Aeagle.259 net.wines utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!ihnss!wheps!eagle!cw Sun Mar 28 10:36:35 1982 First report on budget reds I have now tried several of the red wines in my budget collection and thought I would report on them before I forgot. To refresh memories, the attempt is to find a good red table wine that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and that is not likely to cause instant liver failure. Fetzer Mendocino County Premium Red (NV-$3.49) Moderate quality. I'd drink it again, but it won't be my table wine. D'avalos Cosecha Especial (Rioja 1975-$5.39) Once again a Rioja fails to excite me. Harsh and a little unpleasant. Certainly doesn't make the value=quality/cost grade. Monterey Vineyard Classic California Red (1978-$3.98) Practically undrinkable. Sweet with an odd flavor. So bad I threw half the bottle out and there were two of us drinking it. Chateau Cantenac Sudre Cotes du Bourg (1976-$~4.50) I am going to investigate more Cotes du Bourg, but this was not a great winner. Torres Coronas (1978-$45/case) Not quite as good as the 75 or the 77, but perhaps just needs time. At least as good as the others on this list. There is a wine to try that I have not had (I was on a trip when it came to the house and it was all gone by the time I got back). It is Sebastiani Country Cabernet Sauvignon(NV). I have always liked Sebastiani for their hearty and unpretentious (love that word) "dago" reds (no ethnic slur intended, that's what they call them at the vineyard) made with perfect professional effort. Charles Wetherell ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.