This Is How To Find the Best-Value Wines in the Most Expensive Wine Regions

It can be done

Hello Sauciers! Today I’ve got a practical guide for anyone about how to buy wine that doesn’t break the bank in some of the most expensive wine regions in the world — or what I call the 4 big-budget Bs. Barolo, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Brunello di Montalcino.

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Rumour has it, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino (the four big-budget Bs) are too expensive for the likes of me and you to buy anymore.

That is partly true. I’m old enough to say “I remember a time when decent Barolo was under $30” whereas good Barolo from a good producer today could set you back hundreds of dollars or more.

The problem is, I like wines from these regions. They became expensive and sought after for a reason. They’re good. Sometimes the best you’ll ever get.

So I, along with the rest of the professional wine nerd community, have to find a way to drink wines from the four big-budget Bs — and other pricey regions — without resorting to selling the sofa.

There are ways. Ways I employed in my wine store and bar so I could sell my price-sensitive customers great wine from great regions. Ways I use to stock up my personal wine rack.

Ways I’m going to share with you today.

Rule numero uno: buy cheaper sub-regions from good producers

Not expensive names from bad producers.

Barolo is a perfect example of this.

Good Barolo from a good producer is one of life’s greatest pleasures. It will make your brain’s pleasure centres light up like a funfair.

Do you know what is terrible? Cheap Barolo from a bad producer.

Barolo is expensive to produce and comes with a caché other wines can only dream of. So if you find a “cheap” Barolo (we’re talking under $30), there be dragons, my friends.

Except, people still buy it because they want the Barolo name.

Do this instead. Find a good Barolo producer and buy their cheaper wines made with the same grape, Nebbiolo.

For instance, the Barolo by Oddero — one of my favourite producers — goes for $60. But their Langhe Nebbiolo is more like $20.

No, it won’t be as complex as their Barolo, but it will be lightyears ahead of most Barolo made by lesser producers.

The same goes for Burgundy. Aubert de Villaine — winemaker of Domaine de la Romanee Conti — makes a Chardonnay worth around $10k.

He also makes a white from the variety Aligoté that you can pick up for $30.

They are not the same. They are not even the same variety.

But I know from personal experience that his Aligoté is better than hundreds of other Burgundian Chardonnays at the same price. Especially those with fancy names like Chassagne-Montrachet.

If you buy the producer — not the fancy region — suddenly a whole world of excellent wine becomes available to you.

And you can drink Burgundy without having to sell a kidney.

My favourite cheap(er) wines by amazing producers:

• Le Ragnaie, Brunello di Montalcino, Italy. Try their entry-level Troncone.

• Sesti, Brunello di Montalcino. Their Monteleccio and Grangiovese wines are must-buys.

• Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage, France. The most prestigious name in this expensive region also makes excellent but much more affordable wines under his J.L Chave Selections label.

• Domaine Rougeot, Meursault, Burgundy. Try their Bourgogne Blanc.

• Most decent Barolo producers. Try their Langhe Nebbiolos. Favourite wineries include Oddero, Giacomo Fenocchio, Borgogno, and Elio Grasso.

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