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Chianti Classico for about $10.99/bottle. Of course, it isn't true Chianti unless the Gamecock (rooster) is on the neck !
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In the DC area, Columbia Crest Two Vines reds (Merlot, Cab, Cab/Merlot) as well as Bogle Merlot are available for around $8. They are good "burger reds", as one of my favorite wine store guys calls a casual drinking red that's good when you're throwing something on the grill.
Lately I've been very impressed with the Francis Coppola Rosso Classic. This wine has been good in past vintages, and the 2005 is a step up. 51% Zin, 29% Syrah, 20% Cab, it's a very impressive bottle for everyday drinking. I have found it for as little as $6.99, which I think is a steal. |
One I won't dis is the $5.99/magnum italian merlot at Costco. When I got married we were able to BYO (had to pay their servers and cops) and proudly served it. I doubt anybody complained as it was FREE (for some reason open bar at wedding receptions in Texas is rare).
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two buck chuck is good
Originally Posted by number_6
(Post 6680543)
Columbia Crest is generally USD 7 something (rarely over 8), fwiw, and it is pretty good value. Even better value is the Trader Joe Terra Australis Reserve Shiraz (circa USD 7, and much better than the non-Reserve shiraz, which costs USD 5). In terms of absolute value (price/performance), I've found TJ private label is always the best, their buyers seem to have a sharp eye and lots of bargaining power. Same for the "two buck chuck" Charles Shaw label sold by TJ. The other wines at TJ are sometimes good value, sometimes not (only their private label is always cheap).
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I have been touting the Banrock Station Shiraz at a mere $3.74 a bottle and it won a best value award in Wine Spec. That was the the 2004 I was harping about. Well yesterday I opened a bottle of the 2005 and it was terrible. Just tasted like cheap wine. I bought quite a few bottles so I will let you know if it was just this one bottle. Sad :( because everyone I had recommended the 2004 to had gone out and bought cases of the stuff for entertaining. I even served the 2004 at my holiday party and got rave reviews from guests.
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Caldora Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Caldora Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Not many places carry them though. Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot - usually available at BevMo. |
I like Bacchus di Pietro Chianti. It's not that easy to find(at least in my area), but is around $10 per bottle.
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Not a merlot or pinot noir drinker, so that limits my options. I can occasionally find Foppiano Petite Sirah for around $12 or $13 and that is just one of my favorite wines at any price. Harder to find is the Pedroncelli Sangiovese, but I like it, too.
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Hope Valley (austrilia) Shiraz ...should be about 11.
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I bought a bottle of 2 buck chuck this evening ($3.39 is not two bucks) and will take it home to Mrs BamaVol and see what she thinks. Is one better than another? TJ had cab and beaujolais. I bought the cab.
I also picked up a Black Mountain pinot noir for under $8. Always looking for a good cheap pinot noir. |
Lindeman 2001 Pyrus (red blend) with some commentary
For a sub-$10 red, I can look past its imperfections. Not a fancy wine by any means, but great for a weeknight red... Available at Trader Joe's. |
Louis Jadot beaujolais 2005.
I've seen it as low as 8 and as high as 10.99. Beats chuck and those cheap cabs that make you feel like your throat is bleeding. |
I'm a big fan of the '04 di Majo Norante Sangiovese. It's a RP 90 for a reason. Goes incredibly well with some good Pizza Margherita.
A little OT, but I absolutely love the '98 Beckmen Vineyards Sauv Blanc. It is $12.50 at Top Foods, but it's a really nice and dry Sauv Blanc. I generally like that vineyard though, particularly their Marsanne (although good luck finding that anywhere outside a large city) and their Chateauneuf-du-Pape-style Cuvee. A little spendy for a me, but I like to indulge with a good bottle now and again. |
Originally Posted by ogreofwiseisland
(Post 6924715)
I go into wine-stores and ask: "What do you have that's good value and less than $12 a bottle for the Tuesday Night Wine Club?" and I am fed up with the typical response that goes something like this: "We do not drink wine less than $20 ($22/$24, etc.) a bottle, so we would not know." Accompanied by a look like there's a nasty smell under their noses (it's me!). .....
In Milan (2004) we would go to a lovely wineshop and ask for their recommendation of best red for less than $3 and they wouldn't laugh or be snotty. but show us 3 bottles and explain the differences, in Italian, which we could barely comprehend, then very carefully wrap up our choices as if they were precious vintages. In Paris, we asked a wineshop near us on Ile San Louis if they had a nice wine for less than 5 Euro and the guy said in perfect English "you've got to be kidding" then proceeded to show us several very fine bottles for 3 -4 Euro and we tried them all several times in the ensuing weeks. After years of 2 Buck Chuck and hauling all those bottles and all that cardboard packaging, and filling up my SUV I've resorted to Cribari jug wine, because it IS better and fits in the trunk of my Beamer. Heck, Carlo Rossi Burgundy is better than 2BC. The jugs just require a nice decanter :) |
Originally Posted by lili
(Post 7001363)
This is really sad.
In Paris, we asked a wineshop near us on Ile San Louis if they had a nice wine for less than 5 Euro and the guy said in perfect English "you've got to be kidding" then proceeded to show us several very fine bottles for 3 -4 Euro and we tried them all several times in the ensuing weeks. I'm not moving totally away from beer, but I'm considering replacing the gun rack in my pickup with a wine rack. :D |
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