It’s here, your favorite blog post! Now, frequent readers may notice something different about my title above. This annual post began as my yearly “TOP 20 UNDER $20,”, which has a perfect ring to it. But some time ago, I decided that wine bang-for-the-buck has a sweet spot between $20-25, and if you were willing to spend five dollars more, you’d often get twice as much of a wine. So I did “TOP 25 UNDER $25” for a while, and man, that proved a difficult number to hit!
It’s not that there aren’t a lot of great wines under $25 out there, but for me to find 25 that really stood out as exceptional values, I would have to make the pursuit a main focus of my job (and no one is paying me for this, haha — yet.) So this year, I decided to focus on the true gems that really made an impression with me. (And I think 15 is still a great amount!) These wines come from almost all styles, varieties, and regions, so it’s a lovely cross-section. Have fun, try some new wines, and let me know what you think!
BUBBLY:
2022 Mongarda Col Fondo Glera Colli Trevigiani, Italy ~$21
“Col Fondo” is the petillant naturel version of Prosecco, with only a single fermentation trapping the bubbles, and not disgorged, so has a slightly cloudy appearance. This makes for an unexpected sip, savory, minerally, floral, white peach, lightly bubbly — your new fave aperitif.
NV Scarpetta Lambrusco “Frico” ~$4 (250ml can)
Is a can cheating? Probably! But I’m so charmed by a lot of tasty options coming in cans these days. And I always think a Lamby is a great split the diff wine - blackberry fruit, herbs, this one’s pretty dry but has a ripe richness, easy-drinking but not silly. And quite portable. Grab a few today!
WHITE WINES:
2019 Ch. de Fesles La Chappelle Sec VV Anjou, France ~$20
Complex creamy peach, nougat, honey, waxy, lemon, lil’ yellow flowers, bit of spicy heat on finish, fresh green apple. Strong acid, light grip, very weighty and creamy body. Really tasty! Lots going on here, well-balanced in spite of 14% abv, it punches way above its price (exactly why I write this.)
2023 Velenosi Querciantica Verdicchio del Castelli di Jesi Classico ~$15
Verdicchio is a great option for Sauvignon Blanc lovers - I might have blind tasted this one as a Savvy! Zippy and bright, with white grapefruit and a bit of passion fruit tropicality anchored by a hint of green herbs/vegetal base, it’s lip-smackingly delicious.
2022 Domaine Christophe Mittenacht Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France~ $19
I was looking for a Pinot Blanc to share with someone interested in the variety, but didn’t have high expectations… boy was this beyond delicious! Rich and bright Meyer lemon, apricot, florals, with a concentrated, minerally backbone, and zingy and fresh in spite of relatively low acidity. Great value. What a pleasant surprise.
2023 Al Galli Pinot Grigio, Veneto, Italy ~$14
I struggle to find good PGs that impress me, with the market being so flooded with merely inoffensive versions. But this one was lovely: floral perfume, pear candy, saline and savory, good minerality with nice texture and elegance. Yay.
2023 Stamnaki Assyrtiko, Elektikon, Peloponnese Greece ~$15
If you like Chablis, or Muscadet, even Albariño, you have to drink more Assyrtiko (Ah-SEER-tee-ko) from Greece. This one shows a little more fruit than most, with juicy white peach and citrus salad notes, but is still grounded by zippy acid and a signature sea spray minerality.
2023 Azimut Penedès Brisat Orange, Spain ~$17
A blend of Parellada, Moscatell, Garnatxa Blanca and Sumoll Blanc from vineyards all around Penedès. Pleasant nose of florals, melon, peach, with an herbal backbone, good phenolic grip but not too much — maybe a little light for some, but a great gateway “orange” (skin-contact) wine!
RED WINES:
2022 Decibel Giunta Malbec Nouveau, Hawkes Bay, NZ ~$17
Very fresh and light, this charming Kiwi Malbec is made in an approachable “Nouveau” style. Plums, purple flowers, bright acid, super light tannins, just barely chewy, with a surprisingly long finish for such a fun wine.
2021 Rivas Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina ~$14
Great varietal typicity of damson plum, dark minerals, and dried herbs. Pretty zippy acid, soft yet structured tannins, warm 14% but overall quite balanced. Malbecs can be great crowd-pleasers, and this has extra precision and elegance for the price.
2018 Sidonio de Sousa Baga Bairrada, Portugal ~$18
I love this 100% Baga, especially in colder weather. It’s earthy, with dark red fruits, great structure, nice fresh acidity. Another that really overdelivers for the price! If you like Syrah or Sangiovese, you need to try this. Rich and bold but not too overbearing. A winner.
2021 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage, South Africa ~$20
Ok some judgy wineaux are going to say, “Really, Annie?! Pinotage?” Yes, this has a meaty, gamey edge, with a smoky dankness that some may find off-putting. But I thought its funky side was well-balanced by dark fruit and paprika, with fairly high acid, good tannins, and warm 14%, making for an interesting sip if you like a brooding wine! (Plus, with air, the fruit does come forward.)
2017 Jim Barry “The Barry Bros” Clare Valley, Australia ~$20
Made from a blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Its age is a benefit here, unusual for a 20-buck wine, bringing earthiness to spiced cherry and herbal notes, making this a nice surprise! It’s warm and a little green, but if you like bold and fruity Cabs, this blend is a fun departure.
2021 Domaine Pelaquie Côtes du Rhône Villages Laudun Rouge, France ~$15
Such a charmer. This 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre blend is lifted and bright. I used it for a Rhône seminar and everyone was knocked out - it’s a perfect Tuesday night staple. When class and elegance meet style and structure at this price, it’s a big win.
FORTIFIED:
NV Bodegas Barbadillo Amontillado En Rama “Criadera Selection”, Jerez, Spain ~$24
And Annie trumpets Sherry again in 3…2…1… boom! This is dry, rich, savory, nutty, and saline, with a backbone of caramel without the sweetness. I sip it on its own. I put it in cocktails instead of dry vermouth. I pair it with roasted root vegetables… I love Sherry. You all should too. Sigh.
And there you have it! Fifteen amazing wines under $25. Heading into the New Year, I encourage you to keep experimenting, and have fun. Don't only grab the familiar commercial wines you see on every shelf, keep going outside the box, there's so much to discover.
Cheers!
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