Your favorite red wine under $12/bottle
 

I was a little hesitant to start this thread after I read a number of wine posts from the last 6 months. Many posts are about high-end red wines. So, for Joe-lunch-bucket, what is your favorite everyday red wine that retails for $12 or less per bottle? :)

I love red wine but can't afford to spend a lot. Please list where you usually buy it. I enjoy Beringer Founder's Estate Merlot and Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cab. Both available at most grocery stores and both uinder $10.

Phil

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).

Unfortunately, no Trader Joes in Boise yet. :( The Columbia Crest Grand Reserve is $8.99-9.99 here. The regular Columbia Crest label is about $6-7 here. The next time I'm at a TJ I'll try your recommendations.

Phil

Given your price range, Alexander Valley cabs are fairly consistent in quality and are often very reasonably priced.

Geyser Peak can often be found on special at my local Safeway for under $15. I know that's not under $12, but IMO, worth the slight premium.

Wolfblass yellow label cab sauv - in the UK this can be found within your price range.

I'd also check out some of the South African wines available, they are making excellent good value reds

Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir sells for $11.99 on sale, not too bad....

For those with OMNI access, this thread may be helpful:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=618879

Thanks for the link.

I have had good luck with Red Truck. I have served it at several parties and given many bottles away as gifts, and I always get compliments on it.

Yellow tail Shiraz & Merlot are not bad for $11-12 for 1.5 lt bottle.
Jacobs creek Merlot & Cab around $8 is good too.
Both are available cheaper at Sams club but pretty close at the local wine store.

I've enjoyed several Chilean cabernets from the Colchagua Valley that, at least last time I bought them, were well within your price range. One that we particularly liked was Luis Felipe Edwards, purchased at our local wine shop. Cheers!

For our Australian FTers I recommend Angove's Butterfly Ridge Shiraz/Cab. Its as low as $7 a bottle but for the price its a very good drop. Of course Australia make loads of great red wines under $12. Your best bet is to buy wine from South Australia, Victoria or the NSW riverland. These regions make the most consistent wines in the lower price bracket.

Very good value for Cab-Merlot...
 

...Columbia Crest 2002 Two Vines Cabernet-Merlot - $7 at QFC...

My wine friends all thought it went for much more, dollar-wise, and every one of them thought it an excellent value...stock up!

Pillar Cabernet

Screw top.

$10.

Tastes like a wine triple the price

We also enjoy the Beringer Founders Estate line...the Shiraz is our favorite but seems hard to find. We buy it and the Founders Estate Pinot Noir by the case and it's one of our usual "drinking wines". The local Stew Leonards (great liquor store, btw, if you are on LI or in western CT) has 5 varieties of Beringer Founders Estate for $8.99/bottle.

We like the Columbia Crest too. Also enjoy Black Opal.

Used to be able to find a great little wine called La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux but haven't been able to find that either of late.