I definitely have champagne tastes on a PBR budget when it comes to wine. I like to splurge occasionally, but the wife has an uncanny knack for finding some pretty good wine at a local discount food store. Being North Californios, with have ample access to really good wine and these stores often have discontinued lines, or wine, that for whatever reason, did not pass the muster of the winemaker. These stores get them in case lots and sell for $4-$15 a bottle. She looks for wines from Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino (hometown), or Sacramento foothills. Tapered bottles are also a good indicator as they are a little more expensive and one might deduce that the wine should be a little better. But, red blends, cabs, and zins are my poison of preference. And Bullit Bourbon.
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I like and keep a small inventory of better California Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay for when I cook, grill or BBQ something special. For everyday wine though I keep a case of Charles Shaw's Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon on hand. It was originally known as $2 buck chuck. It sold for $1.99 per bottle. Now it's $2.50 buck chuck.
If you open a bottle for lunch and don't finish it and it goes bad you don't feel bad dumping it out. Plus... it tastes ok, not special, but it has the same amount of alcohol as an expensive wine has.😎Comment
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I like Coppola Claret a lot for a wine to have "every day". Can get it at Costco for $12-13 a bottle.Comment
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Some of my favorite "every day" (for me this means $8-17ish) wines are:
Zinfandels: Cline Ancient Vines, St Francis, Rodney Strong
Cabernet Sauvignon: Bonterra, Woodbridge, Dark Horse, Coppola Claret (not technically a cabernet but a blend), And Beringer Founder's Estate (although due to sourcing this varies year to year in goodness, this year their Smooth Red Blend is better I think)
Petite Sirah: Petite Petit, Treasure Hunter
If I can splurge a little and get something $25-40, some cabs I love are: Hailstone Impact, Charles Krug, Sbragia, and Textbook. Had Desert Wind cabernet once with some guy named Dave and it was incredible too. It makes the list although I can't find it near me.Comment
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Huskee, perfect blend of soil, climate, and winemaking skill. Funny, I once chatted with a grape grower that had the Napa/Lake county line split his vineyard. Grapes on 1 side were $1600/ton, on the other $3500. I'm sure someone can taste the difference!
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Huskee if you can afford a significant splurge, and you can find it near you, try Sparkman Cellars' Kingpin Cab .... Around $60/bottle but it is simply outstanding.Comment
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I'm a Zin fan ... specifically Klinker Brick ... about $17 per bottle. For "beverage" (equivalent of lawnmower beer) wine, Woodbridge Zin in the 1.5 L bottle will do.Comment
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Agre with St. Francis above. Forgot to put Chateau st. Jean as one of our faves, tooComment
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I'm a white wine drinker, BF is both. Since he used to be a sommelier at a hoity toity italian restaurant, he has more expensive taste than I. However, he won't toss a cheap white if its drinkable.
That being said, our cheap white is Crane Lake Sauvignon Blanc. The Wegmans across the street from my office has it for $4 a bottle. I'll pick up a case every so often. We also like the Rex Goliath Pino Grigio 1.5 when it is on sale for $10/bottle.Comment
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This was one of the wines made by Heidi Barrett (Amuse Bouche, which I mentioned before, is another). She is one of the best consulting winemakers, and has her own label, La Sirena, which is also spectacular. She is married to Bo Barrett, winemaker at Chateau Montelena, and old and famous winery. Some great wines there, and a beautiful place to visit.Originally posted by W.A. View Post
I have seen Screaming Eagle on a number of wine lists, at around $4,000 a bottle. Bit much for even a splurge.Comment
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Lately I've become enamored of Tom Gore Field Blend wine. It sips nicely and holds up well at dinnertime too. I also like Tenshen red blend. Haven't tried the Tenshen white yet.
For a cheap tasty white to glug, I like Menage a Trois California White Wine at less than $10 a bottle.
KathrynComment
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Baron Rothschild Mouton Cadet red -- 2014 is very, very good. It's about $10.50 a bottle.Comment
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Well...... my wife does call me a wine snob, but we both like dry reds, bold and full bodied. We go to lots of wine tastings and never look at the price until the end. Almost without fail the one we selected ends up being the most expensive one the winery offers. Although most of the wines in our cellar range from $18 - $45, I have had many lesser expensive wines that were quite drinkable - but I draw the line at Two Buck Chuck from Central Market.Comment
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Carnivor Cabernet - we just picked up a case at Costco for $6.99/bottle. Not as good as Coppola Claret, but the price is right.Comment
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Cold climate Pinot Noir will go with almost anything. Nice strawberry and cherry flavours when young, put some age on it will bring some smoke and spice to the fruit as well, but light enough to rock your seafood and chicken and bold enough to stand up to some lamb or even beef. That said, a good barrossa valley shiraz and beef will put you in umami heaven. As far as whites go, a nice young Riesling will complement almost anything. The older bottles will give some interesting rich petroleum notes, an acquired taste, bit like a peaty single malt. Riesling are less fruity than a sauv blanc but some lovely acidity that cuts through rich foods well.
Australia is lucky, we have some great wines at reasonable prices. If you are looking in this direction, happy to recommend some. There are a number of wineries here exporting to the US now.Comment
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Some go tos under 20:
Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc... this might be the best value per dollar wine in the world. Might. Frequently $12-$14 and available at Costco, Target, many others.
Mark West Pinot Noir... another costco/target/grocery/wherever, generally <$10... not the greatest pinot, but very drinkable with food.
For a bit pricier, findable between $17 and 21, Meiomi pinot noir... kind of a entry level pinot from Belle Glos, who make much nicer pinots at much higher pricings. Overdelivers as the wine folks say.
I have some others, but these are the consistent ones under $20.Comment
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