Nevada County Wine Guild 'Orleans Hill Winery' 2010 Organic Our Daily Red From California, USA

This blended red wine, a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Carignan, is an acceptable red for under 10 dollars (it can be purchased for about eight bucks). I think that if you served this wine from a Bordeaux bottle, most people would not catch onto your ruse. That said, drink this wine right after opening because it does not stand up well to the air (after an hour, it goes from pleasant to poor).

Beringer Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon From Napa Valley, USA

This Cabernet Sauvignon is a great example of California red done right. I would put this wine far ahead of Robert Mondavi's 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, but perhaps not as good as (and more expensive than) the Concha y Toro 2009 'Marques de Casa Concha' Cabernet Sauvignon From Puente Alto, Chile. Tastes like cherry-vanilla happiness and worth buying again (Natalie says plum and pleasing tannins).

Paid $26.99 at Petzinger's in Brooklyn

Castello di Monsanto 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG From Tuscany, Italy

This Chianti Classico Reserva is a dry, flat and earthy Sangiovese; a totally competent, yet boring, wine. It holds up nicely to Osso Buco, yet there are no surprises (and for the money, there are considerably better new world red wines). This wine is enjoyable, but not worth buying twice.

Paid $20.99 at Petzinger's in Brooklyn

Sensi Collezione 2009 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo From Tuscany, Italy

This Montepulciano d'Abruzzo can be found for under 10 dollars and is well worth the price. The wine is a dry red and pairs well with Italian fare (cold cuts, pasta and even provolone). This wine is notably better than its Sensi "collezione" cousin, a 2009 Nero d'Avola, which was harsher and more acidic (for the same price).

Paid $11.99 at Petzinger's in Brooklyn

Elke 2011 Riesling From Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

This German Riesling was a crowd pleaser. A very nice bottle for under $15, and though we only tasted it with assorted meats and cheeses (not the best pairings), it held up well and will almost certainly pair well with Asian cuisine. This Riesling is cheaper than Dr. Konstantin Frank and of comparable quality. Worth buying again.

Paid $13.99 at Petzinger's

P.S. The label has an illustration of a pigtailed-schoolgirl dancing.

Conundrum 2011 Vintage by Caymus From California, USA

I have never thought much of this wine (though some vintages are better than others), and with the 2011 vintage, continue to find this wine overpriced and overrated. There is something almost synthetic about this blend. It isn't horrible, but there are better white wines available for half the price.

Paid $20.99 at Petzinger's in Brooklyn

Estancia Estates 2008 Zinfandel From Paso Robles, USA

This is an awesome red wine for the money (and super drinkable). It's packs a fruity punch (black cherry and plum) and has a drawn out, smoky finish. It's also very pleasant on the nose.

This is the type of bottle that you might pay $30 for in a restaurant, and be totally happy with your purchase.

Paid $12.99 at Petzinger's

Don Sebastiani & Sons 2010 Smoking Loon The Original Chardonnay From California, USA

I'm a poor candidate to review Chardonnays as most of the nuance seems to be lost on my palate. Connoisseurs would probably call it heresy, but I did not find this wine dissimilar from a White Burgundy I've had in the $25 price range (which was loved by everyone but me). This wine might have a slight synthetic taste (though it's not pronounced). It stood up to a peppery orzo with broccoli, gouda and swiss and seems like it's best with food.

Paid $9.99 at Petzinger's

Monkey Bay 2011 Sauvignon Blanc From Marlborough, New Zealand

It's hard to find a bad Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. This wine is a particularly fruity Sauvignon Blanc and tastes of grapefruit, passion fruit and other tropical fare. It's a great summer wine, a great wine to bring to a party and a great wine to order in bulk (for cheap) to sip on whenever a drinkable white wine is called for.

Paid $10.99 at Petzinger's

Rex Goliath NV Malbec From Argentina

This is what you'd expect from a Malbec in the $5.00 range. It's not a great wine, though it's drinkable and acceptable for the price. Drink this 20 minutes after opening and without food (it clashes with garlic and onion).

Paid $6.99 at Petzinger's

Concha y Toro 2009 'Marques de Casa Concha' Cabernet Sauvignon From Puente Alto, Chile

This is a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon, and especially for the price. The bottle is built like a tank and the wine packs a punch. Very fruity, very forward and a strong finish as a result of the tannins. Dollar for dollar, this is one of the better Cabernet's that I've had (better than Coppola Claret, on par with Meander for less than half the price).

Paid $20.99 at King's Cellars in Brooklyn

Cantine Leonardo da Vinci 2010 Opula Toscana IGT From Tuscany, Italy

This "Super Tuscan" red blend is made of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, but the Sangiovese and Merlot grapes are the standouts. At first pour, this wine is earthy (the Sangiovese), but after 15 minutes exposure to air, it becomes smoky (Merlot). This wine is a good value and pairs well with chicken and starches, but clashes horribly with Cranberry. A good, inexpensive Italian red blend.

Paid $12.99 at Petzinger's