<p>I don’t much care for merlot; to me it’s too fruity and lacking in character. Prefer pinot noir but here in the Upper Midwest it’s hard to find for less than $15, a little beyond our everyday price range. I like Los Vascos Cabernet Sauv from Chile, Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin from California, Bodega Norton Malbec from Argentina, or Arancia Nero d’Avola from Sicily, all around $9 or $10, sometimes lower during a sale. </p>
<p>Lately, though, we’ve been pinching pennies with D1 just starting college and D2 just a few years away, so we’ve settled on a box wine, Bota Box Cabernet Sauv (about $17 or $18 for a 3-liter box, equivalent to 4 bottles) as our everyday wine. It won’t knock your socks off, but it’s pleasant and drinkable enough, and it’s environmentally friendly. The cardboard box is made of 100% post-consumer recycled paper and replaces 4 heavy glass bottles in your recycling bin. And did I say cheap?</p>