JaTo, I generally like a merlot with a meal or a nicely balanced pinot noir by itself, but you have me intrigued. Picking one up tonight if it can be found.
I've come across many low dollar wines that have been absolutely delightful and a much better choice than the far more expensive labels - in every respect except aging. Most will not age as well as the pricier wines - not a problem if you don't keep a stocked cellar. Disadvantage is you have to consume them in short order & can't keep them for more than a few years. They also tend to disappear quickly, so get 'em while they're hot.
On a separate note, wines from Chile are coming along nicely & will be a great place to look for bargains in the coming years. More recent examples very much remind me of the California varietals of the late 70's & early 80's. Specifically, the merlot.
