Robert, I wish I thought the same on beaujolaus, but my 2009s don’t seem to give me the same pleasure as when young.
And if the thread was $50 and under, I’d be talking about Pieropan’s Calvarino and La Roca. I’ve had people guess white burg on the La Roca.
One great thing about the Classico is that it seems to be on many BTG lists I’ve encountered.
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Same here. I tried an experiment a while back and found that the sweet spot for me, other than within a few years of release, was at 10 years. More age and the wines I saved lost too much freshness.
My recent note on the 2009, YMMV of course:
These were delicious on release, then for me, they went into a funk, and then they blossomed again around last year. Sadly, I went through my last bottle a month or two ago.
I think I have a note on a 2010 out of Magnum that I recently had, which was also pretty outstanding. I popped that about 2 to 3 months ago. The 2010 Griffe du Marquis could still use more time.
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Here are few notes of sub-$20 Bordeaux I’ve had lately.
2016 Château Malartic-Lagravière La Réserve de Malartic
Bright ruby red, slight age on the rim. Nose has red fruits, plums, savory herbs. Palate is medium bodied, touch of acidity and not overly complex. Cassis, vanilla, definitely has seen some oak. Finishes medium with resolving tannins. Nothing to blow your socks off, but nice bdx.
2016 Château Haut-Bergey
Dark purpleish red with just a touch of age on the rim. Light intensity nose with red fruits, touch of oak, cedarwood, tobacco. Palate is medium bodied, easily accessible and friendly with more red fruits, chocolate, just your classic Bordeaux profile. Not very complex, but nice grippy tannins on the finish. Drinks well now, keeps for a while too. Nice “everyday” Bdx.
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Does anyone have any notes on the Coudert (Roilette) Brouilly? I see Thatcher’s has it for $16.
Perfect call. Outside of one or two ultra natural producers, I don’t think I’ve had a Txakolina that wasn’t a great value for the $
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2020 Viñedos Bernabeleva Vinos de Madrid Camino de Navaherreros
Widely available for $15 ish. Lighter style Spanish Grenache. Crunchy red fruits, white pepper, mineral.
2018 Château d’Oupia Pays d’Hérault Les Hérétiques
Another widely available for about $11. Mostly Carignane.
Mint, plum and licorice.
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I will second Bedrock OVZ. One of the best QPRs out there and the 2023 is a stunner.
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Hirsch has always been solid…and inexpensive,
Did you have it at Gaucho or Balvanera? I’ll guess the latter.
This is the type of wine that infuriates me with the PLCB. It used to be widely available, now they only seem to get it on closeout.
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Putting my money where my mouth is, and you did ask for notes not recos!
2022 Raats Unoaked Chenin Blanc.
$15.99
We are at the beach, my son just caught two very nice whitings. Immediately cleaned and filleted them, added some seasoning, then pan fried them in salted butter with a little oil and sea salt. Served with coconut rice.
Smoky nutty nose with fresh tropical fruits. Pineapples, kiwi and apricots. Electric palate, lithe and lively, with sweet and tangy tropical fruits and crisp acid. Pairs so well with that pan-fried fish.
(90 pts.)
Yes balvenara.
I had this the first year of Covid; one of our wine education places did a virtual tasting with it, it was nice!
Totally honest and unpretentiously good stuff. And quite consistent vintage to vintage.
Fresh caught & cooked Whiting is a very tasty fish! Good wine too.
I’m feeling young and budget conscious again! My meal cost like $3.00! No uber delivery.
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Currently sipping this bordeau - may have been a tad over $20, so sorry for that. But made to drink now I think, no aging needed
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I’m a big fan of the Dom Rousset wines - they do a Crozes Hermitage, St Joseph, Crozes Blanc (100% Marsanne I believe), and a couple of single vineyard cuvees. I think the most expensive ones are maybe $28 and most are closer to $20. Panzer brings them in, and Chambers also usually has them in stock. We popped the '19 St Joe on Xmas and it was the first red drained, by a long shot.
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