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Best wine for under $40

Dominion Tantara Pinot Noir Cuvee Bertrand Calistoga Napa Valley 2018​

Really enjoyed this from last marathon. And HOLIDAY10 gets you $10 off for the next 23 min. Can't beat an $8 solid Pinot.
 
I haven't had a chance to keep too close of an eye on this, but have some more free time today. I've got two purchases so far, both at $29:

Joaquin Vino 2019 Fiano Riserva - Fiano is the star white grape of Campania in Italy. In its best form it's most comparable to an unoaked chardonnay with some pear and lemon notes. It also has a touch of the phenolic bitterness that a lot of Italian whites have which can give an almond or walnut type note. When made well, it can age for years and you start getting some more honeysuckle, rounder notes. Generally a medium body white with a slightly waxy quality that pairs well with roast chicken and fish. Vigne Guadagno is one of my favorite, affordable producers. I actually enjoy their entry level (around $20) more than their single vineyard offerings ($35 range). These can come with age on them as well to start with - I've seen the 2017 as the recent release for $20 locally.

Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir Estate Riserve Ridgecrest Vineyard 2016 - I am a simple man. I see a Pinot with a touch of age on it that I haven't had before, especially if it has "green" or "black" tea as a descriptor and I'm all over it. We'll see how this one is drinking sooner rather than later I'd imagine. I'll report back.
 
Man I was just too slow on the 2018 Jaboulet Grande Terrasses Syrah. That's a bummer hopefully it pops back up. I've got a 2019 Crozes Hermitage from Jaboulet that I've had for the last couple years and would've opened these together to compare.
 
Wakeforest22890 said:
I haven't had a chance to keep too close of an eye on this, but have some more free time today. I've got two purchases so far, both at $29:

Joaquin Vino 2019 Fiano Riserva - Fiano is the star white grape of Campania in Italy. In its best form it's most comparable to an unoaked chardonnay with some pear and lemon notes. It also has a touch of the phenolic bitterness that a lot of Italian whites have which can give an almond or walnut type note. When made well, it can age for years and you start getting some more honeysuckle, rounder notes. Generally a medium body white with a slightly waxy quality that pairs well with roast chicken and fish. Vigne Guadagno is one of my favorite, affordable producers. I actually enjoy their entry level (around $20) more than their single vineyard offerings ($35 range). These can come with age on them as well to start with - I've seen the 2017 as the recent release for $20 locally.

Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir Estate Riserve Ridgecrest Vineyard 2016 - I am a simple man. I see a Pinot with a touch of age on it that I haven't had before, especially if it has "green" or "black" tea as a descriptor and I'm all over it. We'll see how this one is drinking sooner rather than later I'd imagine. I'll report back.
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I have the Ribbon Ridge from the last marathon. Haven't opened yet. Virtual tasting?
 
I got the Ribbon Ridge too. The 2016. Also got Murgialdai Getariako Txakolina 2021, Flaneur Wines La Belle Promenade Pinot Noir 2019, Molina Barbaresco Ausario 2019 and Gordenker Cabernet Sauvignon 2016. I'm pretty much done. If I see an interesting white <$50 I might pull the trigger but I'm good on reds.
 
I've realized while looking through this and thinking about what wines I have, that not only do I not have any Bordeaux whatsoever, I don't even remember the last time I've tried a glass or bottle of Bordeaux that wasn't tasting with reps at work. I don't really feel like I'm missing out on anything because I don't generally drink a lot of Cab/Merlot at all, but like it's probably something I SHOULD drink more of.
 
That's the longest I've seen Screaming Eagle last on one of these and it was only up for like 30 seconds
 
Ok I’ve spent our budget on those expensive bottles. Give me a $15 bottle please
 
Wakeforest22890 said:
Second five of Numbers Top 10 Wines of the Year:

Beckmen Vineyards 2020 Grenache: One of the better Grenaches I've had from California over the past few years. From the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara, this was much lighter than I was expecting and contrasted pretty well between a lot of the other "Rhone Ranger" wines (California wine makers who started growing GSM blends from South France in California) especially the Terre Rouge line from Bill Easton which I've tasted through several of this year. Shockingly light in color in the glass, neutral oak 130 gallon barrel, strawberry, red cherry, light earthy note to it - I would not have picked this out as Grenache in a blind taste. This is around $30 MSRP.

Heitz Cellar 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: A couple months ago I had the opportunity to taste through the most recent releases out of Heitz Cellar with one of our reps and the East Coast portfolio manager for the group Heitz Cellar is in. A little background, Heitz Cellar is one of THE classic Napa Valley wineries - involved in the Judgment of Paris - and are notable for making, unapologetically, their own wine regardless of the trends in the region. The portfolio manager shared with us that they took pride in reading Robert Parker's review every year where he gave the wines a good score but consistently lamented the lack of "oomph" in the mid-palate. Heitz takes pride in their restrained almost Old World production even in an era where "bigger, riper, bolder = better" for Napa Valley.

With that in mind, this specific bottle admittedly was not even the best bottle of the lineup (credit goes to the Heitz 2017 Martha's Vineyard) BUT sitting around $85-90 on the shelf this was the wine that stood out in my mind. For comparison, MSRP for the Martha's Vineyard (their flagship and most famous wine) is over +$300. Intensely floral on the nose, violets, black cherry, blueberry, a little boysenberry but with a little red fruit tucked in as well - cranberry maybe?- this was a medium body wine with high acidity, smooth tannins, and an extremely long finish. We took in a case after tasting and I sold through my store's allocation in two weeks. This is a perfect Christmas wine.

Lieselhof Julian 2018 Orange: From the obscure Bronner grape, grown predominantly in Northeast Italy (I had never heard of this grape before and I have not seen another wine from Bronner since), this is one of the best "orange" wines I've ever had. Apricot, orange, tangerine and an underlying baking spice, this had plenty of acidity and citrus notes on opening. As it warmed up in the glass more of the oak notes came out - aged for 18+ months in neutral oak, not that common for this style of wine. It was even better day two, better integration, not quite as tart. You could age this bottle if you can find it. I know Eataly has sold this as well in the past but it is limited production overall and even less exported. $35-40 MSRP.

Clos Cibonne Tibouron Tradition Rose 2015: 8 year old aged Tibouron and one of the classic houses of the region making age worthy roses (Domaine Tempier and their Mourvèdre probably the most famous). Orange/salmon in the glass. Full body, waxy, smelled like you’re sitting on a balcony at the beach salinity wise. Orange zest, light apricot, and an oxidative/nutty quality from spending a year under flor (normally used in sherry). Paid $55 and that's probably close to MSRP but well worth it. Has another few years age wise.

Famille Dutraive Beaujolais Villages Lantignie 2020: I am a sucker for Beaujolais with top production showcasing some of the best natural winemaking available. There can be a lot of bottle variation because of the hands off minimal intervention style a lot of top houses employ (limited SO2 added for bottling increases the likelihood of some faults occurring) but when these producers hit they REALLY hit. And that was the case with this bottle from Famille Dutraive. Not even Cru Beaujolais, but a step "below" sourcing from multiple vineyards across the region, this had watermelon, strawberry, and was absolutely translucent in the glass with fresh fruit, and a beautiful aromatic nose but not over the top with the carbonic maceration notes. VERY light. $35 or so MSRP, I've tossed this into the rotation with Yann Bertrand's wines from the region as some of my favorite.

What have y'all had this year that stood out? Always love hearing about new wines to add to my list as well!
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Question for you: during Covid I bought myself a 2010 Martha’s Vineyard (it was a rough time for all of us). How long can I lay that thing down? I’m storing it in a wine fridge.
 
By the way a recent revelation was a Fort Ross Mother of Pearl Chardonnay. I’m not typically a Chard guy but this was so crisp. Outstanding.
 
Drinking a Tikal Patriota 2018 tonight. Delicious! It's a Bonarda/Malbec (60/40) blend. Very cherry and blackberry forward with baking spices at the end. Not tart cherry, more like cherry candy. Tikal is the biodynamic/organic arm of Catena Zapata so not surprised that it's great. I brought it back from Argentina and paid like $12 for it. Looks like it's $23 on wine.com. Still a good deal IMO.
 
thatguy2016 said:
Question for you: during Covid I bought myself a 2010 Martha’s Vineyard (it was a rough time for all of us). How long can I lay that thing down? I’m storing it in a wine fridge.
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Another 5-10 years. That’s one of the best wines out of California period. You can open tonight too and it’s gonna be excellent. You’re gonna be in peak window now to like 2030
 
deac_tracy said:
Drinking a Tikal Patriota 2018 tonight. Delicious! It's a Bonarda/Malbec (60/40) blend. Very cherry and blackberry forward with baking spices at the end. Not tart cherry, more like cherry candy. Tikal is the biodynamic/organic arm of Catena Zapata so not surprised that it's great. I brought it back from Argentina and paid like $12 for it. Looks like it's $23 on wine.com. Still a good deal IMO.
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Zapata is just so so fucking good
 
Our other shop had an Eben Sadie South African tasting last night that I caught the very end of. They're apparently one of the best wineries in the country and I'd say definitely the most expensive that I'd seen. Three whites, two reds. The whites were a Chenin/Palamino blend, a 100% Chenin, and a blend of like 11 different aromatic grapes that are South France/Mediterranean natives. The reds were 100% Cinsault (never had just strictly a Cinsault wine before AFAIK) and a GSM blend with Cinsault and some random Portugeuse variety thrown in.

The 100% Chenin was definitely my favorite as far as "value" goes (still like $100) but I mean if you give me $100 to spend on Chenin Blanc, I'm sure as hell not buying a South African wine - I'm going straight to the Loire Valley and not passing go (Vouvray or Savennieres).
 
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