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

[Neal.Mollen]

@Pat_Martin

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

What if you’re anti-flavor but far, far from elite? Asking for all my friends.

[Jim_F]

Has anyone mentioned Phelan segur (St Estephe, <$50)? Siran (Margaux, near $25)?

[Neal.Mollen]

@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

Is the Beau-Sejour Becot rebirth a lasting thing? I have seen positive notes on a vintage or two.

[Robert_Dentice]

That is a great pick and can’t believe you can buy that wine for $40.

[Robert.A.Jr]

@Neal.Mollen

@Pat_Martin

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

What if you’re anti-flavor but far, far from elite? Asking for all my friends.

Clearly you are not speaking about me!

[Robert.A.Jr]

@Jay_Miller

But yeah, a cellar full of Baudry, o raffault and luneau papin would give pleasure for many years to come

Baudry is either my top 3 or 4 in terms of number of bottles. I buy most of the cuvées in most vintages. Great to be able to reach in to the “cellar” to pull out a world class wine that you paid $20-$25 for and has been maturing for 10 or so years. That’s really one of the key points of this thread, starting to build exactly that.

[Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w]

@Marco_Fimiani

Chateau Mangot

Elote

[Robert.A.Jr]

@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.

Ok Marco, you are on the hot seat, baby, just ordered a six pack. Two each of the 2019 and 2020 at $26.99 and then the 2019 Distique 12 cuvee that has a lot of Cab Franc, for $39.99.

@William_Kelley dont steer us wrong!

[Karl_K]

Is 2019 a particularly favored vintage for that wine?

[Kevin_Porter]

Came here to champion Pepiere, Pinon, and Birichino, but they’re covered. I don’t think Vincent has been mentioned - very pure Pinot and Chardonnay at very reasonable prices.

[David_Bu3ker]

The Vincent Ribbon Ridge Pinot is becoming a cornerstone of my already overstuffed cellar. I would call in my favorite Oregon wine.

[Pat_Martin]

Under the original conceit, such a combo was impossible, as only the elite are capable of distaining pleasure-giving flavor. But after the great realignment of the past 25 years, we can allow it.

[Charles_Perry]

@Arv_R

Separately, I will have a think about right bank wines

My vote for Right Bank is La Pointe, which currently squeaks in just under the $50 mark. I’d love to hear a less expensive option, though.

[Robert.A.Jr]

@Charles_Perry

@Arv_R

Separately, I will have a think about right bank wines

My vote for Right Bank is La Pointe, which currently squeaks in just under the $50 mark. I’d love to hear a less expensive option, though.

My value plays in Pomerol are Gazin and Bourgneuf, but they are now closer to $100 than $50. My take on Pomerol is this, they are so fng good you just take it. Trotanoy, VCC, L’Eglise Clinet, just so damn good. Trotanoy is so hedonistic but still appeals to AFWE. I don’t know how they do it. The 1998 is netherwordly.

[Ian_Sutton]

and the wines here should absolutely NOT be viewed as some kind of ‘build a perfect cellar on a budget’ list. They’re what we’ve discovered ourselves, wines that suit our tastes, and limited by those we’ve had exposure to. We all keep discovering new stars - thankfully as some of our old faves rise in popularity and price and we have to let them go.

[Charles_Perry]

@Charles_Perry

I second this. I don’t want to pay the price tag attached to Burgundy these days, so I reach for Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for a similar style at a fraction of the price.

To be a little more specific, I’m going to suggest Pinot Noir from Goodfellow Family Cellars. Their single vintage designates are available for $40 at release, and they definitely skew towards the old world. As a bonus it’s pretty easy to backfill older vintages since @Marcus_Goodfellow generally offers them to WineBerserkers on BerserkerDay.

[Marcus_Goodfellow]

Great list!

Also, a lot of great producers make phenomenal, and sometimes expensive top cuvees, they also make excellent entry level wines that are still killer values and also perfectly likely to age into really beautiful wines.

[mstockley]

Premier Cru

[David_Bu3ker]

So fictional then

[J_Rock]

For old world in this price range, I’m stocking up on:

Donnhoff
Falkenstein
Fritz Haag
Markus Molitor
Max Ferd. Richter
Peter Lauer
Schloss Lieser
Willi Schaefer
Zilliken
etc.

Get Clape Vin des Amis for a red and Pierre Moncuit for non-Riesling sparkling.