The Dec. 2006 issue of Consumer Reports give results for their latest
wine tests. Wines considered were in the under US $30 range. Wines had
to have good national distribution to be considered. Multipile bottles
of each wine were bought at different locations around the country.
Also 2 professional tasters were used in addition to the CR staff.
Tasting was strictly blind. They grouped ratings as excellent, very
good, and good. The top and best buy for Cabernet Sauvignon was a 2002
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Columbia Valley 2002 at $11 and rated very
good. However several other wines had nearly the same rating but were
considerably more expensive - up to $28. The top rated Chardonnay was
Edna Valley Paragon San Luis Obispo County 2004 at $14 and rated
excellent. There were other Chardonnays rated nearly as well.

They also tested 4 preservation devices ranging from $10 to $100, and
ran several test by storing the treated wines and wines just recorked
in the refrigerator. They found the recorked did just as well for a
week or so as the treated wines. One should keep in mind that they were
testing quite young wines. The story might have been quite different if
they had tested a very old and delicate wine.