What's a really good red wine to buy?

Answer 1

Merlot or Shiraz

Answer 2

Depends on two things, how much do you want to spend, and do you plan on having the red wine with food?

While there are some nice reds that can be had for under 10 dollars, you're normally going to have to spend at least $15 for something that will be of high quality.

Also, some wines taste fine on their own, some can be rough on the palate and become much better when had with food.

My recommendations in several price ranges, trending toward higher end, as you're wanting "really good":

$15-$35 Without food: try an Australian Shiraz from McLaren Vale. Very tasty, with nice fruit. 2004 is a good year that's available. Yangarra is delicious and won't break the bank.
$15-$35 With food: Argentinian Malbec is the way to go. Try Bodega Norton, it's consistently good.

$35-$60 Without food: Merlot, from a reputable maker in Australia or California will be pretty smooth and not hit you over the head with tannins (that harsh taste wines sometimes have)
$35-60 With food: California Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002 wines are available now, and from a good vintage.

$60-120 Without food: It's a little obscure, but see if you can find Petite Sirah (not to be confused with Syrah/Shiraz). It's a huge bold red wine that has massive amounts of fruit, and with at least five years of bottle age, is typically smooth. Turley, Stags' Leap and Rosenblum are quality producers.
$60-120 With food: Brunello di Montalcino is a great bet. This Italian wine comes from a form of Sangiovese grape and needs a lot of bottle age before it's ready to drink. 2000 is a good year for wines that are drinking well now, or 1997 if you can find it. 1999 and 2001 wines will need more ageing before they're best.

More than $120, you're in French Bordeaux territory, and high end California Cabernets. You can spend many hundreds, or even thousands of dollars on one bottle. If you want to break the bank, look for Bordeaux from Petrus, Lafite-Rothschild, Margeaux, Latour, Mouton-Rothschilds, or Haut-Brion. With these French wines, 15 years of bottle age is considered young, and many are best with at least 30 years. Whew!

In California wines, Screaming Eagle, Sloan, Bryant Family and Harlan Estate are a few of the top-end makers.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I have 2 suggestions. If money is not an issue, go for the Silver Oak. The other is more reasonably priced.

Hogue 2003 Genesis Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a spicy wine at its core with anise, clove and coffee bean accenting its bright fresh cherry and raspberry fruit flavors. It is a rich, full-bodied, expressive wine that still shows some finesse with fine, almost powdery tannins and well-integrated oak. Tobacco and black pepper linger on the finish. Pair this wine with grilled tri-tip steak, aged cheeses or dark chocolate. ($13.99)

Silver Oak 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
This is an opulent wine of great depth and concentration. It displays a dark, garnet color and aromas of black plum, cassis liqueur, rose petals, nutmeg and sandalwood. The palate offers a mouth-coating texture and a wonderful progression of flavors from berry fruit to tobacco to dark chocolate, culminating in an extraordinarily long finish reminiscent of a dark chocolate truffle filled with berry liqueur. Properly cellared, it should provide drinking pleasure until 2028. ($99.99)

Answer 4

Not trying to be flip here:

One that you like.

There are different opinions, and your tongue might tend away from my favorite Pinot Noir (hm, BV Estate is a terrific one, as is Rex Goliath--stay away from Oregon ones, they're acidic) and tend more toward Burgundy.

Best bet if you're not knowledgable: find a nearby wine shop that holds wine tastings (Trader Joe's often does, if you know of no others). Remember what you thought tasted best, and take home a couple of bottles. Then try other labels of the same variety--don't be afraid of low prices or impressed by high ones, one of my more frequent purchases is Avia pinot noir, the cheapest on the market--not the finest, but passable as a regular table wine.

Then you can further educate your palate by occasionally branching out into a different varietal.

And eventually you'll know all you need to know--which is, what does your tongue enjoy.

Answer 5

I love the Estancia line of wines. Their Cab. and Pinot are both very good and have a reasonable price (less than $20.00 bottle).

Check out a website like wine.com for help in choosing a good wine at a good price. Look for the point system that magazines like Wine Spectator use. The higher the point, the better the wine (as far as opinion goes!). Good luck!

Answer 6

The Best Cheap Wine - I think you should go with Yellow Tail brand (all types are pretty good except for their Cabernet)
Australian Shiraz is great! Especially if you are new to the whole wine thing.

More Expensive: Pinot Noirs are great too - my favorite is Carabella which is about a $35 bottle so a little pricey, but very good.

Answer 7

Someone asked the same question yesterday, and I give you the same answer:

The evaluators at "Decanter", considered the world's best wine magazine, and some independent critics, have stated that in their judgement the world's best red wine value today that is widely distributed and available is the Concha y Toro Caseillero del Diable Cabernet Sauvignon. It is sold for about $US 6 - 9 in the States, $CDN 11 - 14 in Canada, and about 3 pounds in the U.K..

Answer 8

Kendal Jackson--Pinot Noir
Rodney Strong--Cabernet
Little Penguin--Shiraz

Answer 9

Bolla has a really good Carbernet that is inexpensive. Yellow tail also has good reds, but Charles Shaw at Trader Joes has the best Cabs and Merlots for your money, only $3!!

Answer 10

Silver Oak Cabernet

Answer 11

Red Rosea