10 Value Wines -- American Reds

From Ray Isle of Food & Wine magazine, check out this piece highlighting an array of great wine deals, including the luscious Joseph Carr Napa Valley cab for about $20 -- not a cheap wine, but Napa cab of this quality at that price is pretty rare.
Also highlighted: Castle Rock's Oregon pinot noir at just $13 -- another unheard of bargain for decent pinot; and several merlots in the $15-$20 range that will amaze you.

Give thanks with these wines

Everything from sparklers to fruity whites and dryer reds ... from Food & Wine. All are great values, and most should be easy to locate. Perfect for your Thanksgiving Dinner, and/or the entire holiday period.

Sparkling

NV Domaine Ste Michelle Blanc de Blancs ($12)

This pear-scented wine has a clean finish that makes it ideal with appetizers and main courses.

NV Adami Garbèl Prosecco ($15)

Italian producer Adami’s appley bottling is drier than many other Proseccos, making it particularly refreshing.

Rosé

2008 Château Guiot ($11)

François and Sylvia Cornut grow cherries as well as grapes, and that ripe fruit seems to have lent its aroma to this lovely Southern French rosé.

2008 Domaine de la Mordorée ($15)

Mordorée is known for its expensive Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but the estate also produces terrific affordable wines. One is this wild-strawberry-flavored, lightly smoky dry rosé.

White

2008 Acrobat Pinot Gris ($12)

This value bottling is peachy, zesty and lush -- an upgrade for pinot grigio fans.

2008 Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc ($12)

Less peppery and sharp than many NZ Sauvignon Blancs, this snappy white from the country’s Marlborough region has delicious pineapple and melon notes.

2008 Bodegas Montecillo Verdemar Albariño ($14)

This venerable Rioja producer has branched out into Spain’s far-northwest Rías Baixas region to create this bright white. It’s chalky, citrusy and very easy to drink.

Red

2007 Heron Pinot Noir ($13)

Wine producer Laely Heron has made a specialty of finding good vineyards in unexpected locations around the world. The result is wines like this chocolate-cherry Pinot, from the foothills of France’s Pyrenees.

2006 Ruffino Il Ducale ($18)

This Tuscan red has all the hallmarks of the region: black-cherry fruit, a firm structure and notes that recall fragrant dried herbs.

2008 Seven Terraces Pinot Noir ($20)

Acclaimed New Zealand winery Foxes Island Wines makes pricey bottlings as well as this impressive, affordable red. The wine’s svelte black-raspberry fruit gains complexity from spice and tobacco notes.

Best Wine Values -- Nine Amazing Deals ($20 or less)

These brilliant bottles are terrific deals!

2009 Budini Malbec ($12)

Argentinean malbec tends to be cheap, and undistinguished. This one is super-cheap, and lovely..

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Chardonnay ($15)

It's a rarity to find a wine made in such quantity (500,000 cases) that has this much character.

2009 Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio ($14)

Pinot grigio is not a wine I care for, but this one is supposed to be more like a good pinot gris (which I do tend to like).

2009 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva ($11)

Chile's coastal vineyards produce terrific bargain sauvignon blancs..

2009 Dry Creek Vineyard Clarksburg Dry Chenin Blanc ($12)

Chenin blanc is one of the world's most underrated white grapes.

2008 Castle Rock Sonoma County Pinot Noir ($14)

Decent pinot at these prices? Amazing!

2008 Bodegas Olivares Altos de la Hoya ($12)

Spain's Jumilla region produces powerful reds from the Monastrell grape. This one's a knockout.

2008 Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha ($17)

I’ve always liked this wine, and it’s a great value for the quality. Very food-friendly.

2008 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir ($20)

A few more dollars than the Castle Rock, but 2008 was such a great vintage in Oregon, so it’s worth it.

Source: Adapted from Ray Isle (Food & Wine)