Incredibly good (And really cheap) wines

WINE TALK
#1

First time posting here…
We all have our favorite wines, and, if money were no object, which wines we’d have stocked in our cellars. What I’d like to know is…Do you have a favorite “steal of a deal” wine? A surprisingly good pinot or cab for under, say… $15…even more impressive would be a great tasting wine you’ve discovered that sells for around $10.

#2

mmm There’s a Corbieres for $12 that is very nice… i’ll grab another bottle and post the name. In general, avoid the hot areas, go for offbeat areas or grapes or both and you can get killer value.

#3

Lots of southern Rhone valley reds and whites for below $15 which are pretty good. There are some $6-12 Portuguese reds which are pretty decent for daily quaffing.

#4

Welcome to the board!

The best wines at the $10 to $15 dollar range seems to be Muscadet. The quality seems to transend producer to some degree.

#5

Welcome Terri,

QPR hunting is an art. Fine pinot for $15 and under = incredibly hard. My recent QPR faves in your price include:

2007 - 2008 Pepiere Muscadet (prefer the Briords)
2008 Brun Terres Dorees Beaujolais Blanc
2006 or 2007 Morgante Nero d’Avola
2006 Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
There are some excellent Cru Beaujolais for $15 - $25

Others:
Tres Picos Borsao
Argiolas Costera
Chateau D’Oupia Minervois

There are boatloads of Aussie, Languedoc/Roussillon, Spanish and Argentine (i.e.: Susanna Balbo) options that don’t usually float my boat, but might float yours. Try a bottle of Aussie Pillar Box red or Turkey Flat red…if you love it, you’re going to have a field day with Aussie bargains. My QPR-centric friends went wild over a recent $6 - $8 2006 Palestra (Portugese Red) from Wine Library. They were moving it by the shipping container. YMMV.

RT

#6

Caution: Extremely commercial huckstering follows…

Drum Roll Please…
Announcing the WINE EXPO Wine of the Year!
Previous winners have included Sforzati from both Sertoli Salis and Balgera, the amazing Pegrandi Riserva from Amarone genius Alberto Vaona and Pepe’s transcendental 1995 Trebbiano, all very rare and quite pricey. This being our own private “horrible year” (to quote the Queen) though, we thought something from another dimension entirely would be better:

António F. Bonifácio e Filhos Vinho de Mesa Tinto Brioso, Portugal $9.99 / LITER
Since 1963 António Francisco Bonifácio and his descendants have worked towards one goal: making delicious ORGANICALLY cultivated wines that the average working person can afford to drink with everyday family meals. Made from ancient dry farmed vines bearing a field blend of traditional Português varieties, this is REAL wine for REAL people. Here’s to a better 2010!

#7

+1 what Richard Trimpi said, plus Rick Gregory’s rec on looking for wines off-the-beaten path. That Beaujolais Blanc is my house white and love Nero d’Avolas. Gulfi and No1 Negociants also makes tasty Nero. Also look for Cote du Rhones from 2007, good QPR!

Welcome to the board, Terri!!! [dance-clap.gif]

#8

NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs
Pepiere Muscadets
Luneau-Papin Muscadets
Anything from JP Brun / Terres Dorees
Benaza Godello
Brigaldara Valpolicella (disclaimer: not tried 06 or 07)
Clos Roche Blanche (Sauvignon & Gamay, among others)
Vinos de Terrunos TPG
Vera de Estenas PG Old Vines Bobal (red & rose both)
“European Vines” Prosecco (producer is slipping my mind)
Cantalupo “Il Mimo” rose
Patricia Green Sauvignon Blanc “Dollar Bills Only”
Oupia Minervois
Eric Texier Cotes-du-Rhone
Eric Texier Cotes-du-Rhone Blanc Viognier

#9

My discovery this year was wine from the Cave de Saumur cooperative, the Réserve des Vignerons line
Numerous bottles of the Chenin blanc consumed and passed on to friends (06 & 08 available locally)
Just got a 2005 Cab Franc to try.

9 for the white, 10 for the red
2005 Cave de Saumur Saumur Réserve des Vignerons, France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur - CellarTracker" onclick=“window.open(this.href);return false;
2008 Cave de Saumur Saumur Réserve des Vignerons, France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur - CellarTracker” onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

edit: Just saw the tag about wine-searcher that was added to this post. For the best luck search on “Saumur Vignerons”