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It may be time to get used to paying more for wine. Prices are continuously going up as markets in China, Japan, and the US seek out assets to hold value as the tide of inflation continues to rise. And while I disagree with the concept of wine holdings, or keeping wine for any monetary gain, it’s easy to see why some people view bottles of wine as such.
Wine is a drink to one drunk, memories to be shared, conversations to be had, and nuances to be discussed in and of themselves. When a wine loses its ability to function as a drink, and transcends palatability by becoming an asset class, realistically, it begins to show more similarities with a currency than any other beverage. Labels must be copyrighted and anti-forgery measures are to be taken in much the same way they would be with any other monetary tool.
This is all very sad, because it means that some of the world’s most cared for bottles, and artisan crafted wines end up in bond in a locker somewhere, never to be drunk at all: instead treated with all of the contempt of some lackluster asset class promulgated by the nouveau riche. There is some positive news, however. Most wine fortunately, don’t suffer this fate and are instead simply considered expensive wines by most. Other fine wines languish in obscurity, with costs which reflect their demand, but for how long?
This is why learning about wine, and wine regions can be a bigger asset to the seasoned aficionado, than any pricy bottle. Those familiar with the intricacies of certain regions, even some of the more esteemed will find scores of deals buried beneath obscure labels and terroirs unknown. It’s time to learn about incredible producers, and unique growing conditions. It’s time to try something new, and interesting. Most importantly, it’s time to leave the mass-manufactured bottle behind, and spend a little more.
I’ve spent a lot of time covering the adverse affects of alcohol on health, mental wellbeing, and most importantly to me anyway, testosterone. The health minded consumer should look at wine under the same magnifying glass has he would Ice cream or potato chips. It’s a once a week thing at best. Ordering cases of wine for nightly bottle consumption is extremely unhealthy, and it renders most of us un usable or at best, less productive the following day.
Furthermore, In order to make the daily-drinker more than just a prospect, one has to consider the financial cost of buying bottle of wine a night. Most who choose to indulge themselves in such a way, will generally be doing so effectively on the cheap - say twenty dollars or less. While I don’t agree that there are no fine wines available for under twenty dollars, you are going to have to look harder, and most people have only the patience, and local availability to satiate themselves with Meomi or La Crema on any given night.
There are always very nice low priced alternatives that would put the consumer at a similar position on a weekly basis: some of them are very fine wines, but a bit more obscure. Sagrantino is one grape I recommend drinking if you are to do so more frequently. It’s not going to be intrusive to your budget in the slightest, as many examples of this Umbrian wine are relatively affordable. The law is slightly dated in regards to this varietal, and as such, quality among producers can be variable, but a lot of great producers are making IGT labeled wines from Irpinia, and Marche.
Marco Bussoletti makes an incredible, brisk Umbrian red called Brecciaro of courteous complexity. You can notices some flavors of vine-ripened tomato, basil, ripe black cherry, espresso and black tea. These wines age nicely, to. They are fantastic daily drinkers, though they would make an awesome conversation piece as well, If you opt to share. He is a biodynamic winemaker, and produces wines under the lowly IGP, because he chooses to refrain from the overly naked styles that was popular here. He is also using some very interesting native grapes; like Cilegiolo for single-varietals which add incredible depth to this wine available. This is a fabulous expression of local terroir.
For something perhaps more readily available, get a bottle of Covalli Barolo, as referenced in the Costco writeup. This little gem is a fantastic Nebbiolo, which could easily provide something interesting to share with friends or to spice up your week intermittently amongst the bottles of Meomi. This is more of a mass-production outfit, but their wines are interesting and expressive nonetheless. This wine offers cranberry and fresh raspberry fruit, with a bit of cinnamon, cedar and rose pedal. You’ll taste hints of terracotta and smoke on the retronasal inclination. It’s a wonderful wine.
If you consider drinking one bottle per week; however, your return on investment is far greater. One case of the leading central valley offering will run you roughly sixty dollars per month, not to mention the calories associated with consuming a full-bodied red wine. If you wanted to save money, cut your calories, and drink something more interesting, set a fifty dollar budget, buy one bottle. Open it on Monday, put the cork in it, store it in the fridge by the chiller, and have one glass every night with dinner until Friday. Rinse and repeat.
Thymiopoulos is an excellent biodynamic producer from Naoussa that I had just reviewed recently. They are a biodynamic farm that dry crops, meaning no irrigation which is rare for these high-nitrogen, mineralic, well-draining vineyards at altitude. Their standard Is really special. It retails for around fifty dollars. This wine boasts of redcurrant, cashew, mango, and wet chalk. The discerning taster will notice some aromas of espresso bean and an interesting character of fresh strawberry and anise spice. Hibiscus lingers in Burgundian fashion, and the wine boasts earthiness of shaved white truffle. Tannin is soft and refined.
Better yet, spend one hundred dollars on a bottle every two weeks, get a Coravin, and store the wine on the counter, taking a glass every so often. What is the sense of drinking something that isn’t totally rewarding? Life is too short to drink mass-produced wine, and continuing to do so on a regular basis will only stunt your life further. Commit to drink less, enjoy fine wine, and lose wight. You’ll spare yourself the hangovers and foggy-headedness the next day too. The best way to save money on expensive wine is to drink less wine - and get the best price.
Michel Magnien is a Biodynamic producer based out of Morey-Saint-Denis. In Burgundy, one of the region’s most expensive wine regions. They are quickly becoming a powerhouse in the region. This estate produces extremely fine wines from small parcels across the Côte d’Or. Their village Morey-Saint-Denis is made from landholdings in Clos Solon, Chenevery, Crais, and Cognées some of the town’s finest village climat. This wine is a stunning example of terroir, with all of the typical aromas of Burgundian button mushrooms and fresh cut parsley, the fruit speaks of ripe raspberry and underripe strawberry, with some delightful structure. Notes of leather and nutmeg can be found in the mid-palette. This is a soft and supple wine.
Make a game out of this - every wine bottle on this website has a link to Wine Searcher. You really don’t have to do any research to find new and interesting producers. Just set a wine budget, click on the bottles next to the descriptions that sound interesting to you, and find the cheapest price on Wine Searcher, and order a bottle or two there for next month.
Simple as that! I always diligently search for the best value producers that I can for each region - while still attempting to inform you about what’s out there in terms of quality with each regional guide, and it’s all free information. Get started on the learn tab, which will introduce you to some of the world’s finest vineyards!
That’s all,
~Keegan