Of course, most of us really love variety, so we’re not drinking the same thing multiple times a week. Taking the question as “what do you drink most often?”, it’s interesting to see the responses so far, and I will definitely keep an eye on the thread. I have a few things that I keep going back to.
Wittmann 100 Hills Riesling 2014 – This is way too good for the price. It has a level of ripeness and concentration rarely found in Riesling Trockens below $20, while maintaining the high acidity and refreshment that I want in Riesling.
Weinbach Riesling Reserve Personnelle – For when I’m in the mood for something a little more powerful than the Wittmann. Really delicious stuff, and exactly the style I want from Alsace (more powerful than Germany but still very pretty).
Abbazia di Novacella Kerner – This is a $20 wine that tastes like a $50 wine. It’s so complex, floral, and suave, with a great undercurrent of minerality, and the typical Alto Adige combination of ripeness and tension. I love Kerner in general, and this one’s my favorite.
In the summer, Gobelsburg Rose. This has higher acidity than pretty much anything from Southern France, making it more refreshing, which is really why I drink so much Rose in the summer. It also has a lot more minerality than pretty much anything from Southern France, which really makes it fit with my preferences. Plus, it’s just an unbelievable value.
L’Argenteyre Medoc – Solid Bordeaux Rouge at a great price. Period.
another vote for Vajra Langhe Rosso – Year after year, this is one of the great values in Old World red wine. Extremely true to place, it shows a lot of the Nebbiolo character that I often want more of in Langhe Rosso.
Rioja Bordon Reserva – This is a really elegant style of Rioja, and one that I never get sick of drinking. It has an almost Pinot Noir-like sensibility to it, while still displaying classic Rioja aromas.
Felsina Riserva will soon have a deserving place on this list as a recent bottle reminded me that it’s outstanding, traditionally styled Chianti at a very reasonable price, and I haven’t been drinking enough of it.
For sparkling, my go-to (when I can’t get the estate-grown Montlouis Brut Nature from Chidaine, which I wish were more plentiful in my home state) is Roederer Estate. This is a dead ringer for a solid, entry-level NV Champagne at twice the price. Also Tissot Indigene, but I usually can’t get it.