"Thank God" wines

[Peter Creasey]

This has the makings of a good ongoing thread if it is kept active...

originally posted by Christian Miller (CMM): This falls into an interesting and very useful category of wines I call "thank god" wines. E.G. You're traveling and stuck in a hotel restaurant with a mediocre wine list controlled by one distributor and you say to yourself "thank god they at least have that!" It's a class of well made wines, offering good value and very widely distributed. For me, other members include Guigal CdR, St Supery SB, some La Vieille Ferme wines, Steele Pacini Zin, Dry Creek Heritage Zin, La Crema Chard, Tangent SB, several Loosen Rieslings, Santa Rita's Casablanca Valley SB and PN, Mulderbosch rose', you get the idea.

originally posted by Jeff Grossman: Joel Gott. Liberty School. Random chianti (if a warm year) and random malbec (if a low-end bottling).

originally posted by Florida Jim: I can’t count the number of bottles of Saintsbury, Garnet and Jadot, Beaujolais I’ve ordered out.

originally posted by MLipton: Ridge Three Valleys is another I’d put in that category along with Drouhin St Veran.

originally posted by Christian Miller (CMM): Marques de Caceres Rioja Reserva and Rose' too.

Off the cuff, I would add the G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso

. . . . . Pete

 

[scottreiner]

I can make some good arguments, and some strained, about these wines, save the La Crema.

 

[Florida Jim]

Let us not forget that Christian’s original comment was regarding the Jadot, Macon-Villages.
Best, jim

 

[Christian Miller (CMM)]

Off the cuff, I would add the G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso
. . . . . Pete

Tasty and good value no doubt, but does it qualify? Would one encounter it in: (a) an airport terminal; (b) mid level convention hotel not in NYC or Seattle/Portland/SF; (c) random small wine shop or grocery in the outer suburbs, (d) etc.

 

[robert ames]

originally posted by Christian Miller (CMM):

Off the cuff, I would add the G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso
. . . . . Pete

Tasty and good value no doubt, but does it qualify? Would one encounter it in: (a) an airport terminal; (b) mid level convention hotel not in NYC or Seattle/Portland/SF; (c) random small wine shop or grocery in the outer suburbs, (d) etc.

no.

 

[Bill Lundstrom]

There's always beer or iced tea (vastly unappreciated beverage to accompany food) for situations like this.

 

[Peter Creasey]

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier

. . . . . . Pete

 

[MarkS]

When in doubt, have another coffee!

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:
Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier

No, Pete. That is an inexpensive bottle that, I suppose, you like but that is not what is meant by the "Thank God" category. The point of the category is that it is an inexpensive wine that you like and that is found on crappy wine-lists all around the nation.

For example, here are representative lists for Macaroni Grill, Red Lobster (takeout), and Bonefish Grill. You'll see similar stuff at Cheesecake Factory, Outback, etc.

 

[Peter Creasey]

For the record (not that it really matters), the Pine Ridge Chenin Viognier is roughly the same price around here as the Jadot Macon Village, Guigal Cote du Rhone, Vajra Rosso, and some others already cited hereinabove.

In a higher price range worth mentioning would be the Le Vieux Donjon CNdP.

Everyone might not agree with the selections cited, but my goal in this thread is for folks here to mention wines that have notable quality price ratio.

Or, it will be an easy thread to ignore.

. . . . . . Pete

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:
...my goal in this thread is for folks here to mention wines that have notable quality price ratio.

That's not what anyone else is doing here, Pete.

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
There's always beer or iced tea (vastly unappreciated beverage to accompany food) for situations like this.

There are good beers. When I was on assignment in Texas there were a lot of good beers around.

Tea, however, is only served to people who are sick in bed. (Yes, I know that isn't actually true but that is how I knew it growing up and there is no pu-erh, matcha, or first-flush-tippy-leaf-white-Mogadishu-Voltron-Camembert-shred that can change my mind.)

 

[robert ames]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

For the record (not that it really matters), the Pine Ridge Chenin Viognier is roughly the same price around here as the Jadot Macon Village, Guigal Cote du Rhone, Vajra Rosso, and some others already cited hereinabove.

In a higher price range worth mentioning would be the Le Vieux Donjon CNdP.

Everyone might not agree with the selections cited, but my goal in this thread is for folks here to mention wines that have notable quality price ratio.

Or, it will be an easy thread to ignore.

. . . . . . Pete

you really don't get it. . . .

 

[scottreiner]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

but my goal in this thread is for folks here to mention wines that have notable quality price ratio.

From a FB post of mine from last year:

A friend sent me a Wine Enthusiast article listing their favorite wines from 2020 that cost $15 or less. It was such a lazy list of crappy wines whose only common thread was not deliciousness, but marketing $s.
Nevertheless, it pissed me off. Here is my list. You will not find these in every store, but these are honest and delicious wines that are far better than their respective prices would indicate. (Some may bleed over $15....)

WHITE

Mary Taylor, Jean Marc Barthez Bordeaux Blanc 2019
De Forville, Chardonnay Ca' del Buc 2019
Weingut Josef Leitz, Riesling Feinherb Qualitätswein 2018
Benito Santos, Rías Baixas Albariño Igrexario de Saiar 2019
Ch“teau Massiac, Viognier Vin de Pays d'Oc 2019
Domaine Pascal Bellier, Cheverny Blanc 2018
Matthiasson, Chardonnay No.1 Napa Valley Village 2019
Azimut, Cava Extra Brut
Hild, Elbling Trocken 2019
Les Deux Moulins, Vin de Pays du Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Christian Lauverjat, Vin de Pays du Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Mary Taylor, Pascal Biotteau Anjou Blanc 2019

RED

La Gerla, Sangiovese Poggio gli Angeli 2018
Bodegas Olivares, Altos De La Hoya Jumilla Monastrell Ungrafted Old Vines 2018
Ch“teau d'Oupia, Pays d'Hérault Les Hérétiques 2019
Ch“teau Massiac, Minervois Rouge Les Sentinelles 2019
Ch“teau Belregard-Figeac, Tellus Vinea Bordeaux Rouge 2018
Finca Torremilanos, Ribera del Duero Tinto Montecastrillo 2018
Viña Zorzal, Navarra Graciano 2018
Clos Siguier, Cahors 2017
Domaine Faillenc Sainte-Marie, Corbieres Rouge 2018
A Los Viñateros Bravos, Pais Volcánico Valle del Itata 2018
Akutain, Rioja Cosecha 2018
Cantine di Indie, James Cabernet Sauvignon California 2018
Bodegas Hermanos Peciña, Señorío de P. Peciña Rioja Cosecha Red Wine 2019
Domaine de Fenouillet, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse 2019
San Pietro, Südtirol Alto Adige Schiava 2019
Mary Taylor, Jean Marc Barthez Bordeaux Rouge 2016
Ch“teau Tire Pé, Diem 2019
Weingut Pittnauer, Pitti Red Blend 2018
Realce, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Tempranillo 2017
Bernabeleva, Camino de Navaherreros Vinos de Madrid 2018
Perrini, Salento Negroamaro 2019
Puro, Puro Malbec 2018
Opera 02, Lambrusco Secco
Terres Blondes, Val de Loire Gamay 2019
Viña Maitia, Pais Carignan Aupa Pipeño Valle del Maule 2019
Maison Foucher, Chinon Chais St. Laurent 2018
Vallana, Piemonte Barbera 2018

 

[Jeff Grossman]

Elbling? Really? There's, like, four vines of it left in the world. Unobtainium.

ETA: OK, Wine-Searcher shows three makers. Never had one.

 

[Bill Lundstrom]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
There's always beer or iced tea (vastly unappreciated beverage to accompany food) for situations like this.

There are good beers. When I was on assignment in Texas there were a lot of good beers around.

Tea, however, is only served to people who are sick in bed. (Yes, I know that isn't actually true but that is how I knew it growing up and there is no pu-erh, matcha, or first-flush-tippy-leaf-white-Mogadishu-Voltron-Camembert-shred that can change my mind.)

sigh....

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
There's always beer or iced tea (vastly unappreciated beverage to accompany food) for situations like this.

There are good beers. When I was on assignment in Texas there were a lot of good beers around.

Tea, however, is only served to people who are sick in bed. (Yes, I know that isn't actually true but that is how I knew it growing up and there is no pu-erh, matcha, or first-flush-tippy-leaf-white-Mogadishu-Voltron-Camembert-shred that can change my mind.)

sigh....

I've even been to tea tastings in China and bought matcha in Japanese hyper-super-duper-markets. Hard to overcome that childhood training.

 

[Bill Lundstrom]

the point is "thank god i found this Jadot chard on this sea of garbage at fill in the blank chain restaurant"

i have lost count of the corporate dinners or events where i have been given the wine list because"bill's into wine" and i scan the list, roll my eyes and then, thank god, notice a Jadot wine or, I don't know, a Sokol Blosser maybe, and order a couple bottles. My table mates are always wondering why i didn't order the crappy Silver Oak or whatever because someone else is paying.
Often times, said dining partners call the waiter back over and order an extra ridiculously priced Cali Cab because they think "good wine" should cost a lot of money.

Sorry for the rant but i have been in this spot so many times that i thank God for thank God wines.

(wines like Vajra Rosso rarely , if ever, show up on these awful lists. There's not enough produced)

 

[Bill Lundstrom]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
There's always beer or iced tea (vastly unappreciated beverage to accompany food) for situations like this.

There are good beers. When I was on assignment in Texas there were a lot of good beers around.

Tea, however, is only served to people who are sick in bed. (Yes, I know that isn't actually true but that is how I knew it growing up and there is no pu-erh, matcha, or first-flush-tippy-leaf-white-Mogadishu-Voltron-Camembert-shred that can change my mind.)

sigh....

I've even been to tea tastings in China and bought matcha in Japanese hyper-super-duper-markets. Hard to overcome that childhood training.

but properly brewed iced tea is terrific with curries or other spicy dishes that no wine can stand up to and your only other choice is a list of god (there he/her is again) awful Anheuser Busch beers

 

[Christian Miller (CMM)]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

For the record (not that it really matters), the Pine Ridge Chenin Viognier is roughly the same price around here as the Jadot Macon Village, Guigal Cote du Rhone, Vajra Rosso, and some others already cited hereinabove.

In a higher price range worth mentioning would be the Le Vieux Donjon CNdP.

Everyone might not agree with the selections cited, but my goal in this thread is for folks here to mention wines that have notable quality price ratio.

Or, it will be an easy thread to ignore.

. . . . . . Pete

Don't know about Vieux Donjon, but the Pine Ridge Chenin-Viognier has (or at least had) good distribution, so I think it qualifies. Speaking of Chenin-Viognier, Trader Joe's has one from South Africa (Mbali I think) that is astoundingly delicious for the price - $4.99.

I'll add Bonterra, in particular the Sauvignon Blanc. A to Z in Oregon too. Not sure if Tangent SB or rose' in cans is widely distributed outside CA, but if so it would qualify.