Everyday Wines from Great Producers

Some of the world’s best producers make wines which are a fraction of the price of the ones which got them famous. In Bordeaux these are called ‘second wines.’ A second wine is usually made from younger vines. A wine made from younger vines will be better to drink without aging, but it may not live as long as the more expensive ones. In other regions such as Burgundy, the Rhône, and Barolo, many of the top producers have looked to lesser known areas and even other countries to make their version of an everyday drinking wine. The reason is that many of these producers are looking for ways to grow without risking the reputation of the prestigious and historic wine they came to fame through. It’s a bit like a fashion designer who makes handbags as well as couture clothing. You can get the same quality of the designer, in a product which costs much less and you use it everyday, rather than the high end wear it once approach. 

Our Collection of Everyday Wines from Great Producers

This is a list of the wines from famous, and often expensive, wineries that aren’t expensive.

Lafon

Dominque Lafon’s family has long been one of the greatest producers of white wine in the world. Their family’s winery is based in Meursault in Burgundy. Meursault is one of the greatest white wine areas in the world, and therefore the wines are collectible and expensive. Dominque decided to venture to another neighboring region called the Macon. Here, the grape is still chardonnay, just like in Burgundy. He’s working with the same grape and only an hour or so away.

Chave

Jean-Louis Chave’s family has been making wine since the 1400s on the hill of Hermitage in France. Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage is one of the great wines in the world. Chave Hermitage can age for well over 50 years. It’s one of the best wines to drink, and to invest in and cellar for a long time. Recently, Jean Louis decided to make a wine label that could be drunk younger in order to give people the option to have a wine by him without having to pay the price of Hermitage but also in order to preserve that the idea of drinking a Hermitage is a special experience and not needed everyday. This label is J.L. Chave Selection. They are some of the greatest values in wine in the world.

Cerbaiona

Diego and Nora Molinari started one of Italy’s great estates out of their backyard. Literally, they bought a dream home back in the 1970s in Montalcino which had some vineyards in the back. Fast forward 40 years and their Brunello is one of the great wines in all of Italy. Along with their Brunello, they’ve always made a Rosso di Montalcino, and a wine labeled 'VDT' which is a blend of many grapes.

More everyday wines from great producers...

White Burgundy

Many people know that Dauvissat, D’angerville, de Montille, Pierre Morey, Dominique Lafon, Hubert Lignier, and Pierre Boisson make some of the most compelling White Burgundy around. Very few people know they all make absolutely rocking bottles well under $100.

Dauvissat, Petit Chablis 2019

Domaine du Pélican, Arbois Chardonnay 'Grand Curoulet' 2020

Pierre Morey, Bourgogne Blanc 2019

Héritiers du Comte Lafon, Saint-Véran 2020

Hubert Lignier, Saint-Romain Blanc 2020

Hubert Lignier, Saint-Romain Blanc 2020

Red Burgundy

More and more, ‘value’ and ‘Red Burgundy’ can seem like antonyms. Look out of Bourgogne Rouge and Villages wines from the producers you wish you could drink the Premier and Grand Crus of every day. These are ours.

Maison de Montille, Bourgogne Rouge 2019

Michel Lafarge, Bourgogne Rouge 2010

Jean-Marie Fourrier, Bourgogne Rouge 2017

Ghislaine Barthod, Bourgogne Rouge 2016

Denis Bachelet, Côtes de Nuits-Villages 2009

Italian

In tomato season, you need high quality, highly affordable Italian reds at the ready. It’s hard to do better than these. Think of a fixed-gear bicycle but made by Ferrari.

Nervi-Conterno, Gattinara 2018

Serafino Rivella, Langhe Nebbiolo 2019

Pian dell'Orino, Rosso di Montalcino 2017

Riesling

Undhof and Keller will top-out anyone’s list of best growers of riesling in the world. Keller’s top bottles trade for many thousands of dollars. These… do not.

Salomon Undhof, Riesling 'Kögl' 2004