121 replies to this topic

[detlef]

Kid Cid, on 11/25/09 9:56am, said:

Arabella Merlot. This is a great South African wine for about $10 retail if you can find it. Rich aromas of tobacco and smoke pair with a very fruit forwad flavor of plums and cassis. A very delightful sipper at a great price.

pig devilz, on 2/11/10 9:37pm, said:

what can you all tell me about Ferrari Carano Merlot, 2007 Sonoma County?

the wife had a bottle sent to her as a gift from one the Cali salesmen who is 'in to wine'

I love it!...bottle says 'silky finish' and it sure does.

bpwallace49, on 2/12/10 1:26am, said:

Had a beautiful bottle of Plumpjack Merlot 2005 at Ruth Chris Steakhouse in San Diego tonight . . . . . fantastic bottle

Gotta say, Merlot is still a great value and I'm surprised how long it's taking the market to figure it out.  The Sideways correction really chased most of the crap out of the market and anyone who continued to make it did so because they care about the grape (when it does what it's supposed to) and continue to make it even though they have to basically give it away.  That's good for us.  Not exactly bargain bin material, but I'm still getting Northstar Merlot from Washington (a joint effort between some guys from Chat St. Michelle and Antinori of Italy) at $20 wholesale, which is half what it cost 5 years ago.  It's insanely good.  Deep, ripe, and totally balanced.  Anyone used to Merlot being a simple quaff would never pick it out as Merlot.

I'd imagine that my market isn't the only place where they're discounting it so heavily, so it might be worth asking your local retailer.

Edited by detlef, 13 February 2010 - 05:27 PM.

[BeeR]

Being unemployed will definitely make you re-assess just how much you "need" to spend for wine.      Is Boones Farm still .98/bottle??  

Also being sold in the grocery store doesn't hurt, like to keep extra trips to the wine store to a minimum.

Someone mentioned Chateau St. Michelle Reisling - slightly sweet for my tastes (well hey it's a Reisling) but agree well worth the mere $7-8.  Like Menage a Trois for an inexpensive red blend.  Dancing Bull also makes a nice Zin for about $9-10, I think.  Used to like several of the Penfolds selections but haven't cared for what I've had the last few times.  I also found Jacobs Creek Shiraz for only $6 at the store the other day.  I've actually only had it once or twice some time back, but thought it was respectable both times - if that still holds, one helluva deal.

Edited by BeeR, 13 February 2010 - 07:11 PM.

[pig devilz]

detlef, on 2/13/10 5:26pm, said:

Gotta say, Merlot is still a great value and I'm surprised how long it's taking the market to figure it out.  The Sideways correction really chased most of the crap out of the market and anyone who continued to make it did so because they care about the grape (when it does what it's supposed to) and continue to make it even though they have to basically give it away.  That's good for us.  Not exactly bargain bin material, but I'm still getting Northstar Merlot from Washington (a joint effort between some guys from Chat St. Michelle and Antinori of Italy) at $20 wholesale, which is half what it cost 5 years ago.  It's insanely good.  Deep, ripe, and totally balanced.  Anyone used to Merlot being a simple quaff would never pick it out as Merlot.

I'd imagine that my market isn't the only place where they're discounting it so heavily, so it might be worth asking your local retailer.

thanks for the tip detlef....i'll try it

i don't like dry wines like CS's and such, that Ferrari had a real smooth finish.
Anything else you guys can suggest, i'll try them...don't know much about wine, but not clueless either.

[Bier Meister]

cabs:
- frei brothers, around $20
- rosenblum, around $12
- hahn, around $14
- joel gott, around $18
- ramsey, around $12


zin:
- 4 vines, around $12
- sterling, around $14


some other reds:
- raymond R merlot, around $13

- st francis claret, around $20
- markham merlot, around $17

[Rovers]

I have recently gotten a few bottles of a Chilean wine I like, Casillero del Diablo, the Cab Sav 2008 for about nine bucks. I want to try the Merlot next, priced the same. Anyone try this? I'm no wine expert by any stretch, but I like it. Very smooth, heavy cherry and some mocha hints.

[detlef]

Commanderie de Peyrassol 'La Criox de Peyrassol' Rouge 2008

Highlight of the day for me yesterday (among about 50 wines tasted) in terms of value.  My wholesale cost is around $9, so expect to see it in stores for the low teens.  Something finally clicked for me in terms of when iron tastes good in a wine.  Iron on the front and fruit on the back means it tastes like meat, which is obviously a good thing.  Iron on the back means it tastes like, well, metal, which obviously sort of sucks.  This would certainly be the former and I'm putting it on by the glass.  Lush and ripe so you don't have to work at it, but the aforementioned meaty quality means it'll hold up to anything.  All this and without a dominant oak presence.

[Bier Meister]

Domaine de la Becasssonne: cotes du rhone, blanc- $15

50% roussanne, 30% grenache, 20% clairette.  green apple aromas.  apricot, peach, honeysuckle, and mineral on the palette.  really loved this wine tonight!!!

[Furd]

2008 Vina Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc (Chile) - $7.99

Crisp.  Lots of citrus/fruit.  I had it with shrimp.  I don't think that I would pair it with food other than a mild seafood.

If you're looking for something to chill down for the summer, you could do worse.

[Azazello1313]

2006 TORRES CELESTE RIBERA DEL DUERO "7:00 PM"

wow, LOVED this spanish red.  loved it the way I haven't loved a fairly cheap wine in quite a while.  very fruity (cherry, blackberry, even strawberry?) and yet earthy.  they had it on sale for 12 bucks (i think?) at my local licquor store, I may go back and buy whatever they have left.

[Kid Cid]

This is my current selection of wines $15 and under that I think are palatable. You may be willing to agree or disagree, you choice. However, I think it represents a great place to start for the novice wine drinker and it exposes them to wines from all over the world. I will be amending this in the future as I want to add more whites to this list, but right now, this will have to do. I'll add this to the bargain list post as well.

http://www.corrundum...-wine-list.aspx

[BeeR]

Layer Cake Primivito.  Best Primo I've ever had.  Modestly priced too.

Edited by BeeR, 03 April 2011 - 08:25 PM.

[Scooby's Hubby]

Azazello1313, on 7/20/10 12:56am, said:

2006 TORRES CELESTE RIBERA DEL DUERO "7:00 PM"

wow, LOVED this spanish red.  loved it the way I haven't loved a fairly cheap wine in quite a while.  very fruity (cherry, blackberry, even strawberry?) and yet earthy.  they had it on sale for 12 bucks (i think?) at my local licquor store, I may go back and buy whatever they have left.

sounds like it would go well with pork ribs.  may try to find it today.  TY

[detlef]

Allegrini + Renacer Enamore

OK, so at $30, it may be a stretch to put it here.  But here's why I did.  It's basically Amarone, just from Argentina.  The guy who owns the Argentine winery went to school with the guy who is currently running Allegrini (among the finest Amarone producers) and his daughter suggested once that they should try to make Amarone in Argentia.  So, they sent their winemaker down there and figured it out.  Turns out, because it's so dry in Argentia, the grapes dry faster.  Regardless, the point of putting it here is that, typically, if you want Amarone, you've got to pay through the nose.  "Cheap" Amarone, and by cheap I mean less than $40, generally sucks.  This, on the other hand is outstanding.  

It's not going to make you forget the last time you had a truly remarkable Amarone, but it's better than anything you'll try of it's kind for the money.  If you want to spend any less, you pretty much have to go with Valpo Ripasso, which is nice and has the dried fruit qualities, but not the weight.

[RC94]

I have been using a Spanish red called Venta Morales - Tempranillo for cooking but had a glass and it's good.  It's a dry red and it costs $7.  Definitely a bargain.

[JoJoTheWebToedBoy]

CaP, on 22 January 2008 - 12:43 PM, said:

I like Riesling, and Chateau St. Michelle is pretty darn cheap. Around $7 = $8 per bottle. Kendall Jackson is good as well.

Check out Coronado, made in AZ. Very nice Riesling

http://www.coronadovineyards.com/

[CaP'N GRuNGe]

JoJoTheWebToedBoy, on 28 February 2012 - 08:32 PM, said:

Check out Coronado, made in AZ. Very nice Riesling

http://www.coronadovineyards.com/

Thanks. I'll have to keep my eye out and give that one a try.

[matt770]

Wife and I dined at one of our favorite spots Saturday night and split a bottle of Felino 2010 Cabernet.  It's from Argentina and we both really enjoyed it, really layered and interesting flavors and very drinkable.  Paired perfectly with our steaks.  She stopped at Total Wine and found it for $22, a bargain IMO.  One of the best wines I've had in a while.

[detlef]

matt770, on 05 June 2012 - 05:28 PM, said:

Wife and I dined at one of our favorite spots Saturday night and split a bottle of Felino 2010 Cabernet.  It's from Argentina and we both really enjoyed it, really layered and interesting flavors and very drinkable.  Paired perfectly with our steaks.  She stopped at Total Wine and found it for $22, a bargain IMO.  One of the best wines I've had in a while.

I mentioned it in my Argentina recap thread, but Argentine Cab was among the most pleasant surprises while down there.  Expected to taste great Malbecs, but was blown away by the Cabs.  Virtually every one we tried.

[Scooby's Hubby]

Bier Meister, on 13 February 2010 - 11:12 PM, said:

cabs:
- frei brothers, around $20
- rosenblum, around $12
- hahn, around $14
- joel gott, around $18
- ramsey, around $12


zin:
- 4 vines, around $12
- sterling, around $14


some other reds:
- raymond R merlot, around $13

- st francis claret, around $20
- markham merlot, around $17

Bier, I am into the Joel Gott, bigtime.  It is all I am buying right now as far as Cabs go....

I also like the Sopia Rose chilled (Coppola), very good summer wine.

[detlef]

Scooby, on 19 July 2012 - 08:53 PM, said:

Bier, I am into the Joel Gott, bigtime.  It is all I am buying right now as far as Cabs go....

I also like the Sopia Rose chilled (Coppola), very good summer wine.

If you like the Joel Gott and want to save some jack, he also makes a lower-end Cab called, "The Show" that is a bit of a fruit bomb as far as Cabs go (then again, that's sort of his thing) but delicious and very easy to like.

[Croe]

These are fantastic wines for the price if you can find them - all suggestions from the top chef in NJ Nicholas Haray who used to be a sommelier for one of the best restaurants in the country Jean-Georges.

They can be ordered on restaurant nicholas's website
2010 Fabre-Montmayou Patagonia Malbec $13.50
2010 Clos Julien Chardonnay Sonoma Coast $15.00
2010 Clos Julien pinot noir $15.00
Domaine de la Citadelle, La Chataignier Rose - $13.00 spectacular in the summer
2010 Farella-Park Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc - $14.00 Best Sav Blanc I've ever had

[Furd]

2010 Bila Haut Les Vignes de Bila Haut Cotes de Rousillon Villages

My first Cote de Rousillon.  Carignan, Grenache and Syrah.  Dark red fruit. Chocolate. Fig.  Very earthy.  It needs a little more time.  About 13 bucks.