My new resolve: world class wine for under $20

I finally figured out what this blog is about.

Amazing world class wine for under $20 a bottle. For everyday enjoyment.

The beauty of this approach is that I (or you) don't put too much expectation on a bottle. I can just open it, enjoy it for what it is worth. And hopefully learn something, especially if it a new region or varietal. The education continues for pretty much any bottle unless it is a mass produced super-consistent wine. But that's not what this column is about, nor is it what you're about I'm guessing. Most of the time. (Not so-guilty not so-secret: I love Columbia Crest. And I've enjoyed Yellow Tail.)

The fine print is:

• I want wines that rank with pretty much the best there is, unless you're willing to spend $150+ a bottle.
• I want to drink world class wine day in and day out. This means loosely wines that get an excellent (90+) rating from the usual suspects (Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, etc).
• I want wines from across the world.
• I want to drink every varietal from every major region that grows it.
• I want to expand my wine palate to learn about the wonder that is wine.
• I want to do this for under $20 a bottle, whenever possible (see next item), and possibly for under $14 a bottle if possible. If I have to spend time hunting down bottles, then so be it.
  
• There are a few regions in which $20 a bottle is just too restrictive, so I up my limit to $25 or even $30 if I have to. But usually, patience and vigilence make it possible to stay under $25 for almost all types of wines.
• This is mostly about red wines.
  

The pricing exceptions with their limits are

• Vintage port $30. In the good years, anything classic is over $40 a bottle, but the trick is to buy in non-classic years.
• Burgundy Pinot $28. It's really hard to find a good Burgundy (pinot noir) for cheap.
• Bordeaux $25. Even in the great years, if you find 4th or 5th growths, there are bargains. And by choosing from non "great" years that are subsequently in the shadows of the great ones, there are even more bargains as these years get overshadowed. Ex. 2004 Bordeaux is vino-non-existance after the 2005's were released. And the low end 2005's are also fantastic. Still it's hard to find excellent Bordeaux for under $16. So I give myself a bit of slack.
  
• Napa Cabernet $35. It's ridiculous that Napa Cab is just about the most expensive wine out there, especially if it is any good. Even the "3rd growths" are $16-$30.

I happen to live in one of the best wine markets of the world, Northern California, so I'm able to find many wines at very good prices. I have to ever vigilant. (Today I found a nice Burgundy for $21.) But if you adjust the prices appropriately, you should be able to find amazing wines for a modest amount.

Let the fun begin!