Château les Gravières de la Brandille, Bordeaux Supérieur, 2019 $14.99 $12.74
Despite its centuries-old practices and the reputation of its top growers, Bordeaux remains a treasure trove of artisanally-crafted wines that can be had for a song. The Borderie family has been making wine at Château les Gravières de la Brandille, close to the village of Saint-Émilion, for 5 generations, and their expertise shows — this is a classical blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc is black-fruited, ripe, and round, with dusty and fine tannins.
Terres Blondes, Touraine Gamay, 2020 $15.99 $13.59
Gamay might be synonymous with Beaujolais, but great values can be found in the lesser-known appellation of Touraine, in the Loire Valley. The vines are organically-farmed, and the fruit undergoes a semi-carbonic maceration (just like most Cru Beaujolais), yielding a perfectly-balanced wine with notes of fruit, flowers, and earth. Its tannins are fine and well-integrated, making it an incredibly appealing food wine — enjoy a bottle with your next burger or gyro.
Col di Luna, Flora Rosé, NV $16.99 $14.44
A perfect sparkling rosé from the rare Raboso Piave grape, this is fresh and fruity without sacrificing complexity. It’s made in the Dolomites, the region to Italy’s far north abutting the Alps, so it’s full of mountain freshness. A brief skin maceration, half a day or so, contributes the rosy hue, and the wine is left unfiltered for extra textural oomph. Drink it on its own or put it in a spritz — this 11% abv, organically-farmed treat will be sure to please all palates.
Gioventu, Chianti, 2022 $16.99 $14.44
Gioventù is the second label Chianti from a Flatiron favorite, Monte Bernardi, and it is pure Tuscan terroir in a glass. A blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Ciliegiolo, it’s vibrant and juicy, with zingy acidity and verve. Whether you’re drinking it on its own, with a red sauce pasta dish or even to accompany a cheese and charcuterie plate, this is your new favorite Italian red.
Domaine de 2 Ânes, Vin de France (Corbieres) Premiers Pas, 2022 $17.99 $15.29
Biodynamically-farmed Carignan dominates the blend here, the perfect medium to translate the winery's Southern French situation, sandwiched between the Mediterranean and wild forests. In spite of the warm climate and hot vintage conditions, the wine is remarkably fresh (a mere 12.5% abv) with flavors of blackberry, rhubarb, sous bois, and rosemary. Silky, super fresh, and supple.
Broadside, Merlot Santa Margarita Ranch, 2022 $17.99 $15.29
Since it premiered two decades ago, the film Sideways has had a monumental effect on the perception of the grape Merlot. Its ancestral homeland is Bordeaux's Right Bank, but it's found its way all over the globe, where it's used to make plush, plummy, slightly herbal wines (including some of the world's most expensive and rare bottles!). Broadside's version is dialed in and delicious, with notes of black cherry, Christmas spice, cacao nibs and sweet tobacco leaf.
Fronton de Oro, Tinto Tradicional, 2022 $18.99 $16.14
100% Listán Negro, this is a perfect introduction to the Canary Islands. It drinks a bit like Rhône Syrah, with lots of juicy dark fruit and cooling herbs, plus a bit of that Canary Islands, sun-baked, volcanic-soil je ne sais quoi. It comes from high elevation vineyards on the island of Gran Canaria, just 93 miles off the African coast.
Domaine de Majas, Côtes Catalanes Rouge, 2023 $18.99 $16.14
A 50/50 blend of Carignan and Grenache from clay-calcareous terroir in the Southeastern corner of France, making for a juicy, cherry-berry wine with a serious kick of minerality, and fine, ripe tannins. The vines range in age from 20 years to an astonishing 120 years old, and they've been farmed organically since 2007.
Sidonio de Sousa, Portugal Branco Brut Nature, NV $18.99 $16.14
Portugal's Bairrada region is known for bold red wines from the Baga grape and elegant sparkling wines (from either Baga or the local white varieties like Bical, Maria Gomes, and Arinto); Sidonio de Sousa makes both, but we find the sparkling wines to be especially impressive. With flavors of white flowers, yellow fruit (peach, pear, lemon), and a fine mousse (thanks to a second fermentation in bottle, the methode champenoise), this is a terrific choice for an apero, a celebratory toast, or to pair with anything fried and crispy.
Skull Wines, California Red Wine, 2021 $18.99 $16.14
A hodge-podge of organically-farmed red grapes, some more famous than others: 30% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah, 20% Mission, 10% Petite Sirah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Alicante Bouschet. These high-octane varieties are tempered by carbonic maceration, lending a gentle fruitiness and round, supple texutre to the wine. Skull Wines is a project led by former NY somm Patrick Capiello and California alt-superstar Pax Mahle. Drink this with a roast chicken or by itself with a bit of a chill.
Oltretorrente, Colli Tortonesi Rosso, 2022 $19.99 $16.99
A blend of 90% Barbera and 10% Dolcetto (though the biodynamically-grown vines are interplanted with rare varieties like Croatina, Freisa, Brachetto and more, which can find their way into the mix). Fermentation and aging both take place in concrete vats, making for rounded edges and fine tannins. We love Piedmont's "little grapes" and this is an utter delight! Pair with fresh pasta, with or without truffles.
Hewitson, GSM Miss Harry Barossa Valley, 2022 $19.99 $16.99
A Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre blend might have been born in France, but the Australians have adopted this classic Côtes du Rhône assemblage as their own. It's ripe and juicy, with flavors of forest fruit, baking spice, and dried herbal notes akin to Provence's garrigue. Incredibly, some of Hewitson's vines in the Barossa Valley are 200+ years old and they average 75 years of age!
Sidekick, Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022 $19.99 $16.99
California Cabernet is a category unto itself, and Sidekick's Lodi version is carefully-crafted and classical. It's sourced from multiple vineyard sites to ensure each grape is perfectly ripe; it's fermented in stainless steel (as well as a fascinating contraption called a rotofermentor) and aged partly in used barrels. It captures all of the blackcurrant, plum and blackberry notes we love, and notes of fresh mint, rosemary, and earth boost its freshness.
Elizabeth Spencer, North Coast Sauvignon Blanc Special Cuvée, 2023 $19.99 $16.99
In the heart of California's wine country, we find Elizabeth Spencer, a husband-and-wife owned winery that sources organic fruit from up and down the coast. Their Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc is exactly what we want from SB — zippy tropical fruit, fresh acidity and a crisp, dry finish. Like the best Sancerre, or New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, there's a perfect balance struck between lush fruit and a hint of minerality.
Piero Mancini, Vermentino di Gallura, 2023 $19.99 $16.99
This is Vermentino from granite-rich vineyards on the island of Sardinia — between all that granite and the maritime influence of the Mediterranean, there is a perfect balance between ripe fruit flavors and savory minerality. The Mancini family specializes in the special terroir of Gallura, where Vermentino gains enough heft to pair with richer foods, like grilled fish, garlicky shrimp, or white meats. They are not certified organic but they eschew pesticides and herbicides.
Meinklang, Österreich Blaufrankisch, 2022 $19.99 $16.99
Meinklang is one of the biggest names in natural wine—this Blaufränkisch is grown biodynamically, with minimal SO2 added. The estate's goal is to foster a diverse ecosystem, and there's a certain liveliness to this succulent, velvety wine. Blaufränkish is one of our favorite under-the-radar grapes for its ability to transmit terroir — it's brambly and dark-fruited with fresh acidity.
Nittnaus, Burgenland Blauer Zweigelt, 2020 $19.99 $16.99
In the capable hands of Hans and Anita Nittnaus, Zweigelt becomes something complex, quaffable and compelling, with notes of strawberry, red cherry, and black pepper. Austria remains one of our favorite destinations for insanely well-priced wines, and Burgenland is the country's best region for red wine. Zippy, fresh and endlessly versatile, try this with grilled sausages, pasta pomodoro or cured meats.
