For The Love Of Port

We're putting together a blind tasting of several young (2008), Napa-made Bordeaux-blends. I expect the lineup to include Opus One, Joseph Phelps Insignia, Dominus Estates Dominus and Alpha Omega ERA.

We'd like to add another wine to the mix - a wildcard that's a similarly structured wine, also from CA (preferably Napa) but at a much lower price point than the big reds above.

Any suggestions for an inexpensive selection that can run with the big boys and maybe produce some surprises in the tasting?

The Raymond Reserve cab (around $20) usually punches above its weight class, although I have not specifically tasted the 2008.

If you want something cheaper, the Louis Martini cab (around $13) sometimes surprises also, although it is definitely a step down.

These are a couple I like to grab when can I find nothing else on a cheap restaurant/bar wine list. But I couldn't swear how well either would show in the kind of company you're talking about.

Buehler makes some nice inexpensive stuff. Beringer's Knights Valley used to be a pretty good value, but the prices have increased lately. Franciscan is another possiblity.

Eric Ifune wrote:Buehler makes some nice inexpensive stuff. Beringer's Knights Valley used to be a pretty good value, but the prices have increased lately. Franciscan is another possiblity.

The Beringer Knights Valley Meritage looks like it might be a good fit - at least from a varietal standpoint. Whether it can stand with those big reds is another question, but it'd be interesting to find out! Nothing like having a 10X price range in the mix to keep it interesting...

I like Eric's suggestion of Franciscan. Always solid QPR juice, and in recent years, they finally got back to "restraint" with their oak regimen.

No expert here, but I like the Franciscan too.