Yes, shelf prices at TW are not great. But they do have pretty good stock, mostly all “winery direct” and subject to their flash sales online-20% off often (excepting prices ending in .97). Here in the NE, Wegmans tends to have a nice selection, again not great pricing.
Unfortunately best I have seen in some times is 15% off with 8 or more bottles, not sure if the online offers vary by state given the variability of state laws.
Tour St. Christophe is really well made. Tad on the lipstick side, but great. Particularly 2016 and 2019.
Another under-represented favorite is La Fleur Morange Mathilde from St. E., 100% old vine Merlot.
1 Like
I give my vote for Tour Saint Christophe 2018 and Meyney 2018 (or 2016 if you find it). Moulin Saint George 2019 is also very nice. Finally the powerful Chateau Martet 2019 - Réserve de Famille, not to be touched for some years.
1 Like
Kris my recollection from like 10 to 12 or so years ago was that the Mathilde saw very little new oak. Is that still the case?
Probably not for the AFWE (is that a throwback now?!), but I thought the 2019 Malescot St. Exupery was pretty darn good for the $43 I picked it up for. Also, if you are looking for a Cali Cab sub, this probably fits the bill better than some others.
It was no/limited new oak back when I first dound it in 2004/2005 because it is released so early making it a very clean view of vintage and variety, with some more structure due to vine age (some 100+ years old) and region than some more traditional Pomerol Merlot-based wines. Since 2010 or so I think it sees a % of new but only for 9 months.
For example the 2018 is very structured, I thought it would be an early drinker due to vinrage…it isn’t.
2 Likes
I have Tour St. Christophe 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Fantastic wine for the price. When I visited the winery last year I got to taste their other wines from wineries under the same company LA MAISON VIGNOBLES K. The best was Enclos Tourmaline from Pomerol, but it’s $140 wine.
You can get 2022 Tour St. Christophe futures for about $35 which is steal.
1 Like
There are numerous wines in your price range from Bordeaux. Though, $20 is harder to find today. But, starting with $30, there could be 100, or more wines worth buying.
In the Left Bank, look for wines from Pessac Leognan, Margaux, and Haut Medoc.
In the Right Bank, St. Emilion is a hot bed of value, followed by the Cotes de Bordeaux, Fronsac and the Satellite appellations of St. Emilion. It takes looking, but there are wines from Bordeaux Superieur that are worth checking out, but you need to know what to look for.
2 Likes
La Fleur Morange Mathilde is a steal. However, I think the wine is aged in about 50% new, French oak, for 8-9 months. It is also a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cab Franc. The vines are old, averaging 50 years of age, give or take.
1 Like
I think this is why I asked the question. I’ve heard that there’s a lot of value to be found in Cotes de Bordeaux, and Medoc, and other “lesser” appellations, but there are so many different wine producers, it feels like a minefield.
Thanks to everyone for offering suggestions!
It has changed then, the 2005 stated 100% Merlot on the back label, I see the newer vintage doesn’t. Some Franc would explain the increased structure too.
This may or may not be helpful but I read Jane Anson’s book on Bordeaux and kept a running list of any of the “lesser” producers that she noted as being particularly worthy of praise. I’ll copy and paste here and just point out that I have had very few of these, but I have really enjoyed the few that I have tried. Good luck
Ch. Ad Francos
Clos Puy Arnaud (among her favorites)
Ch. Montlandrie
Ch. l’Hetre
Domaine de l’Azurage
Ch. Ampelia
Ch. d’Aiguilhe
Ch. Guilotin
Vieux Chateau Saint Andre
Ch. Clos de Bouard
Ch. Capbern (esp. 2016)
Ch. La Garde
Ch. Puygueraud
Chateau les Vimieres la Tronquera
Ch. le Puy
Ch. de l’A
Ch. Bonnange’s Le Cot (100% Malbec)
Ch. Falfas
Ch. Monteberiot
Roc de Cambes
Ch. Dalem
Ch. de La Dauphine
Ch. Tour du Moulin (2016 and 2018)
Ch. la Rose Saint-Germain (blanc)
Ch. Bonnet (blanc)
Girolate
Ch. Grand Village (Les Champs Libre)
Ch. Marjosse
Ch. Sainte-Barbe
Ch. Reynon
1 Like
This will help you with what to buy in the Cotes, Bordeaux Superieur and other Right Bank value wines
Just get this wine. Fantastic value. Last bottle. I asked them to hold it for you.
My favourite inexpensive Bordeaux that acts as a cellar blocker for me, is Ch Tour St Bonnet. If you like classical Bordeaux, this is hard to beat for the price IMO.
I was in Paris years ago, and asked a decent wine store, what they recommended, year in , year out, for inexpensive Bordeaux, and they suggested Poujeaux. So that’s what I did and was very happy. Thanks to everyone else on the thread, I have many more options to taste now. I don’t think you can go wrong with so many suggestions here.
2 Likes
I’d echo a lot of what other people have said, would add
Ramafort - roughly $20-25 and a great value
Sociando Mallet - may have been called out elsewhere but it’s great stuff
Malescot St Exupery- can regularly find for $50-60. It’s modern, though definitely bdx, and beats pretty much all Napa cabs in that price range (and good to introduce a Napa fan to bdx).
2 Likes
I’ve had a few of the wines on this list but always come back to Barde-Haute. It’s in the $30-40 range and easy drinking with good flavor.
Speaking of Total Wine, I noticed that TW used to be 20% off 6 or more Winery Direct wines but now it’s 15%. I’ve also noticed most of the French wines are listed as Winery Direct but few Itialian wines are WD. Mostly, I find their wines are way overpriced compared to other online sites. Even including shipping, it’s better not to buy at TW. I do have one exception: my wife likes a cheap Itialian PG and it’s super cheap at TW. So I stop by for a case every couple of weeks.
1 Like
Two major winners that I left off my list:
Durfort Vivens
Clos du Marquis
Definite top of the lists in that sub-$100 range.
2 Likes