Inexpensive Wine List from Slate.com

I got this from an article on Slate.com. The author knew there were cheap wines to be had in "cities" like New York, but was sent on assignment to find out if good cheap wines can be found in "the sticks" like Wilmington, DE. Regardless of your feelings about Delaware in general and Wilmington in particular, it is the largest city in Delaware, hardly the sticks. I really hate NYC snobbery. Anyway, I want to learn more about wine, and especially wine I can afford. Here's his list.

2005 S.C.V. Castelmaure Corbières Col des Vents ($9.99)
2006 Artazu Artazuri ($11.99)
2004 Cune Rioja Crianza ($13.99)
Gruet Brut nonvintage ($13.99)
2006 King Estate Signature Collection Pinot Gris ($13.99)
2006 Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel ($11.99)
2006 d'Arenberg the Hermit Crab ($13.99)
2007 Cusumano Nero d'Avola ($12.99)
2006 Prunotto Dolcetto d'Alba ($14.99)
2006 Altos Las Hormigas ($8.49)
2007 Loosen Bros. Dr. L Riesling ($12.99) from Germany.

Here's his sum-up:
"Anywhere you look, you are going to struggle to find inexpensive domestic wines worth drinking—it's the cardinal sin of American winemaking, in my opinion. Generally speaking, the foreign shelves will have much more to offer. Of course, French, Italian, and Spanish wines can be confusing in ways that, say, California merlots and chardonnays are not. One usually surefire method of finding interesting foreign wines: Let the importer be your guide. The United States is blessed with a small army of superb importers, who bring in excellent wines at all price points. If any of the names on this list are on the label, you can be reasonably certain you've got yourself a good bottle."

Whether any of these wines are available in Bloomington is another issue. I do like the sound of the Hermit Crab wine.