A thoroughly average set of wines this time, which on the one hand means nothing blew me away, but on the other at least nothing was bad.

Domaine Puydeval, 2005 (Vin de Pays D'Oc, France) - This is 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Syrah, and 10% Merlot, I believe it was the 1st France wine I've tried from the famous 2005 vintage, it was store recommended and it was affordable at $12.  And yes it delivered.  It's a tasty old world style blend which was mild enough and smooth enough to even appeal to Nancy too and now I'm to pick up more bottles of it both for us to enjoy at home  and to share with her parents.  But I'd still simply give it a 6 out of 10 for upper average.  On the newer rating system I'd declare it a "Cheap Value".

Zantho, Zweigelt, 2005 (Burgenland, Austria) - This handsome bottle with the lizard motif was the first time I've seen this peculiar enclosure: A screw cap-like top is on it but shallower than you usually see and it twists off too easily only to reveal the true cap protecting the wine is a tiny glass stopper with a lizard motif too and silicone or rubber keeping it secure in the neck.  Strange.  But we all thought that was wicked cool (we tried this wine at work at our wine tasting group).  And the wine itself was pretty good.  Again it didn't blow me away but it was smooth and enjoyable and could be likened to a decent pinot noir with a little extra pepper.  A fun experience and worth the retry.  And I look forward if this is to be a new enclosure trend to gradually collecting a variety of glass stoppers.  6 out of 10 for upper average.

Chapelle-St-Arnoux, Cru des Cotes-du-Rhone, 2003 (Vacqueyras, France) - In the store this was pushed as an affordable quality Cotes-du-Rhone.  I don't know, it's OK, but I'd still call it lower average and each added day it took to drink the bottle it had a little less charm.  Just 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Chateau Tour de Guiet, Cotes de Bourg, 2003 (Gironde, France) - Another wine store recommendation as a good value.  Sorry, but it's just lower average to me.  Plus I noticed after pouring the last glass there was the most sediment and the largest grits of sediment left in the bottle of any wine I've ever tried.  Just 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Red Bicyclette, Syrah, 2005 (Vin de Pays D'Oc, France) - First I know this is what it is.  I see this wine everywhere, it's affordable, it's Vin de Pays, clearly this is mass produced cheap French wine.  And it plays on stereotypical nostalgias of France by putting a cutsie cartoonish bicyclist with French bread on the front and a sappy write-up on the back: "Wines from a place where the sheer joy of living is as easy as riding a bike".... And on and on.  Right.  This label waxes nostalgically about places but never mentions the actual real place this is from and the French are famous for labeling their good wines for the actual terroir where it was grown.  But again, it is what it is.  And I'll admit it wasn't bad.  I can drink this wine, but after trying the Three Buck Chuck from the states I'd say that Trader Joe's $3 wine was near equivalent to this $8ish wine so I would not be inclined to buy this one again.