Wine shopping can be difficult and confusing, maybe even daunting. In this video, I’ll cover three classic red wines that you can confidently buy for around $20US per bottle. The wines are affordable gifts, right for a dinner party, or just to have around the house. They can broadly be found in the US and many international markets. If you can’t find the exact wines shown here, no worries. I’ll talk you through that part as well. Wine shopping gets easier when you know what to look for.
Bordeaux is one of the world’s most prestigious wine regions, with thousands of wine-producing chateaux. Much of the image is driven by a relatively small number of high-profile and high-dollar properties. Within the Left Bank, the top châteaux are built into a classification that has been barely tweaked since 1855. The treasure trove classification for value is Cru Bourgeois. The list of qualifying chateaux is updated every five years. Look for the words on the front label of the bottle. The wines fall into one of three levels displayed on the label, either Cru Bourgeois, Cru Bourgeois Superiore and Cru Bourgeois Exceptional. Every bottle will have a QR code on the back label or bottle neck to provide information on each specific wine.
Tuscany is home to some of the world’s best-known wines. Perhaps none more so than Chianti, but they are not created equally. The market is awash in basic, inexpensive, simple wines labeled as Chianti, sometimes with an additional subzone or designation. Some are good, but rarely exciting. If you’re looking to splurge, Chianti Classico Reserva and Chianti Classico Gran Selezione are excellent options, but in terms of value for the money, Chianti Classico is the one to search out, the wines routinely punch well above their class, and in today’s market, they are among the best values in the world. Excellent bottles at around $20. Look for the black rooster logo.
Rioja is Spain’s iconic wine region, located in the northern part of the country, home to over 600 wine producers. The wines are classified by aging requirements, which include time spent in barrel and in the bottle before being released for sale. The classifications include Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva. Each designation will have its own clearly marked, color-coded tag on the back label or bottle neck. The focus here is on Reserva, which is aged three years minimum, at least two in barrel and one in bottle before. This is where the price/value relationship is very good.
Wine 1
2020 Chateau Labadie Medoc, Cru Bourgeois, around $22
Wine 2
2022 Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, around $20
Wine 3
2019 Cune Rioja Reserva, Spain, $20 to $25 per bottle
#rioja #tuscany #sangiovese #bordeaux #winetasting #wineshopping #winetalk #bargain #gift #dinnerparty #winenight #masterofwine #celebration #bobpaulinski
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – 00:33 Intro
00:34 – 03:54 Bordeaux
03:55 – 07:02 Chianti Classico
07:03 – 09:38 Rioja Reserva
09:39 – 10:08 Wine Talk
21 Comments
Another wonderful video. And you picked my 3 favorite styles of wines, Bordeaux, Chianti, and Rioja. I will be on the lookout for those specific wines you tasted. Thanks Bob.
Three great picks, Bob. I am still enjoying 2014 Beaumont, which is in great nick. Rioja Reserva is another go-to: I have one bottle each of Ardanza 2010 and 2012 to polish off in 2026, among other Riojas. On Chianti, the Wine Society has an excellent value Rufina for around a tenner.
A gem from each of the European powerhouses in export markets. With some perspective now about the wine landscape across the world, I'm noticing how lucky I am to have all this great value at hand. I complain a lot that that gets in the way of international wine availability, but it sure does have its upsides as well. Cheers!
Hi Bob, always enjoy your shows. Couple months ago, my daughter brought me few bottles of CAM X cab by Cameron Hugh. I tries the lot 2 and lot 12. It's good value for that price. If you have a change please review some of the wines. Like to hear your view. Thanks!
Bob, do you have any recommendations on recent Rioja vintages? I heard 2020 was a little challenging with a spell of mildew. Thanks for another great vid.
Great classic choices for the holidays! Thanks Bob. Flying today to Denver to spend Xmas with family there. Busted into my cellar to bring along a couple Shiraz from Dan Standish. Haven’t tried these wines, but look forward to trying with a nice Ribeye off the BBQ!?! Merry Christmas to all!
Hi Bob, what is so cool about your channel is that what you taste and smell is what I tasted and smelled when I had those. That is remarkable because we learnt about wine totally differently: me from childhood by drinking, you from a later formal education. I have just come back from a short trip to Greece. Greece used to have only complete crap, but about 25 years ago their wine industry started to take off. The advantage they have over all other European wine regions is that they have a ton of autochthonic grapes. Red wines are easy to make and the sun gives them super nice reds, but what I really like is their whites: very special style. I hope they will enter the American market. Keep an eye out for them. Lastly, I recommend to your viewers Vivino. Download on your phone, take a snapshot of the label in the shop, and you get a rating and reviews. I have been using it for 10 years or so.
Always great videos Bob. I still remember having a couple of bottles of Labadie from Costco a couple of years ago that were great QPR and cost several dollars less. Always love Chianti Classico with pasta dishes and I brought back a few bottles from a Tuscany trip in late 2021.
Bob, I appreciate your wine advice for the common man. I too shop at k&l and find a good selection there in addition to Costco. What I learned in Tuscany where I had a place for 15 years is that the van ordinary can be van extra extraordinaire. When you go to a restaurant in Tuscany, you get the Vinp sfuso in a carafe for four euros a liter. I would rank restaurants on their bulk wine and their mixed grill, especially in Tuscany.
I thought Ch Labadie sounded familiar, but it turns out that there is a wine with that name from Côtes de Bourg, which is on the other side of the river not too far from Médoc. They certainly don't make it easy for us consumers sometimes…
I did some tasting at TJs last night. Their Bordeaux blend from South America, like wow.
TY for this channel. You have made wine accessible and democratic.
Furthermore, you choose wines within reach.
To all, on the 23rd, everyone have a Splendid Festivus, and the gathering around the Festivus pole while airing of your grievances. On Festivus eve, I'll be making a Dean Martin Pasta Fagoili served with a espresso peanut butter martini (or two) in honor of the Great One! He once said, "if you can lie on the floor without hanging on, you're not drunk."
To all, on the 25th, Merry Christmas. Moi, I'll be making a Belgium Beer Stew with a Beaujolais Nouveau. For Christmas Eve, I'll be decorating the ole slot machine for that festive edge. Then after, a Fondue de fromage served with a Trader Joe's Blanc de Noir.
For NYE, nachos with carne asada and beer. As Travis Hart, founder of Hart winery once said to me while at crush, as I stared at the numerous beer cans on the ground, "It takes a lot of beer to make good wine."
Can't decide what wine to drink for the holidays. Renting a condo on Keauhou Bay.
Thanks for another great video. I needed the lesson on Bourgeois for sure. That said it's probably the Rioja I'll be looking for. I really enjoyed the last one I had. Thanks.
I had no trouble finding the first two and have placed orders to try them out but I have to admit I have been left tepid too often with Rioja's that certified wine experts have sworn to me were the greatest value offering they've had in years or the best value bottle of red wine in their entire store etc.
Just am resigned to accept that wine style is not for me.
Great video Bob! TW by me doesn't have the Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico, but they do have a Tenuta Di Renieri Chianti Classico Riserva for about the same price. I had the Renieri Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva at a TW tasting event and it was incredible, so I have high hopes for the Chianti. Keep the videos coming. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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What a great video! Cheers!
I am a white wine girl. I would appreciate your tips and insight. Thanks very much Bob. MERRY CHRISTMAS 🥂🎷🛡🌟💰💛🎺
Fantastic info. It’s always good to have information like this when you shop. We’re fortunate to have several very good shops here that offer excellent options, with one shop (about 19000 sq ft) having many cases of all the first growths with verticals going back to the 80s. Including Yquem. Cheers!
Bob,
?Why do you prefer Gallo Chianti to Putti Chianti? (I used to shop at K&L [the initials of the owners wives] when they started in San Mateo)
Seasons Greetings. I heard the store name Total Wine. Were all three wines purchased at that store? Thank you