Building a High-Quality, Diverse, Old-World Inspired Cellar for $25-$50 per bottle

[Ed_Steinway]

Great thread, @Robert.A.Jr! I would add Tronquoy to the impressive Bordeaux list. The 2019 was under $40.

[Robert.A.Jr]

@Ed_Steinway

Great thread, @Robert.A.Jr! I would add Tronquoy to the impressive Bordeaux list. The 2019 was under $40.

Thanks. And that’s a big miss for me considering how much I have raved about 2016 and 2019 Tronquoy Lalande! Good call!

[Barry_L_i_p_t_o_n]

Great thread for me, but I bet the folks we are trying to attract will find it intimidating. Nonetheless, thanks to all the posters!

[Robert.A.Jr]

@John_Telford

Piling on a bit…but “Building a High Quality…”, I just purchased 12 x Cantemerle 2016 for $36 a bottle. This is a ridiculous value and like many others mentioned can serve as a corner stone for building a cellar. Where else can you find values like this outside of bordeaux?!

And it’s a Classified Growth!

According to Leve, it is one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux. Dating back to the 12th Century.

Bordeaux is supreme to me on the QPR element these days! I concur.

Just checked on the wonderful 2010, it’s available for $52!

2010 Chateau Cantemerle Haut Medoc - The Wine Cellarage

This is a must buy for fans of this Chateaux.

[R_Frankel]

Greg thread and discussion. To add just a few more of the many many German Rieslings in this price range. I lean heavily into the Kabinetts, but the sweeter wines are also excellent.

• von Schubert Maximin Grünhauser
• Selbach-Oster
• Loersch
• Steinmetz

[Arv_R]

@Robert.A.Jr

This is a must buy for fans of this Chateaux.

Cantemerle fans might enjoy Jane Anson’s (translated) book about the property too.

Separately, I will have a think about right bank wines and Graves that can be laid down, with the attributes that their quality is not impounded into the prices (yet). Lots of suggestions for fine Medocs so far, but merlot is a little underrepresented.

[OwenJ]

Just bought x2 2018, x2 2019, x2 2020 for a total of…. $111 after tax!

Looking forward to drinking in 2035-2050, lol.

[OwenJ]

Great list!

[Robert.A.Jr]

@Arv_R

@Robert.A.Jr

This is a must buy for fans of this Chateaux.

Cantemerle fans might enjoy Jane Anson’s (translated) book about the property too.

Separately, I will have a think about right bank wines and Graves that can be laid down, with the attributes that their quality is not impounded into the prices (yet). Lots of suggestions for fine Medocs so far, but merlot is a little underrepresented.

I’m a little shellshocked still from what Rolland, Bouard, Derenoncourt, et al, have done to this once-heralded appellation. For my right bank itch, I generally just stick to Pomerol, but unfortunately, none that I buy clock in at $50 or less.

I have recently enjoyed these St Ems:

Grand Corbin-Despagne

Moulin St Georges

Laroque

Jean Faure

All of these are delicious in 2019 and all are scored pretty favorably by William Kelley at The Wine Advocate, Which really has become a great source for what we are seeing in contemporary Bordeaux. I’ve also recently had some very lovely 2000s from Moulin St Georges and Grand Corbin, So there is some track record with these two. I am new to Jean Faure, but really dig the 60% Cabernet Franc cut to the cepage. It’s a very fun wine with a lively herbaceous streak.

Another worth watching is Chateau La Dominique. Looks like it is back in form. William Kelley scored the 2019 a 94 and it’s available for $50.

[S_Rash]

Great thread! I wish I had this as a resource when I was in my 20’s. I have a few more additions that I didn’t see as I was reading through the posts:

Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage

Chateau d’Epire Savennieres

[Marco_Fimiani]

Chateau Mangot is a really great value that can be added to this list from the Saint Em appellation.

[Robert.A.Jr]

@Marco_Fimiani

Chateau Mangot is a really great value that can be added to this list from the Saint Em appellation.

I think I have heard of this one, but have not tried it, can you tell us more about this Château?

[Marco_Fimiani]

Owned by the Todeschini family since the 1970s, it is based on a single block on clay limestone soils. Predominantly planted to Merlot but more Cabernet Franc is being planted.

A favourite of William Kelley who repeatedly considers it to be one of the best values in Bordeaux.

The 2020 was a steal up here in Ontario, Canada ($35 CAD) with the 2022 and 2023s increasing materially in price though still solid value for the wine ($55 CAD and $49 CAD respectively).

I believe in the 2020 Bordeaux thread, William Kelley made mention of this being among the many wines he would be buying from that vintage and so I thought I would give it a try. Haven’t looked back since other than to regret not buying more every time I open a bottle.

[Pat_Martin]

But only if you are anti flavor and elite, of course.

[Jay_Miller]

@Pat_Martin

But only if you are anti flavor and elite, of course.

But of course

[ItaiShapiro]

Some examples:

Sandlands Mataro

Bourgogne Blanc:
Roulot Bourgogne Aligote
Pierre Guillemot Dessus des Gollards
Gilbert Picq Chablis 1er cru Vosgros
Tribut Chablis

Bourgogne Rouge:
Pierre Guillemot Savigny Les Beaune 1er cru Serpentieres/Gravains/Jarrons
Pierre Guillemot Savigny Les Beaune Grand Picotins
Jean-Marc Millot Cote de Nuits-Villages Aux Faulques
Berthaut Gerbet Fixin/CdN Village
Fourrier Bourgogne Rouge
Angerville Bourgogne

Riesling:
Julian Haart Rote Erben
Herman Ludes Riesling (all of them)
Willi Schaefer Riesling Kabinett/Spatlese
Donnhoff Kabinett/Spatlese
Egon Muller QBA Scharzhof

Loire Blanc:
Huet Vouvray Sec/Demi-Sec/Moelleux
Thibaud Boudignon Anjou
Guiberteau Saumur

Loire Rouge:
Domaine des Closieres Saumur Champigny Coudraies
Thierry Germain Saumur Champigny Memoires

Jura:
Domaine du Pelican Arbois (Blanc and Rouge)
Tissot Chardonnay Patchwork

Italy:

Foradori Granato

Roagna Langhe Rosso
Trediberri Barolo Berri
Giuseppe Rinaldi Langhe Barbera/Dolcetto
Burlotto Pelaverga
Cascina Penna Currado Barbera d’Alba
Bartolo Mascarello Freisa/Barbera
La Ca Nova Barbaresco Montestefano/Bric Mentina

Chiara Condello Le Lucciole

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana

Mastroberardino Radici Taurasi

BDX:
Chateau Lagrange
Chateau Gloria
Chateau Saint Pierre

Spain:
Raul Perez (all crus)
Pingus PSI
Tondonia Vina Tondonia

[Keith_Levenberg]

@Robert.A.Jr

D’Issan and Brane are under $50 at www.intertwines.com . I thought I had them both on the list, and I concur, they are outstanding. And I also agree, Durfort Vivens has become a major superstar, but I think it’s around 75 to 80 bucks. I agree it is well worth the upgrade in price if you can swing it. 2016 and 2019 are outstanding. Along the same lines, we could make that case for DDC as well.

Good calls!

I see no Brane, but folks should definitely snap up that $45 d’Issan

[Ryan_S]

Outside of Beaujolais, my favorite QPR producer is easily Tiberio. I really don’t understand how she charges less than $30 for most of her portfolio - I’d pay double (or more) and probably not flinch much. In addition to the trebbiano and pecorino mentioned earlier, I’m a big fan of the cerasuolo for a darker rose.

[Keith_Levenberg]

@Arv_R

Separately, I will have a think about right bank wines and Graves that can be laid down, with the attributes that their quality is not impounded into the prices (yet). Lots of suggestions for fine Medocs so far, but merlot is a little underrepresented.

Beau-sejour Becot
La Prieure
Bellefont Belcier
DDC
La Louviere

[Jim_F]

Malartic Lagraviere is nice and <$50