I usually avoid under $5 wine and here’s why: it’s almost impossible to grow, pick, ferment, age, bottle, cork, label, transport, market and sell wine for that price and still have a product that tastes good.  After tasting the Straccali 2009 Chianti, L.A. Wine Co. was ready to sell it for $7.99, and at that price I could call it a killer value with a clear conscience.  But an opportunity for a volume buy came along and now it’s available for half that price.

This Chianti compares favorably to the 2006 Monte Antico Rosso, which received 90 points from Wine Spectator and was featured on their top 100 list in 2009.  That wine sold for a still exceptionally reasonable $7.99.  The Straccali is bright, balanced and has the good acidity you expect from a nice Chianti.  Most importantly, there are absolutely no off-putting flavors, but instead some very endearing qualities – very high praise for a $4 wine.  Honestly, the only fault I can find is the cheesy label which kind of makes it look like grocery store jugged Chianti.  Luckily I don’t drink the label.

I drank this tonight with Penne Arrabiata and spicy chicken sausage – a perfect compliment to the wine.  It would also go great with pizza or even with nothing at all.  A case of this wine is $48.  Almost makes it hard to enjoy some of the $48 bottles in my cellar…

Buy Here: 2009 Straccali Chianti $3.99

What do you get when you combine Napa, Bordeaux and Tuscany?  Super Tuscan blends.  I  personally prefer these over Chianti which is made mostly of Sangiovese, especially at this price range.  Chianti has strict winemaking regulations, put in place by the Italian government, which Super Tuscans don’t have to adhere to.  The result is a more modern, creative style of wine.   At $12.95, I would challenge our readers to find a better value in all of Tuscany.  If you’re a fan of the 2006 Monte Antico Roso, this is of comparable quality but made in a much more ripe style. Right now I like this one better, but it could be because I’ve been through two or three cases of the Monte Antico!

As good as this wine is, I don’t think it has matured yet.  A $13 wine maturing?  Yeah… it’s that good.  It’s relatively soft on entry but has a bite on the finish that will likely soften in the next 1-2 years.  Otherwise this is particularly full bodied for a Tuscan wine with a jammy taste and a silky mouthfeel.  60% Merlot and 35% Cabernet with the balance Cab Franc combine to make a modern style wine with a floral, minerally Italian influence.  What else do I like about it?  The label looks like a Bordeaux label complete with the sketch of the chateau.  Nickel and Dime rating- All killer no filler!

Buy Here: Aia Vecchia Toscana Lagone IGT 2007 $12.95

Wine Spectator 90 points

“Aromas of plum and dark fruits lead to a full body, with velvety tannins and a soft, caressing finish. Minerally and floral. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2011. 10,800 cases made. “

Super Tuscan wines carry notoriously high prices, especially highly rated versions like the 2007 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni.  So when a 93 pointer comes around for under $20 I have to try it!

I’m really glad I did because this is something special.  The first thing to understand about this wine is that it’s built for aging.  It’s very dense, especially for an Italian wine, and the color is a beautiful dark ruby/black.  I opened this mid week and although enjoyable, it was tight and somewhat closed.  So I pumped it out and let it sit for 3 days.  And what a change 3 days can make!  The wine had opened up with incredible aromas of coffee, cherry and oak.  In the mouth it’s particularly chocolaty for a Super Tuscan- it could almost pass for a new world Bordeaux blend.  On the finish, its Tuscan roots come through though, as it’s dry long and mineral.

I love this style because it combines the dark fruit of new world California with the focus and sophistication of old world Italy.  It’s incredibly rare to find a highly rated, age-worthy Super Tuscan blend for under $50 let alone $20.  Buy it up before it’s gone and be sure to lay some back.  Wine Spectator publishes notoriously conservative drinking windows and they recommend holding until after 2013.  I would guess this will still be drinking great in 15 or even 20 years.

Wine Spectator 93 points

“Intense aromas of currant, raisin and licorice, with hints of toasty oak. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a powerful currant, blackberry and mineral aftertaste. Dense, and all in reserve. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. Best after 2013. 9,200 cases made.” (WS)

Marchesi de Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni 2007- $19.95

Another day, another wine under $10!  I’ve really been into the Tuscan blends lately because they offer a nice contrast from the big Napa Cabernets.  This particular wine is medium bodied and has a nice raspberry nose that’s not typical of Tuscan wine.

I’m a big fan of the 2006 Monte Antico Rosso, but this wine has something different.  Whereas the Monte Antico is very dry and slightly tart, this wine is soft, fruity and smooth.  Although there is a hint of oak, the focus for the Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Toscana Rosso is really on the fruit.

The Italians are big on classifications and the IGT or Indicazione Geografica Tipica classification denotes wine from a specific location (in this case, Toscana or Tuscany), and is a step up from typical Italian table wine or Vino da Tavola.  According to the winery, this wine is meant to be a daily drinker and for immediate consumption rather than aging.  To that I say “perfetto”!

Today’s wine is available elsewhere for around $12 but just for good measure, LA Wine Co. has broken the $10 mark at $9.95.

How many times has this happened to you: You’re standing in a wine shop trying to decide what to pick up for the weekend and the sheer quantity of wine becomes overwhelming.  So you just grab something that’s on sale and end up disappointed.  When I first got into wine, this happened to me all the time, so I put together these helpful tips for picking great wine at great prices.  I hope they come in handy.

1.  Go with what you know- Put me in front of a store full of California Cabernet and I will be able to find you the very best value every time.  Fill that same store with French Burgundy and, chances are, I will come out with a loser.  Likewise, if you’ve enjoyed the wine of a specific vintner in the past, gravitate toward their wines.  They probably have the same winemaker and use the same grapes every year.

2.  Get familiar with the vintage chart- Wine of a particular region can vary greatly year to year, so do yourself a favor and get to know Robert Parker’s vintage chart.  It gives you a general idea of the quality of wine produced in every major wine region for each of the last 30 or so years.  Because of this chart, I know to avoid 1998 and 2000 California Cabernet but to seek out 2000 and 2005 Bordeaux.  Great wines and bad wines are produced every year so this isn’t a definitive source, but it’s a good start.

3.  Use your smart phone-You’re paying $79.99 a month for that iPhone, so use it!  If a particular wine catches your eye, search Google Shopping and see if you’re getting a good price.  Remember to include the vintage in your search.

4.  Look at the ratings- Some people will tell you that ratings are total junk.  I disagree wholeheartedly with this thought and here’s why:    The raters have trained palates and, generally know a good wine when they drink one.  While it’s true that I’ve been mislead by wine ratings, if you have never tasted a wine before, professional ratings are a great start.  If you’re looking for a particularly good value, find a wine that received an 89 point rating from one of the major publications.  An 89 point rating isn’t high enough to generate much buzz- and thus raise prices- but it means you are likely buying a solid wine.

5.  When you find a wine you like, buy up- One of the greatest joys, and biggest disappointments in wine, is that it’s new and different every year.  So if you find a wine you love, buy it up, because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.   I happen to enjoy the 2006 Monte Antico Toscano Rosso, and at $8.99 per bottle, it’s an indisputable value.  So I bought a case, and I will continue to enjoy it until it’s gone.

So how do you pick good wine?  Comment on this post to share your favorite wine picking tips.

If you are looking for a “Super Tuscan” at a super price, try the 2007 Banfi Centine. It is widely available in the $9-11 range and right now, Argonaut Wines has it for $7.99.  At that price, it doesn’t have to be great, but it is!  I have had this particular Banfi for several years but this was my first try of the 2007. My experience is that you have to spend thirty to fifty bucks for a good super Tuscan (with the exception of the 2006 Monte Antico Rosso reviewed a couple of weeks ago). There just aren’t many full bodied Super Tuscan offerings for $10-20. At that price they tend to be thin and weak.

The 2006 Monte Antico Super Tuscan made a big splash on the Wine Spectator top 100 list and can still be found for about the same price as the Banfi. The Banfi and the Monte Antico are very similar, although the slightly higher alcohol in the Banfi is evident, especially right after opening. Consider letting it breath awhile. For a daily drinker or with pizza or pasta, the 2007 Banfi Centine is a good bet at a good price.  Rotate between this and the Monte Antico and you will be good to go.

Wine Spectator 87 Points

A fruity young red, with crushed berry and mineral character on a soft, silky medium-to-full body, with plump fruit and a clean finish. Always good value. Drink now.

October 31, 2008.

2007 Castello Banfi Centine- Argonaut Wines $7.99