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Reliable Wines

post #1 of 13
11/21/09 at 8:49pm
Thread Starter 
This thread is inspired by today's trip to the liquor store to replace my Sazerac 6 rye, and the necessary wanderings through the wine selection. We have so many knowledgeable imbibers on SF, and though WAYDRN, and IJBaWSoB threads are great, they are not very consolidated. We all have 'go to' wines from houses or Chateaux that we consistently enjoy, and to aid our fellows' journeys in wine, post your reliable wines (with approximate pricing). I suggest posting by varietal or region.
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post #2 of 13
11/21/09 at 8:51pm
Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling-- as low as $8, could be as high as $13
Merry Edwards Sauv Blanc-- $30 (good luck finding it)

I haven't found a really affordable go to red. But I'm enjoying the search.
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post #3 of 13
11/21/09 at 8:53pm
Thread Starter 
I'll start: Cote du Rhone: Parallel 45 ($10). Consistently fine. Chateuneuf du Pape: Vieux Telegraph or Mont-Redon ($40) Both Excellent and consistent Reisling: Ch. St. Michelle 'Eroica' ($20) Cali Zin: Seghesio 'Old Vines'($30) Everyday red with some backbone, nice fruit, that is not Shiraz: Castelliero del Diablo 'Carmenere' ($10) Decent Savignon Blanc (no, Pio, it's hardly a Merry): Kim Crawford ($16) Will post more but I need to get my book.
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post #4 of 13
11/21/09 at 10:14pm
Frog's Leap sauvignon blanc ($20) or chardonnay ($25)
Roessler Cellars pinot noir ($25-$60)
Novy syrah ($25)
Oops carmenere ($15)
Louis Jadot beaujolais villages ($12)
Mumm brut rose ($25, and only to be used if you're celebrating an anniversary and/or eating crab cakes)


For a good cooking white, I haven't found anything that can hold up to a cheap bottle of Walnut Crest chardonnay (usually around $8). I have yet to find an absolute lock for a cooking red.
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post #5 of 13
11/21/09 at 10:33pm
My go-to white is Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. It has pretty much everything I like about California chardonnay, it's always available at the store across the street from my house, and it fits my budget. It also has been consistently good across recent vintages.
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post #6 of 13
11/22/09 at 12:27pm
We take a very different approach. The way we often shop for wine is to go to one of the stores where we always get good advice, tell the salesperson / wine manager what we like, and get their recommendations. That way we're always trying new wines. That said, there are some we often have around as we always like them. One is Bonny Doon Cigare Volant, and another is Wine By Joe pinot noir. Recent Vieux Telegraph is $75, not $40. Their second label is closer to $40.
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post #7 of 13
11/24/09 at 1:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntsman View Post
Everyday red with some backbone, nice fruit, that is not Shiraz: Castelliero del Diablo 'Carmenere' ($10)
Decent Savignon Blanc (no, Pio, it's hardly a Merry): Kim Crawford ($16)

+1 on Castelliero del Diablo 'Carmenere' I buy this regularly, although usually for around $11-13.

I also tried Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 and it was quite palatable for $8 (even at whole foods.) I should make better habit of keeping notes.

Is Kim Crawford really $16? I got it at Costco all summer at home for $13 and even find it in the city for closer to $13, not that a couple bucks is much.
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post #8 of 13
11/24/09 at 6:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kwilkinson View Post
Merry Edwards Sauv Blanc-- $30 (good luck finding it)

I stopped into an SF wine shop in July and inquired after some Merry Edwards, and I was told that you can only get it direct from the vineyard. That so?
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post #9 of 13
11/24/09 at 7:09pm
the store next to me sells it
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post #10 of 13
11/24/09 at 7:20pm
I"ve had consistent good luck with Castle Rock Pinot Noir.
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post #11 of 13
11/24/09 at 7:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samus View Post
I stopped into an SF wine shop in July and inquired after some Merry Edwards, and I was told that you can only get it direct from the vineyard. That so?

Quote:
Originally Posted by gomestar View Post
the store next to me sells it

Well that's awfully annoying.
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post #12 of 13
11/24/09 at 7:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samus View Post
Well that's awfully annoying.

no, it's incredibly convenient.
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post #13 of 13
11/24/09 at 7:40pm
This is kinda of a loaded question. If you narrow it down to a particular vintage of a particular wine from a particular producer and vineyard, then it's not broad enough. I'll assume the question is broader. I'll say that Penfold's and Louis Jadot are usually pretty good in their output in that price range.
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