The Best Inexpensive Wines Available Now

The St Nicholas Pinot Noir runs under $5 at Sams Club, and fits in the inexpensive wine list a lot better than anything over $16, tons better than any of the Yellow Tail wines.

Yeah, Rowe, I can't get my tongue around that Yellow Tail, either...but do have it on hand for parties.

Niebaum Coppola Rosso is/was delectible for $9. I have not bought the rosso in a number of months, so the price may have went up.

I also tried the hot, at least in my area, Blackstone Merlot ($15.00) and Niebaum Coppola Merlot (~$15.00), but I think Kendal-Jackson is superior. I do not have that much experience with wine, though. But the rosso is worth checking out if any of you are in a convenient position to do so...or, if its the end of month and you want to through a party, but the bills are due...you know ;)

Just had the 2001 Navarro Mendocino Pinot Noir ($14.50) and immediately bought more. Very nice.

2-buck-chuck!?! What a contrast from the single-malt thread! Good wine doesn't necessarily mean expensive, but surely you'all could come up with some better suggestions for this poor guy than that..

There's a whole world of phenomenal wine bargains out there - fortunately, here in CA we have access to many more of the "domestic" (ie., California) selections than most of you on the east coast.

For awesome values, try:

Zin's - anything current from Rosenblum or Ridge (both have terrific mailing list programs) - Seghesio's nice, too...

S. Blanc's - current releases from New Zealand are great (Villa Maria, Mud House, Te Karanga, etc..) as are many 2001's from Sonoma

Pinot Noir - 2001 is about the best vintage ever for CA juice, after a couple of good years in Wash/Oreg - throw a dart at anything from the Russian River area...

Rhone - an epic string of vintages, both in the North and in the South, have flooded the market with terrific, age-worthy bargains...

Seek out a decent wine shop with proper storage conditions and seek out some suggestions - forget about Trader Joe's, the package liquor office, and your local grocery store. If the bottles are dusty, stored upright out in the open and near a sunlit window, don't buy them...

A couple of fantastic direct-order outfits here in southern CA will ship direct (check the allowable states): www.winehouse.com and www.thewineclub.com

And remember, life is too short to drink 2-buck-chuck! I wouldn't even cook with that stuff...