I don’t think I qualify to answer my own question as I haven’t had lots, but I will say that I’ve been surprised at some wines from the Finger Lakes, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Annapolis Valley (Nova Scotia). From outside the US/Canada, Armenian wines, Canary Island wines and the Valle d’Aosta.
Mosel Valley.
All those random unsung regions are unsung for good reason - they’re not actually that good.
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Greece.
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Just spent two weeks there!! Fell in love with Assyrtiko and it ages beautifully too.
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Spain. Almost the entire country of Spain.
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Hot take: Australia
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Hokkaido, Otago, Canary Islands, Rheingau to name a few. To me, more than anything it’s producer dependent question. New(old) varieties, different elevage etc. etc.
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I will continue to say Santa Barbara County - one of the most diverse counties in the US. Period!
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I was tempted to say Oregon. I don’t see anyone talking about how the new generation is aging into wines of autumnal complexity and new world fruit. It’s bang on when you catch that zone (similar to Nebbiolo).
But…. Mosel… Hokkaido…. Spain… Etna… Slovenia… and the list goes on…
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Spain, other than Rioja
FIFY
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THE LANGUEDOC: Yesterday, today and tomorrow
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South Africa
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Bordeaux! Everybody (including me) sh1ts on Bordeaux due to Chateaux greed/ EP mispricing but this region sure does make some great wines which offer value in secondary market. So on a price to quality ratio I think Bordeaux screens underrated.
Further afield I think NZ makes some phenomenal under radar wines like Pyramid Valley chards (Lion’s tooth, Field of Fire)
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I’ve never had a good experience with any SA wines but am open to explore further. Can you please suggest a couple worth seeking out so I can correct my perception. Thx Brian
Chenin Blanc - Alheit (also Cartology, a blend) , Mullineux, Radfrod Dale, Forrester, Sadie to name but a few that should be available in UK.
Hamilton Russell is value in Chardonnay.
Savage Sauvignon Blanc and ‘White’ (SB Semillon blend)
I’m sure there more but these will start you off. All good and goid value in today’s market.
I’m not up on the reds.
……
What wines have you not liked and why?
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@RichardFlack hit it on the head, for me.
I am a huge fan of the Mullineux - “Kloof St.” Chenin Blanc old vines for about $20 - $25.
I second Alheit and Sadie Family. De Wetshof on the cheap end is good. I’ve enjoyed some Boukenhootskloof (sp?) reds. … coincidentally, I have an open bottle of a Duncan Savage Chenin Blanc in the fridge right now, too (I liked their white blend more than this Chenin, but that’s not to say the Chenin isn’t worth buying).
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Also, at the bottom end of the scale, Tete de Lion Chenin Blanc at $12 Canadian incl all imposts (so well under $10 US I’d imagine) is quite drinkable for a budget sipper.
Meerlust Rubicon, Taaibosch Crescendo, Raats Family Cabernet Franc. These should all be avoided, so that I can have them.
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I’ve been pretty blown away with everything I’ve had from Terre Rouge/Easton Wines so I should probably explore Sierra Foothills more. Pretty much every year some of the best Chardonnay I drink is from Cloudsley in the Twenty Mile Bench in Niagara, Ontario. Pearl Morissette and Bachelder make me think it is an underrated region.
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Are pearl morissette wines legit? I’m a big fan of their cooking and philosophy and hope to make it out there for dinner one day but kinda wrote off the wine program, for no other reason than region abd there are so many other wines out there to enjoy