Chateau De Riviere Chinon 2009 14.99/750 ml.
Wine Spectator 89 points. This wine is 100% Cabernet Franc, which is called Breton within Chinon, the appellation (wine-growing region) that gives this wine its name. Chinon is on the left bank of the Loire river and along the Vienne river, at the heart of the Loire Valley. This wine, like all text book Cabernet Franc, is a fresh and supple red wine with a distinguished violet aroma. The body is light compared to a Bordeaux or California Cabernet Sauvignon, with a hint of green pepper, spice and of course, plum and berry flavors.

Chateau De Beauregard-Ducourt Bordeaux 2009 10.99/750 ml.
2009 was a marvelous vintage in Bordeaux, and thus you can buy some really nice "little" Bordeaux, such as this delight, for what you expect to pay for mass-produced domestic wines. Composition is 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Ready to drink.

Eola Hills Oregon Pinot Noir 2009 17.99/750 ml.
Medium to full bodied with cherry, spice,smoke aromas with a long French Oak finish. This wine is suited to a wide spectrum of cuisine from pork tenderloin to lamb chops to grilled salmon or roast fowl.

The Culprit Sonoma County Red Blend 2009 19.99/750 ml.
Tasting notes: "A big, bold wine with deep flavors of blueberry syrup, blackberry jam and dark chocolate, lifted by fresh raspberries and framed with velvety tannins. This fruit-forward, palate-pleasing beauty finishes long, lingering and smooth." Composition: 32% Syrah (Shiraz), 28% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 9% Sangiovese, 7% Grenache, 5% Barbera, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Primitivo, 1% Merlot. Compare to "The Prisoner" and other similar high-quality power blends from California.

Rubus Napa Valley Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 19.99/750 ml.
Winery notes: "Its long finish displays full mature flavors of blackberry, currant and chocolate with just a hint of toasty oak and black cherry. The tannins are refined and polished, allowing the fruit to be the focus. Serve this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with a variety of bold preparations ranging from Osso Bucco to grilled red meats and cheeses." Released at $27.

Chateau Thieuley Bordeaux 2009 14.99/750 ml.
Great Bordeaux value from the sensational 2009 vintage. Composition: 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Rated 88-90 points Robert Parker. Winery notes: "The grapes were sourced 20 km south of Saint Emilion. This is a hilly area where we grow Bordeaux varieties Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. You will enjoy it with meat, cheese, or simply as an aperitif."

Chateau Saint-Genes Bordeaux 2009 12.99/750 ml.
Great Bordeaux value from the sensational 2009 vintage. Composition: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Rated 87-89 points Robert Parker. Winery notes: "This is a great little Bordeaux AC. We decided to buy this estate situated 10 km south of Saint Emilion because of its amazing terroir, and southerly exposed slopes and gravel soils combined with the local microclimate make this the perfect situation for growing the classic Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. We're delighted to present this charming Bordeaux with seductive bright fruit aromas combined with elegant structure. Enjoy with meat, cheese, or simply as an aperitif."

Chateau Fourcas-Dumont Listrac Medoc 2005 24.99/750 ml.
Tasting notes: ""Stewed fruit with a touch of grilled sweet peppers. Silky and seductive tannins leads to a hint of chocolate bar in the finish. Match it with steak, teriyaki, chicken and broccoli dishes and roasted pork loin with brown gravy." List price 39.99. 2005 was a fantastic vintage, and these wines are getting hard to find.

Chateau De Lavagnac 2009 13.99/750 ml.
Great Bordeaux value from the sensational 2009 vintage. Composition: 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc. Tasting notes: "Well made, with good solid red and blue fruits and lots of soft cherry flavors, followed by cedar and vanilla. A solid wine and one you can serve with confidence. Matches well with pasta, veal and pork dishes."

Casa Mateo Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 5.99/750 ml.
Amazing value from Puerto Viejo Wines, their new Casa Mateo label is a newcomer to Frugal's. For house wines, Casa Mateo excels. The Cabernet is on the bright side, with aromas of raspberry and blackberry preserves and notes of toast and butter. Other varieties currently available at the same price: Merlot, Carmenere, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Nolia Catalunya Garnacha 2009 12.99/750 ml.
Nolia is 100% Garnacha sourced from old vines planted on slate soils and granite. This is a similar soil and not that far from the highly esteemed Priorat region. Tasting notes: "Vigorous and sturdy with ripe black fruits and flavors of plums, prunes and blackberries with a touch of vanilla and framed with a little earth and mint. Silky smooth on the palate. A nice match with tacos, beef burgers, sizzling fajitas and skirt steaks surrounded by grilled mushrooms in a light brown gravy."

Rosenblum Vintners Cuvee XXXIII California Zinfandel 9.99/750 ml.
Winery notes: "With rich fruit intensity, our Zinfandel Cuvee opens with a mélange of raspberry, plum, and Bing cherry aromas. Sweet mocha and vanilla spices gather around red stone fruits on the medium-bodied palate. The well-balanced acidity and fine tannins showcase the vibrancy of flavors in this accessible wine. A wine suited for all occasions, it pairs well with barbecued meats, pizza or pastas."

First Press Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 14.99/750 ml.
Winery notes: "Firm structure and rich layers in perfect balance, this wine offers aromas of blackberries, cassis and mocha with the distinctive flavors of black cherries, fig and dark chocolate. Pair it with grilled and roasted meats, rich pasta dishes and your favorite cheese varieties."

Cave De Rasteau La Domelière Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2009 14.99/750 ml.
When the supply of this delicious southern Rhône is depleted, one can only hope the next vintage is this good. Get it while it's here, and see why Wine Spectator rates it 90 points, and put it on their Annual Top 200 list. Here's what they said: "Ripe and well-focused, delivering a dark beam of plum, fig sauce and graphite, laced with hints of lavender and pastis. Very solid, with nice buried acidity holding the finish together. Drink now."

Vignerons Caractere Cuvee Prestige Vacqueyras 2009 16.99/750 ml.
Composition: 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre. Tasting notes: "Made from a blend of primarily Grenache, this wine has all of the classic character of Vacqueyras. Black cherry and blackberry, with a hint of spice and minerals on the nose, and a palate that adds a bit of plum to the black fruits, and that mysterious spicy, earthy, floral character called garrigue in the Rhone." Wine Spectator 91 points. "A subtle, understated style, with dark bitter cherry, black tea and iron notes all wound around a core of mulled plum fruit. Shows a silky texture and long finish. Drink now through 2013. 4,000 cases made."

Les Hauts D'Acantalys Lirac 2009 14.99/750 ml.
This wine is made by the Les Vignerons de Tavel from vineyards that are located in one of the southern Rhone’s top wine-producing districts, Lirac. A blend of Grenache (45%), Syrah (40%), and Mourvèdre (15%), it has a dark cherry and spice bouquet, as well as excellent fruit concentration and balance. This wine is absolutely delicious and an incredible buy.

Chateau Lagrave Aubert Castillon Côtes De Bordeaux 2009 14.99/750 ml.
Winery notes: "This wine benefits from the expertise of the Aubert family, whose crowning glory is Chateau Lacouspaude Saint Emilion Grande Cru Classe. This is a wine of connoisseurs adjacent to Saint Emilion thereby enjoying the finesse of that great terroir. This exceptional vintage is a blend which gives it a velvety texture, berry flavors and toasted notes." Tasting notes: "A boatload of ripe cherry flavors infused with nuances of dark plums, raspberries, exotic spices and earthy notes. Heady and ready to drink and will also benefit with aging. You can pull the cork tonight and enjoy with hanger steak, fajitas, pork ribs with a good spicy rub, or even chicken pot pie." Composition: 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bogle "The Phantom" California Red Blend 2008 18.99/750 ml.
Winery notes: "Now you see it, now you don't. Phantom, Bogle's apparition of three unique varietals, combines lush berry and fierce spice into a wine of complex character. Vivid essence of black pepper, dark fruit and juniper haunts the nose, while brighter flavors of blackberries and blueberries glance off the palate. From the shadows, toasty cinnamon and nutmeg emerge, subtly embracing the deeply luscious and succulent fruit to create a full-bodied, ruby rich wine. Petite Sirah 53%, Zinfandel 44%, Mourvedre 3%."

Cave de Rasteau Le Grand Jas Côtes du Rhône 2009 12.99/750 ml.
Tasting notes: "This Cotes du Rhone is made by the Cave de Rasteau, a co-op founded in 1925. This wine was sourced from vineyards located just outside the boundaries of Rasteau, an excellent wine-producing AOC. It is a great value though as the quality is not far off its more glamorous neighbor and sells for a fraction of the price. Made from a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, and 10% Carignan, the wine displays a dark cherry bouquet along with a rich, ripe fruit flavor that is quite concentrated, but finishes refreshing. 2009 is a spectacular vintage for the Rhone Valley, on a par with 2007 and 2005. The year's high quality really shows in this wine."

Château La Fontaine De Genin Bordeaux 2009 12.99/750 ml.
Tasting notes: "The aroma fills your head with nuances of stone fruits and exotic spices The flavors kick in with plenty of red fruits, cinnamon, nuts, cherries and pencil lead. Ready to drink now and certainly can hold up in your cellars for another 5 years. Perfect with lamb kebabs, veal medallions in a light cream sauce with mushrooms, and with roast chicken dishes." Composition: 50% Merlot 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol content: 14%.

Angels Landing Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 19.99/750 ml.
2007 is one of the best vintages of the decade for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Here is a great bottle, brought to you exclusively by Frugal MacDoogal in the Charlotte area, for under $20! A beautiful textbook Napa Cab.

Chateau du Courneau Médoc Margaux 2009 13.99/750 ml.
Left Bank, red blend. Expresses a rich bouquet of black fruits and toasted notes, supported by fine tannins and a soft mouthfeel. The 2009 vintage is the best since the sensational 2005.

Château Pas De Rauzan Bordeaux Superieur 2009 12.99/750 ml.
The Petit Chateaux offer the first opportunity (for most of us) to buy and drink the exceptional 2009 Bordeaux vintage. Composition: 35% Merlot 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol content: 13%.