Budget wine thread

[hammondc]

This idea was discussed in a previous thread, but I do not think it ever got started....so I am starting it.

As much as I would love to drink only Silver Creek, Cakebread or Nickel & Nickel, I love my under $30 wines. Put your suggestions here.

[hammondc]

Cupcake Cabernet. Pretty decent stuff for around $9
Bogle Pinot - Always good for $10-$12
337 Cab - A staple in my house for $12
Forefront - Fantastic cab for ~$22

[BigCat]

Menage a trois - $8 at Costco
Dancing Bull Cab and Zin - between 7-10 at Meijer
Dynamite Zin - $9 most places I've seen it
Bogle Cab - $10
7 deadly zins - $10 at Costco

I think these are all really good bangs for the buck.

[Guitarman-S.T-]

Durigutti * spelling* makes a Wonderul 07-08 Malbec for 16$, really blew me away

[Subvet642]

http://www.rantsncrap.com/blog%20pics/md2020.jpg

:D ;s

[Aero95]

Carmel Road Chardonnay $18ish

[xlc12rf]

For about $10 I like the Blackstone Merlot

[TheRiddick]

So, how many in the thread smoke bundled (under $20 per 20) cigars as their mainstays?

[Skywalker]

So, how many in the thread smoke bundled (under $20 per 20) cigars as their mainstays?

:tuhttp://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=72&pictureid=4335:tu
This guy!!!:dance:

[Volusianator]

So, how many in the thread smoke bundled (under $20 per 20) cigars as their mainstays?

Not sure what your point is or how it would relate to this thread?

[xlc12rf]

Not sure what your point is or how it would relate to this thread?

He is saying why bother drinking crap wine.

Cause the line has to be drawn somewhere. I drink expensive beer, and smoke expensive cigars. I don't consider myself a wino, so why should I bother with 'good' wine?

[Christiel49]

Wow!! I totally see where you are going.......however I smoke great cigars 2x a week, wine is a little different. One cigar last about an hour and a bottle of wine only has Three glasses which is easly done in one sitting/daily.

To each his own

Chateau St Michelle: Reisling $15

[Volusianator]

He is saying why bother drinking crap wine.

Cause the line has to be drawn somewhere. I drink expensive beer, and smoke expensive cigars. I don't consider myself a wino, so why should I bother with 'good' wine?

Drink what you like, smoke what you like, ride what you like. It's all preference, Coke vs. Pepsi, Ford vs. Chevy. Just because someone like "premium" cigars doesn't mean they have to drink expensive wines.

[hammondc]

WTF...why all this crapping in my thread? I am fukcing thrilled to no end that XLC and Riddick can afford to smoke the best smokes and drink the best wine. That is not what this thread is for. If you have nothing nice to say....go start your own thread*.....jerks.


*here, I did it for you. (http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=45754)

[Volusianator]

WTF...why all this crapping in my thread? I am fukcing thrilled to no end that XLC and Riddick can afford to smoke the best smokes and drink the best wine. That is not what this thread is for. If you have nothing nice to say....go start your own thread*.....jerks.


*here, I did it for you. (http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=45754)Whoa, that attitude will get you a lot of great replies.

[hammondc]

Whoa, that attitude will get you a lot of great replies.

I am sure it will.

[markem]

Calm down gang. It is, unfortunately, common for some to stomp all over a thread that they deem inferior or something like that. Those people come and go and those who have been here for a while learn that not every post in a thread will be wanted or appreciated. The more you feed their ego by drawing attention to their games, the longer they will stay. Just as it is good sense to ignore the loud mouth at the bar and let the management deal with them, so it is here.

[The Poet]

Chill, Chip. If you ignore the bears instead of poking them, maybe they will go elsewhere. And if not, so what?

I work in a wineshop, and we have some expensive stuff on the shelves . . . where most of it has been for a loooong time, and where it may likely stay for an even longer time. Even if you discount the fact that the vast majority of people cannot afford $100-$500 for a single bottle of wine, most of those who may have the financial resources do not see the point of it. Why should they spend that much when they may not be able to distinguish the difference anyway?

It is relatively easy to find a good bottle of wine in excess of the $30 price point Chip proposed. But it is just as easy to find good ones under that, and when you do it is more fun, more gratifying, and more fiscally responsible. Me, I'm much more pleased when I find a drinkable bottle for $10 than I would be were it twice . . . or 10 times . . . that price.

This post is full of my :2 regarding the overall issue, and totally lacking in any specific suggestions. But then, who wants to rely on the taste of a guy who buys bundled cigars? :D

[Skywalker]

;s

Here is my contribution:

http://www.vino100.com/

100 great wines for $25.00 or less!

I have one of these stores in my town. I have found it a great place to shop around and not spend a ton of money.
They also have tastings so I can try the wine so I know what to spend my money on.

Check out their site, even if you don't have a store near you.

[hammondc]

Good link. There are 2 in my work territory. I will be near one in two weeks. I will have to check it out.

[Volusianator]

Fantastic post! Similar to what I said earlier, drink what you like, like what you drink, smoke, drive, ride, eat...whatever the case may be.

Chill, Chip. If you ignore the bears instead of poking them, maybe they will go elsewhere. And if not, so what?

I work in a wineshop, and we have some expensive stuff on the shelves . . . where most of it has been for a loooong time, and where it may likely stay for an even longer time. Even if you discount the fact that the vast majority of people cannot afford $100-$500 for a single bottle of wine, most of those who may have the financial resources do not see the point of it. Why should they spend that much when they may not be able to distinguish the difference anyway?

It is relatively easy to find a good bottle of wine in excess of the $30 price point Chip proposed. But it is just as easy to find good ones under that, and when you do it is more fun, more gratifying, and more fiscally responsible. Me, I'm much more pleased when I find a drinkable bottle for $10 than I would be were it twice . . . or 10 times . . . that price.

This post is full of my :2 regarding the overall issue, and totally lacking in any specific suggestions. But then, who wants to rely on the taste of a guy who buys bundled cigars? :D

[MajorCaptSilly]

Calm down gang. It is, unfortunately, common for some to stomp all over a thread that they deem inferior or something like that. Those people come and go and those who have been here for a while learn that not every post in a thread will be wanted or appreciated. The more you feed their ego by drawing attention to their games, the longer they will stay. Just as it is good sense to ignore the loud mouth at the bar and let the management deal with them, so it is here.

Sticky material right there.

MCS

[mmblz]

Sticky material right there.

MCS

Cotton candy or pine pitch?




Barefoot Chardonnay is pretty good for the price even if there are others I would prefer to be drinking :D
Menage a Trois someone mentioned - like the Rose
A to Z Pinot Noir

$30 is a high enough bar to find plenty of good wines...

[Volusianator]

I know you said wine and not port, but if I can add a port to the mix, I really enjoy Grahams 6 Grapes, for under $20 a bottle, it's a great ruby.

[icehog3]

I know you said wine and not port, but if I can add a port to the mix, I really enjoy Grahams 6 Grapes, for under $20 a bottle, it's a great ruby.

:tu :dr

[TheRiddick]

Calm down gang. It is, unfortunately, common for some to stomp all over a thread that they deem inferior or something like that. Those people come and go and those who have been here for a while learn that not every post in a thread will be wanted or appreciated. The more you feed their ego by drawing attention to their games, the longer they will stay. Just as it is good sense to ignore the loud mouth at the bar and let the management deal with them, so it is here.

Please remind me, did I miss your illuminating wine related posts elsewhere?

As opposed to a bunch of mine, discussing and recommending wines AT ALL PRICE POINTS, in a number of threads. So, as trolling goes, look in the mirror...
.
.
.
.
I was simply asking and commenting. Because time and again we see threads upon threads of people chasing HIGH PRICED cigars and yet all we see is threads based on LOW PRICE wines. For someone above equating pleasure quotient of wine versus cigar all I can say is that even the largest cigar is no more than what, 3+ hours of pleasure, yet a bottle of wine can deliver pleasure over 2-3 days if need be. Some, like sherries, can stay open for years and deliver great pleasure for that long. Where does price come into this equation?

As much as I tell people to drink (and smoke) what they like I, basically, would rather drink good beer than bad wine, and plain water rather bad beer. Many of the wines mentioned in these "cheap wine" threads are barely wine, many are simply chemical concoctions. Many use oak by-products and food/color additives to cover bad fruit. Thus, my usual questions as to why one would demand pure tobacco and yet subject his internals to chemical crap. I say stick to beer instead (or whatever your other beverage of choice may be).

Those of you above who immediately lumped me into the "only high price products" category obviously know nothing about me. I always look for value, and yes, sometimes that value can actually be a higher priced product. And many a time price is the true measuring stick, low price means low quality. Yeah, I know, a novel concept to most of you in the thread (sorry for sarcasm).

So, how many drive a Yugo? Or cheapest,20 year old Hiunday/Nissan? Why not?

All I see is threads upon threads on Tats/DPG/Viaje/etc/etc/etc, almost never threads on cheapest bundles from Famous/CI/second tier/third tier cigars that are in same league, quality wise, as many of the wines discussed.

But hey, its your liver, (ab)use it any way you want.



For the record, depending on the batch and varietal I would take a 2 Buck Chuck over many of the wines mentioned.

[Volusianator]

Because time and again we see threads upon threads of people chasing HIGH PRICED cigars and yet all we see is threads based on LOW PRICE wines.

So? Why let that bother you?

[markem]

I was simply asking and commenting. Because time and again we see threads upon threads of people chasing HIGH PRICED cigars and yet all we see is threads based on LOW PRICE wines.

Start one. You do know how to do that, right?

[icehog3]

We have threads on cheap bundle smokes, value cigars, etc.....A member can't start a value wine thread without getting your dander up?

Drink what you like (everyone), like what you drink (everyone), and don't take yourself too seriously. ;)

[replicant_argent]

I suggest 3 buck chuck ;)

[icehog3]

I suggest 3 buck chuck ;)

I've had it, and thought it was worth at least four-fitty. ;)

[pektel]

Back on topic, shall we?

For everyday value wines, I like fetzer and bogle. Fetzer runs under $7 and bogle runs under $10 at the local walmart liquor store here. I really like frei brothers Cabernet as well. About $20, and delicious as far as my palate is concerned.

For super cheap, I've been able to rather enjoy yellow tail merlot, though it's one of those chemical concoctions riddick was referring to.
Posted via Mobile Device

[hammondc]

I agree on Bogle. Good, solid stuff for ~$10. The Pinot and Cab are very good.

Had some Castle Rock Pinot last night. Very good stuff. Paired up with an Illusione Nostros. It was a good night.

[pnoon]

Back on topic, shall we?


You can bet on it.

[Subvet642]

As for myself, I don't know a lot about wines, but I know what I like. I don't have a refined palette, but, for a bargain bottle I like the Gallo Hearty Burgundy.

[mosesbotbol]

WTF...why all this crapping in my thread? I am fukcing thrilled to no end that XLC and Riddick can afford to smoke the best smokes and drink the best wine. That is not what this thread is for. If you have nothing nice to say....go start your own thread*.....jerks.

Aristotle said “General questions can only have general answers”. This thread is too general for me to suggest bottles under $20 with narrowing the scope some. Do you like new world or old world wines? Single varietal or blends? Red, white, sparkling, fortified, or rose? Do you want big names easy to find or more obscure gems in that price range.

The majority of wines I drink and taste are in that price range, but without knowing what kind of wines you like, it's hard to make suggestions. $20 can buy a heck of wine.

[OnlyDryReds]

Sat out on the patio last night with wife and my parents and we had a nice mondavi Sauvignon Blanc that wife had picked up on sale for 8.99... Nice, fruity, light, worked well on a warm sping night.

[pnoon]

Sat out on the patio last night with wife and my parents and we had a nice mondavi Sauvignon Blanc that wife had picked up on sale for 8.99... Nice, fruity, light, worked well on a warm sping night.
Looks like you may have to consider changing your user name. ;)
Posted via Mobile Device

[NCRadioMan]

Aristotle said “General questions can only have general answers”. This thread is too general for me to suggest bottles under $20 with narrowing the scope some. Do you like new world or old world wines? Single varietal or blends? Red, white, sparkling, fortified, or rose? Do you want big names easy to find or more obscure gems in that price range.

The majority of wines I drink and taste are in that price range, but without knowing what kind of wines you like, it's hard to make suggestions. $20 can buy a heck of wine.

This thread isn't about what he likes, it's what you like so post away Moses, as I am interested to see the list.

[xlc12rf]

This thread isn't about what he likes, it's what you like so post away Moses, as I am interested to see the list.

x2

I love finding cheap, drinkable wine.

[OLS]

Haha, that's right. "There are too many threads where people come in and try to re-ask the questions the
OP asked, to frame them in their own terms." haha. Or something like that.
Like was said, only
the OP knows what he asked and why he asked it. If the thread has no merit, it will die a quick death to the
high-numbered pages. I had this happen to me the other day, someone was bound and determined to tell me
what I meant by what I asked. WTF?

[Volusianator]

Looks like you may have to consider changing your user name. ;)
Posted via Mobile Device

LOL

[hammondc]

337 Cabernet- Pretty good stuff. A little astringent, but still worth the ~$11.

[BigCat]

337 Cabernet- Pretty good stuff. A little astringent, but still worth the ~$11.

+1. I like this stuff.

[markem]

Okay, I'll admit to a very strange way of picking cheap wines that seems to work for us. For some reason, picking the bottle with the really cool animal seems to work. On rare occasions, it is a spectacular failure, but most of the time, we like the wine we pick with that method.

[CigarNut]

Okay, I'll admit to a very strange way of picking cheap wines that seems to work for us. For some reason, picking the bottle with the really cool animal seems to work. On rare occasions, it is a spectacular failure, but most of the time, we like the wine we pick with that method.That one bottle of "white" wine you picked up with the picture of a dog peeing, was not very good. A little to warm for me...

[smokepuff]

Woodbridge Lightly oaked Chardonnay white @ $7 @ Shop-N-Save Sale Price only :D
Mount Pleasant Norton (Missouri winery) @ $20

I usually stock up on anything from Missouri Winery at local mart discounted price
And that's how I drink wine on a budget

[OnlyDryReds]

Looks like you may have to consider changing your user name. ;)
Posted via Mobile Device

Hmmmmmmm Yes I see that!

Well Ill think of something while drinking a Mondavi Woodbridge Chard this evening. :tu

[vankleekkw]

A couple of cheaper wines that I've been drinking
Bonterra - An organic wine for ~ $12
BV
Penfolds
Chateau st. John

[pektel]

Had a bottle of 2007 castle rock napa valley Cabernet sauvignon tonight, and am pleasantly surprised. A little heavy on the tart fruit and less dry and oaky like some others, but still very enjoyable. 12.49 at my local liquor store. May go pick up a case tomorrow to put away and see what happens after some of that fruit dies down.
Posted via Mobile Device

[jjmitchem]

A few years back my wife and I became really good friends with the owner of our local wine store - she everything from $3 to $500 bottles as well as an incredible selection of great beers

as she got to know our taste (we had been trying the better stuff every once in a while) she suggested a bottle of Crane Lake Cab - at $4 a bottle that became our daily driver so to speak and it is really good

[mosesbotbol]

For under $20 and an "honest wine", I would look for wines from:

Alentejano, Dao, Douro - Portugal
Chinnon - France
Rioja - Spain

I most cases, you should be able to find "Reserva" wines from each appellation.

[hammondc]

For under $20 and an "honest wine", I would look for wines from:

Alentejano, Dao, Douro - Portugal
Chinnon - France
Rioja - Spain

I most cases, you should be able to find "Reserva" wines from each appellation.

Thanks for the suggestion. I need to do some stocking up. I will look for these.

[pektel]

FYI,I may be wrong, but I believe "reserva" has no legal bearing regarding US wines. I know mosesbotl listed foreign wines, just saying in regards to united states wines. Also not saying that US wineries abuse the label.
Posted via Mobile Device

[hammondc]

Picked up a Rioja and Douro today.

Proximo by Marques de Riscal Riojo
Charamba Douro

[mosesbotbol]

Picked up a Rioja and Douro today.

Proximo by Marques de Riscal Riojo
Charamba Douro

The Charamba is a good deal for its price. I have had it back to 2000 and is still holding up well. What year did you get? I don't know the Rioja. Please update us with your results!

[timj219]

I don't know about availability out of state but NY wines from the finger lakes are generally inexpensive and some are outstanding. Dr Konstantin Frank, Anthony Road, and Sheldrake Point vineyards are three that come to mind. Most of their bottles come in under $30 with a fair number under $20

[hammondc]

The Charamba was a 2007. I agree. Had it last night and I was shocked at how good it was for $8. Seems very similar to a Pinot Noir to me. It is one I definitely will keep on hand.

[ronzorelli]

My wife and I are pretty fond of a local wine called Kick Butt Cab. It's from Texas Hills Vineyard (http://www.texashillsvineyard.com) and runs about $18.

Llano Estacado Winery, another local winery, has a really good "cheap" Pino Grigio (http://www.llanowine.com/detail.aspx?ID=180) for about $9.

[Tyler]

Great suggestions fellas. I have tried quite a few of the ones mentioned and have found them great as well.

A few more to add (I am on my phone so I hope these have not been mentioned already):

Menage a Trois California Red
Clos Du Bois Chardonnay 2009
Alamos Malbec

[hammondc]

Had a bottle of 2007 castle rock napa valley Cabernet sauvignon tonight, and am pleasantly surprised. A little heavy on the tart fruit and less dry and oaky like some others, but still very enjoyable.
Posted via Mobile Device

Yep....this is usually a staple in my rack. The Willamette Valley Pinot is very good too. I have heard the Russian River Valley wines are nice, but I have not seen them in a long while.

[mosesbotbol]

The Charamba was a 2007. I agree. Had it last night and I was shocked at how good it was for $8. Seems very similar to a Pinot Noir to me. It is one I definitely will keep on hand.

2007 is an excellent vintage for Douro wine and port. I am glad to read my suggestion panned out for you! Portugal is a hotbed of good dry wine deals.

[OnlyDryReds]

Wife an I opened up a bottle of Jefferson Vineyard 2001 Petit Verdo that I have had hidden away for a few years Sunday evening...think i paid around 25 +/- for it at the time, before I laid it down.... Decant it, then we used one of my x-mas gifts, a Vinturi, and it was quite good. I really like Petit Verdo's as a single blend..i have a 2002 from same place Ill be looking forward to next year, if I can wait that long. :)

[Pilon]

Il Bastardo Sangiovese, $7 in my neck of the woods