One reason French producers often don't put the grape variety on the bottle is that most French wines are made from a blend of varieties - single grape wines are relatively rare there (and often rubbish to boot). Yes, even Bordeaux. BTW CS is particularly the Medoc grape, other sub-regions may use a different dominent sort.

Rhone carries blending the the extreme, from memory they have 10 to 15 different grape sorts in their appellation.

I've noticed that new world producers (or at least the better ones) are tending to move away from single grape wines and are producing more blends (typically one dominant sort and 3 to 5 smaller scale additions). Something to be encouraged and sought out in general as the right blend often produces a more complex and interesting wine than a single variety.

On a couple of your other notes, your comment on CS certainly applies to most cheap CS I've tried. However a properly produced and aged CS is a wonderful, full bodied experience. Sangiovese - try a good Montalcino or perhaps Vino Nobile and you will change your opinion. Good Pinot Noir always tastes to me of spice and I agree with the description of Zinfandel!

To get started in this, the wine ships in November are perfect. Also if you live near a Mövenpick wine dealer, they have decent tastings every couple of months.