The Under $20 A Bottle Wine Thread:

[JohnnyFlake]

Please allow me to re-state that this is the under $20 a bottle wine thread, It's meant to make suggestions for good, very good and occasionally an excellent wine that can be had for $20 a bottle or less.

I fail to understand the bashing of many suggestions made on this thread, accompanied by volumes of rhetoric comparing a simple $20 or less bottle of wine, with world class and far more expensive wines.

To me the topic of this thread is important because there are many, many thousands of us who cannot afford to purchase $30 +, $50 +, $100 + and so on, bottles of wine on a regular basis than there are who can!

[RichardW]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

Please allow me to re-state that this is the under $20 a bottle wine thread, It's meant to make suggestions for good, very good and occasionally an excellent wine that can be had for $20 a bottle or less.
[snip]

Richard Cacciato, chief executive of New York importer Frederick Wildman & Sons, says $40 is the new resistance point, and demand is focused on $10 to $20 wines. Australia is down, while Spain and Argentina are up.
[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...aaCF8_4ghYm8#]

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

Please allow me to re-state that this is the under $20 a bottle wine thread, It's meant to make suggestions for good, very good and occasionally an excellent wine that can be had for $20 a bottle or less.

I fail to understand the bashing of many suggestions made on this thread, accompanied by volumes of rhetoric comparing a simple $20 or less bottle of wine, with world class and far more expensive wines.

To me the topic of this thread is important because there are many, many thousands of us who cannot afford to purchase $30 +, $50 +, $100 + and so on, bottles of wine on a regular basis than there are who can!

No one is bashing your recommendations. I should emphasize, YOURS. But when you post someone else's, without ever tasting the wine, I think it is fair game to question them. If you think I am drinking a $100 bottle every night, you are mistaken. Hell, I am down with a flu since the middle of last week and haven't had any wine or cigars since (was tempted tonight, though, still congested and coughing).

Also, what I attempted to do was to show how to read a tasting note and decipher it. Only because something got a 91 score, from who knows who (Sam's employee? Wow, I should run out and buy a pallet!) when the wine description is obviously showing an overripe and overoaked wine from questionable provenance, I don't see why someone should not point it out.

Same as would happen with anyone posting a very positive, 91 score review on Cremosa or another questionable stick, I would expect at least one person to chime in with a contrarian view. No difference.

Nothing personal, as I already pointed out. Simply questioning some recommendations you posted (and others as well). They are not wines made by you, don't take it personally to begin with. I never recommend anything I haven't tried myself and although I may point out a particular winery if a particular style of wine is being discussed, I feel I am playing with someone else's money if I recommend something without having actual experience with it. Not fair to the other person, IMO. That's all and nothing sinister.

[rizzle]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

Please allow me to re-state that this is the under $20 a bottle wine thread, It's meant to make suggestions for good, very good and occasionally an excellent wine that can be had for $20 a bottle or less.

I fail to understand the bashing of many suggestions made on this thread, accompanied by volumes of rhetoric comparing a simple $20 or less bottle of wine, with world class and far more expensive wines.

To me the topic of this thread is important because there are many, many thousands of us who cannot afford to purchase $30 +, $50 +, $100 + and so on, bottles of wine on a regular basis than there are who can!

I agree with you. Pretty easy to see about where this turn of events started, no?

[SeanGAR]

Back on track, a Spanish that I have enjoyed many times in the past that should run $12-14 is



Castell del Remei Gotim Bru. Mostly tempranillo, with some cabernet sauvignon, merlot and grenache thrown in. Price went up from 10-ish to 12-13-ish locally and I wasn't as impressed with the last available vintage as I had been in the past. Nonetheless, a fine wine for the nickel based on my 'sub 20 palate'.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

Back on track, a Spanish that I have enjoyed many times in the past that should run $12-14 is



Castell del Remei Gotim Bru.

Good pick. This wine does vary some with the vintage. I had a case of the 2000 that was impressive, but a had (2003 I think) that was just a little better than average.

Spain is good for under $20 wines. The Marques de Caceres Reserva is better if you can find under $20.

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Spain is good for under $20 wines. The Marques de Caceres Reserva is better if you can find under $20.

You mentioned that one before, I'll have to look for it tonight.

[Fumes]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

Back on track, a Spanish that I have enjoyed many times in the past that should run $12-14 is



Castell del Remei Gotim Bru.

My wife and I shared a bottle this weekend. Very nice. Thanks for the tip!

[JohnnyFlake]

This one is amazing, right now! I bought a couple of bottles of Layer Cake 2008 Shiraz from Barossa Valley, Australia at Trader Joe's for $14.95 this past Saturday. Last night my wife and I drank a bottle. I have had this in the past several times, 2006 and I believe 2005. It was always very good to excellent. I decanted the bottle and let it rest for about 45 minutes. All I can say is that this is an amazing wine right now. The flavor is full bodied with lot's of up front fruit dark berry nuances, with an underlying spiciness that is just wonderful. The finish is fairly long with hints of dark chocolate & spice.

I highly recommend this wine. I plan to pick up at least a half dozen bottles of this. I'm no expert but I believe that this wine will hold up very well and may even improve over the next 3 to 5 years.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

This one is amazing, right now! I bought a couple of bottles of Layer Cake 2008 Shiraz from Barossa Valley, Australia at Trader Joe's for $14.95 this past Saturday. Last night my wife and I drank a bottle. I have had this in the past several times, 2006 and I believe 2005. It was always very good to excellent. I decanted the bottle and let it rest for about 45 minutes. All I can say is that this is an amazing wine right now. The flavor is full bodied with lot's of up front fruit dark berry nuances, with an underlying spiciness that is just wonderful. The finish is fairly long with hints of dark chocolate & spice.

I highly recommend this wine. I plan to pick up at least a half dozen bottles of this. I'm no expert but I believe that this wine will hold up very well and may even improve over the next 3 to 5 years.

Layer Cake is quite good.
And a good value, too.

Another Australian Shiraz that is affordable and quite tasty is called Boarding Pass. It is priced in the $15-$20 range. Check it out.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by pnoon

Layer Cake is quite good.
And a good value, too.

Another Australian Shiraz that is affordable and quite tasty is called Boarding Pass. It is priced in the $15-$20 range. Check it out.

The best Austrailian Shiraz I have tried under $20 is Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz.

[WildBlueSooner]

To me the topic of this thread is important because there are many, many thousands of us who cannot afford to purchase $30 +, $50 +, $100 + and so on, bottles of wine on a regular basis than there are who can![/quote]

Although I do occasionally splurge