Brampton Unoaked Chardonnay, South Africa, 2001, $10 _****
(4 Stars) – Perhaps your impression of Chardonnay is a full-bodied wine with rich vanilla scents. Try this wine – it will change your Chardonnay opinion. Full of citrus and quite crisp. A very good value


Antea, Marques de Caceres, white Rioja, Spain, 2001, $8, _***
(3 Stars) – The folks making Antea must have heard that Americans love oaky wines. This Chardonnay-like wine is made from native Spanish grapes and packs an oaky punch in the nose and mouth. Rich and full describes it to a tee


Cuevas de Castilla, white Rueda, Spain, 2002, $7, _****
(4 Stars) – Mondo value! A zesty white wine full of stony, citrus-like scents. It’s racy in the mouth with a crisp finish that makes it an ideal wine for nibbling on chips & dip or popcorn


Cristalino Rosé, Cava, Spain, NV, $7, _*** (3 Stars) – Pink bubbly; quite a festive-looking wine. A pleasant enough dry sparkling wine. Not a whole lot in the way of character. However, it offers freshness and bubbles for seven bucks. Hard to top at this price


Banrock Station, Sparkling Chardonnay, NV, $10, _** (2 Stars) – Fresh apricot and floral scents lead to tasty expectations. Unfortunately, the flavors are quite subdued and rather flat

We review several wines every week, so check back often.