KK, Dan,

I attended a mixed red wine tasting last winter. No really expensive bottles were in the mix, but a nice range of cabs, merlots, and zins. Popular acclaim picked the Columbia Cellars cab-merlot blend which can be had at Fred Meyers for $5.99. Since I had contributed what I thought was a nice $20 merlot, I concluded I was only fooling myself. I've devoted my time to sampling anything I can find for less than $10, and am finding that bad wine is uncommon. Excellent wine for cheap is also uncommon, but pretty drinkable stuff can be had for cheap routinely. Got two cases of Crane Creek chard at 3.99 minus the 10% case discount for everyday and feel satisfied.

Sg