50 Wines You Can Always Trust

[MrMon]

I found this list in the new issue of Food & Wine, and it's proving interesting to go through. Many of the wines mentioned are ones that have been mentioned here in other lists, some of them are available at Trader Joe's or your local grocery store, and some are just tough to track down, but all are great value at under $20 for most, with a few splurges thrown in. If you are new to wine, this is a great list to start from, and old hands always appreciate a bargain. (If your wine collection just consisted of bottles on this list, you'd have a wine collection better than 95% of the world, not to mention a lot of restaurants, and you'd have spent a lot less than most people.)

To read a complete description of each wine, you can read the entire article, but I'll extract the list below for those who want a quick guide.

Complete Article (Look under Also In This Article to find what I labeled Splurges & Other Values.)

United States

Beringer Founder’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($11)
La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($18)
Blackstone Winery California Merlot ($12)
Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel ($11)
Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Merlot ($16)
Clos Du Bois Sonoma County Pinot Noir ($20)
Geyser Peak California Sauvignon Blanc ($12)
Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon ($12)
Hogue Cellars Columbia Valley Riesling ($7)
Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay ($12)
King Estate Oregon Pinot Gris ($16)
Pepperwood Grove California Merlot ($8)
Rancho Zabaco Heritage Vines Zinfandel ($17)
Ravenswood Lodi Zinfandel ($15)
Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Fumé Blanc ($18)
Rodney Strong Sonoma County Chardonnay ($15)


Australia & New Zealand

Yalumba Barossa Shiraz Viognier ($16)
Banrock Station Shiraz ($5)
Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($12)
Jacob’s Creek Shiraz ($8)
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Cabernet Sauvignon ($12)
Rosemount Estate Diamond Label Shiraz ($10)
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Riesling ($12)


Chile & Argentina

Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec ($15)
Alamos Mendoza Malbec ($10)
Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc ($10)
Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Carmenère ($9)
Cousiño-Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon ($15)
Santa Rita 120 Chardonnay ($8)
Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec ($10)


France

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Côtes-du-Rhône Parallèle "45" ($12)
E. Guigal Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge ($12)
Georges Duboeuf Moulin-à-Vent "Flower Label" ($15)
Hugel et Fils Gentil ($12)
Langlois-Chateau Crémant de Loire Brut NV ($22)
Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages ($13)
Louis Latour St-Véran les Deux Moulins ($15)
M. Chapoutier Côtes-du-Rhône Belleruche Rouge ($11)


Italy

A-Mano Primitivo ($11)
Antinori Santa Cristina ($12)
Banfi Centine ($12)
Folonari Pinot Grigio ($8)
Frescobaldi Castiglioni Chianti ($13)
Mionetto Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Frizzante ($11)
Ruffino Chianti ($10)


Spain
Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut ($10)
Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut ($9)
Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Crianza ($13)
Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva ($19)
Osborne Solaz Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon ($9)

Splurges & Other Values

Great Steak Wines
Cliff Lede Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($50)
Von Strasser Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon ($50)

U.S. Luxury Values
Ridge Geyserville ($33)
Mount Eden Vineyards Estate Chardonnay ($38)
Merry Edwards Klopp Ranch Pinot Noir ($51)
Andrew Will Sorella ($60)
Altamura Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($65)

Best Wines for Robust French Cuisine
Mas de Gourgonnier Les Baux de Provence ($15)
Coume del Mas Schistes ($25)

Under $25 Bordeaux
Château Bonnet Rouge ($12)
Château Greysac ($16)
Château Cap de Faugères ($17)
Château Charmail ($20)
Château Gigault Cuvée Viva ($23)

French Luxury Values
William Fevre Chablis Montmains Premier Cru ($35)
Joseph Drouhin Beaune Clos des Mouches Rouge ($75)
Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape ($95)
Château Léoville Las Cases ($170)
Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill ($200)