Red Wine
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From: Fraser
A couple of suggestions - wines I have recently had... Marilyn Merlot, Napa,(all 'bout $25.00), Catena (supprisingly good!) Malbec, Argentina (look for the Lunlunta Vineyard '98), Beringer Knight's Valley Alluveium, Saucilito Canyon Zinfandel, Foppiano Petite Sirah (less than $15), and a great cheapy but goody - Emerald Bay Beajolais Villages (can even get a 1.5l!). As MyBad said, wine taste is highly subjective, it just takes time to figure out what you like! 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 212
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From: Montreal
Mrwong,
You can always drop by Sam's and talk the people who work there. I think you can even inquire about wine tastings...
http://www.samswine.com/events/index.html
Sam
You can always drop by Sam's and talk the people who work there. I think you can even inquire about wine tastings...
http://www.samswine.com/events/index.html
Sam
I can get a good bottle of red wine for $5 US and a really good one for $10 US. The mind boggles.
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From: Torrance
I'm not sure if you can find this for less than $50, but a bottle of Turley Zinfandel is awesome. I've had some Turley twice, and both times, it was the best red wine that we had. I'd highly recommend it.
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From: Brisbane
G'day!
The reason I didn't comment earlier was because, well, I don't know US prices for wine that well. I am only over there at most twice a year for business reasons and I have to admit that it has not been a preferred destination of late for obvious reasons. Hopefully, that will change soon.
The best wine is entirely dependent on firstly, your personal tastes and preferences and secondly, what you intend on eating with it. Don't allow yourself to be excessively swayed by wine critics. I know I will probably get flamed for this but for example, when Robert Parker recommends a wine, that is almost a certainty that I won't like it. I find he is entirely preoccupied with oak and excessive ripeness. Some people like it and I have no right to criticise a person's individual taste but I don't.
If you're looking at Italian food and let's face it, most of us love Italian food, then it is pretty hard to go past some of the Italian wines. Their wines naturally complement their foods. With basic pasta (tomato based sauces) and pizza, a reasonable chianti is pretty hard to beat. Without going into the myriad of chiantis that are available, the Santa Cristina from Antinori is good value. If you want a bit more quality, try the chianti classico or the chianti classico riserva. The Santa Cristina costs some $8 USD in Australia. The riserva will be in the $17 USD range here. The Santa Cristina is not technically a chianti but we don't need to get into that. It's made from the same grape. I'm not as taken by the IGTs in Tuscany notwithstanding the love affair Wine Spectator has had with them for the past two vintages released.
if you want a heavier bodied wine, then Australian shiraz can be good value although the prices in the US are outrageous in comparison to here. For example, Tattachilla make a very good cabernet and shiraz from McLaren Vale that is around $11 USD. This is a really excellent wine for the price and the quality is equivalent to may $50 to $100 Napa cabernets. I'm sure that would be within the $50 price range. Also, the Rosemount Balmoral Syrah is excellent in the past few vintages.
A lot of wines from the Rhone are still very good value and within the $50 range. The 1998 and 1999 vintages are very fine indeed (98 for the Southern Rhone and 99 for the Northern Rhone).
Bordeauxs are stupidly priced and offer little value in my opinion in comparison to other areas. Anyone who buys 2000 indent has too much money.
I don go for beaujolais but it can be a very fine wine.
It all comes down to personal taste. Get to your local wine stores and taste, taste taste! That way, you know you will like what you end up buying!
The reason I didn't comment earlier was because, well, I don't know US prices for wine that well. I am only over there at most twice a year for business reasons and I have to admit that it has not been a preferred destination of late for obvious reasons. Hopefully, that will change soon.
The best wine is entirely dependent on firstly, your personal tastes and preferences and secondly, what you intend on eating with it. Don't allow yourself to be excessively swayed by wine critics. I know I will probably get flamed for this but for example, when Robert Parker recommends a wine, that is almost a certainty that I won't like it. I find he is entirely preoccupied with oak and excessive ripeness. Some people like it and I have no right to criticise a person's individual taste but I don't.
If you're looking at Italian food and let's face it, most of us love Italian food, then it is pretty hard to go past some of the Italian wines. Their wines naturally complement their foods. With basic pasta (tomato based sauces) and pizza, a reasonable chianti is pretty hard to beat. Without going into the myriad of chiantis that are available, the Santa Cristina from Antinori is good value. If you want a bit more quality, try the chianti classico or the chianti classico riserva. The Santa Cristina costs some $8 USD in Australia. The riserva will be in the $17 USD range here. The Santa Cristina is not technically a chianti but we don't need to get into that. It's made from the same grape. I'm not as taken by the IGTs in Tuscany notwithstanding the love affair Wine Spectator has had with them for the past two vintages released.
if you want a heavier bodied wine, then Australian shiraz can be good value although the prices in the US are outrageous in comparison to here. For example, Tattachilla make a very good cabernet and shiraz from McLaren Vale that is around $11 USD. This is a really excellent wine for the price and the quality is equivalent to may $50 to $100 Napa cabernets. I'm sure that would be within the $50 price range. Also, the Rosemount Balmoral Syrah is excellent in the past few vintages.
A lot of wines from the Rhone are still very good value and within the $50 range. The 1998 and 1999 vintages are very fine indeed (98 for the Southern Rhone and 99 for the Northern Rhone).
Bordeauxs are stupidly priced and offer little value in my opinion in comparison to other areas. Anyone who buys 2000 indent has too much money.
I don go for beaujolais but it can be a very fine wine.
It all comes down to personal taste. Get to your local wine stores and taste, taste taste! That way, you know you will like what you end up buying!
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From: Palm Springs
I entirely agree with Bernie. Why spend a lot of money on a "fancy" wine, only to find out it doesn't suit your own personal taste? One of my favorite reds happens to be an Australian Black Label Shiraz by McGuigan Bros, which sells in Trader Joe's for only $4.99. Judging by how few days it stays on the shelf, there must be quite a few other wine drinkers who appreciate it too.