Wine of the times?

[rabelais99]

I've noticed a number of magazine articles devoted to the search for good inexpensive wine in these leaner economic times.

I've always had a stable of 'bargain' wines that I enjoy, and I must admit that I'm favouring those wines these days.

What are your fave inexpensive wines?

I'll start of with a few:

E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone (2003) Super value at around $10-$12 US
Reserve Perrin Cotes du Rhone - Consistently good
Zenato Ripasso This inexpensive Ripasso is better than most of the cheap $25 Amarone that's out there.

_________________
alan

 

[Mr. Igg]

Don't laugh: Charles Shaw, aka, Two Buck Chuck.

I was heavily involved in planning/administering/analyzing a fairly rigorous wine tasting two years ago, and good 'ole Two Buck beat out wines up to $25-35 a bottle in a blind taste test. The subjects were "wine snobs", many who'd lived all over the world, and had experience with a pretty solid variety of "non-bargain" wines.

 

[nikkuchan]

The stuff that comes in boxes ain't too bad.

 

[The Knize]

Costco's Kirkland brand wines are generally (not quite always) very good for the prices. And there current Napa Cab and the Santa Barbara Pinot Noir for about $14 each are much better than that.

Trader Joe's King Shag New Zealand Sauvignon Blance at about $7.99 is excellent bargain. There Vinho Verde for about $4.50 is another great bargain.

Most of the Argentinian Malbecs are well-priced.

 

[ogopogo]

Don't laugh: Charles Shaw, aka, Two Buck Chuck.

I was heavily involved in planning/administering/analyzing a fairly rigorous wine tasting two years ago, and good 'ole Two Buck beat out wines up to $25-35 a bottle in a blind taste test. The subjects were "wine snobs", many who'd lived all over the world, and had experience with a pretty solid variety of "non-bargain" wines.

+1 on the Charles Shaw offerings, good wine at an unbelievable price. That's my go-to wine.

 

[Jasonian]

Oak Grove Reserve Viognier About $8/bottle.

http://www.oakgrovewines.com/wine.php?id=8

I can verify the cheese tortellini pairing suggestion.

 

[ouch]

E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone (2003) Super value at around $10-$12 US
Reserve Perrin Cotes du Rhone - Consistently good

The Perrins are responsible for the Chateau De Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape, usually a monster, and Guigal needs no introduction. Stiil, you're paying a lot for the name at the lower end of their portfolios.

For years, I've been pushing the wines of Jorge Ordoñez as having the best bang for the buck.

 

[Lavaine]

Segura Viudas Brut Reservais my favorite cheap sparkling. A traditional method Spanish cava, available everywhere. I get it a Costco for about $12, so probably under US$10.
Great for Mimosa or champagne cocktails too.

 

[bythbook]

Black Box Cabernet, Black Box Merlot.

Discounted to $18.99 locally, for a 3 liter box!

Can't beat it. (No Two-Buck Chuck nearby, sadly, so I can't weigh in on that one....)

 

[kwk285]

Don't laugh: Charles Shaw, aka, Two Buck Chuck.

I was heavily involved in planning/administering/analyzing a fairly rigorous wine tasting two years ago, and good 'ole Two Buck beat out wines up to $25-35 a bottle in a blind taste test. The subjects were "wine snobs", many who'd lived all over the world, and had experience with a pretty solid variety of "non-bargain" wines.

I was going to say Charles Shaw as well. Due to the high taxes in Washington, it is $3 buck Chuck here.

 

[Doc4]

I was going to say Charles Shaw as well. Due to the high taxes in Washington, it is $3 buck Chuck here.

Given the 'double whammy' of the Canadian Dollar and the British Columbia liquor tax scheme ("if you can still afford to drink enough to get drunk, we haven't taxed it enough"), I don't want to know "what-buck-Chuck?" it is here.

 

[Torcams]

Kim Crawford sauvignon blanc (new zealand)
Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay
Still trying to find a bargain red wine

 

[Christoph]

E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone (2003)[/B] Super value at around $10-$12 US
Reserve Perrin Cotes du Rhone - Consistently good

Just had these two within the past few days. Great value for the money.

 

[kwk285]

Another good wine I get from my wife is

I WANT TO GO TO HAWAII

This wine can be pricey.

 

[Not A Nice Person]

Messina Hof is excellent wine, reasonably priced, and as someone who like to buy as locally as possible, whenever possible, I like that it's from right here in Texas.

Kendall Jackson is dependably tasty at reasonable prices, and I love their Cabernet and Chardonnay, but for bargain reds in general, nothing beats a nice Chianti for me. The ones in the straw-covered fiascos are surprisingly good, and only about $10.

NANP™

 

[Gruder]

Hogue Late Harvest Rieslings are consistent performers the spring to my mind first. The best advice, though, is simply to develop a good relationship with a local wine merchant.

 

[rabelais99]

Keep the suggestions coming! I get the odd bottle of 2-buck-chuck from friends visiting from California (they also bring some delish other Cali wines)

The Perrins are responsible for the Chateau De Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape, usually a monster, and Guigal needs no introduction. Stiil, you're paying a lot for the name at the lower end of their portfolios.

Had the chance to visit Ch. de Beaucastel in the fall of 2004 for an agent's luncheon. They've got a great admin and production team, and produce some truly outstanding wines.

Here in Calgary, the Reserve Perrin can be found for $11-12 Canadian. That's pretty cheap for us!

______________
alan

 

[kwk285]

Believe it or not but Gallo's "turning leaf" wines are not bad.

 

[BigRich]

Kaiken Malbec - Argentina

It's fantastic and about $15 a bottle.

 

[ratcheer]

I have been having excellent luck lately with red wines from South Africa. They are very inexpensive and very delicious.

Tim