My favorite used to be St. Cosme Les Deux Albion. However, in the last few months I have had a few bottles of JL Chave Mon Coeur and I really like those.
What are your favorite CDRs in the neighborhood of 20?
Domaine Clape Vin des Amis.
2009-2012 have all been fantastic.
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Franck Balthazarâs CdR.
Drank a bottle of the 2011 last night. Very elegant, fresh, classic Northern Rhone styled Syrah with lots of pepper and smoke on a light frame.
Major thanks to Zachary Ross for pushing me to get this.
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I have been quite fond of the basic Janasse, Cuvée Tradition, for the 2009 and 2010 vintages. I look forward to the 2011 hitting my local market.
On a related note, I cannot recall a string of CdR vintages that have shined as brightly as the 2009-2012 vintages. So many good wines providing excellent daily drinking. Just WOW! ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
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Robert not sure where you are finding the Clape under $20, but I wouldnât mind knowing.
Texier both blanc and rouge are nice values to me. For a few bucks more but still under $20, I think the Texier Brezeme is very good.
Charvinâs âle Poutetâ is a big winner in the <$20 category.
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Is Coudelet de Beaucastel ever available for $20 or less?
Otherwise, I always dig Cosme. And Iâve never really been let down by Perrin Cotes du Rhone Villages (the actual Villages, not rĂ©serve). At one time Iâd also put Janesse near the top but imho theyâve veered way too much towards making modern-styled wines in recent vintages which are far too ripe.
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St. Cosme, and Janasse Argiles, although itâs price has risen.
Clos du Mont Olivet Montueil la Levade is a favorite of mine in the under $20 category.
The Domaine de Ferrand Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Antique Vieilles Vignes is good. Domaine Charvin Cotes du Rhone Le Poutet as well. And the Guigal CdR, which is widely available.
You could spend more and get the Perrin family Beaucastel Coudoulet CdR red and cellar it. The 2010 is stellar if you can still get it. Itâs approximately $25 so a little more expensive. And itâs a wine that really needs time, especially in a vintage like 2010.
And the Rayas family ChĂąteau des Tours CdR is good as well but more than $20. And can be a bit much in a ripe vintage IMO.
Iâm not a big fan of a syrah CdR like St Cosme CdR.
Montfaucon, K&L direct import, usually $13
Especially since itâs Syrah
THIS!!!
Aah, a topic that I have some experience with. The Mon Couer is one of my favorite inexpensive CdRs. You can occasionally find a good deal on the Yann Chave Crozes Hermitage that will pull it down to close to your price point. Itâs a lovely wine. La Ferme du Mont is absolutely delicious and one of my favorite wines of 2013. The Andezon CdR is closer to $10 than $20, but is eminently drinkable and widely available.
I find that you can get better QPR for GSM from Minervois, Languedoc, Corbieres, etc. My main weekday wine is Castelmaure Grand Cuvee (Grenache/Syrah with a little Carignan) from Corbieres. $16 a bottle from Magruderâs in DC.
ETA - Shopping the back of the bottle â Weygandt, Potomac Selections, Thomas Calder, Neal Rosenthal match my tastes and have some excellent inexpensive CdRs if youâre exploring.
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Grand Nicolet Rasteau Vielles Vignes is very good and can be found for around $18.
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I love the Barou St. Joseph, which is $20.
I donât think so. I got some 2010 for $22, which I considered a steal.
Dom. Piaugier, particularly his Sablet Villages or his Tenebi (counoise ? ). I havenât had his recent stuff though. The 2009 vintage got alcoholic and hot. I remember buying cases of his 2005 stuff though.
DOMAINE LES GRANDS BOIS -
I love everything these guys produce - their Cairanne bottlings are superb as are their Cotes du Rhone Villages âCuvee Gabrielleâ and âLes Trois Soeursâ. About as elegant as you can get in that under $15 price tag -
If youâre looking for elegance, yeah. Les Grands Bois are pretty great under or around 20.
But except for a Cuvee Maximilien here or there, I donât think Iâve bought any CdRâs since the Domaine De La Garrigue hey-days of four or five years ago. And I couldnât tell you if thatâs still being made, or if Solomon is still even in business for that matter. Anybody still drinking that?
Egads Iâm fickle.
The 2017 Stephane Ogier âLes Temps Est Venuâ [Cotes du Rhone] is a pretty good example of its type. Usual GSM blend, dark in color, with less spice/pepper than others in this AOC, but more red fruit and acidity. Raised in concrete, sealed with an agglomerated cork, and throwing no sediment at this age. It drank well over a few days, but I wouldnât push this for aging/development. Still more serious than the sawbuck prices suggests. Easy B+ on my scorecard.
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9 years later and a lot of these $20 wines are now $50.
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