The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: - Page 9

07-16-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC-Axeman

Cremosas would be good cigars if not for the fishy taste and smell they leave hanging in the room.
If a cheap wine is not very flavorful, yet not astringent, vinegary or otherwise offensive, I don't care what is on the label. There are only so many brand names you can come up with.

Now if that's not a glowing review, I don't know what is...

mosesbotbol · 07-17-2009, 04:38 PM

If the wine label is not a picture of the Chateau or vineyard, it's a gimmick. Wine should reflect the land and chateau in both wine and label. There must be pride and history. Cartoon characters; no way.

07-17-2009, 07:10 PM

I guess I just can't see past the "the label defines the wine" logic.. ah well...

SeanGAR · 07-17-2009, 08:37 PM

Back on focus .... a beaujolais villages that I like for just over 10 bucks is....

http://www.kysela.com/burgundy/carra.htm

2007 Manoir du Carra, Beaujolais-Villages, Unfiltered
This 100% Gamay wine is produced from a selection of old vines (70 to 100 years old).

Aged in large oak barrels (foudres) for 3-4 months. No filtration. Egg white fining.

Beautiful purple-rimmed, dark cherry juice color. Explosive nose of intense Gamay fruit, a rich flavorful taste and a clean finish.

Did a side by side this 2007 Villages with George Duboeuf BV and there was no comparison. The Carra had nice very clean Gamay fruit, a lighter style (even for Beaujolais, think Fleurie not Morgon) but nice picnic wine, the Duboeuf showed what happens when you go for quantity over quality. No tannins to speak of, dry enough so it isn't spoiled. Me likey.

Didn't buy a case yet but it is certainly on my list. I see it listed online at 14.99 .... I paid something like 10.35 in Kroger, I wouldn't pay 15 bucks.

07-26-2009, 09:21 PM

I'm drinking a glass of Meridian Pinot Noir right now. It was at Nob Hill for only $5.55.
It is an Italian wine imported through Napa, CA. It tastes like it was made in an Italian style. It is lighter bodied than most of the pinots I'm used to but reminds me of other Italian wines I've had. A winemaker once told my that pinot is a light bodied grape anyway. This Meridian wine has no bad characteristics to me. I think it would be better slightly chilled, even, because it is refreshing already. For $5.55 it is a great deal. It would be better if it had a more concentrated fruit flavor, but I have plenty of wines like that, none that cost less than $15, much less $5.55!

Sauer Grapes · 08-06-2009, 11:06 PM

Magnificent Vineyards makes some pretty good affordable wines. Their house wine in delicious and their "steak house" wine (cab sauv) is good as well. Not only are they good, but they don't give me a headache like other cheap wines. (I say that because although my taste buds will accept most cheap wines, they always give me a headache the next day with only one glass).

They are out of washington.

Sauer Grapes · 08-21-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sauer Grapes

Magnificent Vineyards makes some pretty good affordable wines. Their house wine in delicious and their "steak house" wine (cab sauv) is good as well. Not only are they good, but they don't give me a headache like other cheap wines. (I say that because although my taste buds will accept most cheap wines, they always give me a headache the next day with only one glass).

They are out of washington.

Has any one else tried this one? http://themagnificentwine.com/house_wine.php

I've been impressed by both of their offerings I've tried.

landhoney · 09-22-2009, 04:28 PM

There are some great looking (well, at least really good looking) 2008 Bordeaux futures that are under $20 now. You won't get them until sometime in 2011, but by then they may (I hesitate to say probably) be selling for a higher price. I have seen some of my '03, '04, '05 Future purchases rise greatly in value (some have almost doubled). I did not buy them to sell for profit, but if I bought them today they would cost a lot more.

eber · 09-27-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sauer Grapes

Has any one else tried this one? http://themagnificentwine.com/house_wine.php

I've been impressed by both of their offerings I've tried.

I have seen that brand all over the place and have yet to try it, maybe I should pick up a bottle next time I re-stock the rack

DrDubzz · 09-27-2009, 07:05 PM

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but an excellent Chardonnay for about 10-11 dollars is Thierry and Guy: Fat Bastard

toasty, buttery, very nice

The Poet · 08-07-2009, 11:39 AM

I just put four varietals of Xploradors on the shelf @ $9.99/bottle - Chardonnay, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, and "I will NOT drink any %^($in' " Merlot, all 2008 vintage. These Chilean Concha Y Toros should be quite a good buy, but I haven't had this vintage yet. Anybody here who can give me some input?

TheRiddick · 08-19-2009, 12:43 PM

Nice article, although somewhat misguided as most wine reporters and critics seem to be. He should have done more research. For example, adding tannins is done to retard any bacteria that may have arrived to the winery on grape skins. Small doses of powdered tannin, all natural, of course, but (hopefully) enough to kill any spoilage and used as a precaution in 99% of the cases.

Adding oak chips to wine is not a substitute to aging wine in barrels (contrary to the implication in the article). Chips simply add oak flavor, as article says, but aging in oak barrels leads to micro oxygenation, which is wine AGING (similar to you and me aging wine in our homes for years after the purchase). And as is, chips and staves are simply a by-product of barrel making, anyway. Why throw away perfectly good planks when making barrels?

Chaptalization is legal in France, but illegal in California, the article makes it sound like it is. Besides, with all the "complaints" from experts that CA and Oz wines are too "big" to begin with, why add even more sugar?

Overall, a good look at how the likes of [yellowtail] achieve their target, flavor profile wise, they actually have huge chemical laboratories to gauge consumer wine preferences (sugar laden and oaky wines) and then use chemical additions to get there. Some additions are natural (oak chips, MegaPurple, sugar), some are not.

But in general, you simply cannot take a wine amde from 15 tons per acre crop and turn it into something that was made from a 3 tons (of less) per acre yield. The biggest issue, though, is that all of the wine writers and critics complain about these "additives" and tricks and yet, time and again, I have watchd them give these chemical experiments high scores in tastings, blind or not. On the one hand, they tell consumers about the "evils" of such wine making tricks, on the other they themselves do not have good palates to begin with.

I do not see any attraction in buying non-USA made wines when well made, clean wines are made here and available for same prices as imports. Why send money out of the country?

kenstogie · 08-19-2009, 12:48 PM

I am not a wine guy (I do home brews) but I do like wine and of course taste is a personanl thing but...

Is there a classically good red wine?

To use an analogy.... Padron cigars (X000's series) in my experience almost always get a thumbs up and don't cost a fortune either.

Thanks!!

Fumes · 08-19-2009, 07:28 PM

I am really turned off by dyed maduro wrappers, mostly because I do not know what the process is for dying them. (Food coloring? What the hell is it?) I still wouldn't buy them because stained lips and fingers don't enhance the smoking experience for me, but I wouldn't view them with the same disdain if I knew the process was natural.

But it sounds like a lot of what they're doing with wine is tweaking it with natural wine byproducts. That doesn't sound so bad. Well, except for the silver nitrate and the methanol. Yikes.

Thanks for the info!

cherrybomb · 09-22-2009, 05:03 PM

mcmanis cab 2007

BeerAdvocate · 09-23-2009, 06:49 AM

Im a fan of Blackstone Merlot

Patrick B · 09-23-2009, 06:53 AM

Pretty much everything I drink falls into this category of $20. Penfolds Cab/Syrah blend and Root One Cab are a couple favorites. Banfi as well. Also, pretty much any $15 bottle of Zin is a winner in my book.

landhoney · 09-24-2009, 02:29 PM

Had a 2006 David Bruce Pinot Noir (Central Coast) last night (rest of the bottle tonight....hopefully with a cigar) from Costco that I believe was under $20. Anyway, nice-easy drinking Pinot, maybe a little thin but good fruit and no real flaws. I am not a huge Pinot fan or expert, but I would buy this again.
Any other good Pinots in this price range? I'm sure there are, any I should try?

TheRiddick · 09-25-2009, 05:13 PM

Siduri makes an incredible $20 Pinot (blend of various vineyards they use), although it sells rather quickly. Give them a call.

eber · 09-27-2009, 06:06 PM

a local store by me has a brand called Black Oak, I have had the Shiraz 2005 so far and it was very enjoyable especially because they are 2 for $12 mix 'n match, they also have a brand called Viu Manent, from that vineyard I have had the 2008 Malbec and it was quite tasty for $9

07-17-2009, 04:38 PM	#2
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: If the wine label is not a picture of the Chateau or vineyard, it's a gimmick. Wine should reflect the land and chateau in both wine and label. There must be pride and history. Cartoon characters; no way. __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's

07-17-2009, 07:10 PM	#3
sboyajian Guest Posts: n/a	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: I guess I just can't see past the "the label defines the wine" logic.. ah well...

07-17-2009, 08:37 PM	#4
SeanGAR Crotchety Geezer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Radford VA Posts: 911 Trading: (3)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: Back on focus .... a beaujolais villages that I like for just over 10 bucks is.... http://www.kysela.com/burgundy/carra.htm 2007 Manoir du Carra, Beaujolais-Villages, Unfiltered This 100% Gamay wine is produced from a selection of old vines (70 to 100 years old). Aged in large oak barrels (foudres) for 3-4 months. No filtration. Egg white fining. Beautiful purple-rimmed, dark cherry juice color. Explosive nose of intense Gamay fruit, a rich flavorful taste and a clean finish. Did a side by side this 2007 Villages with George Duboeuf BV and there was no comparison. The Carra had nice very clean Gamay fruit, a lighter style (even for Beaujolais, think Fleurie not Morgon) but nice picnic wine, the Duboeuf showed what happens when you go for quantity over quality. No tannins to speak of, dry enough so it isn't spoiled. Me likey. Didn't buy a case yet but it is certainly on my list. I see it listed online at 14.99 .... I paid something like 10.35 in Kroger, I wouldn't pay 15 bucks. __________________ How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat? Last edited by SeanGAR; 07-17-2009 at 08:48 PM.

07-26-2009, 09:21 PM	#5
BC-Axeman Guest Posts: n/a	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: I'm drinking a glass of Meridian Pinot Noir right now. It was at Nob Hill for only $5.55. It is an Italian wine imported through Napa, CA. It tastes like it was made in an Italian style. It is lighter bodied than most of the pinots I'm used to but reminds me of other Italian wines I've had. A winemaker once told my that pinot is a light bodied grape anyway. This Meridian wine has no bad characteristics to me. I think it would be better slightly chilled, even, because it is refreshing already. For $5.55 it is a great deal. It would be better if it had a more concentrated fruit flavor, but I have plenty of wines like that, none that cost less than $15, much less $5.55!

08-06-2009, 11:06 PM	#6
Sauer Grapes Snatchin' yo people up Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,235 Trading: (44)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: Magnificent Vineyards makes some pretty good affordable wines. Their house wine in delicious and their "steak house" wine (cab sauv) is good as well. Not only are they good, but they don't give me a headache like other cheap wines. (I say that because although my taste buds will accept most cheap wines, they always give me a headache the next day with only one glass). They are out of washington. Last edited by Sauer Grapes; 08-06-2009 at 11:12 PM.

09-22-2009, 04:28 PM	#8
landhoney Mr. Charisma Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Seth Location: In the forest Posts: 2,639 Trading: (32)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: There are some great looking (well, at least really good looking) 2008 Bordeaux futures that are under $20 now. You won't get them until sometime in 2011, but by then they may (I hesitate to say probably) be selling for a higher price. I have seen some of my '03, '04, '05 Future purchases rise greatly in value (some have almost doubled). I did not buy them to sell for profit, but if I bought them today they would cost a lot more.

09-27-2009, 07:05 PM	#10
DrDubzz Formerly RX2010 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tim Location: England Posts: 2,203 Trading: (34)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but an excellent Chardonnay for about 10-11 dollars is Thierry and Guy: Fat Bastard toasty, buttery, very nice

08-07-2009, 11:39 AM	#11
The Poet Il megglior fabbro Join Date: Jun 2009 First Name: Thomas Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 8,420 Trading: (2)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: I just put four varietals of Xploradors on the shelf @ $9.99/bottle - Chardonnay, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, and "I will NOT drink any %^($in' " Merlot, all 2008 vintage. These Chilean Concha Y Toros should be quite a good buy, but I haven't had this vintage yet. Anybody here who can give me some input?

08-19-2009, 12:43 PM	#12
TheRiddick Non-believer Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Greg Location: Las Vegas Posts: 943 Trading: (7)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: Nice article, although somewhat misguided as most wine reporters and critics seem to be. He should have done more research. For example, adding tannins is done to retard any bacteria that may have arrived to the winery on grape skins. Small doses of powdered tannin, all natural, of course, but (hopefully) enough to kill any spoilage and used as a precaution in 99% of the cases. Adding oak chips to wine is not a substitute to aging wine in barrels (contrary to the implication in the article). Chips simply add oak flavor, as article says, but aging in oak barrels leads to micro oxygenation, which is wine AGING (similar to you and me aging wine in our homes for years after the purchase). And as is, chips and staves are simply a by-product of barrel making, anyway. Why throw away perfectly good planks when making barrels? Chaptalization is legal in France, but illegal in California, the article makes it sound like it is. Besides, with all the "complaints" from experts that CA and Oz wines are too "big" to begin with, why add even more sugar? Overall, a good look at how the likes of [yellowtail] achieve their target, flavor profile wise, they actually have huge chemical laboratories to gauge consumer wine preferences (sugar laden and oaky wines) and then use chemical additions to get there. Some additions are natural (oak chips, MegaPurple, sugar), some are not. But in general, you simply cannot take a wine amde from 15 tons per acre crop and turn it into something that was made from a 3 tons (of less) per acre yield. The biggest issue, though, is that all of the wine writers and critics complain about these "additives" and tricks and yet, time and again, I have watchd them give these chemical experiments high scores in tastings, blind or not. On the one hand, they tell consumers about the "evils" of such wine making tricks, on the other they themselves do not have good palates to begin with. I do not see any attraction in buying non-USA made wines when well made, clean wines are made here and available for same prices as imports. Why send money out of the country?

08-19-2009, 12:48 PM	#13
kenstogie following the whiterabbit Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,325 Trading: (3)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: I am not a wine guy (I do home brews) but I do like wine and of course taste is a personanl thing but... Is there a classically good red wine? To use an analogy.... Padron cigars (X000's series) in my experience almost always get a thumbs up and don't cost a fortune either. Thanks!!

08-19-2009, 07:28 PM	#14
Fumes Not So Memorious Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Posts: 205 Trading: (0)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: I am really turned off by dyed maduro wrappers, mostly because I do not know what the process is for dying them. (Food coloring? What the hell is it?) I still wouldn't buy them because stained lips and fingers don't enhance the smoking experience for me, but I wouldn't view them with the same disdain if I knew the process was natural. But it sounds like a lot of what they're doing with wine is tweaking it with natural wine byproducts. That doesn't sound so bad. Well, except for the silver nitrate and the methanol. Yikes. Thanks for the info! __________________ It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues. -A. Lincoln

09-22-2009, 05:03 PM	#15
cherrybomb Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Chris Location: somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 291 Trading: (15)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: mcmanis cab 2007 __________________ It is better to be hated for who you are, then loved for what you are not

09-23-2009, 06:49 AM	#16
BeerAdvocate BeerHunter Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Travis Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 1,912 Trading: (45)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: Im a fan of Blackstone Merlot __________________ *I Brew the Beer I Drink*

09-23-2009, 06:53 AM	#17
Patrick B Feeling at Home Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cincinnati OH Posts: 713 Trading: (6)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: Pretty much everything I drink falls into this category of $20. Penfolds Cab/Syrah blend and Root One Cab are a couple favorites. Banfi as well. Also, pretty much any $15 bottle of Zin is a winner in my book.

09-24-2009, 02:29 PM	#18
landhoney Mr. Charisma Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Seth Location: In the forest Posts: 2,639 Trading: (32)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: Had a 2006 David Bruce Pinot Noir (Central Coast) last night (rest of the bottle tonight....hopefully with a cigar) from Costco that I believe was under $20. Anyway, nice-easy drinking Pinot, maybe a little thin but good fruit and no real flaws. I am not a huge Pinot fan or expert, but I would buy this again. Any other good Pinots in this price range? I'm sure there are, any I should try?

09-25-2009, 05:13 PM	#19
TheRiddick Non-believer Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Greg Location: Las Vegas Posts: 943 Trading: (7)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: Siduri makes an incredible $20 Pinot (blend of various vineyards they use), although it sells rather quickly. Give them a call.

09-27-2009, 06:06 PM	#20
eber Have My Own Room Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Erik Posts: 1,229 Trading: (7)	Re: The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread: a local store by me has a brand called Black Oak, I have had the Shiraz 2005 so far and it was very enjoyable especially because they are 2 for $12 mix 'n match, they also have a brand called Viu Manent, from that vineyard I have had the 2008 Malbec and it was quite tasty for $9