2023 French Wine between $10 and $25

France Côtes Catalanes in Rousillon has a lot in common with Spain. Including the grape the Spanish call Cariñena and the French Carignan. This is full of rich, dark, blueberry/blackberry cobbler fruit with a nice... Read More

Pinot Blanc is often the overlooked grape in Alsace, but – especially in these warming times – its ability to hold onto crisp, refreshing, acidity is prized! Done all in tank, this shows pretty scents and flavors of... Read More

From the south of France, this is easy-drinking Pinot Noir that will satisfy at table as well as just sipping with a crowd. Dark black and Bing cherry fruit show on the nose and palate with a fine juiciness that lifts the flavor... Read More

One of the finest values in the shop, this is “the black wine” of Cahors at its most friendly and fun-loving. Around 85% Malbec and 15% Merlot given 18 months in concrete, it’s loaded with juicy black cherry,... Read More

Lower ABV Ch Marie du Fou wines showcase the traditions of the Mourat family and the tiny region of Fiefs Vendeens at the end of the Loire River as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. A blend of Pinot Noir, Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon... Read More

Lower ABV Burgundy's other white grape shines here in a zesty wine with richness and vibrancy, cut and depth. Aromas and flavors of crunchy pear, white pepper, orange peel and salty stone sing out in a wine that balances roundness... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV Jeremie Huchet is making some of the most exciting wines in the western Loire region of Muscadet, including this generous example from vineyards on a hill overlooking the Maine River. It’s from organically... Read More

Lower ABV Melon de Bourgogne grown on schist soils gives more cut, energy and freshness than pure limestone, and schist around 15 inches under the top-soil is the secret to this delicious seafood and sipping white. Green apple,... Read More

Organic/Bio The kind of wine we often call “cheerful.” There’s plenty of substance to the ripe red cherry and redcurrant fruit and a whiff of the wild herb and black olive notes the French call “garigue.”... Read More

Lower ABV Think of Coteaux du Giennois as the front door to Sancerre (technically the “back door” since it’s down river, but that doesn’t sound nearly as good!). The limestone soils here were given over... Read More

In the deep south of Languedoc, growers discovered that flooding their vineyards for 40 days in spring could kill the phylloxera louse, and that's how Ferrandiere still farms it's own-rooted vines just 12 miles from Carcassonne.... Read More

Lower ABV There's a lot going on here if you want to geek out and try to describe it, but the top -line is that it's really good Chenin with a touch of barrel that goes down almost too easily. The flavors of quince, apple,... Read More

From vines north of Sancerre, this is mostly Pinot Noir with a splash of Gamay and while calling it a charming Bistro Pinot is accurate, it undersells the quality here by a fair bit. The cherry and mulberry fruit flavors are dark... Read More

Lower ABV Grolleau Noir is one of the Loire Valley's most widely planted grapes, but it mostly ends up in pink wine, especially Rosé d'Anjou. Here an excellent Saumur producer turns Grolleau into an utterly delicious,... Read More

Fleurie is Beaujolais more elegant, perfumed, Cru and this single vineyard example lives up to the reputation. Sappy in feel with floral aromatics and ripe red fruit all kept fresh by fine tannin and a dash of granite minerality.... Read More

Morgon gives cru Beaujolais concentration with an almost velvety mouth feel. As Wine Enthuisast says in the 92 point review, Deep purple in color, this wine has an aromatic nose of blackberry, blueberry and hints of hibiscus.... Read More

Organic/Bio Eric Bonnet took over his family estate in 1999, so he has 25 years of organic farming and careful winemaking experience behind him now. Which his how he’s able to coax so much flavor and intensity out of his... Read More

Organic/Bio From 80 year-old Grenache vines in the Rhone, fortified to keep some sugar, and aged in concrete. The wild strawberry, macerated cherry and blackberry fruit picks up a hint of bitter chocolate in the middle. It feels... Read More

Lower ABV Muscadet is bone dry, super crisp, lightly yeasty/salty white wine that was born to drink with oysters and shellfish - or with roast chicken, sharp cheeses or all by itself if you enjoy wines full of crisp green fruit... Read More

Lower ABV A classic Loire Valley Cabernet Franc done all in steel to capture the crunchy fruit and wild herb aromas. Wine Advocate says, The 2023 Trézeillières exhales a fruity, gourmand bouquet of cassis, raspberries,... Read More

Normally you see a nicely priced Chardonnay from the South of France and can safely assume it was done in tank to emphasize the ripe pineapple, pear and apple fruit. Here there was so much fruit – really, gobs of it –... Read More

Lower ABV Direct, mouthwatering, delicious French Sauvignon Blanc fun here in a wine that serves up straight-ahead grapefruit and green peach aromas and flavors, a whiff of fresh herb and then a nice pop of acidity to drive the... Read More

Organic/Bio Cabrerisse is in the northern part of Languedoc on the south-facing slopes of the Montagne Noire hills. Meaning the middle of nowhere (we had to look it up, too). Anne Sarda works her vines of up to 60 years old organically... Read More

Organic/Bio Like most Mary Taylor wines, there’s a great story here of an under-appreciated growing region and a crazy dedicated organic farmer/winemaker. Google it – it’s great! Or just pour a big glass of this... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV What happens when you grow the Gamay of Beaujolais, the Pinot Noir of Burgundy and the Malbec of Cahors on the flint and silex soils of Valencay in France's western Loire Valley? Well, if the grower/winemaker... Read More