Wanted: Everyday Drinking Wine Suggestions

I’m looking for suggestions for everyday drinking wine (read cheap but good ).  I haven’t had a good glass of wine for quite some time now.  But I’m not willing to pay $20 for a bottle just to accompany monggo and lechon kawali.  I used to buy a Spanish red called Tinto Zamora for around $5 for a one litre bottle at a liquor shop in Hackensack.  But I can’t find it anymore.  I know, I know – you get what you pay for, but I’m sure there are still bargains out there.  I read about these “best value” wines in the New York Times and Wine Spectator but I can never find them.

So if you have any suggestions, please post a comment.  Red, white, rose, dessert, – it doesn’t matter.  Basta masarap sa inyo – OK na.  Kung under $5, lalong magaling.  And don’t worry – I am not one of those wine snobs.  I don’t particularly care about the vintage; from what I’ve read, most inexpensive wines don’t benefit much from aging and are meant to be drunk immediately anyway.  For value wines, it’s the brand and not so much the vintage that makes the difference.  Of course, if you come across a really outstanding wine that’s above my cheapskate price point, post a comment as well. 

The best wine Marita and I ever tasted was in a cave in the south of France.  It had the longest “finish”; after an hour, we could still taste it in our mouths.  Sadly, I don’t remember the name