Readers looking for true value reds in California should look past Cabernet and Pinot, and toward Syrah.  I love Cabernet as much as anyone.  You’ll see plenty of it on these pages – probably before the end of the week.  But it’s getting increasingly difficult to find exceptional Cabernet at a reasonable price.  And when one comes out, it sells out almost immediately and next year, you can bet the price will go up.

The fact is, California Syrah has been good for quite a while.  But in the last 20 years, we had Cabernet, Merlot and more recently Pinot Noir fever.  One of the symptoms of this fever is the inability to recognize Rhone varietals as the best values in the country.  Well I’ve got the prescription and it’s actually not more cowbell.  It’s Jaffurs’ 2009 Santa Barbara County Syrah.

Jaffurs is known as a Rhone specialist. Every year they have numerous wines that score in the mid to high 90s.  Consequently, these wines are sold to their mailing list and don’t make it to retail shops.  But every year Jaffurs makes a Santa Barbara county blend of all the Syrah vineyards they work with and that wine is priced under $25.  At that, it’s an exceptional value.  In fact, Robert Parker calls it:

“…easily one of the best values readers will find in California Syrah.”

Richly floral on the nose, the 2009 Jaffurs Syrah gains strength on the palate where it shows the trademark minerality of Santa Barbara county.  Ripe concentrated flavors coat the mouth with black fruit flavors that linger into the long finish.

Whether you’re a long time Syrah fan or you’re just getting into it, this wine will satisfy and surprise you.  Hopefully it helps to increase the popularity of Central Coast Syrah too.  We’ll keep the prices just where they are too, thank you very much.

Buy Here: 2009 Jaffurs Vineyards Syrah $23.95

Wine Advocate 92 points

“The 2009 Syrah is a gorgeous entry-level wine loaded with blackberries, blueberries, licorice and herbs. It shows lovely depth and roundness to match some of its more powerful tendencies. A few barrels of Petite Sirah add layers of muscle, yet this remains an exceptionally polished wine at its level, not to mention a fabulous value. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020.

This is a very strong showing from Rhone specialist Craig Jaffurs. The Syrahs in particular are outstanding. In 2009 the Syrahs were picked between October 5 and November 4 illustrating just how long the harvest can stretch in Santa Barbara. The straight Santa Barbara County is an excellent starting point, and easily one of the best values readers will find in California Syrah.”

From now on, the following note goes at the top of every Spanish wine post.  Disclaimer: Spain has, by far, the best wine values in the world.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about the latest value.  Any Rioja under $10 is likely a good deal, since Rioja is arguably the most prestigious region in Spain.  So when I came across this 88 pointer for $9.95, I had to try it.  What’s the worst that could happen?  I’m out $10?  Well, for me, not quite actually.  You see every wine I drink has an opportunity cost.  What’s the opportunity?  A better wine of course.  I can only drink so much wine and could never hope to taste every wine in the world, so a crappy bottle isn’t just a waste of money, it’s a waste of the experience of drinking another, better wine. (Cue wife’s rolling of the eyes).

Luckily tonight it was both money and opportunity well spent with the 2010 Luberri Joven Orlegi – a wine clearly not named for the US market.  This is an unoaked wine so it relies completely on the quality of its fruit for its flavor.  Those flavors are bright, fruity and polished with beautiful Tempranillo aromas.  It’s not sweet, a common flaw with low priced wines that don’t have the tannic structure to support the sugar.  Rather this wine is balanced with nice mineral flavors, if slightly on the lighter side.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate calls the 2010 Orlegi an outstanding value and I couldn’t agree more.  The only opportunity cost with this wine is the cost of missing the opportunity to buy it.

Buy Here: 2010 Luberri Rioja Joven Orlegi $9.95

Wine Advocate 88 Points

“The 2010 Orlegy is an unoaked cuvee fermented with native yeasts. It is a very perfumed effort with plenty of spice and black fruit characteristics. Savory, ripe, and easygoing, this tasty effort will provide enjoyment for another 4-5 years.

Luberri is located in El Ciego in the heart of Rioja Alavesa. The estate consists of 35 hectares of old vines. All three wines presented (100% Tempranillo) are excellent to outstanding values.”

Loyal readers probably remember the incredible San Simeon Chardonnay.   It was one of the first wines I wrote up and LA Wine Co. sold literally thousands of bottles of it.  Maddalena has produced a Chardonnay in a similar style at an equally amazing value.

If you are looking for Chardonnay values, look outside of Napa and Sonoma and toward the south.  Monterey’s cool climate is perfect for growing Chardonnay grapes and with less name prestige than its neighbor to the north (Napa, not Canada), the prices are considerably lower.

The 2009 Maddalena Chardonnay pours a golden straw color and has a beautiful nose of smoke and honey.  The honey texture continues on the palate with a smooth, caramely, melt-in-your-mouth warmth accented by smoky oak and balanced acid.  It’s the perfect wine for a crisp Fall night – or any night for that matter.

In researching this wine, I discovered why it’s so much like San Simeon: It’s made by the same company.  They certainly have the Chardonnay formula down.  Maddalena takes Chardonnay value of the year so far and LA Wine Co’s lowest price in the country according to Google Shopping makes it that much tastier!

Buy Here: 2009 Maddalena Chardonnay $9.95

Lately, I’ve found myself shying away from Asian food because it doesn’t pair well with wine.  Seriously.  Now that I put it in writing, it actually sounds kind of pathetic.  Well last night’s fried rice doused in Sriracha called for something white, crisp and cool, so I grabbed a bottle of MSH Yountville Sauvignon Blanc from the cooler.  I already wrote about the insanely good Rutherford Merlot from MSH and the Sauvignon Blanc also delivers in a big way.

This wine has crisp acid but also maintains a round mouthfeel that lets you know it’s from Napa vs. Marlborough.  Yountville is one of Napa Valley’s cooler appellations due to its proximity to San Palo Bay, so it’s a great place to grow Sauvignon Blanc.  But any grape from Yountville usually gets a premium price.  Somehow MSH has found a way to create fantastic appellation designated wines at very low prices.  This is one of the very best Sauvignon Blancs I have had from the U.S.

Looking for a perfect daily drinker case?  6 of the Merlot and 6 of the Sauvignon Blanc for $96 might just be the deal of the year.

Buy Here: 2009 MSH Sauvignon Blanc $7.99

Rutherford is arguably Napa Valley’s most prestigious wine growing appellation.  Ever heard of Scarecrow?  It’s $1500 per bottle and is grown and produced in Rutherford.  How about Quintessa, B.V. Georges de Latour, Caymus, Staglin or Rubicon Estate?  Tired of me asking you questions?  Trick.  That was another question.  Okay, here’s a statement: Those wines all hail from Rutherford and their price tag shows.  Of the wines I listed, Caymus is the cheapest at $60.  Needless to say, when a Rutherford Merlot came along at $7.99, I had to try it.

MSH is a value-focused project of Tom Gamble, owner of some of Napa’s best vineyards.  He teamed up with other high-end wine growers and took surplus grapes from top-notch vineyards to create incredible tasting wines for Yellow Tail prices.

The MSH Merlot is an incredible expression of Napa’s take on this noble grape.  Deep purple bubbles lead to cocoa on the nose and rich chocolate on the palate.  This wine is exceptionally polished for it’s price and will impress any fan of Napa Valley Merlot.  A friend recently shared a bottle of 2002 Rubicon Estate Merlot with me and I would be proud to serve him this wine.  In fact, next time he’s over, I just might!

Buy Here: MSH 2009 Rutherford Merlot $7.99

This guy is THE MAN.  I’ve written extensively on these pages about the incredible values Spain puts out year after year, and recently I’ve come to realize that this guy, Jorge Ordonez, might be singlehandedly responsible.  Jorge is a Spanish importer who specializes in epic values between $6 and $60.  Recently, I started to notice this logo on many of my Spanish wines and quickly realized that all of my favorites had something in common: they were imported by Jorge Ordonez.

Volver?  That’s Jorge.  Alto Moncayo Veraton?  Check.  Tres Picos?  Check-a-roo.  Juan Gil?  Protocolo? Okay you get the picture.  The list goes on and covers some of my very favorite high-end wines as well as the value priced steals.

Tonight I’m drinking a Spanish white – a grape I’ve never had called Albarino – with cherry heirloom tomato pasta.  The wine is absolutely incredible with citric notes, a buttery texture and a crisp finish.  With apologies to Albarino purists, it has the best traits of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, combined into one convenient 750ml package.  Guess whose little logo appears on the back of the bottle?

Jorge Ordonez does two things very well.  He sources incredible Spanish wine values for the U.S. market and he slaps on cool labels that happen to appeal to Americans.  If the labels expose these wines to more Americans, then it’s just fine with me.

Find Jorge’s wines here, including La Cana, the Albarino mentioned in this post.

First, let me clear something up.  In this case,  C.M.S. does not stand for the Centers for Medicare Services as some might have thought. It actually stands for the grapes that make up this Washington red blend – Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah.  And what a fantastic blend it is!

Washington wines are finally hitting many enthusiasts’ radars and for good reason.  The quality is outstanding and the values are abundant.  Furthermore, a perfect wine growing climate means incredible consistency – even more than the very consistent north coast of California.

This wine should really be called M.C.S. this year, because it’s dominated, both in taste and volume by 45% Merlot.  39% Cabernet and 16% Syrah round out a nice blend that stresses round fruit over tannin and oak.  The finish is nice and long and the mouthfeel round and broad, likely thanks to the Merlot.

Hedges Family Estate has been making this wine since 1987.   It’s a well established value that usually sells at around $12.  At LA Wine Company’s $7.99 it’s an outright bargain.

Buy Here: Hedges Family Estate C.M.S. Red Blend $7.99

IT’S ALIVE!!!  Some wine-hating freak hacked Nickel and Dime Wine this weekend, but after a few hours on the phone with India, we’re back online and ready for a whole new set of deals.  I’m still dealing with some issues, like the fact that I can’t get a picture on this post, but I’m guessing you don’t read this blog for the pictures anyway.

It has been awhile since I have written up a low cost super value.  I think it’s time I revisit this category, because after all, when you drink cheaper wine on weekdays, you can spend more on the weekends.  Right?

This $5.99, 2009, 100% Tempranillo is an absolute budget blockbuster.  I have two things to say.  First, if your palate has priced you out of the under $10 market, stop yourself.   Second, after you stop yourself, run out and buy some of this.  It isn’t that difficult to find reasonably priced, very drinkable Tempranillo.  But $5.99 for this, really?  Really?  A typical bright Tempranillo nose is followed by a reasonably long finish full of cherry and berries.  This is a great wine to share with a few friends as a precursor to a big cab or full Syrah.  Pop a few bottles at a party and your wine-loving friends will appreciate the value (86 points from Wine Advocate), and your non-wine loving friends – are they really friends anyway?

We drank ours’ over two days and like so many offerings this one opened up and was even better on day two.  Somehow though, my opened bottles rarely see a day two…

Buy Here: Dominio de Eguren Protocolo Red $5.99

Wine Advocate 86 points

“The 2009 Protocolo Tinto is 100% Tempranillo aged for 3 months in seasoned American oak. Purple-colored, it displays a nose reminiscent of Beaujolais. Fruity and fresh on the palate, the finish has no hard edges. Drink it over the next 2 years. “

After an extended break due to a new job (and the crazy hours that come with it), we’re back with enough wine deals to make your head spin – literally and figuratively.  Thanks for sticking with Nickel and Dime Wine.  I guarantee your patience will pay off!

Cheap Bordeaux is usually just that: cheap.  Yields are so high on bulk Bordeaux grapes that the wine can taste like a watered down form of something that might have been otherwise drinkable.  So when I see a wine from the Bordeaux Superior appellation with a 91 point score from the Bordeaux Man himself, Robert Parker, I start to pay attention.  Bordeaux Superior is reserved for grapes grown outside of more prestigious appellations like Margaux, Pomerol and Saint-Emilion.  It’s, in a word, generic.

The 2008 Chateau Tirepe la Cote is anything but generic.  Parker gave it 89-91 points and at that, it has to be one of the best Bordeaux values of the vintage if not the decade.  This wine is particularly concentrated with a beautiful ruby color and a sweet nose of oak and bright cherry.  The finish defines the wine as decidedly high-end with impressive length and focus.  If you like Bordeaux, you would be crazy not to buy at least a case to use as a daily drinker.  The only risk is a wine this good might make some of your more pricey stuff look bad…

Buy Here: 2008 Chateua Tire Pe la Cote $15.95

Robert Parker 89 – 91 points

“A blockbuster effort from a humble appellation, this sleeper of the vintage exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as sweet creme de cassis, licorice, and incense characteristics, and a remarkably medium to full-bodied, concentrated style for a wine of this pedigree and lowly price. It can be enjoyed during its first 5-7 years of life.”

What’s better than sitting outside on a warm evening with a cool glass of Chardonnay?  For me, not a heck of a lot, especially when that cool glass is from La Crema, who makes one of the best values in California Chardonnay hands down.  All of their Chardonnays are really good year after year and this, the lowest priced in their lineup, still shows as a premium wine.

This wine actually reminds me of the 94 point Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay in a lot of ways.  It’s oaky and buttery, yet balanced with a persistent acidity – a truly impressive expression of California Chardonnay.  The round mouthfeel combined with crisp pineapple flavors tell me that this isn’t a one trick pony like a lot of Chardonnay in this price range.  I’ve found that most Chards in the under $20 category are very one dimensional, either huge oak bombs, or all citrus flavors with no texture.  Not the case here.  This wine goes through 50% malolactic fermentation which gives it the rich oily mouthfeel while retaining the citric acid that keeps everything in balanace.  It all finishes with nice length and purity.

La Crema is worth seeking out.  That’s really saying something for a wine priced at $13.95 – a price that is actually so good there are retailers selling half bottles for more!  I just found my new house Chardonnay.

Buy Here: 2009 La Crema Chardonnay Monterey $13.95

Robert Parker 90 points

“More tropical aromas of pineapples, orange marmalade and honeysuckle jump from the glass of the 2009 Chardonnay Monterey. Fifty percent of this cuvee was put through malolactic fermentation and it came in under 14% alcohol, not unusual in a cool year such as 2009. It exhibits abundant fruit, medium body, good depth and a seductive style. Enjoy it over the next several years.

La Crema is an excellent value winery owned by Jess Jackson with an impressive group of winemakers, including Melissa Stackhouse.”