Your Favorite Plonk

[funniegrrl]

This is a thread to share your favorite $10-and-under wines. Heard Joshua Wesson on Splendid Table praising some cheap wines a few weeks ago. (http://splendidtable.publicradio.org/listings/091024/) Turns out my local giant wine-and-liquor store has a couple of them on sale this week, think I'm going to drop by and pick up a few bottles. One of the labels he mentioned, Columbia Crest Two Vines, has a red blend for $5.35! Now that's what I call a table wine!

As for me, I'm not much of a red drinker -- I tend towards Rieling, Viongier, Chenin Blanc, Sauv Blanc. (No Chardonnay ... please Og no.) But, I'm tryin' to branch out on the red thing (low tannin, please). So a while back I picked up a bottle called Big House Red. Popped it open this week. It's a blend of approximately 143 varietals (I kid, I kid, but it's a lot). It's OK. Definitely grapey-fruity-jammy, which for me is a plus in a red. I don't remember what it cost, I bought it ages ago, but it was definitely under $10.

I had also gotten its sibling Big House White but didn't care for it. Can't say why (I don't have much of a vocab for these things) but after one glass the rest was devoted to a vinegar-making experiment.

Which reminds me, I need to check on it, see if I have vinegar yet ...

[mkc]

Here are some we've discovered during our "affordability challenge" this summer:

2007 Perrin & Fils Cotes du Rhone Reserve (on sale). 2007 is a phenomenal year for CdR!

Monkey Bay sauvignon blanc (on sale)

Rosemont Diamond label shiraz

Cono Sur cabernet sauvignon

Michelle

[jjsooner73]

Vini Vidi Vici Cabernet and Merlot
They are from $6-$8 around here and are my favorite go-to.
It's a Bulgarian--I always have to ask for it because there really isn't a Bulgarian section in the wine stores I frequent.

[Middydd]

Barefoot Merlot.

[Gail]

Bearing in mind that you probably don't want recommendations for anything we truly consider plonk, some of my choices from the under $10.00 wine choices would be Rudolf Muller Riesling "Rabbit" Pfalz, Grand Theatre Bordeaux (white or red); Di Majo Norante Sangiovese; Borsao; and good old reliable Rosemount Shiraz.

[sarah2397]

My current 2 favorites in the $10 range, one red, one white, both great (imho!):

- Cono Sur Reisling 2006 Chile
- Gouguenheim Malbec 2008 Mendoza Argentina

Great thread, I will be watching to see what others offer!

[hollysmom]

I have been working down the 'red' chain from ports to shiraz, pinot noir, and zinfindel. Anything else is too tannic. I ALWAYS drink them cold (out of the wine fridge) - that helps make them more palatable to me.

Messina Hof Shiraz
Messina Hof Pinot Noir
(The above are TEXAS wines made by a really cool family)

Barefoot Zin
Virgin Vines Shiraz (extra bonus - screw-top)
Dancing Bull Zin
Yellowtail Shiraz


SSM

[cocoa'smom]

Here's some cheap whites that I buy a lot:

Beringer Chenin Blanc ($6-$7) - I really like this one
Barefoot Pinot Grigio ($5-6)
TJ's Charles Shaw (2-buck-chuck) Australian Chardonnay - I think you said no Chardonnay, but I like their Australian which they don't always have - $2.79)
Canyon Road Sauvignon Blanc ($8-9)
Ecco Dominai Pinot Grigio ($7-8)

[funniegrrl]

I like the Beringer Chenin Blanc fairly well also, I have a bottle in the rack. Also glad to see the recs for Rosemont Diamond Shiraz, I have a bottle of that I haven't tried yet. Same with the Yellow Tail Shiraz.

I'm tickled at the other recs, keep 'em coming. As I said, I'm not into Chardonnay or Cabs or even Merlot, I like my reds on the ligher side. Although shiraz is frequently an exception ... (I also like reds slightly chilled, as hollysmom mentioned -- they really are supposed to be cool, not room temp.) And, here in Tennessee we can't buy wine anywhere but a liquor store, so no Two Buck Chuck or other "store" brands are available to me. But please, continue to post all these recs for others who do like them.

[SusanMac]

I always find wine threads tough b/c what one person considers great, someone else considers horrible! But, it is great for sharing tips, ideas, etc.

I've found that, for my tastes, international inexpensive wines are better than US inexpensive wines. You would expect the opposite, since it's theoretically cheaper to ship wine from CA than Argentina!

But, in general terms, I like Chilean reds, Argentina reds. They both tend to be a bit on the big side.

If you're looking for whites, I love, love, love New Zealand whites! They have several fantastic ones for under $15. The typical grape in that region is savignon blanc. I don't like Australian whites, which are super popular, but just not my taste. NZ whites are consistently grassy & citrus-y, and very crisp, which we like. They are also low alcohol (or at least it seems that way when we polish off a bottle!)....sometimes this is good & sometimes not ;-)

Funniegirl - you say you don't like Chardonnays, but not long ago I learned there are big differences. I don't like American Chardonnays that are oaky & buttery. But, French Chardonnays are typically not oak-barrelled, and I've found several that I really like a lot. So, before you decide that you hate Chards across the board, you might want to explore some more.

[Lulu711]

I personally don't like wines that are really earthy or chewy so I tend to shy away from South American and Australian reds (although as they get more expensive, they tend to be more refined!) My new fave is the Columbia Crest Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon. We get it on sale for $6.99, plus a 10% discount if we buy more than four bottles at a time. For Sauvignon Blanc, I love the Veramonte from Chile with I *think* is under $10. Lots of yummy grapefruit flavor.

[heavy hedonist]

Gato Negro's Malbec, Shiraz or Cab. It varies in price, but aways well under $10, and has been running a lot of rebate offers too, to insinuate it here, no doubt. quite a mouthfeel for not much cash.

[Mary Ann]

I am also a fan of Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc and Beringer Chenin Blanc. I also like...

Fetzer Gewurtztraminer
Schmitt Sohne Riesling
Yellowtail Pinot Grigio

Thanks for asking the question. I'll have to look for some of these. I know Publix had the Barefoot wines on sale this week, but they were so inexpensive that I pretty much dismissed them. Good to know they're drinkable!

[wallycat]

Red wine...how do I love thee....let me count the ways!!!

Here is how I shop for wine...
First, I subscribe to several "newsletters" /sales offers from our local wine shops (not many) and watch the ratings from Parker and Wine and Spirits.
Second, I don't believe in reeeeally bad wine so I am willing to experiment with a lot...rarely have I gotten swill.
Third, I trust myself.........

Sacred Stone is a "table red" from california that was 8.49 with my 15% discount. Even my dinner guests asked for the name. It is very tannic and "loud," which I love.

Purple Moon from trader joes...the Shiraz especially is 3.99
Tuscan Moon from Trader Joes (Sangiovese ...YUM!) is 4.99

My local wine store had a few great sales so I got the 92 rated wines even though they were around $13

If you need more info after this thread dies...let me know and I will get my list from my cellar and post it.

[___Rhianna___]

Originally Posted by funniegrrl

. . . my local giant wine-and-liquor store has a couple of them on sale this week, think I'm going to drop by and pick up a few bottles.

That wouldn't happen to be Frugal McDougal's, would it? Love that place. One of our favorite cheap brands is Foxhorn. I'm not a huge fan of Chardonnay, but I like it if it's not oaky. I prefer reds, but my head doesn't the next day regardless of how little I've had.

I live close enough to Alabama that I can make a quick trip to Huntsville for shopping (and, hence, pick up wine at a non-liquor-store), and I enjoy Target's Wine Cube selection, except for the pinot noir.

[bobmark226]

Originally Posted by hollysmom

I have been working down the 'red' chain from ports to shiraz, pinot noir, and zinfindel. Anything else is too tannic. I ALWAYS drink them cold (out of the wine fridge) - that helps make them more palatable to me.

Messina Hof Shiraz
Messina Hof Pinot Noir
(The above are TEXAS wines made by a really cool family)

Barefoot Zin
Virgin Vines Shiraz (extra bonus - screw-top)
Dancing Bull Zin
Yellowtail Shiraz

At last, the serious (if cheap) winos begin to out themselves!

Bob

[peachesncream]

Our newspaper had an article in the food section about the best affordable wines, and they gave the top rating to:

2007 Meridian Chardonnay, California

We like Yellowtail a lot, and that's what I most often buy.

[funniegrrl]

Originally Posted by ___Rhianna___

That wouldn't happen to be Frugal McDougal's, would it? Love that place.

Yup, Frugal's! ... here's the ad, sale runs through Sat.
http://frugalmacdoogal.com/sale/

They also have a section on the site with $15 and under features separate from this sale ad.

[oct2189]

My go-to everyday dinner wine is Big House Red. A California red blend that's good w/ alomost anything and about $8.00.

[Lulu711]

Originally Posted by wallycat

Red wine...how do I love thee....let me count the ways!!!

Here is how I shop for wine...
First, I subscribe to several "newsletters" /sales offers from our local wine shops (not many) and watch the ratings from Parker and Wine and Spirits.
Second, I don't believe in reeeeally bad wine so I am willing to experiment with a lot...rarely have I gotten swill.
Third, I trust myself.........

Sacred Stone is a "table red" from california that was 8.49 with my 15% discount. Even my dinner guests asked for the name. It is very tannic and "loud," which I love.

Purple Moon from trader joes...the Shiraz especially is 3.99
Tuscan Moon from Trader Joes (Sangiovese ...YUM!) is 4.99

My local wine store had a few great sales so I got the 92 rated wines even though they were around $13

If you need more info after this thread dies...let me know and I will get my list from my cellar and post it.

How could I forget Sacred Stone??? That's a favorite at our house! I would love to see your cellar list, if you're up for sharing.

[Minky]

We like several of the Yellowtail varieties (red), Bogle Petit Syrah (can catch it on sale for $8 periodically), and the Barefoot Zinfandel is quite tasty, and our Fredy Meyer (Kroger) has it on sale for $5 til the end of November

As an aside, has anyone tried the Wine Cubes from Target? I was their today and found that they have started selling wine - imagine my glee Anyway, they have several varieties, very reasonably priced - just wondering if there are any reviews. Thanks!


Sheila

[cchhbb]

Originally Posted by Minky

As an aside, has anyone tried the Wine Cubes from Target? I was their today and found that they have started selling wine - imagine my glee Anyway, they have several varieties, very reasonably priced - just wondering if there are any reviews. Thanks!


Sheila

We like the Merlot and Shiraz.

[funniegrrl]

Thought I'd post an update on what I bought, based on sales and what they stocked vs. suggestions here. There were a few outliers that caught my eye as well. All were under $10, and even the ones that were on sale I think are under $10 when not on sale.

Reds:
Barefoot Pinot Noir
Coppola Rosso
Red Guitar Tempranillo Grenache
Sacred Stone Red
Columbia Crest Two Vines Red (the "10" blend)

Whites:
Lonely Cow Sauv Blanc
Columbia Reisling
Columbia Crest Two Vines Riesling

So far I've tried the CC Two Vines Red. I thought it was fine. Didn't make me go "wow" but then most reds don't. I could see myself drinking this. Compared to the Big House Red ... I dunno. I did a little side-by-side tasting and I could tell the difference, but couldn't say which I liked better. The color of the CC was definitely more attractive -- deeper, more purple. The Big House Red looked a little anemic by comparison. For all intents and purposes, a tie. I DID like the CC better when tasted with dark chocolate -- it really paired well, whereas the Big House didn't add anything special to the combo.