Wine Quotes

Here is a collection of wine quotations:

If food is the body of good living, wine is its soul.  Clifton Fadiman

Wine is bottled poetry.  Robert Louis Stevenson

Good wine is a necessity of life for me.  Thomas Jefferson

I made a mental note to watch which bottle became empty soonest, sometimes a more telling evaluation system than any other.  Gerald Asher

Making good wine is a skill;  making fine wine is an art.  Robert Mondavi

Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized.  Andre Simon

Life is too short to drink bad wine.  Anonymous

Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life's most civilized pleasures.  Michael Broadbent

Though I'm no doctor, just the idea of drinking wine over a leisurely meal has a positive effect (on health) by virtue of the fact that it is elegant, relaxing and fun.  Robert Parker

"De gustibus non est disputandum."  There is no disputing matters of taste.

There are no standards of taste in wine, cigars, poetry, prose, etc.  Each man's own taste is the standard, and a majority vote cannot decide for him or in any slightest degree affect the supremacy of his own standard.  Mark Twain

Never buy the cheapest wine in any category, as its taste may discourage you from going on.  Cheap wine will always be too expensive.  Alex Bespaloff

I know never to take a wine for granted.  Drawing a cork is like attendance at a concert or at a play one knows well, when there is all the uncertainty of no two performances ever being quite the same.  That is why the French say, "There are no good wines, only good bottles."  Gerald Asher

Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection -- and it offers a greater range of appreciation and enjoyment than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.  Ernest Hemingway

Food without wine is a corpse;  wine without food is a ghost.  United and well-matched, they are as body and soul, living partners.  Andre Simon

Wine is an endless treasure trove of fascination.  Wine is the only beverage in the world that draws us in intellectually, causes us to think about it, to ponder it, to question why it tastes the way it does.  Wine, it seems to me, is compelling not solely because it tastes good (though it surely does that) but because it appeals to the mind.  Karen MacNeil

In 1995, I predicted that first-growth Bordeaux would hit $10,000 per case in ten years;  well, they have done that and then some, and in a much shorter period.  This trend will only continue.  Unfortunately, many of these wines will become nothing more than museum pieces to be talked about and traded, but rarely drunk.  Robert Parker

One of the most gratifying aspects of being a wine critic is discovering those under-the-radar, superb wine bargains that taste as if they should cost two or three times the price but don't. ... The myth is that wines that cost $25 or less are worth just what you pay for them and are never terribly interesting.  This is totally untrue, and with work, one can unearth these small treasures that deliver seriously good wine at remarkably fair prices.  Robert Parker

On the 2005 vintage in France:  "If I had to give two words of advice to lovers of French wine today, scouting in any price range, they would be "O" and "five."  The 2005 vintage seemed exceptional at the time, virtually throughout France and especially in the classic regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy.  Now that we can judge the wines in bottle, it continues to shine brilliantly. ...  I still feel this is by far the greatest Bordeaux vintage I have been lucky enough to taste.  And it's the consistency right down to the petit chateaux and lowly AC Bordeaux level that is so exciting.  Jancis Robinson

It is well to remember that there are five reasons to drink wine:  the arrival of a friend; one's present or future thirst; the excellence of the wine; or any other reason.  Latin saying

Here's to the corkscrew -- a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the gate of pleasant folly.  W.E.P. French

He who loves not wine, women and song -- remains a fool his whole life long.  Johann Voss

The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation.  The universe is too full of stars.  Benjamin Franklin

A sight of the label is worth 50 years experience.  Michael Broadbent

Anyone who tries to make you believe that he knows all about wines is obviously a fake.  Leon Adams

On drinking the wines of Bordeaux:  "The French drink them young, so a Socialist government won't take them.  The English drink them old, so they can show their friends cobwebs and dusty bottles.  The Americans drink them exactly when they are ready, because they don't know any better."  Anonymous

Wine is sure proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.  Benjamin Franklin

High-QPR Chardonnays

The following Chardonnays have been reviewed in this blog so far (from least expensive to most expensive):

2008 Bogle Chardonnay ($10)

2008 Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay ($12)

2008 Clos du Bois Chardonnay ($13)

2008 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay ($14)

2007 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay, "Robert Young Vineyard" ($25)

2007 Beringer "Private Reserve" Napa Valley Chardonnay ($32)

Note that the above prices are list prices.  All of these wines can usually be found on sale or for discounted prices at a variety of locations.  The best value that I have seen, from a purely economic or QPR perspective, was when K&L Wines had the Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay on sale for $6.99 to clear inventory.

The Beringer "Private Reserve" and the Chateau St. Jean "Robert Young Vineyard" Chardonnays are excellent wines of the highest quality with good QPR value (and represent high-QPR wines if you can get either wine at a 20% discount).

2007 Beringer "Private Reserve" Napa Valley Chardonnay

Beringer's "Private Reserve" Napa Chardonnay consistently receives rave reviews.  It was #47 on Wine Spectator's "Top 100 Wines" for 2008.

Robert Parker gives it 92 points:  "The 2007 Chardonnay Private Reserve (always one of California's top Chardonnays) has toned down the toasty oak component, exhibiting excellent nutty, honeyed, buttery notes of orange marmalade, brioche, and spice.  This wine is full-bodied, rich and pure.  Beringer continues to turn out an impressive array of wines, proving that a gigantic global operation can be focused on quality and character.  The Private Reserve final blend is always the finest wine of the group.  This has been proven time and time again at tastings."

The list price for this wine is $32, but you can usually find it for less than $25.  It's the most expensive Chardonnay on this blog, but with a price under $25, I think the quality-to-price ratio for this wine is very high.

2007 Beringer's Napa Valley Chardonnay

From the winemaker, "Almost half the fruit for the 2007 Napa Valley Chardonnay is from Bertha's Vineyard, which consistently delivers rich citrus and apple flavors.  Lemon meringue, pear, vanilla bean, and toasty oak notes make this a richly-layered wine from the start.

Robert Parker gives it 88 points,  "Another remarkable bargain.  It exhibits crisp notes of pineapples and oranges, zesty acidity, a little oak, and a fresh, medium-bodied finish."

The list price is $12, but you can easily find this wine for under $10 with a little searching at Costco, Safeway, BevMo, Trader's Joe, Total Wine, or your local wine shop.  For $10, this is a high-QPR wine IMO.

2007 Mas du Bouquet Vacqueyras

The 2007 Mas du Bouquet Vacqueyras is another excellent wine from Vacqueyras region of the Cotes du Rhone.  It gets 90 points from the International Wine Cellar:  "Deep ruby. Rich blackberry and kirsch aromas are complicated by candied flowers, anise and garrique, with a sexy note of cola coming up for air.  Sweet dark berry flavors coat the palate, firmed by fine-grained tannins that are quickly absorbed by the fruit.  This sweet, long wine is already very alluring."

And Robert Parker gives it 89-91 points:  "The general style is one of fruity, good quality, commercially-styled wines that represent very good value, and are immensely appealing.  All of the 2007s (Cotes du Rhone) are fruit-laden, lush and best drunk in their first 3-5 years of life.  The sumptuous Domiane Le Mas du Bouquet, 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre, is aged in tank prior to bottling."

I've tasted this wine on two different occasions and was very impressed both times, a delicious wine IMO.  The list price is $16, but K&L Wines is selling it for $12.99.  I think it's a solid wine for the list price.  At the reduced price, I think this is a high-QPR wine.

2007 Paul Jaboulet "Parallele 45" Cotes du Rhone

The 2006 vintage of this wine received a Best Values designation from Wine Spectator.  From tasting last night, I think the 2007 vintage shows more fruit and structure.  From the winemaker:  "The wine has a deep color, with elegant and expressive aromas of red fruits and spices.  On the palate, the wine has a solid structure, ripe tannins, and a spicy character."

Another excellent, value-price 2007 Cotes du Rhone, IMO, composed of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah.  The dominant flavor that comes through to me is ripe fruit and grape jam.  The list price is $13 but you can find it easily under $10 (Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa had it last weekend for $8.99).  For under $10 a bottle, I think this is a high-QPR wine.

2007 Grans-Fassian Estate Riesling Qba

This Riesling received 90 points from Wine Spectator:  "Iris and tuberose notes mingle with apple and nectarine in this delicate, detailed Riesling.  There's an undercurrant of mineral, and this gets support from the lively structure.  Fine length.  Drink now through 2018."  And according to Wine and Spirits,  "The round, ripe peach flavors are buttressed by brightly snappy acidity, feeling deliciously refreshing in its liveliness."  The list price is $20, but K&L Wines has it on sale for $9.99 which I think makes it a high-QPR wine.

U.S. Market Flooded by Cheap Bulk Wine

The Press Democrat, my local newspaper, had an interesting article on the wine industry this morning.  The first paragraph read, "California wine shipments dropped in 2009 for the first time in 16 years as major U. S. wine companies looked overseas for the cheap wines that cash-strapped consumers increasingly crave."

Wines selling below $7 a bottle are experiencing a surge in demand while higher-end wines are seeing decreased sales, and demand has dropped sharply for the most expensive wines.  Jon Fredrikson, a wine industry analyst, commented, "It was ugly.  Many people I have talked to said it was the worst year in their history.  For small and medium-sized wineries, the year was brutal, as consumers shunned higher-priced wines."

Even though shipments from California decreased in 2009, U.S. wine consumption increased overall.  Market share has shifted from higher-priced wines to boxed wine and lower-priced wine.  Wine shipments have also increased substantially to Asia, especially to China and Southeast Asia.

Bulk wine shipments from overseas -- that turn into lower-priced wine and boxed wine -- have soared.  The largest U.S. wineries have been able to capitalize on the "trading-down" phenomenon by tapping into the globalized supply of cheap wine.  The amount of imported bulk wine increased 87% from 2008 to 2009.  Most of this wine was then bottled in the U.S. and sold as either boxed wine or 750 ml. bottles priced from $3.99 to $6.99.

Many traditional wineries thought that bulk wines couldn't compete, but the improving quality of these bulk wines is changing consumers' ideas about how much they need to spend to get a decent bottle of wine.  This trend of U.S. wineries outsourcing wine had been growing steadily in the past 10 years, but it exploded in 2009.

Occasionally, I'll try a bottle or two of the wine that normally sells for under $7 a bottle.  Some of it is surprisingly good IMO, especially for use as weekday table wine.  For example, I found the 2009 Mendoza Station Sauvignon Blanc ($6.99 at Total Wine, as discussed previously) to be very good.  And IMO the 2007 La Vieille Ferme "Cotes du Ventoux" Rouge (Cotes du Rhone) is a very good to excellent wine that happens to sell for under $7 (see prior post).

I've found most of the brands under $7, however, tend to be flat, one-dimensional, and lacking in structure or character.  But you only need to find one decent red wine and one decent white wine to use as regular table wines.

2007 Comte Louis de Clermont-Tonnerre (Vieille Vignes), Cotes du Rhone-Villages

I tried this wine last night -- a nice, tasty Cotes du Rhone from the village of Cairanne and the Collection Alain Corcia -- made from very old vines.  Good fruit aromas and flavors with a structure somewhat more full-bodied than the 2007 Perrin Reserve Cotes du Rhone discussed previously and about equivalent body to the 2007 Delas St-Esprit.  My wife and I had a slight preference for the 2007 Delas St-Esprit.  The list price of this wine is $10.99 compared to $9.99 for the St-Esprit (at K&L Wines).  Try it and compare for yourself -- I think both wines offer excellent QPR.

2005 Clos l'Eglise, Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux

Chateau Clos l'Eglise is one of the stars in the relatively new Cotes de Castillon region of Bordeaux which is a few miles east of the elite St. Emilion appellation.  It received 89 points from Robert Parker:  "Now owned by Gerard Perse, this estate now makes attractive, elegant wines.  The 2005 Clos l'Eglise (70% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) exhibits notes of sweet cranberries, jammy black cherries and strawberries, crushed rocks and flowers.  With a dense purple color, medium body, loads of fruit, and a soft, round mouthfeel and finish, it can be enjoyed over the next 5-6 years."

The wine received 90-91 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:  "Full ruby-red.  Ripe, complex nose melds cassis, kirsch, licorice, earth, mocha and truffle.  Ripe, sexy and sweet, with lovely energy and a youthfully cool quality to the dark fruit and mineral flavors.  Precide, powerful Cotes de Castillon wine, finishing with building tannins and considerable breadth."

This wine usually sells for $36-40, and it is currently offered for $19.99 at K&L Wines while supplies last.  With a price under $20, I think it is definitely a high-QPR wine.  It is a relatively big wine, with good structure and full tannins, that will cellar well for 5-6 years.  For drinking now, I would suggest decanting and letting it breath for a couple hours or more before serving.

2005 Chateau Belle-Vue, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux

The vineyard for Chateau Belle-Vue is planted with 26-year old vines, and it is located adjacent to famed Chateau Giscours and the elite Margaux appellation.  Robert Parker gives it 88 points, "One of the few Bordeaux wines to include Carmenere in the blend, Belle-Vue's final blend in 2005 is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, and 3% Carmenere.  It reveals more tannin along with great fruit, medium body, and plenty of character."

The list price is $26, and Bottle Barn currently has it on sale for $12.99.  If you don't mind moderately high tannin levels, Belle-Vue is an excellent choice for fairly-priced, high-quality Bordeaux.  This wine should age nicely for 6-8 years.  For drinking now, I suggest double-decanting and letting it breath for an hour or more before serving.  (I tasted it over the weekend and the tannins were quite noticeable even with double-decanting -- it was much softer and smoother the second day.)  With the list price of $26, I think it offers only average QPR.  For a sale price of $12.99, I think it becomes a high-QPR wine.

High-QPR Sauvignon Blancs

Sauvignon Blanc has been my favorite white wine for a few years.  As noted in prior posts, there are many alternatives for high-QPR Sauvignon Blancs.  Most are medium-bodied and on the dry side, but each wine may be lighter or heavier in body and sweeter or drier in taste.  So far, 10 Sauvignon Blancs have been discussed in this blog.  Wines under $13 include:

2009 Mendoza Station Sauvignon Blanc ($6.99 from Total Wine)

2008 Bogle Sauvignon Blanc ($10)

2008 Chateau St. Jean Fume Blanc ($12.99 list price, usually can be found for under $10 -- Bottle Barn currently has it for $9.99 a bottle)

2008 Kirkham Peak Sauvignon Blanc, Marlboro ($11.99 list price -- the K&L wine club price is $8.99)

2007 Domaine Chatelain Pouilly Fume (list price $22 -- K&L has it for $9.99 while supplies last)

IMO any of the above wines represent excellent quality for the (discounted) price.  See previous posts for specific comments on individual wines.  For wines between $13 and $20, the following wines have been discussed:

2008 Angeline Sauvignon Blanc (list price $14, usually $11-12 with discount)

2008 Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Marlboro ($13.99 at K&L)

2008 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlboro ($14.99 at K&L)

2008 Clos du Bois Sauvignon Blanc ($14 list price, usually $11-12 with discount -- Bottle Barn currently has it for $9.99)

2008 Mill Creek Sauvignon Blanc ($19 list price, usually $15 with discount)

I think all of these wines offer very high quality-to-price ratios (with the discounted price).  My personal favorite is the 2008 Angeline Sauvignon Blanc.  But everyone's taste is unique -- I recommend that you try as many as you can find (at discounted prices) and develop your own QPR rankings.

For example, note that I could have picked up the 2008 Clos du Bois and the 2008 Chateau St. Jean for $9.99 during my trip to Bottle Barn today.  Combining those wines with the 2008 Angeline that I purchased for $11.20, the 2008 Kirkham Peak for $8.99 (I'm a K&L wine club member), the 2007 Domaine Chatelain for $9.99, and the 2009 Mendoza Station for $6.99 -- that gives me six solid Sauvignon Blancs to choose from.

The average price for the six wines is $9.53 a bottle.  Some of the wines might be suitable for weekday table wines (like the 2009 Mendoza Station and the 2008 Kirkham Peak).  You might find that you like the other wines better for pairing with fish, shrimp, crab, scallops, salmon, pasta, etc.  Purchasing two bottles each of the six wines would cost $114.40 -- not a large investment IMO for 12 bottles of good wine -- and you would have a selection of solid Sauvignon Blancs for a variety of meals.

2008 Kirkham Peak Sauvignon Blanc, Marlboro, New Zealand

Here is another Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.  When we had this wine for dinner last night, my wife said "What a beautiful floral aroma."  I also noticed some grapefruit and citrus on the nose and palate.  This wine is medium-bodied and very smooth with no harsh edges.

From K&L Wines, "Some floral aromas with perfumed aromas of gooseberries and lime zest.  This wine is crisp and clean on the palate with notes of grapefruit, lychee and minerals.  It has a nice roundness mid-palate with zingy acidity, limey flavors and a delicious mineral finish."

The list price is $11.99, but K&L has a "wine club price" of $8.99 for members of one of their five wine clubs.  For $11.99 I think the wine is very good QPR, but if the price is $8.99, then I think the QPR becomes excellent.

2008 Mill Creek Sauvignon Blanc

This wine was awarded a gold medal and judged to be Best of Class at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair in October 2009.  From the winery, "Pale straw in color with delightful notes of grapefruit and passion fruit with a touch of honeysuckle.  Richly flavored with ripe citrus and hints of tropical fruits.  Bright acidity with a medium body and lingering finish."

The list price of the 2008 Mill Creek Sauvignon Blanc is $19.00, but my local wine shop, Bottle Barn, has had it on sale for $15.  For a price of $15, I think the quality-to-price ratio is very good for an excellent Sauvignon Blanc.  Mill Creek is a small winery in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley.

2007 Domaine Chatelain "Les Vignes de St. Laurent L'Abbaye" Pouilly Fume, Loire Valley

The Loire Valley in France produces excellent white wines.  The Pouilly Fume wines are usually made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, and they are typically more expensive than Sauvignon Blancs from California or New Zealand.

The 2007 Domaine Chatelain "Les Vignes de St. Laurent L'Abbaye" Pouilly Fume has a list price of $22, but K&L Wines is offering the wine at a discount for $9.99 a bottle while it lasts.  Made from 30-year old vines, this wine is a clean, crisp Sauvignon Blanc with aromas and flavors of citrus fruits.  Although it represents only average QPR at $22 a bottle, I think this wine advances to a high-QPR wine with the reduced price of $9.99 per bottle.

From K&L, "Bright attractive nose of lemon, melon, tropical fruit, and soft chalky minerality.  The palate is clean with little wisps of grass, stone and good weight which carries the bright juicy acidity all the way through to the finish."

2005 Chateau Puy Arnaud Maureze, Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux

Every Wednesday my local wine shop in Santa Rosa, Bottle Barn, has an advertisement in the local newspaper.  Yesterday, they featured the 2005 Puy Arnaud from Bordeaux -- on sale for $9.99 a bottle (list price $22).  Chateau Puy Arnaud Maureze is 100% Merlot, and the 2005 vintage was one of the best for Bordeaux wines.  Cotes de Castillon is one of the up-and-coming areas of Bordeaux, only a few miles east of St. Emilion, one of the prestige appellations.

I bought a bottle and thought the QPR was very good for $9.99 a bottle.  If you're looking for a value-priced, Merlot-based wine, check this one out and see what you think.  I think it's substantially better than the typical California Merlot you can buy for $9.99.

Note that this wine is not the 2005 Clos Puy Arnaud which is also from Cotes de Castillon.  The Clos Puy Arnaud is about 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% other grapes.  From Robert Parker, "Clos Puy Arnaud is a seriously-run property that consistently produces one of the top two or three wines of the Cotes de Castillon.  It has been very strong in recent vintages."  Clos Puy Arnaud usually sells for $30 or more a bottle.

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris

Chateau Ste. Michelle is the largest winery in the state of Washington.  From Robert Parker, "Their portfolio of value-priced wines is exceptional.  The Pinot Gris offers up earth notes, melon, and a hint of peach in the background.  Just a touch off-dry, it has lively acidity, excellent balance, and a sprightly finish." (available for $10-$13 a bottle)

2009 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlboro, New Zealand

This is another Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand which is widely regarded as setting the global standard for this varietal grape.  Perfect cool growing conditions combine with the dry and moderate climate of the Marlboro region to produce a crisp, dry wine with citrus aromas and flavors.  From K&L, "This is a crisp and powerful, well-balanced wine with intense aromas of gooseberry, passion fruit, and citrus flavors.  This light to medium bodied aromatic wine matches well with salads, seafood and vegetarian dishes, and it is a perfectly acceptable quaffer." ($14.99 at K&L Wines)

Robert Parker on "Wine Bargains"

America's foremost authority on wines offers the following on wine bargains:  "One of the most gratifying aspects of being a wine critic is discovering those under-the-radar, superb wine bargains that taste as if they should cost two or three times the price but don't. ...  The myth is that wines that cost $25 or less are worth just what you pay for them and are never terribly interesting.  This is totally untrue, and with work, one can unearth these small treasures that deliver seriously good wine at remarkably fair prices." [Robert Parker, "Parker's Wine Bargains: The World's Best Wine Values under $25"]

I obviously agree with the points made by Parker, and I strongly recommend his book (list price $17.99, published in 2009).  He provides a price range (under $15, $16-20, and $21-25) and a two-sentence description of the general characteristics of each wine, but he does not offer point values for specific wines and vintages in this book.

He includes over 2,500 wines under $25 from all regions of the world:  Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and the United States.  Of the 497 page book, 178 pages are devoted to French wines, 58 pages to Italian wines, and 40 pages to U.S. wines.

Although most wines listed in Parker's book are still under $25, the prices of some wines have risen, and it may be difficult to find selected wines still selling for under $25.  And the prices can vary widely according to vintage.  For example, one of the best value-priced Bordeaux wines is from Chateau d'Aiguilhe (Cotes de Castillon).  The 2006 and 2007 vintages were both priced $24.99 at K&L, while the superb 2005 vintage was $37.99 for a bottle of d'Aiguilhe.

For a much more detailed review of wines globally, see "Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide" (7th edition, 2008) which includes point values for specific vintages of thousands of wines.  For an in-depth overview of the world of wine with discussion of countries producing value-priced wines, see "The Wine Bible" by Karen MacNeil (2001).

2008 Etude Carneros Pinot Gris

This wine is an excellent Pinot Gris and is available for $19-22 a bottle.  I have to thank our neighbors, Shirley and Bob, who introduced us to this wine.  From Robert Parker:  "Crisp, with surprising fruit intensity, good texture, and a dry finish."  From K&L:  "The 2008 Etude Pinot Gris opens with inviting aromas of key lime, wet stone minerality, orange blossom, and hints of white peach.  The pure flavors carry over on the palate and mingle with subtle cardamom and jasmine notes.  The wine is fresh with bright acidity and a richness that begs the next sip."

2008 Brancott Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough

From New Zealand, the 2008 Brancott Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlboro is one of Wine Spectator's "Top 100 Wines of 2009" and rated at 92 points:  "This is crisp, offering a lively mouthful of peach-accented grapefruit and mineral flavors, all hanging on effortlessly through the long, graceful finish.  Drink now."  Available for $13.99 at K&L.  IMO, crisp, dry, medium-bodied, delicious and very high QPR.

Back home again ... 2009 Mendoza Station Sauvignon Blanc

I'm back home again after the trip to Virginia last week.  I had an opportunity to taste some wines last week: (1) a couple of budget-priced French white wines, (2) two Cotes du Rhone red wines, and (3) two budget-priced white wines from Australia and Argentina.

The French white wines were overly sweet and not to my taste.  Being far from memorable, I think their quality-to-price ratios were average at best (and below average IMO).

The two Cotes du Rhone were from the Vacqueyras region:  2007 Domaine Mas du Bouquet Vacqueyras ($14.99 at Total Wine) and 2007 Colombier Vacqueyras ($15.99 at Total Wine).  Both wines were very good IMO with very good QPRs.  However, I didn't think they compared as well to the 2007 Grand Veneur Champauvins (see post) which I love and can be purchased for $15.99 at my local wine shop, Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa.  I believe Champauvins is a superb wine and has the highest QPR I've found so far for 2007 Cotes du Rhone wines under $20.

From the two budget-priced white wines from Australia and Argentina, I think we have a winner.  The 2009 Mendoza Station Sauvignon Blanc was the "wine-of-the-week" last week at Total Wine in Annandale, Virginia.  Advertised as "a crisp, dry white, with lemon and citrus aromas," this wine is from the fabled Mendoza wine region in Argentina and was offered at $6.99 per bottle.  I noticed grapefruit on the palate along with lemon and citrus.  Relatively dry and crisp, I thought it was a tasty Sauvignon Blanc -- very high QPR and excellent wine for the money.

Be right back ...

I'll be on a trip next week and won't be able to check this blog. So if anyone comes across this blog and posts a comment, don't worry. I'll be back and respond by Monday, Jan. 18th.

2007 Bogle Russian River Pinot Noir

The 2007 vintage was a particularly good year for California Pinot Noir (and most California red wines).  K&L is currently offering the 2007 Bogle Russian River Pinot Noir for $12.99.  From K&L's description:  "California's Russian River Valley has long-since earned its reputation as the source of incredible Pinot Noir, and Bogle as the source for tasty, value-driven wines.  Combined, you get an easy-drinking Pinot that won't break the bank."

Any price under $15 is a steal for high-QPR Pinot Noir.  It's only a bargain if you like it, of course, but Bogle has an excellent reputation for producing good, lower-priced wines.

Some More Whites

Here are some more white wines with good quality-to-price ratios IMO:

2008 Bogle Chardonnay ($10)

2008 Clos du Bois Chardonnay ($13)

2008 Chateau St. Jean Fume Blanc ($12)

2008 Clos du Bois Sauvignon Blanc ($14)

2008 Bogle Sauvignon Blanc ($10)

2008 Clos du Bois Pinot Grigio ($15)

Check for sales and you might be able to save 10% to 30% off of the above prices. For example, K&L recently offered the 2008 Bogle Chardonnay for $6.99.

2007 Michael & David Vineyards "7 Deadly Zins" Lodi Zinfandel

Here's an interesting Zinfandel that you might want to check out.  Robert Parker gave it 90 points:  "The 2007 '7 Deadly Zins' is a knock-out bargain.  Aged completely in American oak, it is loaded with berry fruit, pepper, spice and earth characteristics.  This rich, full-bodied, opulent, luscious Zinfandel can be drunk now and over the next several years."  A very good wine showing plenty of oak in addition to its cherry, raspberry, earthy personality.  The list price is $14, but it is available from K&L at $11.99 a bottle, and you can probably find it cheaper if you search.

2006 Cambria "Julia's Vineyard" Santa Maria Pinot Noir

It's rare to find high-quality California Pinot Noir at a reasonable price.  K&L is currently offering the 2006 Cambria "Julia's Vineyard" Pinot Noir for $15.99 a bottle.  IMO it is worth a hard look -- check it out if you like Pinot Noir.

How to Search for High-QPR Wines

"One of the most gratifying aspects of being a wine critic is discovering those under-the-radar, superb wine bargains ...  The myth is that wines that cost $25 or less are worth just what you pay for them and are never terribly interesting.  This is totally untrue, and with work, one can unearth these small treasures that deliver seriously good wine at remarkably fair prices."  [Robert Parker, "Parker's Wine Bargains"]

As mentioned in the first post, it appears that a sea change has occurred in the wine industry.  As a result of the economic recession and other factors, high-end wines are on the wane.  Many persons are searching for value-priced wines that taste good and where quality is high.  If you can find wines that you think are excellent and that are priced reasonably, so much the better.

In general, the prices of wines reflect their overall quality and how well they represent varietal characteristics.  For many expensive wines, both the quality and price are high.  Similarly, the taste and quality of most cheap wines is usually average or poor.

While high-QPR wines tend to be rare, especially wines under $25, it is possible to discover those outstanding wine bargains that taste as if they should cost two or three times their price.  Here are seven strategies to find value-priced, high-QPR wines:

1.  Low-end wineries - Some wineries focus on value-priced wines.  In many cases, the wines are good or very good.  For California wineries, check out Angeline, Avalon, Bogle, and Clos du Bois, among many others.  For wines that look interesting from these wineries (and for all potential high-QPR candidates), you need to buy a bottle and do your own tasting.  Every person's taste is unique, and you need to do your own due diligence to find the lower-priced wines that you find very good or excellent.  Many wineries offer 10-20% discounts on case purchases.

2.  Discounts or special offers from wine shops - Some wine shops offer case discounts; some don't (they feel their offered prices are already discounted).  Most wine shops purchase large lots of selected wines and offer big discounts on these wines.  I've mentioned K&L Wines several times.  K&L has stores in San Francisco, Redwood City, and Hollywood.  In addition, K&L is perhaps the premier on-line wine store.  If you don't live in San Francisco or Los Angeles, check them out on the Internet.  If you sign-up and establish an account (no purchase necessary), you receive their emails automatically.  Occasionally, they offer what I think are incredible deals.  In response to their email on January 8, 2010 offering 2006 Havens Napa Valley Merlot for $6.99 a bottle, they were overwhelmed with orders and sold more than 3,000 bottles in one day.  Many of the best offers sell out fast, however, so you have to check out the wines and make decisions quickly.

3.  Discounts at retailers - Most Costco, BevMo, Total Wine, and Trader's Joe stores offer large selections of wines at good prices.  Even Safeway and other food stores may have large wine departments (Safeway offers an extra 10% discount if you purchase six bottles).  The big problem is determining which wines are the best high-QPR wines, among the 100's of different wines that are for sale.  One problem is that, many times, the wine has a "list price" and a "sale price" listed on the shelf.  Beware of accepting the store's version of the list price.  I have frequently come across wines where the list price is inflated 20-30% or more above what I know I can purchase the wine for at an alternative source.

4.  Special situations - Many special situations arise that you can take advantage of to purchase high-QPR wines at substantial discounts.  For example, every year around November, Kenwood Winery (Sonoma, California) has a half-price sale.  You can purchase a case of good Zinfandel, Merlot or other wines for less than $100 (less than $9 a bottle).  Many wineries have "end-of-season" wine sales to clear out their inventory of last year's wines to make room for the new vintage.  If you find wines you like that are very good (or excellent) but are priced somewhat above what you want to pay, contact the winery and ask if they have any special sales coming up or if they have an "end-of-season" sale.

5.  Get to know the strengths of your local wine shop - My local wine shop is Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa, California (bottlebarn.com).  They have a great selection of California wines, and they specialize in wines produced by Sonoma County wineries.  Every October, they offer 20% to 30% discounts on 20 or so of the "gold-medal winners" from Sonoma County's Harvest Fair's expert wine judging.  Bottle Barn also has special arrangements with many of the Sonoma County wineries that gives them access to many limited-production wines.  It definitely pays to get to know the strengths of your local wine shop, especially their pattern of special sales.

6.  Take advantage of exceptional vintages - Many wine critics like Robert Parker assess the overall quality of every vintage for every location and style of wine.  For example, for Bordeaux in France, Parker lists all of the major appellations (Margaux, St. Julien, St. Emilion, Haut-Medoc, Pessac-Leognan, etc.), and his assessment of each year for each appellation.  During the past 30 years, the high-point vintages were 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005.  The major advantage of focusing on the high-point vintages is that quality tends to be higher among all wineries from top to bottom.  Thus, it's possible to identify high-QPR wines that are reasonably-priced in the best vintages.  For 2005 Bordeaux, K&L offered a couple hundred different wines ranging in price from $10 to more than $500.  I tasted a number of wines in the $10 to $12 price range and did not find any high-QPR wines IMO.  However, when I increased the price range to $13-20, I did find several wines that I considered to be very high-QPR wines.  The best deal IMO was when the 2005 Mille Roses was offered for $14.99 a bottle (normal price $28-$33).  For Rhone Valley wines, 2007 was an exceptional vintage.  As discussed in other posts, I've loaded up my wine locker with several 2007 Cotes-du-Rhones that range in price from $6 to $17.  The 2007 vintage was also an especially good year for many California red wines.

7.  Research, investigate, study, taste many wines, and make some wise decisions - I enjoy reading about wine.  If I could recommend two books, they would be "Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide" by Robert M. Parker, and "The Wine Bible" by Karen MacNeil.  If you have a limited wine budget, I think it pays to invest some time and effort so that you can make wise decisions and stretch your dollars as far as possible.  You can shorten the process and obtain ideas and summarized information from various blogs like "Good Wine under $20," among many others.  Also see "Parker's Wine Bargains:  The World's Best Wine Values under $25" (Robert Parker, 2009).  But you can't rely on assessments or ratings made by other people -- the quality of a wine and how much it is worth to you depends primarily on your own personal taste.

Summary - It takes time and effort to identify wines you really like that are priced at a level where you believe they are solid, high-QPR wines.  But I think it's definitely worth the effort -- you can easily double the number of bottles you purchase (with little or no degradation in taste or quality) for the same, fixed wine budget.

High-QPR Cabernet Sauvignons

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the prime grapes in France, California, other parts of the U.S., and other countries like Chile and Australia.  Unfortunately, the price tag for good Cabernets is usually high.  Here are seven Cabernets with high quality-to-price ratios IMO:

2007 Louis Martini Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon ($11.99) - Robert Parker gives this wine 90 points:  "An exquisite value, this is a seductive, fleshy, fruity with excellent texture, body and balance.  Lots of cassis as well as silky tannins characterize this top bargain pick!  Drink it over the next 5-7 years."

2007 Columbia Crest "H3" Horse Heaven Hills Washington Cabernet Sauvignon ($10.99) - Wine Spectator gives it 90 points:  "Polished and silky in texture, with ripe blackberry, currant and mint flavors that keep sailing through the long, expressive finish.  The tannins are beautifully integrated."  The "H3"is a fruit-forward and approachable style of Cabernet.

2007 Avalon Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ($11.99) - From K&L, "This wine exhibits aromas of raspberry, blackberry, mint and black cherries.  Vanilla and short bread cookie notes from oak aging bring balance and frame the ripe berry flavors.  The tannins are fine and chalky, and there is also a mineral/earthy note that contributes to the multi-layer characteristics.  A classic Napa Cab and at a ridiculously fair price!"

2007 Dominio del Plata "Crios de Susana Balbo" Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza, Argentina ($12.99) - From Wine Spectator, "Ripe and polished, with good cherry and currant fruit backed by sweet spice and toast notes."  From Robert Parker, "The Cabernet Sauvignon reveals an expressive perfume of cedar, spice box, black currant, and black raspberry.  This is followed by a wine with lots of savory black fruit, excellent balance, and a long, fruit-filled finish."

2007 Odjfell Armador Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley, Chile ($11.99) - Wine Enthusiast gives this Chilean wine 90 points:  "A top-notch value Cabernet with no flaws.  The fruit on the nose is pretty and stylish but doesn'r force the issue, while the palate is juicy and fresh with flavors of cola, cassis, and wild berry.  Not a complicated wine, but one that pushes all the right buttons.  Ripe and friendly to the last drop."

2006 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon, Founders Estate ($11-12) - From Robert Parker:  "Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Beringer's strengths; this is medium to full-bodied, with a seductive, round, silky texture."

2007 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($12-14) - From Robert Parker:  "Chateau St. Jean is an excellent source for value-priced, high-quality wines.  They are often considered primarily a white wine-producing estate because of the brilliant quality of their Fume Blancs and Chardonnays, but they also fashion very fine Cabernet Sauvignons as well as an excellent Bordeaux blend called Cinq Cepages."

Try all seven wines.  For $11-12 a bottle (or less if you can find them on sale),  you can't really go wrong.  See if you like one or more of these wines and if it rates a high QPR in your opinion -- according to your own taste and wine budget.  You only need to find one Cabernet that you really like.  A solid Cabernet for $11-12 a bottle is a steal in my book.

QPR Assessment

The QPR in the title refers to "quality-to-price ratio."  A high quality-to-price ratio means that the wine has substantial value compared to its price.  I define a "high-QPR wine" as one whose taste I like very much (including body, structure, fruit, tannins, acid and complexity) and also offers exceptional value for its price per bottle.  Other critics place wines into categories such as (1) excellent QPR, (2) very good QPR, (3) good QPR, and (4) poor QPR.

There are many quantitative systems for assessing and evaluating different wines.  For example, Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson are two wine critics who assign numerical values to wines to indicate their inherent quality.  Parker uses a 100-point scale and Robinson uses a 20-point scale.  Stephen Tanzer and Wine Enthusiast also use 100-point scales.

Of the wines discussed so far, Parker gave 91 points to the 2007 Champauvins, 90 points to the 2007 St-Esprit, 88 points to 2007 Perrin Reserve and 2005 Mille Roses, and 87 points to 2007 La Vieille Ferme.  In Parker's scoring system, 80 points corresponds to a good wine, 85 points to a very good wine, 90 points to a superior wine, and 95 points to an exceptional wine.

To some extent, Parker takes the price of the wine into account so that a 90-point wine costing $100 is better than a 90-point wine costing $10.  But, in general, the cost differences are minor compared to the overall quality of the wine.

My own personal interpretation of QPR places a major emphasis on the price of a wine in relation to its quality.  For example, the normal price of the 2005 Mille Roses is $28-33 but you could purchase it recently from K&L for $15.  Similarly, the normal price of the 2006 Havens Napa Valley Merlot is $20-24 but you could purchase it yesterday from K&L for $7.

The current price of the 2007 Champauvins is about $17.  I would definitely purchase the Champauvins for $17 before I spent $20 for the Havens Merlot or spent $30 for the Mille Roses.  However, I think paying $15 for the Mille Roses yields a slightly better QPR than spending $17 for the Champauvins IMO.  Similarly, paying $7 for the Havens Merlot yields a better QPR than spending $17 for the Champauvins (even though I like the Champauvins about the same as the Mille Roses and somewhat better than the Havens Merlot).

For lower-priced wines, I think the 2007 St-Esprit ($10), 2007 Perrin Reserve ($8), and the 2007 La Vieille Ferme ($6) all present exceptional quality for their prices.  However, the three wines are somewhat different, and each person will have their own preferences and rankings.  These wines (and Havens Merlot at $7) are probably the best "bang for the buck" I can find at the current time.  For cellar-quality wines at a higher price point, I think the 2007 Champauvins and 2005 Mille Roses (at $15) offer the highest QPRs.

Occasionally, Parker gives a wine a "perfect" 100 point score.  However, the wine may cost $500 or more.  Each person has their own "wine budget."  My own personal perspective is that I would never pay $500 for a bottle of wine -- even if I loved the wine and thought it deserved a perfect 100-point score.  I can find wines under $25 that I think are excellent wines, and I can find very good wines under $12 a bottle.

To me, drinking very good wine at lower price points means that you can stretch your wine budget to purchase many more bottles of wine -- some to drink now and some to cellar and age for the future.  I personally want to have a wine cellar with (1) very good weekday wines (to drink now), (2) intermediate wines to age 2-4 years (sometimes called short-term cellaring), and (3) excellent wines that may require aging for five years or more (and brought out for special meals or for special occasions).  Plus a mixture of Cabernet Sauvignons, Pinot Noirs, Bordeaux, Cotes-du-Rhones, Syrahs, Malbecs, etc. to accommodate a wide range of food pairings.

2007 Domaine Grand Veneur "Champauvins" Cotes-du-Rhone Villages

The 2007 "Champauvins" is a high-level wine.  A southern Rhone wine that is definitely cellar-worthy.  It is a Chateauneuf-du-Pape-esque wine without the $30-100 price tag.  The grapes for "Champauvins" come from a vineyard that borders Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

This wine gets 91 points from Robert Parker:  "The Champauvins is a serious effort that could easily be mistaken for a Chateauneuf-du-Pape.  Sweet black cherry fruit, seaweed wrapper, licorice, pepper and spice aromas are followed by a wine with a broad, savory mouthfeel, sweet tannin, and a long finish."

I've tried it on two occasions and was blown away both times.  You need to decant it and let it breath for an hour before serving.  A complex, delicious, superb wine IMO.  I've decided to get a couple cases for the wine locker, and try one every six months to see how it is aging.  I expect it to age incredibly well and to be one of the stars of my wine cellar in a few years.

As is obvious from the other posts, I search for wines that are very modestly priced.  This wine, available for $16-18 at many wine shops, is priced somewhat higher than the other wines I have reviewed.  (It's offered for $15.99 at my local wine shop -- Bottle Barn, Santa Rosa, CA).  However, I think the quality-to-price ratio is excellent for a high-quality wine that you can cellar for 5 or more years (and enjoy for many more).

2007 Delas "St-Esprit" Cotes-du-Rhone

This Cotes-du-Rhone is made of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache, and it has somewhat more body than regular CDRs.  It kind of reminds me of some Cotes-du-Rhone Village wines.

The 2007 Delas "St-Esprit" gets 90 points from Robert Parker:  "The amazing 2007 Cotes du Rhone St-Esprit reveals a northern Rhone orientation, but it is loaded with spice and black friuts, and displays a beautiful opulent texture as well as a gorgeous finish with impressive purity."

K&L Wines and other wine shops sell it for $9.99 a bottle.  Another CDR that I love, and a very impressive quality-to-price ratio IMO.

2008 Dominio del Plata "Crios de Susana Balbo" Rose of Malbec

My favorite rose wine is currently the 2008 "Crios de Susana Balbo," a rose wine made from Malbec.  Crios means offspring (as in children).  As described by K&L Wines:  "This screamingly bright and fresh rose Crios is meant to be consumed while still young and vibrant.  It shows tremendous fruit expression and lots of flavor punch."  K&L sells it for $10.99 a bottle.

IMO this rose is on the dry side and has somewhat more body than most rose wines.  I think it's delicious.  And the quality-to-price ratio is excellent.

2007 Perrin Reserve Cotes-du-Rhone (Rouge)

This is another 2007 Cotes-du-Rhone that I think has a very attractive quality-to-price ratio.  This wine is again made by the Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastel fame.  I have bought it at $7.99 per bottle from three wine shops.  I think it has more structure and more body than the 2007 La Vieille Ferme "Cotes du Ventoux" that was discussed previously.

I like both wines very much.  I prefer the 2007 Perrin Reserve CDR with steaks and heavier meat dishes.  However, both wines are excellent weekday table wines IMO.  Robert Parker gives the 2007 Perrin Reserve 88 points.

Bill's bio

I'm a 60-year-old resident of Sonoma County, California.  My interest in wine started when I was a graduate student at UC Berkeley in the early 1970's.  My advisor had a 600-bottle wine cellar and was very generous in holding wine tastings and imparting the fundamentals of collecting wine.  His interest was primarily Napa Valley and California wines.

Although I like white and rose wines, my favorites have always been red wines.  One of the things I learned early on was that good wine and high prices were not always correlated.  For example, for any type of wine, if you select the four best wines you can find at four different price points (e.g., four Cabernet Sauvignons at $12, $25, $50 and $75) and ask 10 reasonably astute winedrinkers to taste them blindly, you can usually expect to get some interesting results.

Personal tastes vary significantly, of course.  But many times the lower-priced wines will compare favorably with the higher-priced wines.  Sometimes I even prefer one of the lower-priced wines, although usually one of the higher-priced wines edges it out (but usually not by a huge margin).

As demonstrated by this blog, my quest is to find reasonably-priced wines that are very good or even excellent.  I tend to focus on California and France (mainly Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley).  Living in Sonoma County, I visit about 30-40 wineries each year in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.  I also usually attend a couple wine festivals every year where it is possible to taste many wines.

California wine is very good.  Most times, it is also fairly expensive.  Red wines under $25 are in the minority, but some good value-priced wines can be found.  Although I've explored wines from Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Chile, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand, I definitely have limited knowledge of wines from those areas.

IMO the best values are to be found in the very best vintages for specific types of wine -- like 2005 for Bordeaux and 2007 for the Rhone Valley.  Searching for quality among the lower-priced offerings in the best vintages can yield some true gems.

2005 Mille Roses, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux

Many people consider red Bordeaux to be the "King of Wines," with good reason.  The 2005 vintage has been heralded as one of the best in the last 25 years -- and possibly the strongest vintage considering all Bordeaux wines from top to bottom (from the highest-level First Growth wines to the more ordinary wineries).

An excellent winery, the Mille Roses property is located in Macau and just a stone's throw from the elite Margaux appelation.  The 12-acre organic vineyard is planted with 25-year-old vines, approximately 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.

The wine is medium-bodied and made in the traditional style.  Aromas of red fruit, toasty oak and mocha.  Integrated, not overwhelming, tannins.   A smooth finish that lingers on the palate.  This wine should cellar well for 8-10 years, but it can be drunk now if decanted for an hour or more before serving.

Winezap has costs of $28 to $33.  K&L recently offered the 2005 Mille Roses for $14.99 a bottle.  IMO it was a steal at that price -- Mille Roses has one of the best quality-to-price ratios of all 2005 Bordeaux wines.

2008 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay - and 2007 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay, Robert Young Vineyard (Alexander Valley)

My favorite value-priced chardonnay is made by Chateau St. Jean (Sonoma, California).  The price is usually around $12-14 (list price $14), but I've found it for as low as $9 a bottle (I believe it was at Costco or Safeway).

A more upscale Chardonnay is the 2007 Chateau St. Jean, Robert Young Vineyard (Alexander Valley) that sells for $20-$23 (list price $25) and is crisper, drier and just delicious IMO.  With some searching, you can usually find it discounted for under $20.

From Robert Parker, "Chateau St. Jean is an excellent source for value-priced, high-quality wines.  They are often considered primarily a white wine-producing estate because of the brilliant quality of their Fume Blancs and Chardonnays, but they also fashion very fine Cabernet Sauvignons as well as an excellent Bordeaux blend called Cinq Cepages."

2008 Angeline Sauvignon Blanc

My favorite value-priced white wine right now is the 2008 Angeline Sauvignon Blanc (made by Martin Ray Winery, Russian River, Sonoma County, California).  List price is $14 and it is $11.20 a bottle with the case discount.  Crisp, moderately-dry, flavors of grapefruit and other citrus.  Just delicious.

My wife and I discovered this wine at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair's wine tasting in October 2008 where the 2007 Angeline Sauvignon Blanc had been awarded a gold medal and judged to be Best of Class.  We think the 2008 vintage is excellent, too -- maybe even a shade better than the 2007 vintage.  Drink it now!

2007 La Vieille Ferme "Cotes du Ventoux" (Rouge)

The Rhone Valley in France is one of my favorite regions for value-priced wines.  The southern region of the Rhone Valley produces both high-level wines like Chateauneuf-du-Pape and mid-level wines from selected villages (Cotes du Rhone-Villages) or generic Cotes du Rhone wines without a village designation.

The 2007 vintage was one of the all-time greatest vintages for the southern Rhone, and there are so many very good-to-excellent wines to choose from.  IMO the 2007 La Vieille Ferme "Cotes du Ventoux" red wine has one of the highest quality-to-price ratios.

Robert Parker gives it 87 points:  "A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault.  A classic bistro red offering aromas and flavors of berry fruit, licorice, pepper and spice.  Enjoy this soft, round, delicious wine. ...  This is consistently a top value pick."

La Vieille Ferme is made by the Perrin family that runs Chateau de Beaucastel, one of the great estates in southern France.  It is medium-bodied, rich with red fruit, and very low tannins.  My wife and I think it's delicious and goes well with chicken, pork or meat dishes.  A wonderful weekday table wine.

My local wine shop -- Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa -- sells it for $6 a bottle (yes, $6 was not a typo).  Drink it now (and buy a couple extra cases to last the next year or so -- I think we're on our third case).  Beware - The production was large, but many stores may run out in the next couple months.

2006 Haven's Napa Valley Merlot

Yesterday, I received an email from K&L Wines regarding a special offer.  The offer read in part:

"Deal of the Year: 2006 Havens Merlot Only $6.99 (Was $20)"

As Robert Parker wrote: "Mike Havens, working out of a warehouse in the city of Napa, appears to have settled into an admirable pattern, producing richer and richer Merlots."  The Havens winery recently went out-of-business, and part of their inventory has been purchased by K&L Wines.

I tasted a bottle last night.  I opened it and let it breath for an hour.  IMO it was very good, more of a Bordeaux-style than California-style Merlot.  I think it will age well for the next 5-7 years.

According to Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide, the winery, Havens Wine Cellars, gets four stars, and prices per bottle range from $24 to $50.  The description says in part, "Michael and Kathyrn Havens founded this winery in 1984 largely to pursue two areas they loved, Bordeaux and Rhone Valley wines.  The results are consistently well-made wines with a European elegance.  Michael Havens continues to turn out fine Merlots. ...  Prices are among the most realistic in northern California."  Parker rated the 2005 Napa Merlot at 89 points and the 2004 Napa Merlot at 88 points.

K&L provide their own commentary:  "The 2006 Merlot is delicious right now. ...  It shows excellent balance and a lush, lingering finish. ...  The 2006 Havens Merlot reminds me of a young St-Emilion or Cotes de Catillon ... and is very French in its approach. ...  This is serious wine with plenty of structure and density."

I bought a number of cases and will stockpile them in my wine locker for three to four years, trying one every six months to determine how it is aging.  IMO the quality-to-price ratio of this wine is off the charts.

ETA:  The Havens winery was sold to another party about a year ago, and the new owner is the one that decided to cease operations.  I believe Michael Havens was a part of the operation for the 2006 wines, but I'm not sure of all the details.  In any event, you need to taste the wine for yourself and decide.

Introduction

      As Thomas Jefferson said, "Good wine is a necessity of life for me."  The joys of wine tasting and wine drinking are endless. 

      Wouldn't it be nice to have unlimited resources and buy whatever wines you'd like, however expensive they may be?  But if your wine budget is limited (like mine is), how do you get the best "bang for your buck" when purchasing wine?  The purpose of this blog is to throw out some suggestions for very good, value-priced wines. 

      I love wine, and I'm especially pleased when I find very good to excellent wine at reasonable prices.  Although it takes some time and effort, my experience has been that it's possible to purchase a wide variety of wines to suit almost all tastes.  And it's not necessary to pay extravagant prices to enjoy very good to excellent wine. 

      During the past two years, it appears that a major change has occurred in the wine industry.  As a result of the economic recession and other factors, high-end wines are on the wane.  Many persons are searching for value-priced wines that taste good and where quality if high.  If you can find wines that you think are excellent and priced reasonably, so much the better. 

      The term "QPR" in the title refers to "quality-to-price ratio."  A high QPR means that you believe the wine is very good (or excellent), and it has a relatively low price, compared to similar wines that are available. 

      It takes time and effort to identify wines you really like that are priced at a level where you believe they are solid, high-QPR wines.  But I think it's definitely worth the effort -- you can easily double the number of bottles you purchase (with little or no degradation in taste or quality) for the same, fixed wine budget. 

      In this blog, I'll try to (1) explain my personal tastes in wine, and (2) discuss specific wines (high-QPR wines IMO) that can be purchased.  Please feel free to add comments, ask questions, or provide critiques of wines that I have discussed (or other value-priced wines that could be considered). 

      From my perspective, this blog will be successful if it provides information to increase enjoyment of the wonderful world of wine by identifying very good wines that are reasonably priced under $25 a bottle.  I'll try to focus on (1) very good wines under $13, and (2) excellent wines priced from $13.00 to $20.00.