Overachievers at Every Price
by Tom Wolf
Domaine de la Cadette's vineyards in Vézelay, Burgundy
Joanie Bonfiglio
This kind of “overachiever”—a wine that delivers the elegance, complexity, or flat-out deliciousness regularly displayed by bottles much more expensive—isn’t limited to any price category. My colleagues and I have been as enamored in recent months with $19 Dolcetto from northwestern Italy as we have with soulful grand cru Saint-Émilion.
Domaine de la Cadette's vineyards in Vézelay, Burgundy
Joanie Bonfiglio
This kind of “overachiever”—a wine that delivers the elegance, complexity, or flat-out deliciousness regularly displayed by bottles much more expensive—isn’t limited to any price category. My colleagues and I have been as enamored in recent months with $19 Dolcetto from northwestern Italy as we have with soulful grand cru Saint-Émilion.
Overachievers at Every Price
by Tom Wolf
I recently brought a bottle of Valentin Montanet’s gorgeous Bourgogne rouge “Champs Cadet” to a small gathering and it didn’t take long for me to realize I should have brought two. With soaring aromas of red berries, a hint of black tea, and spices, this young Pinot Noir was so expressive, flaunting a heightened freshness and unshackled joie de vivre that stand out in this often meditative and noble region. I had forgotten the price, but when I went to purchase more, I couldn’t help but smile at the tag. For $42, you’d be hard pressed to find a more pure, joyous, and versatile red Burgundy than this.
This kind of “overachiever”—a wine that delivers the elegance, complexity, or flat-out deliciousness regularly displayed by bottles much more expensive—isn’t limited to any price category. My colleagues and I have been as enamored in recent months with $19 Dolcetto from northwestern Italy as we have with soulful grand cru Saint-Émilion. We have found outstanding class in a sparkling wine from an off-the-beaten-path French village in the Alps as well as in Brunello di Montalcino from a young grower brand new to our portfolio.
After much debate, and many picks left out, we have put together a collection of overachievers for you. For now, we’ve narrowed down our selections to twenty-four wines—four each at six price points, because tremendous value isn’t exclusive to inexpensive bottlings. You can find it at all prices, from $14 to $100 and even above, as these wines resoundingly show.
Wines In The Collection
Cantine Elvio Tintero Italy | Piedmont
This dreamy wine, perfect for aperitivo, reaffirms that we should turn more often to Piedmont not only for our reds but also for our whites!
Domaine Dupeuble France | Beaujolais
Simultaneously fun to drink and a wine of real substance, with an extra dimension of depth along with an array of delightful flavors and textures.
Corte Gardoni Italy | Veneto
The Piccoli brothers farm their vines in the grand cru area of Bardolino, just southeast of Lake Garda, giving us an absolutely lip-smacking rosso.
Quentin Harel France | Beaujolais
This Morgon comes largely from a parcel of 80-year-old vines lies in the lieu-dit Charmes, a higher-altitude site prone to giving lively, elegant, and mineral reds.
Lambert de Seyssel France | Savoie, Bugey, Hautes-Alpes
This bottle of Royal Seyssel had me Royally fooled into thinking I was enjoying a very pricey, very prestigious, vintage Champagne.
Castagnoli Italy | Tuscany
A delicious Chianti Classico for now or later, with extraordinary potential at table.
Domaine de la Cadette France | Burgundy
This is young Pinot at its best: aromatic, expressive, and a true pleasure to drink.
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
Made from young vine fruit from Grand Cru vineyards, this Riesling delivers delicious fruit, crispness, and minerality beyond its price point.
Domaine Follin-Arbelet France | Burgundy
The Follin family’s 2019 reds are some of the most delicious of the vintage I have tasted, none more so than their incredibly vibrant and pure Aloxe-Corton.
Ferretti Italy | Tuscany
Drink Later: The hype about 2016 is justified, and Ferretti’s first-ever release delivers all you could ask for in a great Brunello.
André Perret France | Northern Rhône
A top site in Condrieu interpreted by one of the appellation’s masters—simply put, one of the greatest expressions of the Viognier grape on earth.
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
A few years ago, Guido seized an opportunity to farm a tiny sliver of Serralunga’s historic Vigna Rionda vineyard. He paid dearly for half an hectare of what is the Romanée-Conti of Serralunga, and his rendition of this hallowed site is worth every cent. This is a masterpiece...
Patrick Brennan's Pick
Paul Bara France | Champagne
This is the best way to start a dinner party and nothing says the holidays like rose bubbles. Please imbibe and enjoy.
Italy | Piedmont
This dreamy wine, perfect for aperitivo, reaffirms that we should turn more often to Piedmont not only for our reds but also for our whites!
France | Beaujolais
Simultaneously fun to drink and a wine of real substance, with an extra dimension of depth along with an array of delightful flavors and textures.
Italy | Piedmont
A stellar, artisanal red Vermouth whose uses are endless.
Italy | Veneto
The Piccoli brothers farm their vines in the grand cru area of Bardolino, just southeast of Lake Garda, giving us an absolutely lip-smacking rosso.
France | Beaujolais
This Morgon comes largely from a parcel of 80-year-old vines lies in the lieu-dit Charmes, a higher-altitude site prone to giving lively, elegant, and mineral reds.
France | Savoie, Bugey, Hautes-Alpes
This bottle of Royal Seyssel had me Royally fooled into thinking I was enjoying a very pricey, very prestigious, vintage Champagne.
Italy | Tuscany
A delicious Chianti Classico for now or later, with extraordinary potential at table.
France | Burgundy
This is young Pinot at its best: aromatic, expressive, and a true pleasure to drink.
France | Alsace
Made from young vine fruit from Grand Cru vineyards, this Riesling delivers delicious fruit, crispness, and minerality beyond its price point.
France | Burgundy
The Follin family’s 2019 reds are some of the most delicious of the vintage I have tasted, none more so than their incredibly vibrant and pure Aloxe-Corton.
Italy | Tuscany
Drink Later: The hype about 2016 is justified, and Ferretti’s first-ever release delivers all you could ask for in a great Brunello.
France | Northern Rhône
A top site in Condrieu interpreted by one of the appellation’s masters—simply put, one of the greatest expressions of the Viognier grape on earth.
Italy | Piedmont
A few years ago, Guido seized an opportunity to farm a tiny sliver of Serralunga’s historic Vigna Rionda vineyard. He paid dearly for half an hectare of what is the Romanée-Conti of Serralunga, and his rendition of this hallowed site is worth every cent. This is a masterpiece...
Patrick Brennan's Pick
France | Champagne
This is the best way to start a dinner party and nothing says the holidays like rose bubbles. Please imbibe and enjoy.
More Collections
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Our Best Values
The only thing we like better than great wine is great wine that doesn’t cost much and we’re happy to report that a bottle of great wine can still be found for $20 or less. We’ve put together a collection of our favorites all in one place for your browsing pleasure: bargain whites, rosés, reds, and a couple of sparklers.
Library Bordeaux from the Hubaus
When word came from Bénédicte and Grégoire Hubau that they were releasing good quantities of older vintages from two of their properties, I knew we had a special offer on our hands.