What is your pick on the most undervalued wine (producer, vintage, grape, etc.) in the world?

Bob_Semon · February 18, 2020, 1:35am

Producer: Aldo Vajra and family
Vintage: 1993, almost anywhere in the famous European wine regions
Grape: Grasevina

Nathan_V · February 18, 2020, 1:38am

Bob!!!

Bob_Semon · February 18, 2020, 1:49am

Ok. You’re right, Nathan. I should have given a shout out to Verdicchio, Garganega, and maybe Timorasso, except for some of those prices.

Timorasso! Who even knows what that is?

Richard_Albert · February 18, 2020, 3:39am

2015 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino and you will not find a single bottle on the planet!
It ended up being declassified by the new owners after major sale conflicts with the winery seller, Diego Molinari, it was blended with some 2013, bottled and sold out as a Rosso last year for $30 per bottle in the US.
As Jancis wrote "“Mid ruby that is quite impressively concentrated for this vintage. Subtle nose of raspberry, a hint of tobacco, orange peel and cherry. Already a little progressed, but showing real energy. Really pretty and fresh focused raspberry. Glorious on the palate, with fine and firm tannins on the finish. So unlike any other Rosso di Montalcino from this vintage. Pure class.”
Amazing deal, especially when considering the reviews and pricing of recent vintages. Another couple of years in the cellar and it will be a great QPR drinker.

Leonard_Maran · February 18, 2020, 4:44am

Many of you are fortunate to be able to enjoy wines that are not on others’ radar. Overall, though, particularly when it comes to undervalued wines that I’d want to shout about, it’s Rioja 100%. There is a perversity involved here though, as, if it catches on it becomes more expensive. No matter, I’d rather be a champion of these fine wines.

Rioja can be just as delicate as a fine Pinot Noir, and as companionable; it is most versatile. The wine is already aged upon release. It’s still possible to buy older bottles easily.

Jeff_Vaughan · February 18, 2020, 12:39pm

In a very broad sense, Italian whites have to be the most undervalued wines. So many unheralded, but delicious wines.

tpetty · February 19, 2020, 3:27am

This is a great thread for me to refer to in the future, when I’m using one of those $100 off wine.com coupons - although most of these European wines I know nothing about, and don’t know how readily available they are on US wine sites.

Dan_Kravitz · February 21, 2020, 1:36am

Can’t believe I left out Rioja.

I like wine with bottle age and secondary character. Mid-level Crianzas can be found for $10 and abound for ~$11 - 20. For Riservas, add five bucks. Unreal values.

Dan Kravitz

Markus_S · February 21, 2020, 2:25am

Very broad is right, because most of the Italian whites I like are $100+/bottle (Valenttiini, Miani, Pepe,…), and value is Not a word I would use to describe them.

Lee_Short · February 21, 2020, 3:08am

Hard to argue with this. I dunno why they can’t get any respect, but there are really great ones at every price level that compete with the value proposition of Muscadet.

alan_weinberg · February 21, 2020, 3:21am

white—Muscadet, Pepiere.
red—Rioja.

G_Greenbaum · February 21, 2020, 3:49am

Pinerolese & Friuli

Pat_Martin · February 21, 2020, 4:28am

Which Rioja bodegas from more recent vintages are you all fans of? I pretty much quit buying Rioja post-2004, but I’d be interested to hear of houses making good, non modernist juice in 2020

Sean_Corbett · February 21, 2020, 8:45am

Morellino di Scansano
Cru Beaujolais
everything from Synchromesh in Canada

Jeff_Vaughan · February 21, 2020, 1:09pm

Markus, singling out some of the top producers and then saying value doesn’t apply to them, or that region, doesn’t make sense to me. I wouldn’t use value to describe those producers either. I think there are many white wines in Italy that easily compete with Pepiere Muscadet in the less than $25 category.

Carl_Steefel · February 22, 2020, 5:40pm

Chenin Blanc, particularly Huet Vouvray. All 3 vineyards produce brilliant wines in all manner of sweetness, which age spectacularly.

Was wondering why this is so undervalued. Maybe if more Loire critics come online (e.g., Vinous), this could change.

Just had the 2017 Huet Le Mont last night. Beautiful wine, rich, yet good acidity really brings out the complex herbal notes on the finish. I think Huet is back(?) at the top of their game now (2016 and 2017 both excellent)…

The price has gone up quite a bit on a percentage basis in the last 7-8 years. I think I was buying 2010 and 2011 Le Mont and Le Haut Lieu (both Sec) for mid to high $20s in the year after release. I think those run mid $30s to mid $40s at retail for current vintages.

That’s not to disagree about them being good value - I think they still are. But the word is getting out.

I’d also note they had some uneven vintage results in recent years, plus some premox issues (I’ve had some premoxed bottles from 2009-2011 vintages in the last few years), so that might play a small role.

Yes, I have had some premox Huet from 2010 in particular. And these wines also did not seem to have the same character as the older bottles, or for that matter, the recent ones. But anyway, this is why I said they seem to be back at the top of their game.

I just bought a case of the 2017 Huet Le Mont for $35 a bottle. Whatever the historical costs, it is not easy to find a world-class wine for $35 in this day and age…

Jayson_Cohen · February 23, 2020, 5:07am

The ‘16 Huets went under the radar a bit but are fabulous across the whole range.

MikeVenezia · February 23, 2020, 6:58am

2015 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino and you will not find a single bottle on the planet!
It ended up being declassified by the new owners after major sale conflicts with the winery seller, Diego Molinari, it was blended with some 2013, bottled and sold out as a Rosso last year for $30 per bottle in the US.
As Jancis wrote "“Mid ruby that is quite impressively concentrated for this vintage. Subtle nose of raspberry, a hint of tobacco, orange peel and cherry. Already a little progressed, but showing real energy. Really pretty and fresh focused raspberry. Glorious on the palate, with fine and firm tannins on the finish. So unlike any other Rosso di Montalcino from this vintage. Pure class.”
Amazing deal, especially when considering the reviews and pricing of recent vintages. Another couple of years in the cellar and it will be a great QPR drinker.

This is right up our alley, where can I find this?!

Jim_Stewart · March 2, 2020, 5:01pm

FWIW. Got a bottle of the Hidalgo and gave it a tryout over three consecutive nights. First by itself, then with Shrimp Scampi, and finally with a Spanish inspired cheese & appetizers plate. The wine was a complete no-go for my wife. For me it was interestingly different, but the flavor profile was not really in my taste pleasure zone. Glad I gave it a go.

Jay_Miller · March 2, 2020, 5:23pm

Let’s make it a bandwagon.