2009 Castle Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

Taste: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Price: $8-$13

And I thought Castle Rock only made Pinot Noir (and lots of them)!  I didn't care for this wine on wine night, perhaps because it was #6 or #7...much better the 2nd, or was it 3rd day.  I found this to be nicely balanced with a dark fruit finish. 

2011 Acronym

Taste: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Price: $10

My husband and I bought this for a teacher friend as part of a long-standing joke about acronyms vs initialisms.  Turned out, the joke was on us - the wine was pretty good!  Our friend returned the favor by bringing a bottle to a recent wine tasting (which is why you are getting two posts on the same date).  Of the six wines we tasted, this was by far my favorite.  Although that evening, I doubted I would repurchase it, on day two I found it quite pleasant.  Balanced, fruity. a little earthy, I would put it on par if not better than Apothic, which I occasionally find a bit heavy on the vanilla.

2011 Domaine R De La Grange Vin De Pays Du Val De Loire Chardonnay

Taste: 2/5
Value: 2/5
Price: $13

Description from the Winemaker: The Domaine R de la Grange Chardonnay is gown in the cool Loire Valley on clay and silica soils. This unoaked Chardonnay offers beautiful restrained fruit and bright acidity and exhibits a harmonious, fruity and floral nose. Smooth and crisp on the palate, this wine is easy to drink for all occasions. Serve as an aperitif or with salad, fish, pork, or cheese.
Goes to show you can make anything sound good - I found this wine unpleasantly flinty and sharp.  "Restrained" fruit translated to near non-existent for me.