La Finca Argentina 2013 ($4) - Malbec

The La Finca is a 2013 oak aged Malbec from the Argentina Andes. $4 so the price is right to say the least. The back of the bottle states on the palate one will find soft and succulent rich fruits. OK - let's get right into this! My wife laughed as she saw me pucker up on the first sip of the wine. I'm not sure I've used the word pungent before to describe a wine but not sure what else to call it. Maybe a rotten lemon taste? I suppose that wouldn't sell a lot of wine on the back the label. Expecting to find some rich black fruit, maybe some vanilla and spice as the label says - but I'm sorry, I'm not getting any of it. The tannins do linger a bit - but unfortunately with this wine, any lingering is not a good thing. Spend another $4 and make it an even $8 and you can find some decent mainstream Malbecs elsewhere that while maybe uncomplicated, are sure to please. At least please much more than the La Finca. Maybe this one needed more time in the barrel. Maybe more time in the bottle. I honesty don't know and won't find out. VERDICT: First and last bottle.

VINTJS Dry Creek Valley 2012 ($8) - Zinfandel

This VINTJS ("vintages") 2012 Zinfandel comes from Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County which lies northwest of Healdsburg - the area is home to popular Zin producers such as Rafanelli, Ridge Lytton Springs, and Quivira. For some reason I just don't find myself stocking the house with much Zinfandel, but when I drink a good one, I usually enjoy it. And past VINTJS labels have brought very pleasant results - so combine the pretty purple label, $8 price point, and a prolific Sonoma AVA for Zin - I was sold. This one made the Fearless Flyer a couple months back as well. The first sip (OK gulp) I got a bit of a tart taste and wasn't really getting the fruit at all. I let it sit in the glass for about 15 minutes before going back to it and the fruit started to peek its head out a bit more, but I wouldn't call the fruit pronounced by any means. Getting some cherry, blackberry, and pepper. At 13.9% alcohol I wasn't expecting anything overly jammy - but thought I'd get a bit more fruit than I did. Lively acidity and mellow tannins. I actually let it sit in the bottle another day and actually preferred it on day #2 - but just not enjoying this wine like I hoped I would. VERDICT: (sadly) my first and last bottle.

Cocobon 2011 ($7) - Red Blend

The Cocobon Red Blend is one I've seen come across various blogs for years now. It has a huge loyal following and is right up there as a TJ cult favorite with the likes of the Rabbit Ridge and Chariot Gypsy. As I've mentioned before, I'm a sucker for a blend - and the more varietals the better. They like to call this one a propriety blend, but with a little snooping around looks like we're dealing with Zin and Cab Franc (2 varietals that are approachable young) as the main players with Merlot, Petite Verdot and Petite Syrah rounding things out - however the Zin dominates with over 60%. From California and enters the ring at a modest 12.5% alcohol. Fruity on the nose and down it goes. Cherry and vanilla are the two things by far that stand out to me, with a hit of cocoa as well. Finish had light to medium tannins with a little stony at the end. Alcohol and acidity low and very easy drinking. With 6 parts Zin I thought it might be too jammy but it isn't. Tasty, smooth, medium bodied with a few different things going on, although not overly complex. A very nice glass to enjoy with the neighbors on a Friday night where nobody has to think too hard about what they're drinking. VERDICT: Get it and enjoy!