Some red wine recommendations

Columbia Crest 2004 or 2005 Merlot Grand Estates (Note: Not to be confused with the Columbia Crest Two Vines, a lesser wine) This is a Washington state winery. One of the best red wine values on the market right now. The 2004 made Wine Spectator's list of the top 100 wines for 2007. Retails for around $13.00.

Fess Parker 2003 or 2004 Santa Barbara County Syrah. The 2003 is better, but harder to find. I like this wine a lot. Retails for $20.00.

Famiglia Bianchi 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. This is an Argentine wine. I've been drinking this wine for over 20 years and it's always good. Retails for around $17.00.

Norton Malbec Reserva 2004 or 2005. Another Argentine wine. Malbec is Argentina's top red wine, and it produces a world class wine from some of Argentina's top wineries. Retails for around $17.00. I like the '04 better than the '05.

Norton Malbec 2007 (or 2006 also). This is the regular entry level (cuvee) from Norton, and it is very good, and cheaper than the Reserva. Retails for around $9.00.

Catena 2005 Malbec. Another Argentina malbec. A very good wine at a decent price. Retails for $20.00.

Pascal Toso 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva.
*and*
Pascal Toso 2006 Malbec Reserva. These are two very good wines at reasonable prices from an old Argentine winery. Both retail for $20.00

Pascal Toso Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 or 2006. This is the entry level (cuvee) cab from Pascal Toso and it is very good as well. The 2005 is better than the 2006, but both are good. Retails for $12.00

Cocodrilo Vina Cobos Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. This is an Argentine wine made by the American winemaker Paul Hobbs, who runs his own winery in Argentina. A great wine for the money. Retails for $16.00.

Castle Rock 2005 Pinot Noir. From Sonoma County in California. A very good bargain at $13.00.

2 Up Shiraz 2006. A good shiraz (syrah) from Australia. Very nice with grilled beef. Retails for $13.00.

Penfolds 2006 Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon "Koonunga Hill." This Austrailian shiraz-cabernet blend is a good wine and an excellent bargain. By the way, "shiraz" and "syrah" are the same grape/wine. The name difference is strictly a geographical preference in Australia. Retails for $12.00.

Marques de Casa Concha Syrah 2005. A very good wine made by the Concha y Toro winery in Chile. Shows what syrah is capable of. Retails for $20.00.

Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2005. An good wine from the same producer (Concha y Toro) as the one above. Will rival or surpass most California or Bordeaux wines in the same price range. The same is true for the Syrah above. Retails for $20.00.

Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. ***and***
Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre 2004 Syrah. Both of these wines are good. They're not as good as their wines from 2001-2002, but they're still good. From Chile. Retail for around $20.00 each.

Artesa 2004 Merlot. This is a very good wine, with part of the grapes coming from Napa Valley and part coming from Sonoma. The 2003 was excellent, but I don't think you'll find it on the shelves any longer. Retails for around $18.00. My brother and sister-in-law came out to L.A. to visit from New Orleans last year and this was my sis-in-law's favorite wine out of the ones she tasted at our house, for whatever that's worth.