I’m thinking of red wines $20 to under $40, and fairly easy to find at retail. Wines with character and a nice degree of complexity that are ready to drink (not that they couldn’t age well but why bother?), that over-deliver on value. A wine to be opened and enjoyed that doesn’t need to be fawned over…
What are your favorites (producers, region or varietals)?
Some recent favorites/old reliables of mine:
La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Reserva
G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d’Alba
Fontodi Chianti Classico
Alain Graillot Crozes Hermitage
Muga Reserva Unfiltered
Felsina Berardenga C.C.
(Of note - I buy a lot of my domestic wines when I go wine tasting and then cellar what I like. I don’t mean to leave them off… would definitely like to hear some domestic favorites as well.)
The Felsina CC is a good call. Bedrock OVZ as well. It’s easy to get from the winery, not sure about retail, but Idlewild Flora & Fauna Red (blend of Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo) is my go-to pizza/red sauce Italian food wine.
Lumpp Givry 1ers
Joblot Givry 1ers
Vajra Barolo Albe
Alain Verset Cornas
Faury St. Joseph
Lapierre Beaujolais (really a bunch of Beaujolais)
Various Savigny Les Beaune