Confessions of a Cheap Lush

If you're a regular visitor to this Web site, I'm sure you'll have noticed that I'm what one might call...value conscious. Unfortunately for me, this is in direct conflict with my never-ending love for all that is decadent and delicious. So, I couldn't have been more delighted to see that today's Tastings column in the Wall Street Journal focuses on wines that are under $10:

In the past year, we've found quite a few wines that cost under $10 and are excellent values. In our blind tastings for this column in 2003, we rated 19 wines under $10 Very Good or higher. There surely would have been more if we'd conducted tastings last year of, say, Beaujolais or wines from Argentina or more tastings of Loire whites...There are very good wines at excellent prices on shelves these days, especially if you have an open mind. Just pick some up. At these prices, you're not risking much.

Folks after my own heart - and not my wallet. I think I'm in love! And, here are a few of the suggestions, that I'm going to be looking for at my local wine store:

U.S. Sauvignon Blanc (R.H. Phillips "Dunnigan Hills" 2001, Baron Herzog 2002, Clos du Bois 2001, Murphy-Goode 2001, Pedroncelli "East Side Vineyards" 2001). American Sauvignon Blanc has found a sweet spot. While retaining the juicy, grassy characteristics typical of Sauvignon Blanc -- the kind of taste that has made New Zealand's Sauvignon Blancs popular -- they've added some depth, structure and weight that give them character and make them interesting. As we wrote about the Phillips, which we rated Delicious: "Elegant, with a combination of plump fruit and real drinkability. Feels good in your mouth." Incidentally, the Herzog was one of several kosher wines that showed well in our general blind tastings this year, proving again that kosher wines have most definitely arrived.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (Concha y Toro "Casillero del Diablo" 2001). We've been saying for years that Chile is producing fine red wines at very good prices. Last year, we conducted tastings of Chilean Merlot and Cabernet and found the Cabernets generally far better. The Concha y Toro is a good example of the values coming from Chile these days.

Cotes-du-Rhone (Andre Brunel "Domaine de l' Enclos" 2001, Vignerons d' Estezargues "Les Grandes Vignes" 2001). We've always felt that inexpensive, rustic Cotes-du-Rhone from France is a terrific, informal wine for winter, and our tasting showed again that there are outstanding buys on the shelf. There are so many labels in stores that it's impossible to know which you will see, but pick one up while it's cold and try it with beef stew or meatloaf.

And, take it from a cheap lush with gourmet tastes, the WSJ didn't even begin to tap the wealth of inexpensive wine that's on store shelves. One of my all-time faves: New Zealand vineyard Babich makes a fabulously light Sauvignon Blanc with a floral/lychee bouquet and just enough grassy notes to make you think you've cracked open a special bottle - and it usually comes in just under the $10 mark.