Wine: ‘Tuesday night’ choices

“Life may be too short to drink bad wine,” but most people can’t afford to drink “95-point stuff” every night, said Fred Tasker in The Miami Herald. For those evenings when dinner is a fabulous meatloaf instead of a fine roast of lamb, you need “a bottle that can become your house wine”—something pleasant that you can open without worrying about the cost. Below are three worthy candidates.

2009 Montgras 200 Bicentennial, Chile ($13). A blend of cabernet sauvignon and carménère, this smooth, hearty red wine has flavors of black cherry and cloves.

2008 Dancing Bull Chardonnay, California ($12). A reliable chardonnay that’s “light, crisp, and fruity, with pineapple and vanilla flavors.”

2008 McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Pinot Noir, Australia ($11). This “soft and sweet” pinot has hints of oak, black cherry, and cinnamon.