Don't let the screw-cap fool you (it's also found with corks), but the 2003 Porcupine Ridge Syrah from South Africa is the real deal. Earthy (very Northern Rhone-like) and complex and only $10.00. Porcupine Ridge is the negotiant label for Boekenhoutskloof, whose $40+ estate-grown Cabernet is as good as many top-rated wines from California or Bordeaux. Anyway, back to budget and everyday drinking, I found the 2003 Porcupine Ridge Syrah as far afield as California, where I live, and Nova Scotia, where we vacationed this past summer.
The Best Inexpensive Wines Available Now
I'm always on the lookout for good wines at a fair value. Ok so maybe cheap wines that taste expensive. Anyway, are there wines that you've had recently that you would consider a terrific value for the price? I personally enjoy the merlot and chardonnay from Clos du Bois which both cost about $14 in New Hampshire. To relax with a glass of either and listen to my music (classical and jazz) does make the early evening sit pleasingly well.