Usually I like to educate people about styles and grapes you can then go find on your own, since finding a specific bottle can be an issue depending on what your local wine store happens to have. But lately I had a bunch of good reds under $30, which can be hard to find. And in that spirit, I threw in some whites under $30 as well. 

the reds

Montecalvi Chianti Classico 2020 $29
I feel like most people these days dismiss Chianti and I’ve been guilty of that myself, but every once in a while you find a good one. This one had excellent, deep black cherry with hints of fresh leather. Makes you want to pour an extra glass (I did). 
 
Chateau le Puy, Duc des Mauves Bordeaux 2021 $23
We recently did a tasting of smaller Bordeaux regions where most of the wines weren’t remarkable at all. But this Côtes de Bordeaux, with a mix of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, is biodynamic, and like many of those wines it was nervy and vibrant. Aromas of sweet blackberry with a whiff of funk, it was a little more gentle on the palette but would be good with a light spring menu. 
 
Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Franc Cuvée Alexandre 2022 $25
Chile is always a great value. Though it’s mostly known for Cabernet Sauvignon, this Cab Franc (the first for Casa Lapostolle) has lots of pepper with blueberries and blackberries. It was also pretty hearty for a Cab Franc, so would be a great more affordable alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon. 
 
J. Lohr Wildflower Valdiguié $13
Such a fun grape. Similar to Gamay, you can drink this simple wine with a little chill (great for red wine lovers in summer, or with your lighter grill nights). Great light blackberry fruit but without the treacle heaviness of baked blackberries. 

the whites

Cormorant Grenache Blanc Marsanne $27
I was sampling and wasn’t very inspired and thought, Let me try just one more. Voila – just so delicious. Yellow apple, unripe green pear but lots of acid which I don’t normally find with that flavor profile. Maybe a hint of lemon peel. 

Gehricke Russian River Chardonnay $29 
Ripe golden apple, hints of green pear and lots of warm cinnamon.

McGrail Vineyards Peyton Paige Sauvignon Blanc $28
Light, clean, and packs a great yellow grapefruit punch. 

and one sparkling

Aphrodise $39
OK, so this isn’t under $30 but if you’ve been following grapefriend for a while, you know I love trying new sparkling wines. I’d never had a sparkling Xinomavro, a red grape from Greece that’s similar to Pinot Noir. Since I love Pinot-based sparklings, no surprise that I loved this one too. Lots of raspberry and red cherry, with almost an herbal note. It’s made in the Charmat method which means it’s fermented in big tanks instead of individual bottles (like Champagne does) and tends to produce a lot more mousse. This one had a ton of mousse, but it wasn’t aggressive and calmed down once in the glass for a bit. 
 
Sampled it with a massive Mediterranean spread, and I suggest you do the same!

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