Francis Coppola, Diamond Collection, Magenta Label, Alicante Bouschet, 2007 (California) - I've only found this grape in one store and we were excited to try it in our tasting group at work.  Alicante Bouschet is some sort of Grenache hybrid (and I love Grenache) and it was famous since the days of Prohibition in the US because apparently it keeps good flavor and color even if you water it down to stretch it.  When we poured we noticed an intensely dark wine yet it still had some translucence and just a medium body.  The taste was both smooth and rich, it had strong bold red fruit flavors, and just a hint of tannins.  It was universally liked in our group and now I'm motivated enough to repeat this and even give it as gifts.  Nice wine.  Easily a 7 out of 10 for above average.  And I'm happy for this winery because long ago I reviewed their Claret much lower and I'd sort of avoided this brand since, but the Alicante Bouschet is proof they can do some very good stuff.

Big House Red, 2005 (California) - This was a $10 cheap try from the tiny liquor store across the street from home so I didn't expect much.  When you've got a cool name and label, a screwcap, and a long laundry list of grapes on the back of the bottle, you suspect you're just getting marketing hype.  But what's neat in this case is the wine is actually pretty good.  It's fresh, bold, tasty, and the blend of grapes is a somewhat unique combo: Sanviovese, Carignane, Syra, Barbera, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Montepulciano, Zinfandel, Tannat, Aglianico, and Charbono.  About 5 of those you seldom see or know are blended into California wines.  Anyway, this is happily a 6 out of 10 for upper average, and really it's quite a bargain.

Pitti Ceneja, Vermentino, 2006 (Italy) - This was the last bottle of it's kind at Cardullo's, a gourmet shop in Harvard Square where I've tried many excellent wines.  But at only $11 I doubted the quality of the sample (another Vermentino I tried earlier was around $30 -- and outstanding but much pricier).  This sample was OK, still upper average for 6 out of 10, but I thought clearly weaker and less rich than my earlier trial.  Nancy really liked it though and drank most of it.