2009 Beringer Knight’s Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ~$20

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This time of the year calls for classic, New World Cabernet. Sometimes, you need to look no further than the classic labels from Napa. Sure, I’ve preached value in Cabs like Liberty School, but there’s something fun about getting a fruit bomb from Napa once in a while. The folks at Beringer have been getting this right since 1976, so this wine stands true as a California staple. Starting with blackberry and caramel aromas, this wine is big and rich, with plum and black cherry on the palate, with a smooth finish and gripping tannins that would soften nicely, given an hour or 2 in the decanter. If you can find this for around $20 or less, it’s a good value for the serious punch of flavor it delivers. Have this on a Friday night to celebrate the weekend or with a juicy, grilled burger.

2009 Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve ~$18

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I know I just reviewed a Trimbach wine, but hey, what can I say? I love Trimbach and I have a soft spot for Alsatian wines, particularly Gewurztraminer. This wine made a great pairing with a spicy shrimp dish I made for dinner at home because Gewurztraminer is great with bolder flavors and complements other spice flavors. The aromas of this wine were textbook lychee, wildflowers, and honey all the way. On the palate, this wine was rich, with great mouth feel, interesting texture, and a distinct “spicy” flavor—the type of spicy you might get from a gingersnap cookie. Being off-dry, it showed restrained sweetness, with rich, complex honey and balanced acidity, despite having a bit of heat (alcohol) on the finish. Give it a decent chill in the fridge and enjoy it with your next bold dinner choice or a funky cheese like Muenster.