The current vintage is unusually good.
It's usually pretty good for a $15 bottle (i.e. you can choke it down), and every once in a while they put out a very good vintage. This is one of them.
The third bottle of the night is unusually tasty.
My favorite Italian so far is Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro-Gold, Chianti Classico. (I actually think their cheaper white label in the teens is acceptable, but I didn't like the intermediate tan label.) Again, I'm still learning. Tonight, I will have a Piancornello Rogheto Toscana 2017 ($18). It was picked for me by a new local store I've been trying out. (The one that gave me that bad Bordeaux.) We shall see.
So many good $20 Italian and Spanish reds.
Going higher can really take you places, if you make the right choices.
It's funny...I came on here a while back recommending a $20 bottle...and then I bought a few more, and the wine changed for me...which means it was probably me, not the wine...and I was probably in a good place when I tasted it first.
Then again, there are some wines that are consistently good no matter what mood I'm in. For example...
I opened a Nickel & Nickel Cabernet for Easter dinner for the family. My son said, "That's the best wine I've ever tasted." I said, "Me too."
I've been the victim of that "situational good wine" syndrome, and am careful recommending wines because of it. I actually had this three totally different times (party, family dinner, and just hanging out). It was consistent over those three.
You probably wouldn't have needed to tell me that about Nickel & Nickel for me to suspect that something pretty spectacular was in that bottle.
Another pro tip: the Markham 1789 (or is it 1879?) red blend is also a very nice bottle in the 20-25 range. Yes- I've had it several times. Caymus Conundrum (red) sucks, btw.
because I make my owe without filtration. That changes the taste. The taste is stronger, but not necessarily the alcohol. It depends on the sugar.
I had a Conundrum, and I didn't think it was that great. I didn't know it was made by Caymus. (The Caymus Cab is pretty damned good...probably second to Nickel&Nickel. Chateau Montelena is also spectacular. I'm still learning, but those have probably been the best 3 wines I've had...I don't usually spend that much on wine, though.)
I will look for the Markham 1879.
But most J. Lohr product is quality.
Conundrum Red Blend out of Cali is another one that I've been buying recently.
Link: https://forum.uhnd.com/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=2&msgid=554581
Vegetal, tannic and bland. Sorry, Hoser!
Either they revamped their marketing, or I had something else.
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