Just tried Smoking Loon 2005 California Syrah - $8-9 per bottle, widely available... It's delicious! Make sure to get the 2005 vintage though; some stores are still selling 2004 and it's not as good.

a Mrs BamaVol favorite as well. She got a recommendation from a server at the local Mellow Mushroom and decided she quite liked the stuff.
Unfortunately we have to pay $10-12 here.

Hands down Black Opal Shiraz, 2005. Delicious and you can get it for under 11$

I don't like cheap wines... I rather like the juice than cheap wine :P

Jacob's Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvingon 2004, if you can get it.
Forget 2003, 2004 is a great year for this variety!

Approx $15AUD so maybe slightly over the USD$12 category but is often selling for a little less.

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.

Ever tried the Rosenblum Paso Robles or San Francisco Bay zins? If you can find it, give the Cline zin a shot too, they have a similar flavor profile to the Rombauer but cost way less.


To answer the question for under 12$ bottles, right now I'm greedily drinking up the Castle Rock Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2005 and the Sebastiani 2004 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon.

With the fall in the USD$ this year have traditionally good value imported wines become more scarce, experienced price rises or have the retailers and distributors held prices down?

Last time I checked in June, value brands like Yellowtail were still fairly low-priced, around US$7-8 in the island(s) of Hawaii.

Dancing Bull Merlot, 8.99 on sale!

Aussie wines are up a bit but Yellowtail is still about $6.50-$7.00 for 750 ML here in Idaho.

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.)

This week my vote goes to the 2004 Wishing Tree Shiraz: $11.99 http://www.sussexwine.com/sku020772.html It gets an 89 from the Wine Spectator.

Gotta give a plug to a local winery. Llano Estacado Signature Red is a tasty medium body merlot/cab blend. Wonderful nose, smooth aftertaste. $11 retail, I usually pay about $9.

If you like whites, ever try the Wishing Tree Chardonnay? No Oak = YUM! ^

My favorite winery in my current location of temecula california is maurice carrie and sells all there wines for about $3 a peace and knocks Napa Valley down anyday!