French Wine between $25 and $50

Organic/Bio What do Cognac makers drink for an aperitif or at lunch? Pineau des Charentes! And this is one of the very finest from Cognac's first organic estate. The wine starts with fresh, unfermented, juice from the Cognac... Read More

Just imagine taking the richest, most mouthcoating, just-pressed wine grape juice and then adding enough high-end VSOP Cognac to it to bring the alcohol up to around 17%. Then put the blend into Cognac barrels for a minimum of... Read More

One of the most wildly delicious and complex not dry wines we know of. You can call it sweet if you like and it will certainly do magic with an apricot upside-down cake. But we'll be drinking our bottles before dinner (or... Read More

This rich, sweet, liqueur made from blackcurrants macerated in alcohol originated in Burgundy in the 1840s where it soon found its way into glasses of tart Aligote (a “Kir”) and then frothy Champagne (a “Kir... Read More

The 3rd wine of this 2nd growth estate comes from younger vines and is mainly Merlot with just a touch of new French oak. As Vinous says, a pretty bouquet, featuring light blackcurrant and cedar scents. It’s understated... Read More

Once again a blend of Merlot and Cabernet, all aged in oak, from the tiny Saint Emilion “satellite” Saint-Georges. Separated from it’s more famous neighbor but just a small stream, Saint-Georges Saint-Emilion... Read More

Yes, in their 94 point raves, the critics say you should wait until next year to drink this. But if you like your Bordeaux rich, deep, full of fruit and spice and ready to delight both Old World and Napa fans, it’s pretty... Read More

Topline: This is crazy delicious Pinot Noir and very fine red Burgundy that's seriously under-priced. Grab it before the market catches on. Caroline Fyot and Alexia Russo created this small estate in Mercurey in 2018 and make... Read More

The second wine of one of a very top Pessac estate, this delivers extra richness from 39% Merlot with plenty of Cabernet Sauvignon structure and grip, all polished by 30 months in 75% new oak. As Vinous says in the 91-93 point... Read More

Lower ABV Bordeaux Blanc in all but name – a quirk in the French wine laws – but in a Pouilly Fume/Sancerre style. It’s all Sauvignon Blanc with big lemon pulp fruit and a mouthwatering pepper spice. Winemaker... Read More

Just outside Saint Emilion, this blend of Merlot plus a splash of Cabernet delivers a classic Right Bank drinking experience plus the benefit of bottle age. Lovely redcurrant, cherry and fresh blackberry fruit is wrapped in savory... Read More

Organic/Bio This is probably the single best Bordeaux value in the shop right now, mainly because the vintage is brilliant and the estate sells all they make without participating in the Bordeaux critics’ circus. From a... Read More

Organic/Bio In a few weeks from this writing, I’ll have dinner with winemaker Lou Rochet and get her to explain the details here. For now we know that this is about equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot with a dollop of... Read More

Already delicious, this stylish Left Bank red on gravel soils is only going to get better over the next 10-15 years. It's showing excellent ripeness and an unusually silky mouth feel with pretty perfume from the 5% Cabernet... Read More

During years of legal battles with the owners of First Growth Ch Lafite (one t), the owners of Ch Lafitte (two ts) have never taken their eye off the ball - they make flat-out terrific red Bordeaux that sells not only for a... Read More

From just outside the walls of Saint-Emilion, this is nicely rich and plummy Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc from 35 year-old vines. It's nicely rich, as you'd expect of the vintage, with dark blackberry and blackcurrant... Read More

You know, for a Saint Emilion Grand Cru, we can't find out a darn thing about this estate or wine. Fortunately, we know it tastes great (because we tried it). Nicely rich and plummy red and black berry fruit forms the wine's... Read More

With Domaine Tempier, the Portalis family’s Ch Pradeaux defines Bandol’s history and leads the appellation on quality. Their rosé is a 50/50 blend of Mourvedre and Cinsault, giving this both serious intensity... Read More

Fronsac on the Right Bank shares soil type with St Estephe on the Left Bank and displays some of the same power and grip as well. In a warm, rich, vintage, here that structure is matched with terrific dark fruit. As Suckling says... Read More

Ignore the label - this is actually Ch Canon Chaigneau Cuvee 8A packaged with a different label because the importer didn't like the real bottle shape! While this is 96% Merlot plus Cab Franc, there's nothing plummy going... Read More

Organic/Bio Jura is famous for its oxidative whites, but that's not what's going on here! This is pure, fresh, and highly delicious Chardonnay from alpine vineyards with no noticeable oak influence at all. Delicious pear... Read More

For the past six years, this has been a terrific Brut Champagne at a crazy good price. It comes from a co-op founded in 1959 to help grape growers in Aube, the southern part of Champagne, get a little better deal from the big... Read More

Chenin Blanc is the base of many great sweet and off-dry wines, including this one which straddles the line between the two. With time in bottle, it’s showing beautifully with layers of rich pear, spice, sliced almond, and... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV A stunning value in top-notch Muscadet from the important Chateau Thebaud Cru. Antoine Delaunay farms his vines organically, uses no sulfur in the winery until a tiny touch at bottling, and gives all his... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV The 3HA plot of 50 year-old vines across from Mont de Milieu was meant to be a test for the winery’s conversion to organic farming. But the wine was so good that today it’s bottled on its own.... Read More