Favorite wines (red/white)

[amnesiac]

I'm a huge fan of Merlots, followed closely by a good Cab, and on rare occasion a Chardonnay.
Zin's don't do anything for me, most Chiantis don't have the full body I like, and lesser knowns like Medoc are just..blah..

I used to date a girl whose parents were total wine snobs so I had the pleasure of having my first full glass of wine be a $130 / 98 wine spectator rating Cab.. It was a religious experience for sure.

I'm finishing the last glass of some Oak Grove merlot (2000).. it needed a ton of airing out and now it's actually really good for a $9 bottle of wine.
Other budget favorites: Bogle Vineyards '00 for $11, Clos Du Bois 1999/2000 for $14.
My all time favorites are Supery '98 ($22) and Trefethen '98 ($35) but I can rarely afford it.. I just wait 'till my mom buys a case and steal it from her.

Anyone have recommendations / favorites they want to share?

 

[Bellgoody]

As wine steward during the '70's, these were/are my favorites:

Chateau Margaux '64
Chateau Laffite-Rothschild 1970

Joseph Swan Zinfindel "Lot z" blend 1968-1969 - The best bottle of any California wine - ever.
Ridge Zinfindel "Barenblut" 1968

 

[amnesiac]

Thanks.. hmm.. I'm guessing by the current prices of younger wines (i.e. Margaux '85 for $500) most of those are impossible to find or ridiculously expensive :|

 

[Grinchy]

hmm, in the $7 to $20 range, I've tried -
1998 Krug Merlot - $15 - 4 bottles - 1 very good, rest good - balanced
1999 Aussie Shiraz, forget the maker, $7 - 4 bottles, 2 good, 1 ok, 1 bad - peppery
1998 Buena Vista Merlot - $10 - 1 bottle - good
1999 Lindeman Padhtaway Shiraz - $10 - 3 bottles - 2 very good, 1 good - balanced
1997 Beringer Knights Valley Cab - $20 - 1 bottle - very good, but not balanced (it is a cab after all)
1997 Krug Merlot - $15 - 2 bottles - 2 very good - great balance, 1998 not as good (no surprise)
1997 Artesa Merlot - $30 - 2 bottles - very good - missing something
1997 Artesa Cab - $30 - 1 bottle - very good - great wine, one still in the rack
1997 Franciscan Zinfandel - $20 - 1 bottle - good - balanced


Of all these, the Lindemann Shiraz is the deal. Very drinkable at $10 each. But that 1997 Krug was the best - it is no longer available locally.

And I'd like any recommendations you might have for a good syrah.

 

[mithrandir2001]

I have a bottle of 1994 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve in my cellar. Don't know when I'll open it...maybe 3-5 years from now, maybe longer.