inexpensive and drinkable California reds

[Anonymous]

Any suggestions for California reds that are good and under $15/bottle?

[Anonymous]

Estancia Pinot Noir

[Anonymous]

Does it have to be California? I think you can get better and much more drinkable inexpensive reds that are from Spain, Chile, etc. The cheap reds from CA aren't that good.

[Anonymous]

Estancia is good - also Liberty School, Simi, Penfolds and Mondavi Reserve. All good full flavored Cabs. Go to Total Wine & Beverage. They are very helpful. Lib School is the most expensive cheap wine we like. It retails about $18, but goes on sale often in Mont County.

[Anonymous]

I love Roundhouse from the Russian River Valley. It is a Zin and around $20.

[Anonymous]

PP here, I forgot Four Vines. Trader Joe's carries it. It cost aground $12.

[Anonymous]

Copolla has some great reds for that price range. Their Pinot noir is really smooth and nice.

[Anonymous]

Chateau Ste Michelle Merlot is pretty good and usually well rated.

[Anonymous]

Louis Martini makes 2 California cabernets that are both great values. One is from Sonoma Valley ($14) and the other is from Napa Valley ($24).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it have to be California? I think you can get better and much more drinkable inexpensive reds that are from Spain, Chile, etc. The cheap reds from CA aren't that good.

+1

[Anonymous]

Ravenswood Vintner's Blend Zinfindel is around $15.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Estancia is good - also Liberty School, Simi, Penfolds and Mondavi Reserve. All good full flavored Cabs. Go to Total Wine & Beverage. They are very helpful. Lib School is the most expensive cheap wine we like. It retails about $18, but goes on sale often in Mont County.

I agree Estancia and Penfolds are good, but Penfolds is Australian. (I also agree you can get find nice bargains from other (non-European) countries)

[Anonymous]

Ravenswood Merlot is pretty good and usually around $12. The cab is not bad either.

Shopper Food Warehouse sells wine and it seems a few dollars cheaper than wine stores. Costco in VA also sells wine. I like Penfolds Shiraz but the first glass always tastes a little too alcohol or metallic, the second is fine so maybe it needs to breathe more? There is a Chilean wine..I'll spell it wrong..something like Concha Y Torro that is good.

I'm not impressed by mid to less expensive French wines but I'll admit that I don't have a great palette. The only exception is Cotes de Rhone but this does have a higher alcohol content. Beaujolais (Louis Jadot) is not bad if you like very fruity and light.

Pinot Noir from the Williamette Valley and Russian River is supposed to be good.

[Anonymous]

We really like BV Coastal Cab, Bogle Merlot, and Robert Mondavi. Also concur in the Louis Martini and Ravenswood recs.

[Anonymous]

I find the Ravenswood almost undrinkable.

If you are open to Australian wines try the Oyster Bay Pinot Noir. It's not bad for $12-13. Also try a sangiovese as they can be pretty good in less expensive wines. TJs has a not terrible one for about $7.