A trip to Cost + or WorldMarket as they like to be known now, is usually profitable, even though the stock is smallish in the world of big box stores and BevMo. In spite of a relatively small number of total bottles, the selection is wide and intelligently planned. Their wine managers are familiar with their stock and they have a regular display of recommendations. Their prices are very competitive. Yet, they have a wide range of price points. You can spend over $100 a bottle, if you must. They stock premium dessert wines, sparkling wines in a range of prices and a good selection of microbrews. Wineslacker found a favorite chenin blanc there first, Ballentine Vineyards Lake County, and a new prize, Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua, a Chilean Cab vinified by Domaines Barons De Rothschild (Lafite); not an unknown name in wine. We bought the 2004 vintage for the unbelievable price of $6.99 and found it a very enjoyable, fruit forward example of the grape, with enough tannins to have some structure, but very drinkable. Interestingly, the Caneten Valley in Colchagua Province provides a perfect environment for un-grafted Bordeaux root stock, untouched by the plague of phylloxera.

Alerted to this luscious find by some drunken wine-fiend friend or another, we had earlier found the Reserve version of this label at Wild Oats for $16.99 - yet to be opened, but, how long can one wait? Drink the $6.99 version today and put aside the Reserve for a couple of years and see.