Originally Posted by
u600213
First a caveat:
I like Zinfandel, Cabernet and Shiraz. I tend to prefer wines that have less oak and are on the relatively sweeter/fruity end of "dry" and these two are not quite sweet/fuity as I can go for.
So for under $12 my current favorite is
Gnarly Head Zinfandel 2005 which I have seen online for $6.99 and is $8.99 locally.
This wine blog did not like the 2004 but YMMV:
http://purplelipswinelog.blogspot.co...l-2004_07.html
The Las Vegas Journal Review liked it somewhat more:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_ho...g/2128124.html
I also Like Chilean Santa Rita Cabernet 2005 which I got for $59.99 a case online, free shipping, no tax.
In the more expensive $15 category I like Seghesio Zinfandel, any year.
For $25-30 my favorite wines are Rombauer Zinfandel of any vintage, Rombauer Cabernet of any vintage and Penfolds Bin 28 any vintage in that order.
Over that $ Someone else is paying :-)
If anyone has a suggestion for a less expensive replacement for my Rombauer Zinfandel, my wallet and I will thank you.
If you enjoy relatively sweeter/fruity Zin and like the Rombauer Zin, try their Fiddletown Zin. It's fabulous, although it will run $35-36. You are not likely to find it on the shelves of your local retailer and the 2004 is sold out. The 2005 is scheduled for release in November so you may try calling Rombauer then to order.
You may also want to look into any of the Sobon Estate Zins from Amador County. The 2005 Old Vine runs about $13-14 and is supposedly very good. (I've had the '04, which was good and has the fruit you are looking for, but have not had the '05.)