14 Bottles of Wine to Buy Right Now
If you only remember two words from this story, make them these two: Tom Gore.
Gore is a second-generation California grape farmer, raised in Sonoma County. He’s passionate about wine and about farming. And he points out that while most wine producers highlight the expert winemakers who select and blend their grapes, few pay homage to the men and women who actually grow those grapes. He’s hoping to change that.
“You can’t have good wine without good grapes,” he says. “And good grapes start with the farmer.” That’s why he put own his name on the bottle.
Gore makes a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon that’s balanced and smooth, and that goes great with red meat. His Chardonnay is mellow and refreshing, while his Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and bright.
All three are widely available, and in most places they’ll cost you less than $15 a bottle—under $10 if you’re lucky. They’re knockout values, and no-brainers if you feel lost whenever you walk into a wine shop.
Looking for more great buys? Here are some of the best bottles to grab right now.
France’s Hidden Gems
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France makes some of the most fantastic—and fantastically expensive—wine in the world. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to drink some amazing French vino. Where should you start?
For reds, consider the Côtes du Rhône and Beaujolais appellations. (That’s the term for the country’s highly regulated winemaking areas.) Reds from both places often WAY outperform their price tags.
Good, easy to find Côtes-du-Rhône buys include almost any offerings from first-rate wine merchant E. Guigal—starting with their excellent Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge ($16). In Beaujolais, Nicole Chanrion Cote-de-Brouilly is stupid-good for the price ($19).
If you’re in the mood for white, your first stop should be the Chablis appellation of Burgundy. These Chardonnay wines are only lightly oaked—if they’re oaked at all—and they offer pure, clean takes on one of the most popular wine grapes in the world. Denis Race Chablis Montmains ($27) is phenomenal.
California’s Red Blends
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You can certainly spend a lot for a little if you shop iconic California wines by price alone.
That’s not to say some of the state’s most storied wines don’t deliver. Iconic Cabernets like those from Silver Oak, Hewitt, and Shafer are worth every damn penny. So are Chardonnays from the likes of Stoney Hill and FEL, Pinot Noirs from Etude, and pretty much anything from first-class producers like Stags’ Leap and Groth.
But if you’re looking for steals—we’re talking wines that taste like they should cost twice as much (or more)—start shopping for red blends. The labels on these wines won’t feature straight-forward, familiar grape names like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. But they’ll knock your socks off.
Keep an eye out for blends from the likes of Orin Swift, The Prisoner Wine Company, or Tank Garage Winery. All three are offering jaw-dropping wines at equally stunning prices. Start with Orin Swift’s Abstract ($35) and Tank Garage’s Montrose ($45).
Portuguese Reds
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Wine drinkers have caught on to the amazing values in neighboring Spain. But Portugal still flies under the radar—at least when it comes to the prices its excellent wines command in U.S. shops.
If you’re looking for bold and beautiful red wines—bottles that would cost twice as much if the label said “France” or “Italy”—look for the wines from the Dão and Bairraida regions. While Dão wines (many based on the excellent Touriga Nacional grape) are intense and structured, Bairraida wines are often more fruit forward and succulent. Look for Bairraida’s Campolargo Valdazar Tinto ($13) and Dão’s Lemos Dona Santana ($29).
Zinfandel
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The Zinfandel grape is often overshadowed by big-name domestic varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. That’s a shame, because good Zins can be every bit as delicious and beguiling as wines made with those glitzier grapes. Zinfandel is also a food-friendly wine that complements weeknight favorites like pizza, grilled meat and barbecue.
The good news: Zinfandel’s status as an overlooked grape means you can score some amazing wines at affordable prices.
If you’re looking for a special wine, Ravenswood offers several single-vineyard Zinfandels that are all exceptional values. Keep an eye out for their Big River Vineyard and Teldeschi Vineyard bottlings ($39 each).
If you’re feeling more adventurous—or just like wines with bold, spicy complexity (and a lot of booze)—keep an eye out for some of the great new bourbon-barrel-aged Zins. Four Virtues ($19) and 1,000 Stories ($19) are great ones.
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