[imcarthur]

I've been finding that with the anti-French sentiment in the last 5 years, that the French section of the wine list will often have the best bargains in US restaurants. Especially if the restaurant has older stock. Forget the big Bordeaux & Burgundy chateaux/properties & concentrate on the lesser ones. Some very good wines to be had <$100. Also cruise the Italian & Spanish sections. The Italian's aren't bargains anymore except for isolated finds but the Spanish wines often are. I don't frequent wine stores in the US that often, but I imagine that the same would be true there.

Now, are the big names worth it? Not to us common folk unless someone else is paying. Are they better? Sometimes. And sometimes not in my limited exposure.

Ian