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Recently, a customer asked me for our best values in Bordeaux.
He wanted a wine under $15 a bottle. This was not an easy
task but we did a find several good wines. How did we do it?
We went shopping for good values in real estate.
Good Bordeaux from the top appellations costs at least $25
a bottle - even second wines of top chateaux.
But travel away from the famous villages to less well-known
areas in Bordeaux like the Côtes de Blaye, the Côtes
de Bourg and the other Côtes (rolling slopes) like Francs
and Castillon, and you can find relative bargains under $15.
For example, I like Chateau Segonzac and Chateau Les Bertrands
(Blaye), Chateau Puygueraud (Francs), Cap de Faugeres (Castillon).Chateau
Roc de Cambes and Chateau Tayac (Bourg). All these chateaux
produce pricier prestige crus but the basic or "Cuvée
Tradition" are often very satisfying.
The same logic applies to other French wine regions.
You don't have to be limited to very expensive Côte
d'Or wines when you can shop for values in the neighboring
Côte Challonaise or Marsannay or Macon for value white
and red Burgundy (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir). Check out appellations
like Bourgogne Rouge or Blanc, Givrey, Rully, Mercurey, Montagny
where the under $15 rule works well.
Some of France's best wine values can be found in the South
and West. For Rhone style wines (reds: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
and Carignan blends, Whites: Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne,
Picpoul, etc) search out producers in appellations like Côtes
du Rhone, various Vins de Pays (Vaucluse, Herault, Gard d'Oc)
or various other Côtes (Luberon, Languedoc, Ventoux).
Excellent values can be found in Corbières, Minervois,
Pic St. Loup, Faugères
I like producers such as Domaine des Amouriers, Domaine de
Boisson, Chateau la Roque, Santa Duc, Hugues Beaulieu, Boirie
de Maurel, la Liquiere.
Bordeaux too expensive? Then sample the wines of Cahors in
the Bergerac (Clos La Coutale or others) which are made from
Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Tannat.
Champagne emptying your wallet? Then check out the bubbly
appellation of Blanquette de Limoux (St. Hilaire is a good
producer).
A good wine shop will have educated staff who can guide you
in the fun exploration of good, inexpensive wines which lie
off the beaten path of the pricier, well-known appellations.
Let the adventurer in your soul lead you to treasures waiting
to be found.
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