I went to liquor stores looking for bargains, well-reviewed wines that cost less than $25.

This can be a frustrating endeavor. So many times I have hunted for wines, carrying clippings of the glowing review in my hands, only to be unable to find the bottles that the critics had praised.

But this time, thanks to Jay Miller, I bagged the bargains. The $15 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay 2007, the $10 Milton Park Shiraz from Australia, the Finca Sobreno from Spain for $15 and the $20 Lange Pinot Noir 2007 from Oregon.

These were among the wines that Miller recommends in a new paperback book, "Parker's Wine Bargains." The book is a collaborative effort drawing on the suggestions of Miller, his boss, Robert M. Parker Jr., and four other contributors to The Wine Advocate, the bimonthly newsletter that Parker presides over. The book, drawing on reviews first printed in The Wine Advocate, divides the wines of the world among these six critics, all looking for values under $25. Miller tackled the wines of South America, Australia, Spain, Oregon and Washington.

This paperback represents a shift for the house of Parker, whose previous tomes and ratings of vintage Bordeaux and other high-end wines carry such weight that he is often referred to as the "pope of the vineyards."

But Miller, who met Parker in 1978 when Miller sold him wine at Wells Liquors in North Baltimore, said the shift to the down market makes sense.

"The economy was taking a hit," Miller said, "so The Wine Advocate began emphasizing value in wines." Some of the collectors grumbled, "but most of the readers appreciated it. Overall, people are buying lower on the wine list."

The cooling-off economy coupled with increased production from wineries all around the world have caused wine prices to stabilize or, in some cases, drop, he said. These days there are plenty of bargains in wine, he said. "The globalization of the market, along with improved wine-making techniques have combined to keep prices relatively low and quality high," he said.

Born in Boston in 1945, Miller came to the University of Maryland to get a doctorate in clinical psychology. He had what he calls his "wine epiphany" in 1973 when he bought a bottle of 1968 BV Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

"I was trying to impress a girl, so I bought the most expensive wine in the store. This cost $8.99. We drank it and said, 'Wow! There is something to this wine thing.' "

Both Miller and his then-girlfriend ended up marrying other people, and his interest in wine blossomed. He started attending tastings and working part-time in liquor stores selling wine. In addition to Wells, he worked at Calvert Discount Liquors in Baltimore County and at the Wine Source, a now-defunct wholesaler in Columbia. In 2001, he became owner and manager of Bin 604, a wine shop in the Inner Harbor. When, in 2006, he began reviewing wine full time for The Wine Advocate, he put the store in a blind trust.

With his curly hair, Van Dyke beard and enthusiasm for good drink, Miller reminded me of Falstaff, the convivial character in Shakespeare.

Going wine shopping with Miller felt like having a personal shopper at Saks. Armed with copies of "Parker's Wine Bargains," he and I first prowled the aisles of one of the area's largest liquor stores, Beltway Fine Wines in Towson. My goal was to find one white and one red, for $8 to $15 a bottle, from each region of the world that Miller mentioned in the book.

Our first stop was Argentina, a country Miller said he is so fond of visiting that he has considered moving there from his Baltimore County home.

"They have great beef there," he said and grabbed a red wine, a Don Miguel Gascon Malbec ($12), that would go well with red meat. We had a little trouble finding the Argentine white, a Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes. It was in an aisle labeled "alternative whites." Miller liked both the wine - his book entry described it as "dry and succulent" - and the $14 price.

The alternative white aisle was also home to the white from Australia, a D'Arenberg Hermit Crab, which was a deal at $14 a bottle, he said.

The red wine from Australia was a Milton Park Shiraz, a good buy for 10 bucks, Miller said.

The key to finding a good Shiraz is the same as finding a good red wine from Chile, he said.

"You find a producer who knows when to pick the grapes," he said. If they are picked too soon, the grapes are not ripe and the wine will taste tannic. But in these hot climates, if they pick the grapes too late, the wines can end up tasting cooked, he said.

The $8 bottle of Concha y Toro Carmenere passed that test, he said. For a Chilean white, he picked a Sauvignon Blanc from Anakena. It cost a mere $8 and since it was 2008 vintage, met his standard that white wines should be no more than three years old.

In Spain, he got surprised. He had the $15 Finca Sobreno red wine in his book, but he did not have the 2004 Marques de Riscal Reserva.

"It must have cost more than $25 when I tasted it," Miller said. Now it was marked at $16. Following Miller's recommendations, I got both. The white, Burgans Albarino, was not listed in Miller's chapter on Spanish wines. But Miller knew it and liked it. At $15 it was a bargain, he said.

Our final stops at Beltway were in the aisles featuring Washington chardonnay. Fifteen dollars for an Indian Wells Chardonnay was a deal, he said, so I nabbed it.

Finding any good Oregon Pinot Noir for under $25 is tough, Miller said. But when he spotted the $20 Lange, he pounced on it. "That is a real brick and mortar winery that makes good wines, not blends," he said.

By the end of this shopping trip, I had 12 bottles of wine that with tax came to $172.44, or a little more than $14 a bottle.

The next day, I met Miller at another wine shop, The Wine Merchant in Lutherville. Once again, he spotted a red wine bargain, a Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend for $14.99. Once again, I bought a bottle and circled an entry in "Parker's Wine Bargains."

I like a book that lists bargain wines - ones that actually appear in liquor stores.

Recipe search   Search over 3,000 recipes in our archive
Keywords:  
Or choose a date:   Choose ... All to April '02 Feb. 3, 2010 Jan. 27, 2010 Jan. 20, 2010 Jan. 13, 2010 Jan. 6, 2010 Dec. 30, 2009 Dec. 23, 2009 Dec. 16, 2009 Dec. 9, 2009 Dec. 2, 2009 Nov. 25, 2009 Nov. 18, 2009 Nov. 11, 2009 Nov. 4, 2009 Oct. 28, 2009 Oct. 21, 2009 Oct. 14, 2009 Oct. 7, 2009 Sept. 30, 2009 Sept. 23, 2009 Sept. 16, 2009 Sept. 9, 2009 Sept. 2, 2009 Aug. 26, 2009 Aug. 19, 2009 Aug. 12, 2009 Aug. 5, 2009 July 29, 2009 July 22, 2009 July 15, 2009 July 8, 2009 July 1, 2009 June 24, 2009 June 17, 2009 June 10, 2009 June 3, 2009 May 27, 2009 May 20, 2009 May 13, 2009 May 6, 2009 April 29, 2009 April 22, 2009 April 15, 2009 April 8, 2009 April 1, 2009 March 25, 2009 March 18, 2009 March 4, 2009 Feb. 25, 2009 Feb. 18, 2009 Feb. 11, 2009 Feb. 4, 2009 Jan. 28, 2009 Jan. 21, 2009 Jan. 14, 2009 Jan. 7, 2009 Dec. 31, 2008 Dec. 24, 2008 Dec. 17, 2008 Dec. 10, 2008 Dec. 3, 2008 Nov. 26, 2008 Nov. 19, 2008 Nov. 12, 2008 Nov. 5, 2008 Oct. 29, 2008 Oct. 22, 2008 Oct. 15, 2008 Oct. 8, 2008 Oct. 1, 2008 Sept. 24, 2008 Sept. 17, 2008 Sept. 10, 2008 Sept. 3, 2008 Aug. 27, 2008 Aug. 20, 2008 Aug. 13, 2008 Aug. 6, 2008 July 30, 2008 July 23, 2008 July 16, 2008 July 9, 2008 July 2, 2008 June 25, 2008 June 18, 2008 June 11, 2008 June 4, 2008 May 28, 2008 May 21, 2008 May 14, 2008 May 7, 2008 April 30, 2008 April 23, 2008 April 16, 2008 April 9, 2008 April 2, 2008 March 26, 2008 March 19, 2008 March 12, 2008 March 5, 2008 Feb. 27, 2008 Feb. 20, 2008 Feb. 13, 2008 Feb. 6, 2008 Jan. 30, 2008 Jan. 23, 2008 Jan. 16, 2008 Jan. 9, 2008 Jan. 2, 2008 Dec. 26, 2007 Dec. 19, 2007 Dec. 12, 2007 Dec. 5, 2007 Nov. 28, 2007 Nov. 21, 2007 Nov. 14, 2007 Nov. 7, 2007 Oct. 31, 2007 Oct. 24, 2007 Oct. 17, 2007 Oct. 10, 2007 Oct. 3, 2007 Sept. 26, 2007 Sept. 19, 2007 Sept. 12, 2007 Sept. 5, 2007 Aug. 29, 2007 Aug. 22, 2007 Aug. 15, 2007 Aug. 8, 2007 Aug. 1, 2007 July 25, 2007 July 18, 2007 July 11, 2007 July 4, 2007 June 27, 2007 June 20, 2007 June 13, 2007 June 6, 2007 May 30, 2007 May 23, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 9, 2007 May 2, 2007 April 25, 2007 April 18, 2007 April 11, 2007 April 4, 2007 March 28, 2007 March 21, 2007 March 14, 2007 March 7, 2007 Feb. 28, 2007 Feb. 21, 2007 Feb. 14, 2007 Feb. 7, 2007 Jan. 31, 2007 Jan. 24, 2007 Jan. 17, 2007 Jan. 10, 2007 Jan. 3, 2007 Dec. 27, 2006 Dec. 20, 2006 Dec. 13, 2006 Dec. 6, 2006 Nov. 29, 2006 Nov. 22, 2006 Nov. 15, 2006 Nov. 8, 2006 Nov. 1, 2006 Oct. 25, 2006 Oct. 18, 2006 Oct. 11, 2006 Oct. 4, 2006 Sept. 27, 2006 Sept. 20, 2006 Sept. 13, 2006 Sept. 6, 2006 Aug. 30, 2006 Aug. 23, 2006 Aug. 16, 2006 Aug. 9, 2006 Aug. 2, 2006 July 26, 2006 July 19, 2006 July 12, 2006 July 5, 2006 June 28, 2006 June 21, 2006 June 14, 2006 June 7, 2006 May 31, 2006 May 24, 2006 May 17, 2006 May 10, 2006 May 3, 2006 April 26, 2006 April 19, 2006 April 12, 2006 April 5, 2006 March 29, 2006 March 22, 2006 March 15, 2006 March 8, 2006 March 1, 2006 Feb. 22, 2006 Feb. 15, 2006 Feb. 8, 2006 Feb. 1, 2006 Jan. 25, 2006 Jan. 18, 2006 Jan. 11, 2006 Jan. 4, 2006 Dec. 28, 2005 Dec. 21, 2005 Dec. 14, 2005 Dec. 7, 2005 Nov. 30, 2005 Nov. 23, 2005 Nov. 16, 2005 Nov. 9, 2005 Nov. 2, 2005 Oct. 26, 2005 Oct. 19, 2005 Oct. 12, 2005 Oct. 5, 2005 Sept. 28, 2005 Sept. 21, 2005 Sept. 14, 2005 Sept. 7, 2005 Aug. 31, 2005 Aug. 24, 2005 Aug. 17, 2005 Aug. 10, 2005 Aug. 3, 2005 July 27, 2005 July 20, 2005 July 13, 2005 July 6, 2005 June 29, 2005 June 22, 2005 June 15, 2005 June 8, 2005 June 1, 2005 May 25, 2005 May 18, 2005 May 11, 2005 May 4, 2005 April 27, 2005 April 20, 2005 April 13, 2005 April 6, 2005 March 30, 2005 March 23, 2005 March 16, 2005 March 9, 2005 March 2, 2005 Feb. 23, 2005 Feb. 16, 2005 Feb. 9, 2005 Feb. 2, 2005 Jan. 26, 2005 Jan. 19, 2005 Jan. 12, 2005 Jan. 5, 2005 Dec. 29, 2004 Dec. 22, 2004 Dec. 15, 2004 Dec. 8, 2004 Dec. 1, 2004 Nov. 24, 2004 Nov. 17, 2004 Nov. 10, 2004 Nov. 3, 2004 Oct. 27, 2004 Oct. 20, 2004 Oct. 13, 2004 Oct. 6, 2004 Sept. 29, 2004 Sept. 22, 2004 Sept. 15, 2004 Sept. 8, 2004 Sept. 1, 2004 Aug. 25, 2004 Aug. 18, 2004 Aug. 11, 2004 Aug. 4, 2004 July 28, 2004 July 21, 2004 July 14, 2004 July 7, 2004 June 30, 2004 June 23, 2004 June 16, 2004 June 9, 2004 June 2, 2004 May 26, 2004 May 19, 2004 May 12, 2004 May 5, 2004 April 28, 2004 April 21, 2004 April 14, 2004 April 7, 2004 March 31, 2004 March 24, 2004 March 17, 2004 March 10, 2004 March 3, 2004 Feb. 25, 2004 Feb. 18, 2004 Feb. 11, 2004 Feb. 4, 2004 Jan. 28, 2004 Jan. 21, 2004 Jan. 14, 2004 Jan. 7, 2004 Dec. 31, 2003 Dec. 24, 2003 Dec. 17, 2003 Dec. 10, 2003 Dec. 3, 2003 Nov. 26, 2003 Nov. 19, 2003 Nov. 12, 2003 Nov. 5, 2003 Oct. 29, 2003 Oct. 22, 2003 Oct. 15, 2003 Oct. 8, 2003 Oct. 1, 2003 Sept. 24, 2003 Sept. 17, 2003 Sept. 10, 2003 Sept. 3, 2003 Aug. 27, 2003 Aug. 20, 2003 Aug. 13, 2003 Aug. 6, 2003 July 30, 2003 July 23, 2003 July 16, 2003 July 9, 2003 July 2, 2003 June 25, 2003 June 18, 2003 June 11, 2003 June 4, 2003 May 28, 2003 May 21, 2003 May 14, 2003 May 7, 2003 April 30, 2003 April 23, 2003 April 16, 2003 April 9, 2003 April 2, 2003 March 26, 2003 March 19, 2003 March 12, 2003 March 5, 2003 Feb. 26, 2003 Feb. 19 2003 Feb. 12, 2003 Feb. 5, 2003 Jan. 29, 2003 Jan. 22, 2003 Jan. 15, 2003
Taste recipes: Pasta salad with smoked chicken | No-Fail Sour Cream Chocolate Cake |
Popular searches: Blueberries | Ribs | Grilled shrimp | Recipes from local chefs