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Old Sep 20, 2007 | 7:51 am
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Very good, cheap wines?

Anybody have any suggestions on some good red or white wines that are reasonably priced? I just bought a few bottles of Verrazano Chianti for $19 a piece. It was ok, nothing special. Any ideas?
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Old Sep 20, 2007 | 8:32 am
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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/di...es&oref=slogin

Check this. Consumer reports also has some ratings that may help.
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Old Sep 20, 2007 | 8:34 am
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Originally Posted by erik123
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/di...es&oref=slogin

Check this. Consumer reports also has some ratings that may help.
Ha you know, I started reading that article in the Times but got side-tracked and forgot to finish it up. Thanks!

Anybody have any personal experiences with any of these wines, or others?
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Old Sep 20, 2007 | 8:39 am
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Try searching this forum using the words "inexpensive wine".

BTW, I do not consider $19 cheap. You might try looking for a wine lover's forum. I know they're out there.
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Old Sep 20, 2007 | 8:54 am
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Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi is a label that can be relied on to deliver inexpensive drinkable wines.
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Old Sep 20, 2007 | 9:22 am
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King Shag Sauvingon Blanc - $7.99 @ Trader Joe's.
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Old Sep 20, 2007 | 1:10 pm
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Whole foods has some self-branded offerings for about $5/bottle that are decent as quaffing wines.
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 8:25 am
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I second the earlier suggestion on Woodbridge by Mondavi
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 9:10 am
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Many large liquor stores (including some grocery store liquor departments) have a "bargain bin" of wines that are half price. For some reason, these are often put in a bathtub. Anyway, a lot of these wines are plonk, but you can find some real bargains. Look especially for Chardonnays which are just past the three year mark, and California reds from regions not as well known as Napa or Sonoma.

Wines from Oregon and Washington are often very good value, especially Washington, since they're not as well known as California wines.

German wines tend to be good value too, if you like that style. Recent vintages have been rated very highly.

New Zealand wines are often excellent, if you like the unique tropical-fruit style of most of them

A few wineries are now putting good-quality wines in boxes, though most box wine is plonk. But if you can find one of the few good boxed wines, the equivalent cost per bottle can be amazingly cheap. In my experience the boxed wines last for weeks or months after opening with no loss of quality.
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 10:23 am
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Originally Posted by Timfid
A few wineries are now putting good-quality wines in boxes, though most box wine is plonk. But if you can find one of the few good boxed wines, the equivalent cost per bottle can be amazingly cheap. In my experience the boxed wines last for weeks or months after opening with no loss of quality.
There are those who think that boxes are the wave of the future: notions
about the necessity of cork having been dispelled, glass bottles are the next
to go! Here's an interesting French site dedicated to box wines - I'd have had
my doubts, but we visited the shop earlier this year and found some of the
wines quite acceptable - and we didn't even get into the good stuff
(Ch. Guiney, for example, said to be a bargain at E50 for 3L).
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 1:03 pm
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The wine column in the Friday WSJ does an excellent job of finding inexpensive wines. this week there are a numbr of recommendations of under $15 Gruner Veltlinger from Austria.

couple of weeks ago, they had about 10 under $20(some under $10) pinot noir from CA. they tast 50-200 wines for each article, and they have decent palates, so they have a good chance of finding one if it is out there.
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 1:42 pm
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Two Buck Chuck (Charles Shaw) only at Trader Joes. The Chard recently has gotten at least one very positive review. I think it was in the L.A. Times. They didn't like the Cab so much. But, for two bucks ....
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 5:27 pm
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Originally Posted by Howie721
Anybody have any suggestions on some good red or white wines that are reasonably priced? I just bought a few bottles of Verrazano Chianti for $19 a piece. It was ok, nothing special. Any ideas?
Where are you located?
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 7:03 pm
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Originally Posted by Eastbay1K
Where are you located?
I had the same question.
If you are near a Trader Joe's, they usually have a great selection of Australian, Argentinian but mostly Spanish inexpensive wines.
Spanish white and reds are good, totally drinkable, maybe not memorable but for much much less than $19 a bottle. I consider inexpensive less than $5 per bottle.
Whole foods sometimes has inexpensive wines but their basic wines range $8-15 a bottle.
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 7:16 pm
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Originally Posted by biggestbopper
Two Buck Chuck (Charles Shaw) only at Trader Joes. The Chard recently has gotten at least one very positive review. I think it was in the L.A. Times. They didn't like the Cab so much. But, for two bucks ....
In Michigan I think we will have to call it Three Buck Chuck. (Inflation )
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