ilovefuzz.com

I don't know much about wine but I like a bottle of red here and there. What are some $40 or under bottles that you'd recommend?

A lovely red wine with a delicate bouquet and a great price point. Enjoy!
http://thewinegroup.com/wp-content/uplo ... 017656.png

And apparently I'm too much of a fuckwit to figure out how to post pictures without a Photobucket account.

Okay, so serious suggestions:
1) Marques De Riscal, a great red wine from the Rioja region of Spain
2) Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
3) French reds from Bordeaux, but it's been too long, I can't remember specifics

The Wine Spectator can help. http://www.winespectator.com/

So my suggestion, as a wine enthusiast, is that there is no reason to spend $40 when you are starting out. I'll post more when I'm sober

DRodriguez wrote:So my suggestion, as a wine enthusiast, is that there is no reason to spend $40 when you are starting out. I'll post more when I'm sober

This.

It all depends on where you live...

When I was still living in France I could get very nice wine that fit whatever I was eating for what, 6-8 euros ?
Now in Japan I have to pay at least twice that amount for something half-decent.

But wherever you live there is a threshold in price for basically very decent wines. Beyond that, you need to know what you're looking for and buy stuff accordingly. Also, if you ever have the occasion, tasting/buying wine directly at good winery is great...

So I live in the heart of wine country and I have to agree with what others have said in that it doesn't have to be expensive. If possible find a store that has a cool person in their wine section and become their friend. For me that is two places, the local Trader Joe's and a neighborhood store called bottle barn. They are both good about telling you what's good and what's the best value and what you'll actually like based on other stuff of theirs that you can talk about with them.

PeteeBee wrote:the local Trader Joe's

It's true I think I've had better luck with stuff I like [bubbles are important, white or red] there then anywhere

Blackened Soul wrote:

PeteeBee wrote:the local Trader Joe's

It's true I think I've had better luck with stuff I like [bubbles are important, white or red] there then anywhere

Haha yeah I know it sounds ridiculous, and it might have to do with where I live, but the dude that runs the wine section really knows his stuff and loves to shoot the breeze about different bottles. He always saves cases of his favorites for my father in law.

I didn't say $40 minimum. Most of the stuff I've liked around here has been $15 and one - Ghost Pines - is more like $30. I don't drink that often so I'd rather pay a little more for something good -granted it's worth it - versus getting the near cheapest stuff I can get.

Assuming you're in the US, check out some South American (namely Argentine and Chilean) wines. I'm no expert, but I like the stuff I've been finding lately for the price. Malbecs from Mendoza, Argentina are pretty common and tasty.

I prefer red wine... but some white like Sancerre are great.

In the red, I like mostly French wine like Saint-Emillion grand cru and Italian (Toscane) wine like Chianti Classico, Amarone, Ripasso.

Another vote for those Chilean bottles. Only difference I noticed vs more fancy wines is that I got drunk faster and cheaper.

But hey, I would fail 100 out of 100 in blind tastes with (red) wine.

As a French man, I will tell you a big secret. Bordeaux is constantly hyped. I find it boring at best. So yeah, chillax and get playful tasting at the local store. Only way to find out what you like.