Starting today, we’re going to try to make buying beer, wine and liquor less intimidating.  We’re going to sift through the best deals we find around St. Louis and bring them to you with the idea that they offer the buyer real value for your drinking dollar.

At or below $20.00

Finding good wine below $20.00 is an artform.  Most success will be from trial and error but hopefully we can cut through and help you reduce the number of errors required to enjoy a fine glass of vino.

Chateau La Castillonne, White Bordeaux | Bottle Cellars

From my research on this wine, it was a bronze award winner in 2013, and regarded as more affordable than the typical white wine from Bordeaux. The prices we found ranged from $11.00 to $17, so grabbing this bottle at $9.00 is quite a good deal.

The Chateau La Castillone is pleasantly fresh and fruity. You will find floral aromas and a crisp acidity as you sip this elegant Bordeaux.

Alfredo Roca Chardonnay | Wine & Cheese Place

This wine is created in a region of Argentina located in the very center of the Mendoza province, roughly 125 miles (200km) south of the city of Mendoza. This Chardonnay has been been consistently rated high by many wine writers.

My research on this wine included sales prices in four different cities in different areas of the U.S. and I have found WCP’s price of $12.99 is slightly above average, with the range falling between $9.99 and $13.50.

At or below $30.00

2014 J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon | Wine & Cheese Place

Interestingly, we could not find this wine even mentioned on the J. Lohr website, although we found dozens of reviews from respected wine publications.

Notably, Wine Enthusiast gave this bottle a rating of 92 saying, “This appealing wine is widely available. Blueberry, vanilla cream and gingerbread make for an inviting nose. The palate packs layers of intriguing, ripe and easily lovable flavors: baked strawberries, vanilla ice cream, blueberry sauce and baking spice.

The price point here $27.99 is well below the average prices we found around the country and online, which ranged from $32.99 to $36.00.

2014 Mongeard-Mugneret Bourgogne Blanc | The Wine Merchant
This steel-fermented Chardonnay is grown in stony, limestone-rich soils and has a rich, full-bodied texture and a surprisingly creamy flavor profile given the lack of oak. It has notes of peach, pear, and lemon on the palate, with a hint of crème brulee on the finish.

Our research shows this wine is properly priced, ranging in cost between $18 and $25.o0, so $22.99 seems appropriate.

2014 Mongeard-Mugneret Bourgogne Rouge  | The Wine Merchant

This 100% Pinot Noir is unmistakably Burgundian in style, with lots of red berry notes and a strong earthy component that comes out as it sits in the glass. The texture is supple and the tannins moderate, so it can be enjoyed young.

On the price, our research found it ranging between $25 and $30, so like it’s blanc sister, $22.99 means you’re getting quite a deal here.

 At or below $60.00

2013 Inglenook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon  | The Wine Merchant

A powerful, vibrant wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon shows the pedigree of this historic Rutherford vineyard. Remarkably light on its feet for such a big wine, the 2013 offers exceptional depth and pedigree from the very first taste. Even with all of its obvious intensity, the 2013 manages to remain polished and vibrant.

Online we visited the Inglenook website and found this exact wine selling for $75.00 before shipping making the sale price of $59.99 seem very reasonable.

K Vintners ‘Guido’ Sangiovese 2013 | Lukas Wine & Spirits

I’ve only had one Charles Parker wine in life, and for the life of me I wish I could remember what it was, but I do remember realizing I was drinking something pretty special.  This

The medium-ruby colored 2013 Sangiovese Guido comes all from Jack’s Vineyard in the Rocks region of Walla Walla. It has juicy acidity and an elegant, medium to full-bodied style, as well as lots of kirsch and cherry fruit characteristics, spring and spice. It shines on its purity and finesse, and should keep nicely through 2023.

Lukas is pricing this wine at $40.99.  Our research found this price is saving you between $5.o0 and $25.00 and prices for this bottle are ranging that wide.

At or above $100

2013 Ulysses | Wine & Cheese Place Clayton

It’s only fair to include wines that may be out of my price range, but may be within yours.  My research on this wine included sales prices in four different cities in different areas of the U.S. and I have found that their price of $179.00 is fair and about $5 to $20 below what I was finding.

Ulysses is a Napa Winery that is getting rave reviews.  Renowned wine purveyor Dreyfus, Ashby & Company writes, “The 2013 Ulysses is absolutely mind-boggling. Gorgeous blueberry and blackberry fruit, along with the telltale cassis and floral notes, jump from the glass. Produced nearly all from Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is full-bodied, powerful, rich and long, with slightly sweeter tannins than the 2012. Production in 2013 was 960 cases. We suspect it will be drinkable in 3-4 years and keep for 30 or more, given the wineries track record.”

Cain Five Red Blend Napa Valley 2008 | Lukas Wine

I discovered this wine recently on a Facebook group page and went looking for it online.  Locally I found it ranging in price from between $110 and $114. Lukas price of $104 is more than reasonable for the 1 or 2 bottles I might actually purchase at this price in a year.

Cain Five is fresh and firmly structured, with potential for long and consistent aging. This marks the second vintage of our return to 100% Cain Vineyard—Estate Bottled, which means 100% of the grapes were grown in our Cain Vineyard. It is a worthy successor and perfect companion to the 2007. With its floral-herbal perfumed nose, and its juicy, mouth-wateringly vibrant palate, it could only be the Cain Vineyard.

Store Locations

Lukas Wine & Spirits – St. Louis
15678 Manchester Rd.
Ellisville, MO 63011

The Wine And Cheese Place
7435 Forsyth Blvd
Clayton, MO 63105
314.727.8788

The Wine Merchant Ltd.
7817 Forsyth Blvd
Clayton, MO 63105
(314) 863-6282

Bottle Cellars
6039 Telegraph Road
Oakville, MO
314.846.5100