Washington State. Good wines under $50 pretty much sums it up.
The top wines and cult wines will be over $50 but producers like L’Ecole, Sleight of Hand, Rasa, Rotie, Spring Valley, Gramercy, K Vintners are all excellent values.
Lots of great recommendations in this thread. I’d especially back up those of Donnhoff, Desire Lines, Pax, Walter Hansel, Rafanelli, Carbonnieux, Coutet, La Rioja Alta, Ridge, Bedrock, Carlisle, Turley, Graillot, Huet, Pepiere, Lopez de Heredia, and Musar.
A few additions of my own:
Man O’ War - superb Syrah from New Zealand. Their Dreadnought (near $50) and Bellerophon (closer to $30) are both outstanding.
Chateau Prieuré-Lichine from Bordeaux
J.A. Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé
Fritz Haag and Van Volxem for Riesling
Roederer Estate L’Ermitage, Iron Horse, and Schramsberg for domestic sparkling
Royal Tokaji Co. and Disznoko for Tokaji if you like the sweet stuff
great post. I haven’t tried Man O War but will seek some out. Otherwise a double stamp from me, esp re: Ferret, Roederer L’ermitage and Royal Tokaji
Nobody mentioned Edmunds St. John yet?
- Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo
- Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco
- Lapierre “Cuvee Marcel Lapierre” Morgon
- Jean Foillard “Cote du Py” Morgon
- Coudert “Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvee Tardive”
- Cristom “Mt Jefferson” Pinot Noir
- Tempier Rose
- Thibert Vieilles Vigne Pouilly-Fuisse
- Thibert Vignes Blanches Pouilly-Fuisse
- K Vintners “Motor City Kitty” Syrah
- Marchand-Tawse Cote de Nuits
- Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Vire-Clesse
- Lafon Bourgogne Blanc
- Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino
I usually aim for around 20, but here are some I like:
-Raventos i Blanc de Nit Rose (Spanish bubbles)
-Raventos i Bland de la Finca (Spanish bubbles)
-Sandeman 10 yr Tawny (port)
-Sandeman 20 yr Tawny (port)
-Aubry Premier Cru Brut (solid Champagne imo for ~$30)
-Bussola Amarone Classico
-Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva
-Travaglini Gattinara
-Nervi Gattinara (I keep finding bottles of the 2015 at Total Wine for ~$23, but everywhere else is $40+ and I wouldn’t pay that)
-Ca del Baio Autinbej (Barbaresco for ~$20)
-Marques de Murrieta Reserve Finca Ygay
Almost anything from Antonio Vallana - Gattinara, Campi Raudii, and Boca are my favorites, all great expressions of nebbiolo from Alto Piemonte and none of them are more than ~$30. Heck, the Campi Raudii is generally under $20 and it outclasses the Gattinara in my mind. Added bonus that they do library releases so you can sometimes get back vintages with perfect provenance.
Vallana is now the largest red producer in my cellar by a not insignificant margin over Daniel Rion, Cavallotto and Giacosa.
+1
Vallana is #3 in our cellar after LRA and RLdH
I opened a 2010 Azienda Agricola Platinetti Guido Ghemme Vigna Ronco a few days ago. After a decant and three days open, it is finally starting to come around. Great wonderful nose and structure. This thing is built for the long haul.
I’ve made this into a spreadsheet that I’ll try and keep updated. I’m looking for best value wines at all price points (especially getting down under $20-25) so if you have any other thoughts, please let me know:
EDIT: Updated 7/26, made it visible to anyone with link so you don’t have to request access. Will try and update every few days. Not every bottle/producer has been fully updated.
EDIT: Updated 7/27, 7:30 AM MST, everything is updated now
EDIT: See Post 53
Italy: whites from Cantina Terlan, Marisa Cuomo, La Monacesca, & Ermacora; Reds from Passopisciaro (Nerello Mascalese), La Ca’Nova Barbaresco and Gulfi (Nero d’Avola)
France: Ch. Belluard Savoie still whites and sparkling wines; 1er Chablis like Brocard Montees de Tonnerre and many others; Boulay Sancerre Monts Damnes, Huet Vouvray Sec, Charles Audoin Marsannay, and Ployez Jacquemart Champagne (Extra Quality Brut, Rose, and others).
Spain: Bierzo from Raul Perez and offshoots like La Vizcaina, Raventos i Blanc (Cava), Lopez di Heredia & La Rioja Alta
USA: Patricia Green Pinot (OR), Rivers-Marie appellation wines, all the Massican Whites, and most everything made by Bedrock, Carlisle, Tablas Creek, and DeLille.
Elsewhere: Susana Balbo Signature series, Leeuwin Art Series Cab, Prum and most Qualitatswein Reislings
Australia:
- Tahbilk Marsanne
- Giant Steps Chardonnay & Pinot Noir (Estate & Sexton Vineyard)
- Farr Rising Gamay & Rosé de Saignée (not exported to the US unfortunately)
- By Farr Viognier
- Grosset Rieslings (Springvale & Polish Hill)
- Shaw & Smith Sauvignon Blanc, M3 Chardonnay, & Shiraz
- Hahndorf Hill GRU Grüner Veltliner
- Airlie Bank Cabernet Franc
France:
- Bouvet Saphir Brut de Loire Vintage
- Moutard Rosé Champagne
- Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Blanc, Riesling, & Gewurztraminer
Italy:
- Pieropan Soaves
- Cantina Terlano Pinot Bianco Vorberg Riserva
- Vietti Perbacco Langhe Nebbiolo
- Guido Porro Langhe Nebbiolo
- Bera Langhe Nebbiolo & Barbaresco
- Duemani Cifra Cabernet Franc
- Querciabella Chianti Classico (& Riserva)
South Africa:
- Secateurs Chenin Blanc
I love this space. As a daily drinker, one needs to have a nice range of affordable wines.
Here is my spontaneous list, which includes wines I drink often and annually (some under $40 and even sub-$30):
Thivin
Roilette
Charvin CDR
Ridge Geyserville
Bedrock Zins - all of them
Sociando Mallet
Cantemerle
Lanessan
Frog’s Leap Rutherford
Baudry cuvees
Joguet cuvees
Raffault
Vissoux
Coudoulet de Beaucastel
Pegau - 2017 was $50!
Meyney
Chasse Spleen
Bouland cuvees
Foillard cuvees
LdH
Clape Vin De Amis
Xavier Gerard St. Joseph Le Blanchard
Raats Cab Franc
Produttori del Barbaresco
Prum Kabinetts
Donnhoff Kabinetts
Felsina Chianti
Now as a wrap, when the stars align, in years like 2014 and apparently what I am reading about in 2019, you can snag top-tier Bordeaux, including some Classified Growths, for $50 and under. That’s a big play.
Frogs Leap Cab and Stags Leap Artemis. I’ve seen both in the 40s and 60s so just have to shop around.
I missed one of the top wines in this space:
Plouzeau Clos de Maulevrier Ante Phylloxera Franc de Pied, Touraine, Loire, France
I buy a 6-pack of this distinct, super old vine Cab Franc, and have since 2009. My 2016 was at $50, actually, it’s been at $50 for a few years.
Breton and Thierry Germain make some really strong CFs in this sub-$50 space.
Here’s my list. All of these can be found for under $50, some even less than $30:
Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel
Bedrock Ode To Lulu Rose
Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay Whistling Ridge Vineyard
Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay Durant Vineyard
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard (single block and Heritage are around/above the $50 price point)
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir Fir Crest Vineyard
JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett
Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett
Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinett
Von Schubert Maximin Grunhaus Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett
Edmunds St. John Rocks & Gravel
Edmunds St. John Bone Jolly Rose
Edmunds St. John El Jaleo
Edmunds St. John Barsotti Ranch Syrah
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco
Carema riserva or normale by Produttori Carema
Various Gattinara by il Chiosso and Franchino
Sizzano by Paride Chiovini
Dogliani papá Celso by Abbona
Roero riserva by Alberto Oggero
Barolo Gabutti by Franco Boasso
Cannonau di Sardegna mamuthone by giuseppe sedilesu
Cannonau di Sardegna riserva by luca gungui
Some under 20 € retail price in Italy, all under 40.
++1
im a big fan of Terre Here Etna Rosso that’s well within this price range. always a value!
I’m still stunned every spring when I can get two half bottles of Sauternes on futures for less than $50. Routinely. check ‘em out.
Second pinch-me-I-think-this-a-dream experience is buying as many Bedrock as you can drink and store. I think some of the field blend zins are world-class going in the $40s. Get on the list if you need to. Cheers.