$30 & Under Wines You’ll Love
GAYOT’s list of the Best Wines $30 & Under features varietals from around the world that help make the goal of enjoying an interesting bottle of wine an attainable one.
• ROSÉS •
1. Rosé 2022 | Château La Mascaronne, France
Video © Château La Mascaronne
In 2022, NBA star Tony Parker partnered with Michel Reybier, the owner of none the less than Cos d’Estournel, a Second Growth in Saint-Estèphe, Domaine Impérial Tokaj-Hétszölö, the Jeeper Champagne house and La Réserve hotels in Paris, Geneva, Zurich and Ramatuelle.
Château La Mascaronne is located in a beautiful landscape that is only found in Provence. Situated on a hillside at the highest point of the estate, the vines thrive deep into a soil of clay and limestone, in a unique terroir. Because of its elevation of three hundred meters, La Mascaronne enjoys a unique microclimate: nighttime temperatures are constantly several degrees cooler than along the shore.
Careful analysis of the soils and subsoils allows the winegrowing team to adapt its selection of grape varietals to the specificities of each plot. Château La Mascaronne was Agriculture Biologique certified in 2016. The wines are crafted exclusively from grapes grown at the estate. The Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Vermentino grapes, typical Provence varietals, are harvested at the height of ripeness.
The Wine
Origin: Provence
Appellation: Côtes de Provence AOC
Varietal: 40% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Rolle
Price: $30
ABV: 13.5%
The result is a fresh, balanced, and organic Provence rosé that showcases the distinctive qualities of its terroir. It has the luminous pink hue immediately identifiable as a Provence wine. It delivers aromas of fresh, ripe fruit.
> For more information, visit Château La Mascaronne official website.
2. Côtes de Provence Rosé 2023 | RUMOR, France
The Côtes de Provence Rosé produced by Barry Bayat is no longer a rumor but a now well-established wine in the rosé portfolio. In 2019, Bayat’s love for wine surpassed the one of his former profession (finance in the City). He moved to Provence and embarked on a new adventure, in pursuit of creating an elegant rosé. In 2024, we can attest that it was done with success.
The grapes come from vineyards with rock, clay, and limestone-based soil, creating a dry and rapidly draining environment which allows the grapes to develop maximum phenolic ripeness while maintaining freshness along the coast. The harvest takes place just before sunrise at 6°C-8°C (42.8°F-46.4°F) to capture freshness and brightness, ensuring structure and fruit balance. The grapes are quickly transported to the winery for pressing with soft maceration after sorting and destemming. They are vinified separately, and then blended in December to craft the final wine. Once blended, the wine is aged in stainless, temperature-controlled vats for three months to preserve its natural clarity. RUMOR is an easy-drinking, high-quality rosé.
The Wine
Origin: Provence
Appellation: Côtes de Provence AOC
Varietal: 60% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 3% Syrah, 1% Mourvèdre, 1% Tibouren
Price: $29.99
ABV: 12.5%
With zero residual sugar, RUMOR is light and full of flavor. It holds a classic pale pink hue. It masterfully blends delicate citrus and fruit aromas with a well-rounded crisp and dry finish.
Food pairing: apéritif; Mediterranean cuisine, light pastas, sushi, and grilled seafood.
> For more information, visit RUMOR Rosé official website.
RELATED: The Best Rosé Wines
• WHITES •
3. Petit-Chablis 2022 | Albert Bichot, France
Origin: Burgundy, France
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Price: $26.00
ABV: 12.5%
Albert Bichot is a well-known and respected wine producer based in Burgundy, France. The company has a long history dating back to 1831 when it was founded by Bernard Bichot. The estate owns vineyards in various prestigious appellations within Burgundy, including Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, and Côte Chalonnaise.
The winery is often associated with traditional winemaking techniques and a commitment to producing wines that reflect the unique characteristics of Burgundy’s terroir. Albert Bichot is also recognized for its sustainable viticulture practices and efforts to minimize its environmental impact.
This Petit-Chablis has a light, yellow color. The nose opens up with aromas of white flowers, lemon zest and melon. The flavor profile is marked by citrus flavors accompanied by juicy acidity and a touch of minerality.
> For more information, visit Albert Bichot official website.
RELATED: The Best Chardonnay Wines
4. Sauvignon Blanc 2023 | Honig, California
Origin: Northern California (58% Napa County, 42% Lake County)
Varietal: 98% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% each of Sémillon and Muscat
Price: $22.00
ABV: 13.5%
Honig Vineyards was established in 1964 by Louis Honig, who initially planted a 68-acre vineyard in Napa Valley. In 1984, his grandson Michael Honig took over the winery and began producing wines under the Honig label. Today, the winery is still family-owned and operated, with a strong focus on family values, sustainability and community.
This light straw-colored Sauvignon Blanc opens up with aromas of stone fruit, honeysuckle and lemon zest. The palate is marked by grapefruit, juicy acidity and a touch of minerality.
> For more information, visit Honig Vineyard and Winery official website.
RELATED: The Best Sauvignon Blancs
• REDS •
5. Pinot Noir 2022 | San Simeon, California
Origin: Monterey, California
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Price: $23.00
ABV: 14.5%
San Simeon Winery, located in the Paso Robles region of California, produces terroir-driven wines shaped by unique soils and the Pacific Ocean’s influence, which cools the vineyards at night to give their wines a distinct freshness. The San Simeon portfolio of wines was established in 1992 and reflects the best lots from the family’s estate vineyards; all vineyards are certified sustainable and the San Simeon estate vineyard is organically farmed.
This crimson red Pinot Noir has a rich, fruit-driven nose of cherry, raspberry and spice box. The mouth is abundant with red berry fruit, soft and round with a lingering, mouthwatering finish.
> For more information, visit the San Simeon Wines official website.
RELATED: The Best Pinot Noir Wines
6. Pinot Noir 2022 | Böen, California
Origin: 70% Monterey County, 19% Santa Barbara County, 11% Sonoma County, California
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Price: $21.
ABV: 14.7%
Cultivation is the foundation of civilization and Böen, meaning farm, is a testament to grape growers and their knowhow garnered over generations, including the Wagner family, owners of Böen. Their farming up and down the coast of California is reflected in their wine, and the three coastal expressions build upon each other for this wine.
The nose of this dark ruby wine is marked by bing cherry, plum and spices. The palate is well balanced with bright acidity, plenty of red fruit and a long, smooth finish.
> For more information, visit Böen official website.
7. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2019 | Calimaia, Italy
Origin: Tuscany, Italy
Varietal: 90% Sangiovese, 10% other local varietals
Price: $25.00
ABV: 14%
Tenuta Calimaia is an Italian winery located in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, near the town of Pisa. The estate is known for producing high-quality wines, particularly focusing on the Sangiovese grape varietal, which is iconic to the region.
The winery’s vineyards are situated in a picturesque landscape characterized by rolling hills and a Mediterranean climate, ideal for grape cultivation. Tenuta Calimaia is committed to sustainable viticulture practices, respecting the land and environment.
This Vino Nobile shows an intense garnet red color. The nose reveals red berries, pomegranate and violets. The palate is well balanced with hints of plums, ripe cherries and sweet spices, all wrapped in ripe and elegant tannins.
> For more information, visit Tenuta Calimaia official website.
8. Cabernet Franc 2022 | Lang & Reed, California
Origin: California
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Franc
Price: $27.99
ABV: 14.6%
Lang & Reed Wine Company is a winery known for its focus on Cabernet Franc, a red grape varietal. The winery was founded by John Skupny and his wife, Tracy, in 1995. Their emphasis on Cabernet Franc is somewhat unique, as this grape is often used as a blending component in Bordeaux-style blends, but Lang & Reed showcases it as a varietal wine.
The winery, located in the Napa Valley region of California, is recognized for its commitment to producing high-quality Cabernet Franc wines that express the characteristics of the grape. Cabernet Franc is known for its savory and herbal qualities, and Lang & Reed aims to highlight these aspects in their wines.
The wine shows a deep red color with aromas of chocolate, cherry, violet and dried herbs. The palate is medium full-bodied carrying fine tannins and displaying loads of dark red fruits, savory and cedar notes.
> For more information, visit Lang & Reed official website.
9. Les Légendes R Médoc 2019 | Les Domaines Barons de Rothschild, France
Origin: Médoc, Bordelais
Appellation: Médoc AOC
Varietal: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot
Price: $27.99
ABV: 13.5%
The Rothschild family has been making wine in Bordeaux since 1868. Over six generations have embraced the beauty of the region, and its unique characteristics of the vines in each appellation. Diane Flamand, the oenologist responsible for Les Légendes R, creates it by blending carefully selected wines.
Médoc, on the left bank of the Gironde Estuary, north of Bordeaux, benefits from an exceptional situation and a unique clay and limestone terroir, on gravelly hilltops.
2019 was a year of contrasts and was characterized by tremendous variation. A cool spring, scorching heat in the summer and dry weather throughout the year prevented the development of diseases. However, cold, rainy weather in June disrupted flowering, causing coulure and millerandage. Furthermore, water stress, which varied depending on the area and the terroir, resulted in some instances of ripening being checked. The berries were therefore small, resulting in lower than usual yields. Fortunately, there was some rain after September 22nd, which relaunched the ripening process and enabled the red grape varieties to reach a good level of maturity.
This wine is made in the traditional Bordeaux method: grapes are destemmed and crushed before being placed in thermoregulated stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Total maceration time lasts around three weeks, with regular pumping overs, to obtain good concentration of tannins and color.
This is a full-bodied wine, with boldness and power, and a deep garnet color. Spicy aromas of vanilla and nutmeg dominate on the nose. It shows a core of dark fruit balanced with subtle oaky notes.
> For more information, visit Les Domaines Baron de Rothschild official website.
RELATED: The Best Cabernet Sauvignon
