Hello, I'm new to wine and new to the forums. I have been lurking however and using the search feature. I wanted to know if anyone could recommend any inexpensive ($10-$30 range) red wines that could be stored for longer than just a couple of years? Any help would be appreciated.

Paul

Most wines in this price range are meant for immediate or short term consumption. What are you trying to accomplish?

PH

Basically, I'm wanting to know what wines (if any) under $30 can be cellared beyond a couple of years.

A great place to start is on a vintage chart I believe these are geared to more expensive wines, but it will at least give you a general idea of how the wines in each region fared and how long they should generally be stored. Most wines under $30 should be enjoyed in their first five years, so the chart can give you a better idea as to whether you should only wait two years or go the full five. You could really test it by buying a few bottles and taste one every few years or so.

What do you consider "beyond a few." 5? 10? 20? Frankly very few inexpensive wines will benefit much from more than a few years in bottle and most will either stay the same or decline. Not much point to the exercise.

PH

Thanks for the answers. I guess I'll have to up my budget as I want something that will atleast keep for 5 years.

Many wines in this price point will "keep" for 5 years. They just won't get better. Why buy a nice daily drinker now to have it sit around and taste the same in 5 or 6 years? Just buy another bottle then.

The purpose to laying wines down is to acquire wines that need aging at as low a price as possible, control their evolution in ideal conditions and enjoy properly matured wines when they are ready.

PH

I don't think wines under $30 are always only able to "keep" for a few years! I would imagine many of you are Americans and used to more new world wines.

A wine with structure (tannin, acid, sweetness) will "keep". A wine that is tightly wound, where you can detect things under the surface, will improve.

Some places to start looking:
-Languedoc. It's maybe not a prestigious region, but they've made wine there for millenia. Try something from Bandol. I have Bandols from Domaine Tempier from the 60s that are fantastic. Another good producer from Peznas: Domaine de Montpezat.
-Sauternes. Sweet wines in general keep, few better than golden sauternes. You can buy half bottles for ~20 from respected producers. You can buy good producers in off years very cheaply. I've seen 96 Rabaud-Promis, a premier cru, for ~$35 a bottle.

I think that in general if you look for more artisinally produced wines, you'll get what you're looking for.

Thanks Chazz for the great information! I'll definitely look in that direction.

There are very, very few red wines in this price range that will improve markedly over time. Holding is one thing. Improving is quite another. Please note, Paul that Sauternes is not a red wine, per your original request. Lovely stuff, but certainly not red.

Chazz, definitely second your recommendation of Bandol. fwiw, my cellar is 90% old world. Not much in there in the range Paul suggested that qualifies as "long term red" per Paul's original request.

PH

$10? No. $30 you got a few:

There are chateauneuf du pape's in the $30 range from good years that will go 10+ years easy AND improve. Got to be good years though (98, 01)

You can throw some other rhones in there too. Again, great vintage is the key.

Ports (even non-vintage) will age fine and either improve or evolve from good years. You can find some in the $20-$30 range.

Lower growth bordeaux in great years can be held as well. Hit or miss in your price range though.

For a real long term holding cellar - with diversity, you will need to up your budget. Especially if you want California Cabs, Higher end Bordeaux or top italians to be part of it.

I won't even mention Burgundy

Thanks PH and Hunter!

I suppose I need to up my budget and broaden my collection. As stated previously, I am a newby, without doubt. I was under the impression that "reds" kept and aged longer than other types, which is why I specifically inquired about them. However, I am definitely open to suggestions outside of red. In fact, I really like white wines but couldn't see buying a lot of them and forcing myself to drink them all within a year or so. I want to collect more than drink heavily.

Paul,

Honestly, I'd find a way to sample some of the wines that are recommended for longer aging. See if you even like them first. If you really do enjoy them, go ahead and save up for those 50-100 (or more) Sangioveses and Cabs.

But, if not, no shame in spending your cash on those great 25 dollar Aussie Shiraz or Chilean Malbecs that were on the vine a few years ago.

Good luck!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: indybob,

Not all Bordeaux is ridiculously expensive. Satellites of St Emillion and Pomerol will provide nice wines that will age at a very reasonable price. There is a little thread started by spo where we discuss Cotes du Castillon.

Single Quinta Port is an easy way to go. You should be able to pick up some at about $30. Alternatively, Traditional/Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port will make the mark easily. Warre, Quinta do Noval, Niepoort and Krohn all make excellent wines in this style. Do not go for filtered as there is no point, this rules out Taylor, Graham, Dow and the majority of other houses.

One recommendation:
2003 Sociando Mallet (about $46). A great tasting Bordeaux you should be able to cellar up to 30 years.

This topic of cellaring wines is a most interesting topic. On one hand, cellaring to improve a wine makes perfect sense. Then again, why not enjoy a made to drink wine within the one to two year window? This is quite a dilemma that I struggle with too.

I personally am also new to collecting wine and I set my price point at $50 a bottle. I try not exceed this, but it is getting much harder these days. It should be noted that a lot of California Cabs are being made more approachable in favor of holdovers. The reason I cellar wines is more because I cannot drink them fast enough to keep up with my buying habit. But I will say that the ones that have been held (97s) have been outstanding. The depth of concentration of fruit as thet tannins have softened make for a whole new experience. My advice would be to find wine that has good structure and tannins today. You can still drink these, but put them down for 10 years and sse what happens. YUM!

I have a harder time buying up Bordeaux that I have to wait 30+ years to enjoy. Who knows, I could be dead before I get to them. =)

IMO, Bordeaux is a GREAT way to go. In less than epic years, such as 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001, there are some nice classified growths that sell for under $30, especially as futures, such as d'Armailhac, Haut Batailly, Haut Bages Liberal, Talbot, du Tertre, etc. Many St. Emilions also fit this bill (check the ratings). In epic years (like 2005, 2003 left bank, and 2000), prices go up, so to stay under $30, you need to duck down into the Bordeaux Superior and Crus Burgois realm, but you can still get 90-92 pointers for under $30. Try Les Grandes Chenes, Rollan de By, Pipeau, Clarke, etc.

A lot of 2003 Bordeaux is drinking surprisingly well right now, and some of the 2000's with lesser pedigrees are just coming into their prime today--you don't have to wait 30 years, but most will evolve for 15+.

Aussie shiraz and cabs in the $25-30 range often age surprisingly well for 10-12 years. It's not that they get a lot better, but they do change from fruit bombs to more elegant and civilized wines. Forefathers, Peter Lehman Barossa, Balnaves and Kaesler come to mind.

I drink Brunellos and Barolo reds from Italy. Once a week I'll have a decent Bordeaux, Australian Shiraz or Cabernet from Napa... However you don't need a cellar unless you drink (6+) bottles a week and spend as much on wine as you do on your car payment insurance, gas, etc. However those entering the game now can get good agable wine inexpensively try wines around Brunello like: Anvignonesi Vino Noble di Montipuliciano 2003 or Torrione Petrolo 01 & 04, Super Tuscan, in a Sangiovese clone like Brunello. Another is Barbera d'Alba, the everyday red of Piedmont where the 100 pt Barolos come from . FYI Shiraz ages well and for white/ Reisling ages forever if its good. Good luck now that you've been bitten by the bug