Is there a red wine under $30 that is exceptional?

[El Presidente]

Is there a red wine under $30 that is exceptional? 

I mean....really good....wow factor ...palate coating 

There was a very good discussion on this topic in the current Lounge Lizards Podcast.

I personally have given up believing in the magical beast...except in Chile when buying Chilean wine insitu.  

Is sub $30 just the short filler of the wine world? Simply two steps above cask wine/goon?...not that there is anything wrong with that 

If you know of this Loch Ness Monster  of wine...under $30...please share.

Remember...."wow factor wine" under $30

This is a public service announcement.

[westg]

I think you can still pick up a bottle of Bishop for 30 notes in Aus. Ben Glaetzer...a starting point for his line which goes well beyond $30. 

 

[svivo]

Not sure about “wow factor wine” (yes, first response has already ignored the brief). Xanadu Cab Sav has always been a stand out for me in that price range.

 😶‍🌫️

Now just going to lurk here quietly and wait for the real wine drinkers to chime in…

[Ford2112]

[Pvalue83]

Ok ok, technically it is $2.35 over the $30 limit but honestly - 10 year old Cabernet from Tahbilk is frankly preposterous value in my book.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wookie]

For me it’s more about under $30 bottles that are 91-92pts. I own many of the Bordeaux first and other classified growths from the early 1980s to early 2000s and I got sick of the price/quality ratio. Also the California cabs and Burgundies same time frame. (Those were my knowledge areas). They more often disappoint than impress, definitely based on expectation/price. I only pull them out for special occasions for friends, usually not because I really love them. They are good but not based on price. I’d rather pay $21/stick for a famosos than $150+ retail for wine. 

[BG318]

If it exists it lives in Spain or Portugal. Argentina and their Malbecs. None of these are short filler and I have enjoyed plenty over the years, from Toro, Ribera del Duero, Rioja or Bierzo It's not usually the first place I go, but they do a little more than just getting the job done. My favorites are mostly more expensive, but 89-91 point wines are surely there. And some Carmenere from Chile.

 

[Chas.Alpha]

I was trying to get Ken to give us punters something like this when we were discussing FOH improvements. Maybe a bi-monthly “I ran across this” type of article. Under $30 USD, great aging potential, etc. For me personally, I wouldn’t know the ‘61 Rothschilds from the red that came out of a box.

Something to have on hand for guests, when I serve them wine and cheese while simultaneously denying them anything in my humidor.

🙂

[Havanaaddict]

Sadly, I don’t drink wine anymore, but 10+ years ago it was my second love to cigars! I used to love to search for good reasonably priced wines! I kept on trying to find a big heavy Cabernet from Napa that had some sweetness upfront. But could never really find it unless I wanted to spend hundred. I eventually started going down as Zinfandel path finding big jammy high alcohol content red Zinfandel. The Rombauer Zinfandelis one that I remember that had plenty of full bodies and sweetness on the pallet. It’s about $35 right now but you can probably find it cheaper if you look hard. Well worth giving it a try.

Wine Advocate-California - "Offers up lightly smoky, tarry notes, quickly followed by briary, blackberry-like fruit. Bright and vibrant in the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, with a silky mouthfeel and fine-grained, elegant tannins on the lingering finish"

Another one to try would beThe Prisoner Red Blend

California - This red blend shows aromas of ripe cherry and cedar with hints of rose petal and sweet oak. The lovely entry leads into a savory mid palate. Ripe fig and black currant dominate the finish with soft well integrated tannins.
Taste Dark Chocolate, Blackberry, Cedar

Body Full-bodied

Price $28.99 

[Greenhorn2]

The only experience I've had with red wine was some Richard's Wild Irish Rose. I can't say if it's top shelf, but it will get the job done. Used to be 3 bucks, but with today's inflation, who knows?

[unaslob]

For a cheap red can’t go wrong with the Coppola Claret. 20 bucks.  

[El Presidente]

6 hours ago, unaslob said:

For a cheap red can’t go wrong with the Coppola Claret. 20 bucks.  

No no no no ! 

Exceptional under $30. Cheap quaffing reds are a plenty!

[Pantone151]

Try Bonanza

[ryre]

This is the only one that I can think of. Occasionally find it sub $30. I pretty much love everything they produce, most years.

[BrightonCorgi]

Prats & Symington Post Scriptum wine from the Douro in Portugal is a fine wine at just under $30 USD

Prats & Symington Post Scriptum de Chryseia Douro 2020 | Wine.com

 

 

 

 

For something for the "wine geek" that is amazing at even less money is Domaine de la Chanteleuserie, at ~$20. They had old vine for slightly more if so inclined.

[BrightonCorgi]

5 hours ago, ryre said:

This is the only one that I can think of. Occasionally find it sub $30. I pretty much love everything they produce, most years.

Any Ridge is a good wine.

[BrightonCorgi]

Had to add one more exceptional wine. A wine that can age 30 years no problem and is a giveaway.  Couly-Dutheil Chinon Clos de l'Echo ~$30

Le Clos de l'Echo

 

[SUP8333]

At a gathering between my wine class course mates, I shared this bottle and had them guess. Everyone thought it was at least a $60-70 bottle, and after revealing all agreed that it has incredible value. It is my go to for when non-regular wine drinkers or just the regular crowd who likes something nice to drink. It requires a good lengthy breathing time. 

$27. San Marzano Cinquanta Collezione N.V. Please try and let me know!

[BrightonCorgi]

10 hours ago, SUP8333 said:

At a gathering between my wine class course mates, I shared this bottle and had them guess. Everyone thought it was at least a $60-70 bottle, and after revealing all agreed that it has incredible value. It is my go to for when non-regular wine drinkers or just the regular crowd who likes something nice to drink. It requires a good lengthy breathing time. 

$27. San Marzano Cinquanta Collezione N.V. Please try and let me know!
 

Speaking about non vintage wines, have you tried Marietta Cellars OVR Old Vine Red? Less than the $30 criteria of this thread, but I think the greatest value in California red wine.

[VeguerosMAN]

Any Spanish Rioja reserva/gran reserva. $14 at Costco...also they have more ages for the price than other regions. 

[Puros Y Vino]

I'm more a $15-25/bottle guy. So here's my picks...

This one sells for $16CAD and alwTays performs well across vintages.  We grab these these by the case.    

This one is $33CAD (so ~ $30USD). I grab a few of these now and then and let them sit for special occasions.

 

 

This one is $28CAD and does need some extra cellar time to shine: 2-3 years. But it's well worth it.                          

[Fuzz]

I've really been enjoying this Italian wine, Cielo E Terra 3 Passo Rosso, it is a blend of Negroamaro and Sangiovese. They do a partial Apassimento to concentrate the fruit flavour.

 

Another one is the Bastioni Della Rocca Leggero Appassimento, a blend of Primitivo and Negroamaro. Both of these wines can be found for under $25.

[Bohemio]

I really enjoyed this one, not exactly $30 but close enough.

[BrightonCorgi]

8 hours ago, VeguerosMAN said:

Any Spanish Rioja reserva/gran reserva. $14 at Costco...also they have more ages for the price than other regions. 

Our Costco which is the 2nd largest liquor selling Costco in US seems to have a Rioja on offer at a big discount. Spain has terrific wine values from all regions.

[SUP8333]

7 hours ago, Bohemio said:

I really enjoyed this one, not exactly $30 but close enough 

This is a $80 bottle where I live. 😅