The Best Inexpensive Wines Available Now

I am very new to drinking wine, but my favorite so far is Zaca Mesa 2002 Z Cuvée. It has more complexity than most wines the <20 price range and avoids the sweet and fruity taste that I do not prefer.

The following wines were served as "house wines" at one of the finest restaurants in NYC. Le Bonheur Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (South Africa) and Domaine La Condamine L'Eveque (vin de pays D'oc) 2000,(French)for a red table wine. I've tried both and they are excellent-- especially at $8.99-$12/bottle.

Don't let the screw-cap fool you (it's also found with corks), but the 2003 Porcupine Ridge Syrah from South Africa is the real deal. Earthy (very Northern Rhone-like) and complex and only $10.00. Porcupine Ridge is the negotiant label for Boekenhoutskloof, whose $40+ estate-grown Cabernet is as good as many top-rated wines from California or Bordeaux. Anyway, back to budget and everyday drinking, I found the 2003 Porcupine Ridge Syrah as far afield as California, where I live, and Nova Scotia, where we vacationed this past summer.

Thanks for the pointers, 55dok and Zinfan2. I'll be on the lookout for those rec's.

Zinfan: i'm getting over my screwcap bias. With Penfolds now releasing half their bottlings in screwcap (including their Grange!!) and many kiwi wines now coming that way, I'm having to "get over it!"