The following wines, priced from $15 to $33, emerged from recent tastings, offering fine values in what the French call vin ordinaire (we categorize them as weekday and party wines, saving the best and rarest for weekends and special occasions).

This array includes 10 varietals from five countries. A few exhibit some style, character, and terroir.  I’ve listed the sources in most cases. The others came from flash sales and local merchants. Cheers!

White

  • Barossa, Aussie $17 value 2023 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Eden Valley Riesling. Pale straw; light citrus, petrol nose; mid acids; mid-depth; semi-long tight citrus finish. Good with appetizers and cheeses. 16/90.
  • Value ($19.99 WTSO) 2023 Domaine des Combelières Viré-Clessé. Sharp light straw-gold, some tears (13.0 alc.); citrus, stone fruit, wine lees, and Chardonnay nose; mid acids; mid depth; round, ripe, stone fruit finish. 16/90.
  • $20 Napa (Costco) 2023 Groth Sauvignon Blanc. Sharp mid-green-gold, viscous (14.0 alc.); boxwood, lime, citrus, wet hay nose; mid acids; mid+ body; semi-long crisp citrus finish. 16/90.

    Groth 2023 Sauvignon Blanc

  • $22 Napa find 2023 Rutherford Ranch Sauvignon Blanc. Herbaceous, newly mown hay, lime nose; low-mid acids; mid-body; round, semi-crisp, easy-sipping Sauvignon Blanc. 16/90.
  • $30 Burgundy 2022 Daniel & Julien Barraud Mâcon-Vergisson La Roche. Sharp mid-dark gold, viscous (13.5 alc.); tropical, stone fruit, honey, and citrus nose; mid acids; mid+ depth; soft, fat, citrus, stone fruit finish. 16/90.

Red

  • $15 (grocery store) Sonoma, Calif. 2021 Kendall-Jackson Merlot Vintner’s Reserve. Mid-dark garnet, rim variation, viscous (14.5 alc.); herbaceous, cedar, red fruit nose; low-mid acids; mid tannins; balanced; good flavors; semi-hot red fruit finish. 16/90.
  • $16 (Costco) Mendoza, 2019 Finca Decero Malbec Remolinos Vineyard. Dark garnet, rim variation, viscous (14.5 alc.); ripe fruit, berries, prunes, pepper, oak (14 months in oak); mid acids; mid+ tannins; refined, balanced, red fruit finish. 16.5/91.
  • Consistent Paso Robles producer, 2022 Opolo Zinfandel Mountain Zinfandel ($17). Light-mid ruby, rim variation, low viscosity (13.0 alc.); berry, light wood, red fruit nose; low acids; soft tannins; mid-body; easy sipping appetizer and party wine. 16/90.
  • Sonoma, Calif., 2021 Gundlach Bundschu Pinot Noir “Gun Bun” ($21). Light-mid ruby, rim variation, viscous (14.2 alc.); red fruit, cherries, smoke, light stemmy nose; low acids; low-mid tannins; mid-depth; good Pinot flavors and finish. Party and appetizer wine. 15.5/89.
  • $19 (Costco) 2022 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County. Light-mid garnet, viscous (15.0 alc.); red fruit, berries, brambles, jam nose; low-mid acids; mid-tannins; mid-depth; semi-long, slightly hot berry finish. Appetizer, burger, pizza wine. 15/88.
  • $19 (Costco) Sonoma 2021 Taken Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon. Mid-dark garnet, viscous (13.5 alc.); red fruit, berries, herbaceous nose; low-mid acids; softening tannins; easy-sipping red fruit and berry finish. 15.5/89.
  • Tasted blind at SommCon event. 2020 Nino Negri Valtellina Superiore Quadrio ($23). Excellent value in Tuscan wine. Light-mid ruby, rim variation, viscous; red fruit, cherry, cocoa, mineral nose; mid+ acids, tannins; big extract (20% Merlot); long deep woody finish. 16.5/91.
  • Fine value single vineyard Beaujolais Cru 2021 Domaine Lucien Lardy Fleurie Le Vivier ($25). Sharp, light-mid ruby, viscous (13.5 alc.); earthy, floral, dried leaves, earthy red fruit nose; low acids, low-mid tannins; tight, slightly tart red fruit, earthy finish. 16/90.
  • Beaujolais Cru 2021 Domaine Anita Moulin-à-Vent Coeur de Vigneronne ($33). Sharp mid-garnet, viscous (13.0 alc.); bright red fruit, earthy, smokey, mineral nose; low-mid acids; low-mid tannins; semi-long stylish, deep, tasty finish. 16.5/91