I’m no connoisseur, but I enjoy my wine, red, white, or indeed rosé. White I like dry (Chablis is a favourite), red I like full bodied and smooth, and I enjoy a nice zinfandel rosé too. French wines are often over-priced and over-rated, so clue me in on some good stuff from USA, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, or wherever.
I really like the Saintsbury Garnet Pinot Noir. At around US$15/bottle, it’s a great deal if you like Pinot (and who doesn’t?)
The Rosemont Shiraz and Sangiovese are good wines at a low cost-point. (Many steps above Two/Three Buck Chuck, which tastes to me like grape-flavored lighter fluid.) They retail for US$8-US$11.
Other than that…I just try stuff. I rarely spend more than US$20 for a bottle, 'cause I’m just not that into it. Try going to a wine tasting if there is a wine store (a real one, not BevCo or Berbelgia) in your area.
And ignore the snobs. Drink what you like to drink.
Stranger
Argentinian Malbecs.
I love red wine, and I’m poor - not a good combo.
BUT, here are a few that are pretty good and not too expensive:
Ch. Souverain 2001 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County, California
Ch. Ste. Michelle 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley, Washington
Kenwood 2001 Sonoma Zinfandel
Sonoma County, California
Let me know what you think of them.
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is really a wonderful wine. Tart and grapfruity.
Estancia from California makes some excellent reds, pretty variable in range of prices.
Several pinot noir producers from Oregon and Washington are excellent. Sokol Blosser springs to mind first.
Thank you, chaps. My next trip to the supermarket/deli I will see what they’ve got.
Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel ~ 2001 California
friend roger thornhill,
my current favorites are francis coppola’s black diamond claret (about $15.00) osborne solaz (about $8.00) and cline vinyards ancient vines mourvedre ($18.00)
i echo friend stranger’s comment: ignore the wine snobs. drink what you like.
Friend longers, I am afraid that I am shallow and easily led, but I thank you for your recommendations.
BTW, do you buy your wine by the lower case?
In HK - you can get a lot of Australian wines. The Shiraz is pretty common and quite good red. also have a lot of Chilean wines. I haven’t lived in HK for a while, but those were definately the best value for money at the time. US and French wines were at a premium.
There’s a lot of specialty wine stores in HK. Watson’s or one of the chains has a pretty big shop right in Central with a big selection in a lot of price ranges. Take the escalator up to mid levels and there’s several wine shops with decent prices, and IIRC Friday nights tended to have a lot of samples.
Thanks, CG, but I was really looking for specific recommendations, so that I don’t only buy “blind”, or stick with the same old stuff.
no, but i always have a book of e. e. cummings poetry on the wine rack. ;o)
Sokol Blosser’s Evolution No. 9 is quite possibly the world’s best backyard summer barbeque wine. Also top rated for spicy Thai pairings.
I can’t drink it in the winter, though.
The wine shop that I’m a member of is doing a special offer on Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir 2000 - Napa Valley. Is it as good as the blurb suggests ("…near perfect growing season…", “elegant, silky texture”)?
Works out at US$27 per bottle, FYI. (Remember we have high taxes on vino here.)
It is. 2000 was a good year, and Mondavi got a small yeild from their Pinot, which made for a very concentrated wine. I think you’ll like it. 
You twisted my arm. When they deliver, and my wife asks “Oi! What’s this?” I’ll blame it on the Straight Dope. Plus, I’ll order some Chablis Premier Cru for her. A glass of that and she’s eating out of my hand again!
I like Hardy’s Chardonnay, from Australia. I buy it in the boxes, which are equivalent to 4 bottles.
There’s so much else. Off the top of my head:
Rabbit Ridge California Zinfandel and Merlot.
Green & Red California Zinfandel
Storybook Mountain California Zinfandel
Meridian California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Gruet New Mexico sparkling wine
Piper Sonoma California sparkling wine
Mumm California sparkling wine
Chandon California sparkling wine
Gloria Ferrer California sparkling wine
Beringer White Zinfandel
2002 Ravenswood Vintner’s Reserve Zinfandel
I usually find it for $8-$9/bottle. I think it’s about the best bang for the buck out there.
A couple I’m fond of…
Mt Hope Vineyard’s Concord. Nice and full. Not overly sweet but not flat either.
Breaux Vineyard’s Sweet Evangeline. A good white table wine.
Linganore Winery’s Fruit wines (especially the Raspberry). For when you’re feeling experimental.