I'm very fond of David Bruce Petite Sirah.  I have a bottle in my rack now, 2003 I think.  I don't want to sound like I'm promoting Bogle but their Petite Sirah is good also, within my budget.

FWIW I used to be an importer of French wines to the U.K. when I lived in Paris, so if anyone wants my opinion/advice on French wines, then give me shout
 
George

I don't really have any label loyalty on wines, but I do pretty much stick to Italy for reds and Germany for whites - though my nextdoor neighbor makes wine that's as good as my beer.
 
Peter

For US wines, I have good memories of a Fetzer red, probably cabernet sauvignon, which was pure velvet on the tongue (but went great with venison anyway) and a Benziger chardonnay.
 
I would love to drink expensive wine rather than the affordable varieties, but the other stuff isn't called affordable for nothing.

Interesting to see a couple comments on Bogle so soon. Whenever I can find their Old Vines Zinfandel for $10 or less, I consider it a real steal. I should at least give the Phantom a try, thanks.
 
Going even more affordable, in zinfandels I think it's very hard to do better than Ravenswood Vintner's Blend, which I can often pick up for $8. Not great, but seems to be more consistently drinkable, than much of what I can find in the $10-12 range.

I know people with 10,000 bottle cellars who think of $80 wine as an every day thing.  I am not one of them.  On the other hand, it's nice to have a special bottle on occasion as budget and circumstances allow.  Six or eight years ago, we visited a friend on Long Island who was wine buyer for a Hamptons restaurant.  He opened a 1982 Chateau LaTour that I still remember as one of the best wine experiences I have ever had.  It's something that I wish everyone could experience at least once.
 
The $15 vicinity is the recommended price range if you are looking to become a student of wine.  It is not uncommon for wines under $10 to be quite drinkable, though they often have technical flaws, lack complexity, or have been made in a way that doesn't show varietal character well.  You also find a lot of blending in this price range.  
 
As with any generalization, there are plenty of exceptions.  For example, accurate Sauvignon Blancs in the $10 price range are common, and Pinot Noirs start to be right at around $20 or so.  Some of it is marketing, some of it is the cost/difficulty of growing good fruit.
 
In the end, it comes down to one thing.  Drink what you like and can afford.  I often pick up wine from the local warehouse store (BJs or Costco) and get some great deals.  It's not much risk to try new labels in the $10 price range, and finding a $30 bottle for $18 is always a treat.  On the other hand, I also have a wine shop the size of a small supermarket about 20 minutes down the road where I chat with the buyer on at least a monthly basis.  His guidance means that when we look for something new in the $20-40 price range, we're more likely to avoid the bad ones.  Lisa hates to write bad reviews and I hate to spend $30 for $10 wine.

Bob, let me know what you think of the Phantom.  I have about 9 or 10 bottles of wine at home right now and 8 of them are 2003 Phantom.  There hasn't been an '04 release yet. I think they age it for 20 months.  I think it's about time to leave work and go open one.
 
Sam

Sam-
 
I'll look for it and let you know.  We will be focussing on wine a lot next week, but I will try to get it before then.  Afterwards, we'll be doing a Champagne/sparkling wine tasting or two to get some holiday recommendations out and probably won't think about reds again until January.  We'll drink them, just won't think about it much.  
 
-Bob

Just in case Bob was ambiguous... I looked for Phantom today while I was in one of my grocery stores, but no luck. I will also look further and let you know (though my assessment will be strictly amateurish).
 
I'm right there with ...just won't think about it much.  
 
-Bob

I like good dark beer and Alembic instruments.  Also, my wife is truly the finest of the fine of humanity.  Now for where my discerning taste would seem to fall short:  I LIKE 2-buck Chuck (Charles Shaw, I believe?).  It tastes just fine to me, and is only slightly more than $2 a bottle.  I'm not a big drinker by any means or anything more than a amateur, usually only having either a beer or two at a gig or a small glass of wine with cheese before bed a few nights a week.  So, is 2-buck Chuck garbage and likely to kill me quicker than Thunderbird, or is it a decent low-rent wine?
 
John

Don't forget that Beaujolais Nouveau just got released for '06; and IMHO it's pretty much always a bargain, especially at places like Costco - $9 for Duboeuf.
 
For a luscious red, my wife and I have found that the 2005 Edmeads Zin is really versatile for our style of cooking.  With a medium weight for a Zin, 15+% alcohol, and fresh, pure fruit, it goes with just about any meat, fish, pasta, cheese, even asparagus and chocolate.  Expect to pay about $18.
 
For a white, we lucked upon a few bottles of Domaine des Baumards Savennieres, 2002; a fantastic year in France for Chenin Blanc whites. Very crisp and minerally, with richness from the few years of bottle age it had. If you even come across the Coteaux du Layon, which is a sweet white, get it as well.  This is a solidly good Loire domaine in just about everything they make.
 
There's so much good wine out there, but the best bargains may be from Spain and Australia, although the quality of low-priced California cabs seem to have come up, from what I remember about five years ago.
 
I suggest that anyone who is going to spend any serious money on wine subscribe to at least one wine puiblication.  My favorites are the International Wince Cellar (Tanzer, et. al.), and the Wine Advocate (Parker, et. al.), and back issues of The Vine (defunct since 2005, Clive Coates).  You may want also to look at British publications also, like Decanter (various contributers).  I think the Wine Spectator is questionable with their recommendations, though I like the variety of articles.  Tanzer, Parker and Coates all do not accept advertizing in their publications from any wine estates, as they do not want to show any bias.  Here are their links:
Parker:  http://dat.erobertparker.com/WAStore/
Tanzer:  http://www.wineaccess.com/expert/tanzer/index.html?
 
-- Jeff

Wine Cellar, not Wince Cellar (see above).  That was a Duhhhh - not a Freudian Slip
 
Jeff

Thunderbird and Ripple, basement wines for the below ground wine drinkers! Love the humility!
I've never heard of Phantom, I'll have to look around for it.
I prefer red over white or blush, Pinot Noir,Cabernet Sauvignon maybe? Not too sweet.
NLP

Hey Jeff-
 
I just can't drink the Nouveau.  We do every year so Lisa can write it up, but it tastes too much like a Chianti we home-made from a kit a few years ago.  That said, it is fine when you drink it with food (like you're supposed to!) rather than trying to sip it by itself.  I also used some last night to flavor some chicken and mushrooms and it worked quite well.
 
Another reasonable French white is the Free Range White Bordeaux.  This is available in a three liter box for convenience and I find it quite pleasant.  I was, however, disappointed with some of their other offerings.  Their Merlot was okay, though very French in style, and the Red Bordeaux just doesn't work for me at all.