re: Switching from White to Red wine, assistance needed

Pretty much all wines (red and white) are dry. The exceptions are many rosés are finished sweet or off-dry and most Rieslings are finished somewhat sweet (some a lot more than others). Of course dessert wines are very sweet.

However if you get a fruit-forward wine they will seem to be sweet to the palate. So I'd suggest Rhône styles such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape or new world versions like Syrah/Shiraz or Grenache. Also Zinfandel can be made in a fruity style.

I like Apothic Red too. Actually use it a lot for cooking. There are good affordable reds from Chile and Australia. Maybe I'll come back later and actually post some names.

My Cabernet Sauvignon of choice is j lohr.

Have a good friend who is a big Merlot fan. Can always count on him to have a couple of bottles ready to open when we visit. They are always nice, but I seldom buy so someone else will help with a name.

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Zin: Pretty bold for a white wine drinker.

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He’s drinking CSM chard, aged in oak. Chards aged in oak are just as full bodied. Malolactic fermentation gives it the butter taste and heavier mouthfeel.

If anything, he should go towards zins and cabs because he’s drinking full bodied white wines.

Speaking of zins, here’s some great ones

Under $20
7 deadly
Bogle
Gnarly head
Moss roxx
AVV Sin zin
Federalist
1000 stories - bourbon barrel aged

Over $20
Rombauer
Michael David 7 deadly line
Saldo

None of these are over $20 and a few are under $10

2016 Mocine “Santa Marta” Rosso 750ml (Tuscany)

2015 Chateau de Ribebon Bordeaux Superieur 750ml

2015 Ca‘ Rozzeria “Langhe Nebbiolo” 750ml (Piedmont)

2016 Vale do Homem “Alvarinho” 750ml (Vinho Verde)

2016 Vale do Homem “Arinto” 750ml (Vinho Verde)

2016 Vale do Homem “Loureiro” 750ml (Vinho Verde)

2015 Chateau de Monbazan Grand Vin de Graves 750ml (Bordeaux)

2012 Ca’ Rozzeria Barolo 750ml (Piedmont)

2015 Laurent Gauthier Morgon “Grand Cras” 750ml (Beaujolais)

2016 Chateau Fonreaud Listrac 750ml (Bordeaux)

2016 Chateau Le Doyenne Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac 750ml

2016 I Veroni Rosé 750ml (Tuscany)

Do you prefer dry or sweet?

Everyone's suggesting Pinot noir, but coming from a full bodied chard and going to a light bodied pinot noir might be a disappointment.

I’m in no way shape or form a wine person, but there’s a couple reds that I enjoy and they are both Cabernet’s and under $20/bottle.

Rodney Strong

Alexander Valley

We were out to dinner with a couple other people a couple weeks back and ordered a Silver Oak for the table and it was very good, but was like $180 for the bottle. That being said, the Alexander Valley was $60. We pay like $17 for Alexander Valley at the liquor store, so I’d assume there was a pretty hefty markup with the Silver Oak as well.

I’m going to look for it next time I’m at the liquor store.

Add $40 for Napa

Yeah and $180 in a restaurant isn't bad. They wanted $288 for Alexander at Vic & Anthony's. Told them they were crazy