Its easy to think of high end wines that change your ideas, ones ive had include Krug, Shafer HSS, Saxum, etc
But game changers at a sensible price that reveal something new and great, at least to your tastes. Wines I would include
2008 Chateau Ste Michelle Cab, a $10 wine that showed me that this price point has great reds
Any Bedrock, revelation that well made zin at $20-$40 can challenge anything
2009 Carneros Method Champanoise, the first ever non champagne that had the yeasty creamy smoothness that I thought was only available in the real stuff
Four Vines Naked Chard, a mast produced chard that gives me great pleasure even at $9.99 a bottle
Jean Foillard Cote du Py
Marcel Lapierre Morgon
Andre Beaufort NV Ambronnay Rose
Weiser Kunstler Enkircher Ellengrub Spatlese
Dominique Belluar Le Feu
Philippe Bornard Trousseau Le Ginglet
N/V Roederer Brut Mendocino - In the sparkler category, I could almost drink this exclusively at $17. I have a couple $30-$40 French I like a lot too and a couple high end French like Comte & Cristal. That said, I could easily drink Roederer Mendocino Brut exclusively and never look back.
This. The sheer number of great German Rieslings under $50 is beyond imaginable. Also Austrian Rieslings and Gruner Veltliner. Producers such as Hirsch, Hiedler, Schloss Gobelsburg, etc.
Domestic game changer for the category? Rivers Marie Paneck. Canât wait to try the new vineyards. Here we have proof that cult quality Napa cab can be done for less tha a 100 bucksâŠ
Gotta throw another vote out for German Rieslings and the 2012âs in particular. Huet, Chidaine, Foreau, Baudry and Gonon. On this side of the pond: Ridge, Bedrock, Carlisle, Arcadian and ESJ quickly come to mind.
2010 Domaine Pierre Guillemot Savigny-lĂšs-Beaune 1er Cru Les SerpentiĂšres. At least it was a game changer for me, being the first stellar red Burgundy I thought was priced correctly.
+many on the world of the sub $50 german riesling. John Thomas (I think I recall right @ 50) and on a timely note, Kevin Whiteâs 2011 La Fraternite. Had it last night - red fruits, a blanket of spices and a nice touch of acidity to keep it lively. Game changer is a tough bar, but certainly the quality of the KW was well in excess of its mid-20âs price point. Grenache/Mouvedre/touch of Syrah.