.
This Chardonnay exhibits aromas of pineapple and tropical fruits. The first sip brings flavors of pineapple and creamy vanilla. It’s a medium-bodied wine with a lightly toasted oak finish. I was surprised by the semi-sweet, fruity nature of this wine!"

My review: I really liked this Chardonnay. It smelled very fruity and very alcoholic, so I wasn't expecting much. However, it really exceeded by expectations. It was fruity but more sour than sweet and it was very smooth. I noticed that it was pretty thick for a white wine, and it left a lasting coat in my mouth after drinking it. I couldn't really detect the flavors that the label said were in it, and it was a bit dry and acidic, but I still really enjoyed it. For $6, I will definitely get it again.

Tasting - Sutter Home Merlot

Sutter Home
Merlot
Region/country: California, USA
Year: 2011
Price: $6
With Food?: Yes, with dinner - pork tenderloin and mixed vegetables

Review from One Stop Wine Shop: Exhibits a fresh black cherry aroma, with hints of tobacco and herbal spice. Medium-bodied, with smooth texture and moderate tannins, it boasts attractive, smoky black cherry and spice flavors, excellent structure, and a long, rich finish.

My review: This wine was a bit stronger and drier than I would have liked. I didn't think it went particularly well with dinner because of its dryness. It was bitter and tasted of blackberries. Its smell was very fruity, but it didn't taste that way. It had more of a burn than the previous wines I had tried. It was also more thick than others; I felt like it left a coating in my mouth. I drank it at room temperature, but I think I may have liked it more if it had been slightly chilled.

Tasting - Redwood Creek Pinot Grigio

Redwood Creek
Pinot Grigio
Region/country: California, USA
Year: 2011
Price: $6
With Food?: No.

Review from Liquor Outlet Wine Cellars: Flavors of red apple, peach and pear dominate the Pinot Grigio and hints of ripe citrus add complexity and fruit perception to the wine. The sweetness is well balanced with the acidity to create a clean and crisp finish.

My review: The label on the bottle described this wine as, "a fruity and crisp wine with notes of ripe apricot, Meyer lemon, and pear." The wine definitely was light, but I didn't agree that it was crisp. It wasn't particularly flavorful or tangy. In fact, it tasted like a good wine watered down. It wasn't bad, necessarily; it was easy to drink and I did enjoy it, but it was a dull taste. It would be a good wine for someone who doesn't like sharp tastes.