Count Chocula and Dr. Jekyll

Well, back to reality. Reality is, we Plebes drink $10-20 wines most of the time...I seem to have been spoiled over the holidays. But, if these two characters are everyday wines, maybe there's something to look forward to after all. "Count Chocula" is the Chocalan, Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenere-Merlot, Reserve, Maipo, 2004. Black in the glass, there is a huge blackcurrant jam nose. On tasting, your palate is whacked by an unapologetic raspberry-blackberry fruit bomb followed by a little coffee and, yes, bitter chocolate! Full bodied and concentrated, this is a real teeth stainer. I rate it "good". An absolute steal for $14. Don't expect to age it, though - the next day it had lost a lot of oomph leading me to believe it that it's at its peak.
Now for Dr. Jekyll. A friend at the wine shop recommended the Jekel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Arroyo Seco, Monterey 2005. Nice colour, not as dark as the Chocalan. Medium bodied with nice bright black fruit but a little one dimensional...lacks depth. Light smooth tannins tempered by a spiciness with a moderate finish. This a "good" wine also, I guess the price is right for a California cab at $17. Would I buy more? Well, my answer to that question was to go out and buy a half dozen more Count Choculas....
Cheers!!