18 replies to this topic

[HandsomeRyan]

I live in a part of Maryland where you have to go to the liquor store even if you just want a six pack of beer. The prices are outrageous and I've yet to even find a $4 bottle of wine regardless of how low quality it may be. Fortunately, my brother lives in Virginia less than 20 miles away and they have much more liberal wine/beer distribution as well as much lower prices. Last time I visited him I stopped by Trader Joes and stocked up on some adult beverages. Tonight I opened a bottle of Charles Shaw Merlot ($4) and I'm really enjoying it. The flavors are really smooth and it doesn't have the harsh alcohol finish that I often taste with cheap red wine. I've never had a bottle of wine costing more than about $15 but this stands up to those IMHO.

Should I be ashamed that I genuinely enjoy a $4 bottle of wine? Does this mean that my palate isn't sophisticated enough to enjoy finer wines?

[DesertDance]

LOL! How do you think we all get bottles to bottle our fine wine in? Charles Shaw AKA Two Buck Chuck!! You paid $4.00 for 2 buck chuck? It's $1.99 here at our Trader Joes in California. Almost everyone I know loves really good wine, but we all suck it up and enjoy Two Buck Chuck Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Pinot Grig, and Cab for an every day wine. Why not! It's very drinkable, and definitely Red Wine Tonight!! No need to age!

Suzi

[MJO]

I live in a part of Maryland where you have to go to the liquor store even if you just want a six pack of beer. The prices are outrageous and I've yet to even find a $4 bottle of wine regardless of how low quality it may be. Fortunately, my brother lives in Virginia less than 20 miles away and they have much more liberal wine/beer distribution as well as much lower prices. Last time I visited him I stopped by Trader Joes and stocked up on some adult beverages. Tonight I opened a bottle of Charles Shaw Merlot ($4) and I'm really enjoying it. The flavors are really smooth and it doesn't have the harsh alcohol finish that I often taste with cheap red wine. I've never had a bottle of wine costing more than about $15 but this stands up to those IMHO.

Should I be ashamed that I genuinely enjoy a $4 bottle of wine? Does this mean that my palate isn't sophisticated enough to enjoy finer wines?

If you enjoy it, then it's a fine wine!
And besides, most of us are trying to wind up with $4 bottles of wine!

[red_feet]

I live in a part of Maryland where you have to go to the liquor store even if you just want a six pack of beer. The prices are outrageous and I've yet to even find a $4 bottle of wine regardless of how low quality it may be. Fortunately, my brother lives in Virginia less than 20 miles away and they have much more liberal wine/beer distribution as well as much lower prices. Last time I visited him I stopped by Trader Joes and stocked up on some adult beverages. Tonight I opened a bottle of Charles Shaw Merlot ($4) and I'm really enjoying it. The flavors are really smooth and it doesn't have the harsh alcohol finish that I often taste with cheap red wine. I've never had a bottle of wine costing more than about $15 but this stands up to those IMHO.

Should I be ashamed that I genuinely enjoy a $4 bottle of wine? Does this mean that my palate isn't sophisticated enough to enjoy finer wines?

That depends . . . did you put it into a good, quality brown paper bag?
All my family but me lives in California. If I were to live there, I'd be checking the wines in Trader Joe's regularly. I bought a few there, but none for $4. Maybe I just didn't see them.

Ken

[Wade's Wines]

You know, If I could buy a good $4 bottle of wine I'd... still grow grapes! Something about beating your head against the wall!

[HandsomeRyan]

That depends . . . did you put it into a good, quality brown paper bag?

Hey, the paper bag blocks out light that could affect the wines color and the paper helps to insulate the bottle from temperature fluctuation that may affect the aroma and subtle flavors of the wine.

...saves on the # of crystal glasses I have to hand wash too.

[waynes world winery]

I think Charles Shaw "AKA two buck chuck" is pretty good wine for a pretty good price. Doesn't deter me from making my own, however!

[cutter]

The most expensive wine I make costs me less than $7 a bottle and most of my wine is less than $4 a bottle. If you like the wine, there is no shame. Just sit back and enjoy.

[bret]

No shame in it at all. Like what you like.

[Medsen Fey]

A much bigger shame is to pay a large sum of money for a bottle only to find that it really isn't all that good. I've made that boo-boo more than once.

[Chano Aguayo]

You know, If I could buy a good $4 bottle of wine I'd... still grow grapes! Something about beating your head against the wall! <img src="http://www.winepress...ns/<#EMO_DIR#>/" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="" />

If a small or mdium size spends 10 million bucks do develop including a small vineyard, and a 2 millon dollar home, hey, they have to classify their wines as "ultra, ultra" premium wines and charge $60.00 to $100.00 bucks while one winery from a smalll warehouse can produce the same quality or better and for something like $20.00 per bottle. With the current economy some so called "ultra premium" wines are down by 40 to 60 percent lower priced. Yes, you must try different wines under ten buck until you find something you like. No Twu
Buck Shaw is not to laugh about, good wines.

Chano

[tater1337]

Tonight I opened a bottle of Charles Shaw Merlot ($4) and I'm really enjoying it.

Snob.

(tips back his $0.75/btl homebrew) [img]http://www.winepress.us/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/[/img]

[croat]

Yea - well budget wine that is $1.99 in CA and the west coast is $2.99 around here (Midwest) and $3.99 on the East coast due to shipping costs.

I enjoy many wines from $3-5 from Crane Lake to Winking Owl to Banrock Station to Tisdale - etc and so on.

I say enjoy!

[NorthernWiner]

I'll be honest. I don't drink many $3-4 bottles of wine - although I've tasted them. Some are ok.

The reason I don't buy them has nothing to do with being a snob, but rather because I save enough money making and drinking my own that, on those occasions when I do purchase wine, I can afford to spend a little more on nicer bottles (I rarely spend more than $30, though, unless it's a special occasion).

And frankly, I like to think my wine tastes better than 2-buck (or 3-buck) Chuck... so why settle for less?

[Herb_08161947]

I'm a lot like Steve - my wine is better than the $4 stuff that I have had and when I do buy wine it has to be something really special. I mean I call $50 really special, and these special wines go into the wine rack and await that unique moment when I can share them with my friends and family. After all I do have to have something to shoot for... plus it keeps me humble.