2009 Cline Cashmere

Taste: 5/5

Value: 5/5

Price: $15

So, I went to a wine/liquor store to buy Sake for a marinade I planned to make and overheard another customer talking about this wine. She bought 2 of the 3 bottles they had. I was intrigued enough to buy the last one and opened it that night with company and hamburgers. True to its name, it is soft as cashmere but also smooth as silk. A blend of Mourvedre, Syrah and Grenache, this wine envelopes you with flavors of cherries, raspberries, chocolate and hints of plums and ends with a long, smooth finish. Our company was equally impressed!

2008 d'Ardenberg Stump Jump Verdelho

Taste: 5/5

Value: 3/5

Price: $19

I really liked this wine, but it reminded me a lot of Le Lapin Ingenuity, which at $8/bottle is a much better value. Regardless, this wine is nicely floral and tropical on the nose and richly acidic on the palate. "An enticing floral tropical character is noticeable on the nose with white stone fruits, figs, and flower stems in the background. There is good palate weight with pear and lemon characters making way for stone fruits on the mid palate. The acidity and minerality make for a clean and crisp finish."

WS, 85 points - "Soft and refreshing, with pretty apply and leaf flavors. Drink now."