Now that the holidays are past, I tend to look for value wines to ease my already light wallet. While that usually means budget friendly wines ideal for everyday drinking, it also can mean wines that over deliver quality for the price. Lately, I have settled on these brands as reliable options.
Métier. This is a new line of wines from DeLille Cellars, one of Washington’s best wineries. These wines are exemplary of the approachability and excellence of Washington State wine and the Columbia Valley AVA. They are designed at a more approachable price point: brisk Sauvignon Blanc ($20), intriguing Red Blend ($25), and bold Cabernet Sauvignon ($30).
J.Lohr. The J. Lohr Estates tier from this Central Coast winegrower since1974 features an extensive array of good values from certified sustainable estate grown vineyards. My current favorites are: 2022 Wildflower Valdiguié ($13) a grape with origins in France’s Languedoc, made in a Beaujolais style; the sleek 2021 Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir ($17); and the lively 2021 Pure Paso® Proprietary Red Wine – cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah blend ($27). Among the whites, look for three 2021 Chardonnays from Monterey’s Arroyo Seco AVA – Riverstone ($14), Arroyo Vista ($25) and the single vineyard October Night ($25).
The Mill Keeper. An offshoot of Napa Valley’s Gamble Family Vineyards, Mill Keeper wines are built on long term relationships with farmers to source fruit from generational vineyards and preserve family-owned farms. The multivintage supple Cabernet Sauvignon ($26) and bright Chardonnay ($24), and crisp Bordeaux blend 2022 Rosé ($21) are fine choices.
Landmark “Overlook”. Sonoma Valley based Landmark Vineyards has been dedicated to producing handcrafted, ultra-premium wines sourcing grapes from unique vineyard sites throughout California since 1974. The “Overlook” line (2021, $27): Pinot Noir – blend of Monterey, Santa Barbara and Sonoma regions – and Chardonnay – sourced from top Sonoma County vineyards, including Petaluma Gap, Carneros and Russian River Valley.
True Myth. Located in the heart of the Central Coast, True Myth sources grapes from such fine AVAs as Paso Robles – 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24) – and Edna Valley – 2022 Pinot Noir San Luis Obispo ($28). True Myth also supports the Pollinator Partnership in efforts to protect the endangered pollinators.
Textbook. We all know how expensive Napa Valley wines are but Textbook produces some fine values from Napa fruit, like its lush 2021 Chardonnay ($27) and its structured 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon ($40). And its 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles ($27) also is flavorful and appealing for the price.
Chronic Cellars. This winery is committed to showcasing the appealing quality of Paso Robles fruit with playful, eye-catching labels. Check out these 2021s ($17): the dark fruits of the Cabernet Sauvignon “Sir Real”, the power of the Petite Sirah “Suite Petite”, and the enticing 2021 Red Blend “Purple Paradise”.
NOTE: Featured image is courtesy of Textbook Vineyards.