Great Red Wines
Under $15
Sharing a good bottle of wine costs less than going to the movies with a friend. Enjoy these wines recommended by master sommelier Andrea Immer.
The Big Six Reds
- Casa Lapostolle Classic Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile
- Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile
- Martinez, Faustino Rioja Crianza, Spain
- Beringer Founders' Estate Pinot Noir, California
- La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux, France
- Reynolds Shiraz, Australia
- Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington
- Gallo of Sonoma Merlot, California
- Santa Rita 120 Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile
Zinfandels
Also, most of the soft Zinfandels are $8 to $15 per bottle and many people like them because they're not too heavy. You'll find this style with supermarket brands like Sutter Home, Woodbridge and so on. Don't knock them; this is one of the few wine categories that still offer real character for less than $10, and these brands are perfect for occasions for which a serious wine might be overkill — on pizza night, with leftovers or at barbecues. Try some of these zins for $20 and under:
- Seghesio Sonoma
- Buena Vista Coastal
- Rosenblum Vintners Cuvée
- Cline Cellars' California
Syrah or Shiraz
This is an intense full-bodied wine that is both savory and sweet. Its signature scent is pepper. Some suitable Syrah or Shiraz for $20 and under are:
- Rosemount F-S-M (Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre), Australia
- La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux, France
- Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz, Australia
Red wines list reprinted with permission from Andrea Immer's 2004 Wine Buying Guide for Everyone
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