You can get pretty decent Rieslings for under seven dollars in Seattle and Tacoma. They're all from the Columbia Valley. The better ones you have to actually go East to get in Chelan AVA and other smaller craft oriented vineyards. Its a shame more people don't grow them in Puget Sound AVA, though the few efforts are promising. Check it out!

BRING MOT BACKKKKK

GV - just tried the Godello and agree, it is delicious! Thanks for the recommendation...

I had a Chateau Bonnet (Entre-Deux-Mers blanc) the other day for $10.59: 50% SB, 40% Semillon, 10% Muscadelle. It brought a little thunder, just a flash– not too complex but solid and easy-drinking like the Martin Codax Albarino is.

Still working my way through old episodes! When are you coming out to Sonoma next?

Thanks for trying to bring some value once again to the show. I know its something I need to look into even though I dont mind dropping $50 on a bottle. Too bad it was a 1-4 day. We'll call the one hit a walk-off home run so everyone is happy. QOTD: Dont recall drinking too many wines under $13 recently. I still need to start catalouging the wines I drink.

Trying the 2006 Pillar Box Red now. It is ok. For less money, I might go with a 2007 Anakena Carmenere from Chile. I'm still searching for a good full-bodied red that is under $10.

http://twitter.com/dcpatton

Solid

Another excellent episode. First of all having seen Episode 552 I was very intrigued to see Gary's remarks about the Anne-Francoise Gros Pommard and that he liked it - since I have purchased a 2002 Vosne-Romanee Aux Reas by the same producer, and that wasn't cheap either.

I am definitely going to look out for that first Spanish wine - sounded great.

QOTD - the 2005 Chateau Pech-Latt from Corbieres and (I hope this is right) 2005 Chateau St. Eulalie La Liviniere from Minvervois. Both wines were blends of syrah, grenache, mourvedre, and carignan, and priced at $12.50 since southern French wines are a tough sell (both 50% off). Too bad, they were both worth their original price. Nice and warming, lots of structure and fruit, complexity, and great with hearty food (in this case minestrone soup). When it gets cooler outside, it's hard not to love a nice full-bodied red wine.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan!!!! One of the best analogies I've heard in a really long time! Braves were everyone's team in the early 90's because of the worst to first years. I had those holograms on everything!

QOTD: Under $13 steal! Antis Malbec from Mendoza! I had a bottle of 02 Neal the night before I tried the Antis and it really had many of the qualities the Neal was showing. I did allow the Antis to open up for about 6 hours before drinking it. Dark Fruit wrapped in the smell of a forest after a hard summer rain, really well integrate oak, and long chained silky tannin. The Neal was much more balanced and complete but its still hard to justify the 500% price difference.

Keep up the good work Gary!

Felt the same way about the Pillar Box red, not amazing, but at least it didn't break the bank.

Hey Gary cool show, keep up the value stint!

QOTD: Being in Japan it's tough to find good wines for cheap- it often seems like you need to start around 1600-2000 yen (~$15-$19) to get anything serious; however I was pleasantly surprised by the 2006 Montes Alpha Chardonnay from the Casablanca Valley in Chile, which set me back only 880 yen; my girlfriend loved the acidity and spiciness- definitely not your run-of-the-mill Chardonnay- and the substantial weight and heat on the back end slayed me (unlike you I'm a sucker for the heat!).

Ahhhhhhh! The Oak Monster!!!!!! He's one scary dude- I had a scary experience just recently too...I feel your pain.

QOTD: I've had a lot since being in France, even with the euro- dollar exchange. Wine is so inexpensive here that it's even cheaper than Coke!

QOTD: Trinitas 2005 Old Vine Cuvee, Contra Costa CA.

QOTD: Lately I've really been enjoying Torres Vina Brava 2007 Tempranillo, which my local grocery store carries for less than $8. I also really like Twin Vines 2007 Vinho Verde for $6, mainly because it's got bubbles. I'm cheap that way.

I'm just catching up on episodes. Great show. Given the market's nose dive, value/economy wines are always good to have in the stable.

QOTD: Mas de Guiot Grenache/Syrah. About $8

Well, nothing great under $13 in the last month, but I had two favorite $13 wines last year - Tres Picos 05 (the 06 is a bit sweeter and not as appealing to me) from Boraso Spain, and Gruet, my favorite everyday sparkler. Normally both are around $15, but you can find for $13 if you try.

Good show! I am going to have to try and find that Spanish white.
I have had the Pillar Box on several occasions and in several different vintages, I can't keep it in the house ling because my wife drinks it all up. It has great parents - Henry's Drive which makes a standard and reserve wine - real good stuff.

QOTD - I had a Cotes du Rhone recently that was fairly decent for the price, it was either the Perrin, or the Chapoutier.

Value wines can be hard to find!

Q-Had a Cotes du Rhone that was quite good, forget the name, sorry.

Thanks Gary

In Hong Kong my two favourite under US$13 wines are

Mont Tauch Fitou (http://www.mont-tauch.com/)- the whole range is exceptional value.
Peter Lehmann Barossa Semillon (http://www.peterlehmannwines.com.au/) - Barossa ledgend and maker of outstanding wines. Barrosa Semillon is one of Australia's under-rated bargains.

Both are commercially avaliable and both are excellent.

Cheers
Andrew

Tonight, I tried Stonecap Cabernet 2004 from Columbia Valley, WA, just bought at the PA LCB for $7. Color is just starting to amber, nose has a touch of pomegranate and tar, medium/light body with flavors of vanilla and cocoa bean, short finish.

I suspect this is a closeout price on a wine that won't age well much longer, but drinks like a bargain now.

Great wines under $13 I had lately:

white:
Biegler, Rotgipfler Ried Satz 2006 (Austria). Unique and autochtonous varietal that combines new world fruit with old world elegance. Great nose, full-bodied, 88 points from me. At $11 an awesome value.

red:
Chateau Pierrail, Bordeaux Superieure 2004 (France): a smooth and delicate Merlot dominated Bordeaux, that is drinking extremely well right now. 88 points from me. About $13. Great Bordeaux value.

Thorn-Clarke Shiraz

QOTD: The 2006 Galus Costieres Du Nimes rocked me! http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=39979 I think it was featured on free.winelib recently. So good, I might just have to order some more soon :-)

QOTD: I love Cycles Gladiator Merlot, $13.99 and worth it!

ERG ... COOL! Economy recommendation group! We like it! The videO stopped just be4 your great QOTD, so ... we dunno what it was.

As you have had us drinking better and better wine (YET ANOTHER thank you for that) we ALSO want shows that showcase $20-$30 wines that show better (bring more thunder; e.g. the Mayers Grenache we so enjoyed, the Tensley wines, etc.) than their $50-$80 counterparts as THESE are the wines that Darcey and I look for for special occasions, weekends, and the like. Don't get me wrong, we STILL want and NEED the $12-$15 value-driven high QPR wines, BUT we want some recommendations for the $20-$30 groups as well. Mid-priced recommendations = MPRs.

Thanks, as always ... you are still our wine hero!

I liked the Gabbiano Chianti (white label), just a simple pleasure.

Michael and David Petit Petit. Big wine, great label.

Last one I had.. The Wolftrap Syrah/Mourvedre/Viognier Blend from South Africa! Delish for 10 bucks!

QOTD: I really liked the Yard Dog Red 2006. It was full of strawberry though so some people might not like it. It could be because I am very new, but for $8 it is hard to beat with my current palate. http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=37728

VG EP Gary - thanks. Totally agree on the Montenovo Godello! We picked up a couple bottles a few weeks ago after tasting it in the store, then when we tasted it at home with sushi and chicken dishes I was kicking myself we didn't buy half a case or more. Great stuff for the moola.

Good show. Disappointed with the 2006 Pillar Box Red myself. For good wines under $13 - I would stick with the Australians - the Yalumba brand produces some decent reds and whites. I liked the unoaked Chardonnay and the Viognier. They also made a Shiraz/Viognier blend which is really nice too. There are a lot of other varietals available in Australia - I think they did a decent Pinot Grigio too. Check em' out brother.

@ T. Bone

You read my mind. I brought up the Red Guitar find at dinner the other night, and someone at another table interrupted to concur. Great value from the Target (or tar-jay) wine aisle...

QOTD: Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2007
http://www.monkeybay.co.nz/tns/mbsb2007.asp

Here ending our official lurker status... ah what now to do w/ the shirt

@scott I concurr

Campo Viejo Reserva Tempranillo again,

We had it with some fairly serious wine and it really stood out for balance, complexity and overall just mind numbing goodness, bought a case from costco about 10 a bottle, and we adored it.

Great show, it's all in the heart of what you were trying to do. There are quite a few wines in the $13 and under range that really impress. Some that I have that I think I must share are:

06' Panarroz Jumilla Red - $7
06' La Linda Tempranillo - $8
05' La Mura Nero d'Avola - $8
05' Parróne - $12
05' Chateau Picampeau - $14
04' Hubert De Bouard - $9

To name a few ...

There are tons of options out there! Enjoy ...

Salento Primativo - $12 of earthy, complex goodness.

Thanks for the great show Gary.

Yo G, da Dow Jones is under 8000, how 'bout given me a loan so i can get
me some Two Buck Chuck....... :(

QOTD: 2006 Chateau Pesquie Las Terrrasses Rouge

Great show!! Love the MonteNovo myself.

P.S. My favorite number is 17.