Happiness for $10 or Less (NYT 9/18/07)

Tasting Report: Structure and Personality, With a Small Price Tag Casa Cadaval Portugal Ribatejano , $8.99, *** Padre Pedro 2002 Smoke, earth, cherry and spice flavors in a well-structured Old World wine (Importer: HGC Imports, San Jose, Calif.). Domaine de l’Ameillaud France , $9, ** ½ Vin de Pays de Vaucluse 2005 Mild tannins with attractive, lingering flavors of berry, cassis and olive (David Bowler Wine, New York). Viña Gormaz Spain Ribera del Duero , $9, ** Tempranillo 2005 Fresh and juicy with a lively spiciness (Classical Wines, Seattle). Georges Duboeuf France , $9, ** Beaujolais-Villages 2006 Juicy, fruity and floral. Decent Beaujolais best served chilled (W. J. Deutsch & Sons, Harrison, N.Y.). Altas Cumbres Argentina Mendoza , $9, ** Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Lingering, jammy flavors of cherry and licorice (RV Distributors, Hoboken, N.J.). Wyatt California Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 , $10, ** Big and almost over the top with dark fruit, oak and spice flavors. J. Vidal-Fleury France , $10, ** Côtes-du-Ventoux 2005 Aroma of burnt rubber gives way to flavors of bitter cherry and spices (W. J. Deutsch & Sons, Harrison, N.Y.). Domaine Monte de Luz , $7, ** Uruguay Tannat 2006 Rich and plummy with smoky, spicy cherry flavors (Baron Francois, New York). Ravenswood California Vintner’s Blend , $10, ** Merlot 2004 Fruit, floral and spice flavors; straightforward and pleasant. Paringa , $9, * ½ South Australia Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 David Hickinbotham Individual Vineyard Big and powerful with berry, oak and fruit flavors (Grateful Palate Imports, Oxnard, Calif.).