The Best Inexpensive Wines Available Now
Don't let the screw-cap fool you (it's also found with corks), but the 2003 Porcupine Ridge Syrah from South Africa is the real deal. Earthy (very Northern Rhone-like) and complex and only $10.00. Porcupine Ridge is the negotiant label for Boekenhoutskloof, whose $40+ estate-grown Cabernet is as good as many top-rated wines from California or Bordeaux. Anyway, back to budget and everyday drinking, I found the 2003 Porcupine Ridge Syrah as far afield as California, where I live, and Nova Scotia, where we vacationed this past summer. |
I'll second the Bogle Petite Sirah (long time favorite of mine) as well as the Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre. I've found a couple decent inexpensive Pinot Noirs - Gloria Ferrer (I've found on sale at my local grocery store for $16 plus the 10% six pack discount + $10 off coupon for every $100 I spend there) and Edna Valley ($14 on sale plus the discounts). I have several 2005 Beaujolais Nouveau's tha were quite tasty, although I was actually unimpressed with the Georges Debouef. Also recently had a Whitehall Lane Merlot that was only $20 at Costco that I'd recommend as well. |
Here are several wines you can find right now, and you'll want to find them again the next you purchase wine (if possible) ... 2003 White Oak Sauvignon Blanc (Russian River Valley), 2003 Foxy Calif red table wine and 2004 Foxy Calif white table wine, 2002 Avery Lane Merlot, AND 2005 Yellow Tail Chardonnay (huge, rich flavor). Lots of great wines, but ALWAYS try to buy USA wines ... first! Failed to do so with the Yellow Tail, but it's a great wine for so little money. |
| Post removed |
One of the best reds I've ever had: http://lecole.com/pdf/Apogee.pdf At $44 a bottle, it's not inexpensive (apologies to jcbach), but I figured why not mention it, since every person I know who has tried it has subsequently ordered a case. Besides, aren't you the same folks who spend thousands on that hi-fi junk? Also, try their Semillon. It always gets the same response: "I don't even like whites, but this is phenomenal." |
By far, the best under $10 wine I've had is now the 2003 Bodegas Nieto Senetiner Don Nicanor from Argentina. The "Don Nicanor" is a blend 0f 34% Cab, 33% Merlot, and 33% Malbec. It is a rich, jammy, lush wine with moderate oak highlights. To this palate it is superior to many wines costing $30. Wine Spectator a few months back ranked it a "Best Buy" with an 89 rating. It's hard to find. According to WS only 2000 cases mades it to the USA but fortunately for me Gary's Wines in New Jersey has it. If you see it, snap it up. It won't last long! |
Whatever good import in your collection (thus available) that you bought before the dollar became worthless and the Californians took advantage of the pent up demand for the 2001s. The term Meritage is now applied randomly to virtually any blend of varietals from countries that previously used straight varietal names instead of apellations. Since it's Summer any Portuguese Vihno Verde (white) is still a bargain. Its low alcohol and sometimes has a light bottled secondary (tertiary technically) fermentation giving it a cremant style fizz. For heavy reds, I stay with hunting for the last of the 2000 Cru Burgeoise and Superier Bordaeux. Since the availability varies by region I can make only a NJ recommendation Ch. Moulin Rouge (no joke its excellent). |
Thanks for the tip, Schubertmaniac. I have a cellar full of "B2K", but nothing that can be drank now, so I'll pick up some of the Mouiex.. have seen it, but not tried it. Doug: Besides Port, I've developed a taste for Duoros. Two that I've had recently and REALLY like are: 2000 Quinta do Vallado Duoro 2000 Quinta do Crasto Duoro Reserva [being out of work, at least for a few months, ain't such a bad thing...getting caught up on wines, audio, friends, etc.!] |
2000 Bordeau Christian Mouiex Merlot $5.95 at Costco. Absolute steal. Complex with hints of currants and blackberries. Nice finish. The 2001 is not bad either. Christian is the owner/winemaker at Chateau Petrus. This stuff can even be cellared for probably up to 4-5 years, but drinkable now. This is our everyday wine now, with Chateau Potensac 2000 Medoc our Saturday night wine at $19.95 per bottle and our once a month special wine being 1990 Lynch Bages, and our aniversary wine the Mouton 1982 |
Bob, yes, I believe those would count as a meritage. As the term is made up, I think the bottler could slap the name on any blend. It's supposedly a term created by blending the words merit + heritage, but I find it a stretch to apply those terms more than any other. I think they just liked the "Frenchness" sound of the term the marketing folks came up with! |
Cpdunn99, sorry to hear about your job loss. Most of the the wines I am into lately are, in fact, meritages. Meritage being a made up word to denote a blend, generally a Bordeaux-style blending, as opposed to a standard varietal. If you want to check a good one out, I'd refer back to the previously mentioned Hahn Meritage 2001 (now 2002?) for about $12. The meritages I am into tend to favor a blend of cab franc, malbec and petit verdot. All rich and jammy, not unlike the Incognito we talked about before. California, in particular central CA, has some astoundingly good wineries and grape production is so strong that prices are low. Good for us! Let me know if you try the Hahn and what you think. What do you like in Portugese wines? |
Douglikesaudio: I've had the Incognito. Not bad, but not my style. I thought the 7 Deadly Zins was very fruity, overly oaked, but to each his own. It's great, though, that there are so many quality choices for so many tastes! It's been a while since I tried Hahn...I liked it.. thanks for the reminder... Niravp: I like some viognier.. will look out for the one you mention. |
If anyone is local to the San Francisco Bay Area, there is a wine from Anderson Valley (a bit to the west and a lot to the north of Napa) that is worth checking out. Its a Viognier from Hawley Vineyard, and is just fantastic for $18/bottle. I just went to Beltramo's liquor in Menlo Park, and they do not carry it, so I'm not sure where to get it outside of Anderson Valley.... |
Incognito (Red) is pretty amazing at $15ish/bottle. Also from the same winemakers is 7 Deadly Zins at about $15, a very good zin. Even better zin is Joel Gott 2002 $16 or the Estate bottle of same for about $26--it doesn't get much better than this! Hahn meritage (2001) is darned astounding at $12ish. Anyone tried these? |
Hogue Cellars Late Harvest Reisling. The 1999 and 2002 are both outstanding wines for the price. Some of my favorite Reisling, and I've had some good ones at 4x the price. Can be had for $10-14, depending on location. I have to special order here in PA, but have a shop to buy the 2002 at when I'm on Cape Cod, so I always stock up. ;) |
Galeriehughie..... yes, Riedels can do that, can't they?! I mean, "expose" a poor wine. I don't pretend that my Spiegelaus are as good, but they come close. It's amazing how much better a good wine is with the right glasses. After all, a lot of "taste" is actually sense of smell. I'd like to talk about 1st growths with you Galeriehughie, but this is an "inexpensive wine" thread. So, yesterday I picked up a couple of bottles of a Spanish red: 2001 Las Rocas de San Alejandro(Vinas Viejas Garnacha). This cost me $8.99 each and is amazing! If you're a grenache fan (or if you like Chateauneuf-du-Pape), this one's for you. It got better by the hour. I agree with Robert Parker (finally!) on this one... he gave it 93 pts. I don't know what the 2002 is like, but the 2001 is great, and will improve over the next 5-10yrs. |
