Domaine Galevan, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2005 (France) - This was a gift from a good friend and I was excited both because of its Appelation but also because it's a 2005 which was an excellent year for French wine.  First of note is although Chateauneuf-du-Pape has more than a dozen approved red grapes for the blend and usually is a big blend this bottle was 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre which is unique, plus I love Grenache anyway.  Nancy helped me drink this bottle and we found it smooth and balanced with a good finish.  The classic Grenache flavor came through but it wasn't overdone, and there was a freshness to the bottle.  Good stuff.  I'm going to score this an 8 out of 10, which is a very good score from me, and Nancy said she'd give it a 9.  Thanks so much.

The Little Penguin, Chardonnay, 2007 (South Eastern Australia) - I had low expectations for this both because it was a $7 bottle and due to the name which to me screams mass-marketed dressed-up wine for suckers.  Ironically this was surprisingly good.  It's still just an average Chardonnay and lacks any unique attribute which wows, however, Nancy was genuinely taken by it, wants me to get more and make this a regular, and considering the price I'd say this is a real value.  I asked her directly if she'd call this low average or upper average and she said upper, so there you go, this scores a 6 out of 10.  A fortunate find.

Domaine Jean Bousquet, Malbec, 2007 (Mendoza, Argentina) - This is from the tiny liquor store across the street from home.  I was looking through their wine one day and the attendant recommended this.  When I asked him to describe it the most he could say was "it's nice".  Anyway, it is an organic grape wine and only $12 so I gave it a shot.  Nancy had some too and we both agreed it was easy to drink.  It's mild and balanced, clearly just a low average for 5 out of 10, but decent for the $12 price.