Sub $25 cellar-worthy wines

WINE TALK
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I know that there are wines out there that benefit from, and improve with time sideways in the cellar that are under $25. I saw some specific threads for Varietals, but not a general, under $25 thread for wines that not only can age, but benefit from patience and a little time sideways. Here are a handful I really enjoy


Clos de la Roilette - Fleurie
N.V. Bartlett Blueberry Wild Blueberry Oak Dry
Vietti Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco
Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo
G.D. Vajra - Nebbiolo Langhe
Weingut Josef Leitz Riesling Eins Zwei Dry “3”
Domaine de la PÊpière Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie Vieilles Vignes Briords
Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico
Volpaia Chianti Classico
Casa Emma Chianti Classico
Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes - Cote de Brouilly Cuvee des Ambassades

***ANY BOTTLE OF Huet in (375ml) These are truly special wines.

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I do think there are a lot of threads on various pricepoints. The cellaring angle is a bit of a twist. I love many wines at this price but most are for shorter term consumption. Of those that are not, I’d agree with you on Produttori and Varja Nebbiolos, and find that most better NL can use at least 2-3+ years to calm down. I disagree on Briords. It can handle some time but overall I don’t know that it improves over where it is at release, and I don’t really like it once it shows age. You can, however, find the Pepiere Thebaud and sometimes Clisson under $25 and the Clisson in particular can take age better IMO. Similarly I’m not sure about Roilette improving, except perhaps the Tardive. All due respect to other opinions, merely speaking to my own preferences. Lastly, I’ve become more cautious with aging Huet due to cork failures and premox. I know that causes some people to get their backs up, but I’d rather drink them young than pour bottles down the drain.

I’ll add:
Monsanto CCR - for me this really needs a few years after release.
Vallana (as always when I mention Vallana I thank Sarah K for the recommendation here. These are just incredible values and really great full stop).
LdH Cubillo
LRA Ardanza
Cameron DH and RR
Evesham Wood la Grive Bleue (maybe sometimes under $25, or just about?) and frankly quite a lot of Oregon entry level pinot can use some cellar time
Beaucastel Coudoulet
Senejac
Lanessan
Louis Michel Chablis
LeFlaive Setilles
Baudry
Guion
Thivin Reverdon (since CdB is now usually > $25)

Probably a lot more than this, but these sprang to mind.

3

Bedrock Old Vine Zin
Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon The Cigar
Copain Syrah Les Voisins
Man O War Syrah Bellerophon
Turley Juvenile and Old Vine Zins
Calluna CVC (more like $30 but can be found for under $25)

A fair bit of good Syrah falls in this category I think.

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4

Thanks, Michael! I came here to mention Vallana, but you have taken care of it for me. And I appreciate the shout out. :slight_smile:

I’ve had Vallana Spanna of various sorts back to the '50s. The inclusion of salt and pepper grapes and some techniques in the both the vineyards and winery may have changed over the decades, but I feel confident today’s examples will age and improve for quite some time.

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I agree with Senejac and Lanessan, although that is over $25 equivalent in the UK. I would add Caronne st Gemme from Bordeaux, and Domain St Anne from the RhĂ´ne.

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Baudry Les granges
Guion bourguiel
Monte Bernardi chianti retromarcia

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Chave “Mon Coeur”…can hit 10 years.

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LRA Ardanza

Where are you seeing this for under $25? Back the truck up if it is.

9

My bad, I actually meant the Alberdi. Although with WDC coupons and RMN cash back, the 2010 Ardanza could be had for about $20, maybe under, about two years ago. Still have several, but wish I had more. W-S shows the 2015 for $30.

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Both are great values. Best price on the 2015 Ardanza is winebuyer.com free shipping for a case at $29.99. Alberdi is on sale for $20 locally and always a great wine and agree can age.

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I also disagree about Briords improving with age, though I do still like aged versions. Agree Clisson ages well. The Luneau-Papin Muscadet “Le L d’Or” ages very well, and can be found under $25 from time to time, reliably under $30.

Most of my “sub-$25” cellar candidates are now $30 wines. Those that are still under $25 include a bunch of things already mentioned, as well as

JP Brun’s Beaujolais crus, especially the Moulin-a-Vent
Diochon Moulin-a-Vent VV

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Surdyk’s in Minneapolis has this wine on sale for $23.99. Should drink well for many years.
2019 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (2/23/2022)
Adding a 3 minute tasting review on this one. Best white wine value in the last 3 years. Honey suckles, minerals, apricots, spice and floral notes. Wonderful wine. 93 points

13

Bedrock and Carlisle have zins and syrah at this price point that are age worthy and good. I would also buy lots of Vincent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

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Vincent now we are talking!!! [cheers.gif]

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Tour St. Bonnet (Medoc), at least up through the 2010 vintage. Often can/could be had for $10-$12 if buying on futures. There are probably others from the Medoc.

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Herdade do Esporão Reserva in both colors is sub-$25 in the US. Plenty of Bairradas I can think of that would fit the bill, but I’m not sure about availability.

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More than you’d think.

Oddly I’m drinking a glass of 2016 Miru Vespolina as I type, €10 a bottle in Italy and it’s still rather primary (I tend to see them as 8-10 year wines, but suspect this one might be more 10-15 years). So many others in Italy and I recall a stunning Primitivo in a Puglian masseria for a mere €7 maybe a decade ago (and with a decade’s age on it).

Tahbilk Marsanne from Nagambie Lakes, Victoria. Australia worth a mention, as it has a strong track record of ageing, no doubt helped by the age of the vines. I wonder if Houghton ‘White Burgundy’ (aka HWB and possibly rebranded as White Classic) is still going? What appeared to be a modest commercial wine had a wonderful history of ageing well, and though I have a degree of contempt for shows, the aged release has performed very well in such competitions.

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Any thoughts on Pepiere Gorges?

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I’ve never had that bottling so can’t speak to where it sits stylistically, but basically feel that Pepiere can do no wrong (though I buy less from the fatter vintages). If you are seeing it under $25 that’s a very good price. I’d certainly give it a try.

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I have used the WDC coupon + RMN cash back combinations several times over the last couple of years and have always been pretty efficient on my purchases. I got a couple Ardanzas as low as ~$22 (pre-tax and not counting shipping). Those were 2010 vintage, purchased at the end of 2019.

Lots of great recs in the lists above - some I have experience with, but many I don’t. Not sure I have much to add, but I’ll think about it.