What's your favorite sub-$10 red wine (not TJ's)?

[HD333]

Greg Norman Limestone Coast Cab/Merlot Blend $9.99 at BJ's. The Limestone Coast Shiraz is also good $9.99.

Malbecs from Argentina in the 10 range are consistently pretty good as well.

Real Cheap and Good = Black Box Shiraz or Cab about 20 bucks but equlivelent to about 4 regualr bottles. Plus is stays fresh for awhile.

HD

 

[bigbog]

Bolla Valpolicella is usually close to the $10 zone.

$.01

 

[Riverskier]

La Vieille Ferme- Cotes du Ventoux

Grenache- 50%
Syrah- 20%
Carignan- 15%
Cinsault- 15%

Delicious and around $8 a bottle, one of my favorites. Widely available in Maine anyway and has been widely recognized as one of the best values available.

 

[legalskier]

Reds:
Redwood Creek is a label owned by venerable Frei Brothers Winery in Ca. They're producing reds like pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and merlot at very affordable prices. They're available in larger bottles too. http://www.garnetwine.com/sku160756...um=feed&utm_campaign=REDWOOD CREEK PINOT NOIR
South America is producing some nice wines from the malbec grape. It's like a merlot...but livelier. Here's an article: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_33/b4046075.htm Many can be found around $10. I've tried the Norton and liked it.
The merlot from Yellow Tail (Australia) rates consistently high; also comes in larger bottles. http://jerichowine.com/item.asp?PID=512
The "Menage a trois" red blend from France is another fave, blended from three grapes (hence the name): http://www.napacabs.com/Folie-A-Deux-2008-Menage-A-Trois-Red-Table-Wine-California-P6382.aspx

Whites:
Barefoot Cellars makes a nice inexpensive pinot grigio (sauvignon blanc): http://www.liquoroutletwinecellars....ed&utm_campaign=BAREFOOT CELLARS PINOT GRIGIO
Better sauvignon blancs can be found from New Zealand, like Babich: http://www.napacabs.com/Babich-2008-Sauvignon-Blanc-Marlborough-P5380.aspx
Redwood Creek and Yellow Tail both make nice chardonnays.
For rieslings you can find many bargains out of Germany. Nice American versions are Covey Run (http://www.coveyrun.com/) and Beringer (http://www.beringer.com/productinfotabs.aspx?ProductID=81671). The Finger Lakes produce some excellent rieslings (Dr. Konstantin Frank; Heron Hill, both on Keuka Lake), but they are hard to find and cost more.
I agree with others that doing a Finger Lakes tour is lots of fun. We've done it twice. Terrific wines.

All of these wines reflect their grape varietals, are well made and affordable. And they might even help your back feel better too. :grin:

 

[RootDKJ]

My favorite wine comes out of Flordia. Lakeridge Winery Southern Red. It's a sweeter wine, I could drink it by the gallon.

During a recent trip to Trader Joe's...I noticed they have ~$10 bottles of Port (not 3 buck Chuck). I love Port, so that's what I've been drinking lately.

 

[severine]

And they might even help your back feel better too. :grin:

You laugh, but I found a few articles yesterday about studies being done on resveratrol (found in the skins of red grapes) being helpful to discs.

Today it's improving, but I will definitely be trying these suggestions! Thanks!

 

[severine]

During a recent trip to Trader Joe's...I noticed they have ~$10 bottles of Port (not 3 buck Chuck). I love Port, so that's what I've been drinking lately.

I wish we could get TJ's wines. Wine can't be sold in grocery stores in CT so no wine at TJ's or BJ's (I think that was mentioned earlier in this thread...?).

 

[RootDKJ]

I wish we could get TJ's wines. Wine can't be sold in grocery stores in CT so no wine at TJ's or BJ's (I think that was mentioned earlier in this thread...?).

I know you said no TJ's, but $10 good port is hard to beat.

 

[playoutside]

...
Whites:
Better sauvignon blancs can be found from New Zealand, like Babich: http://jerichowine.com/item.asp?PID=512
...

This is my favorite region for wine...haven't met a Marlborough (NZ) Sauvignon Blanc that I disliked. Prices vary from $10 (usally sale) and up. When I see a Marlborough SB in the $12-13 range I buy it. Have liked them all. Some more than others, but am never dissapointed.

 

[Greg]

Whites:
Barefoot Cellars makes a nice inexpensive pinot grigio (sauvignon blanc): http://www.citywinecellar.com/store/product/4926/Barefoot-Pinot-Grigio-1.5L/

My wife rips through this stuff like nothing. Decent white wine for 11 buck (big bottle).

 

[WJenness]

This is my favorite region for wine...haven't met a Marlborough (NZ) Sauvignon Blanc that I disliked. Prices vary from $10 (usally sale) and up. When I see a Marlborough SB in the $12-13 range I buy it. Have liked them all. Some more than others, but am never dissapointed.

Agreed.

Had a roommate from NZ for a couple years... who now works in a wine store.

I think the original line was "Australian wines are piss, here drink this." I thought she was just being Kiwi about it... but it was actually quite good.

-w

 

[campgottagopee]

My wife rips through this stuff like nothing. Decent white wine for 11 buck (big bottle).

Reminds me of wed nite----I go to bed while my wife and her friend are up conversing and drinking whine. I get up to 3 bottles of empty whine and 2 glasses on the counter. Guess they had a good time :smile:

 

[gladerider]

http://www.thewinebuyer.com/sku38385.html
Bogle
Great wine for the money!

+1

 

[gladerider]

frontera 1.5L cabernet/merlot $10. house wine for us. one of the best deals if you ask me. kicks some $20 bottles a$$

 

[severine]

Stopped by the Cork tonight, which is one of the best wine stores in the area. After the co-manager saw me wandering around for a bit trying to track down some of the dozen or so that Brian quickly jotted down for me, he asked if I needed help. Went through the list with me and gave me some direction on what they carry and what they don't and what his personal opinions were, which was cool. Also told me about their wine tastings on Saturdays. So I came home with a 2004 Howling Wolves Margaret River Shiraz (not on the list but it was on sale at $9;99 and a manager's pick, so I figured I'd give it a shot) and a 2007 Delas Saint-Esprit Cotes du Rhone.

I saw Menage a trois but didn't remember it was on this list and thought it was drawing me in more because of the catchy name. :lol: Next time...

BTW, thanks DHS & HD for the Black Box suggestion--the manager said that was one of the best values and great wines even though he's normally not a fan of boxed wine. Probably should have just gotten that tonight considering the value but I wanted to try a couple different things. Manager was also a huge fan of Masciarelli Montepulciano (I guess he used to work for them) so that's on the list.

Have to finish the Red Truck before the lesson continues...

 

[snoseek]

Just drinking without food I like both lindemans chardonnay and the shiraz. Never over 10 and often on sale @ 6.99 or so.

Boxing wine makes so much sense however.

 

[Edd]

There are some decent 'premium' Boxed Wines nowadays that are a better value.

You can find Pinot Evil Pinot Noir that's pretty decent for $20 a box. 4 bottles worth in the box and you don't have to worry about it going bad for weeks....

That was my first thought. Love that stuff.

 

[deadheadskier]

That was my first thought. Love that stuff.

The reality is that if a particular vintage is 'drinkable' at the point of bottling, the box is the way to go for storage. Cheaper method of storage and more environmentally friendly than bottles. The fact that they remain fresh for up to a month after opening is an added bonus. Not that I can recall a box lasting more than five days in my house.

For years boxed wine has been frowned upon in the states and rightfully so because all that has been available is crap like Franzia. The Aussies have enjoyed premium boxed wine for many years. Over the pass five years or so, quality boxed wines have become much more common domestically.

I've been out of the high end wine game for years, but during the late 90's into early 2000s I was the bar manager and helped run the wine program at the Stowehof, which had the best wine list in Stowe at that time. We won Wine Spectator award of excellence for the five years I was there. 300+ bottles, many of which sold for over $200.

These days, the majority of the wine I drink comes out of a box. I'll pick up some nicer stuff in bottles for pairing for dinner parties, but products like Black Box are what I call my 'maintenance' wine. Wine is by far my alcoholic beverage of choice.

your uncle is right on Carrie. Don't get me wrong, I think a $400 bottle of 2002 Chateau Margaux is absolutely amazing. But is it worth $385 more than the Liberty School Cabernet I poured at my wedding? Hell fricken no! I'd feel the same way if I was a millionaire. Anything aged less than 5 years and sold for over $50 is a total scam in my eyes.

 

[WJenness]

Polishing off a bottle of Kenwood Cabernet right now (2006 - $15.99), pretty damned good... Very bold for a cab.

-w

 

[deadheadskier]

LOVE the Kenwood Jack London Cabernet. A bit pricier at around $25 for a 2005 or 6, but a damn fine wine.