Fortunately, there are still quality wines to be found that won’t send you into sticker shock.  When an entry-level Burgundy or Bordeaux starts at $30 a bottle retail, it’s good to know that by shopping from the neighbors of great wine districts, or by choosing younger wines from the same pedigree, you can get the quality and character without the price tag.  By shopping wisely, you can keep yourself in good vin rouge for $10 a bottle, with a splurge up to $14-15 for those relaxing weekend evenings.

The first place you need to look is the southern Rhone Valley of France.  The Rhone gives us the famed wines of Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage, and Chateauneuf-du-Pape.  However, in a similar style at a fraction of the price are the wines from Costieres de Nimes at the very southern end of the valley.  Nimes wines use the same blends as more famous Rhone vintages – Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache.  The style is lightly oaked, easily drinkable, with firm tannins and black fruit flavor.   The Chateau de Nages pictured above smells of black cherry, vanilla, and licorice, and tastes of blueberries, black cherry, and mulberry with a bit of floral violets on the finish.  Color is deep purple and the body is on the full side of medium, with intense fruit flavors and good structure.

Nimes wines are enjoyable young, especially with an hour or two of decanting before serving.  They should age well for 4-5 years if they show firm tannic structure when young.  Southern Rhone wines, while generally more interesting than your average Cote du Rhones or Cote du Rhones Villages, are not in high demand.  This is a shame, but it’s also an opportunity to lay down some really nice wines for very little cash.

Another great place to go for really luxuriant European reds is Spain’s Rioja appelation.  There are four “grades” of these wines that you will find on the shelf, Rioja, Rioja Crianza, Rioja Reserva, and Rioja Gran Reserva.  Rioja, unqualified, is aged for a year before bottling, with at least some time in oak.  Crianza is aged for two years, at least one in oak.  Reserva is aged three years before bottling, with one in oak.  Gran Reserva wines get two years oak aging, three total.

You will pay $20-30 each for a Reserva or Gran Reserva.  However, Crianzas are rather cheaper.  Unqualified Riojas and Crianzas are typically within a dollar or two in price, and the extra aging prior to going into the bottle makes a big difference.  Gran Reservas are for those who like a lot of oak character, and Reservas are for those who want a slightly more refined wine that’s a little closer to being at its best drinking.  For pure value, the Crianza is where you want to go.

Riojas are primarily made from the Tempranillo grape, with some Garnacha (Grenache), Mazuelo, and Graciano.  The more expensive versions are 100% Tempranillo, or nearly so.  However, even if you splurge most still fall from $9-14 a bottle.  Riojas are velvety, with restrained grape and oak tannins, a big nose, and flavors of red fruit, earth, cedar, and tobacco.  They are very smooth, warm, decadent wines.  If you are not familiar with Spanish wines other than Madiera and sherry, you owe it to yourself to grab a few bottles of Rioja Crianza.  Lay a few down for 2-3 years, but drink them as you buy them, too.  A little decanter time before imbibing will open the aromas up wonderfully.

Is a Reserva that much better that you want to pay twice the price, on average?  Perhaps for a special meal, but as an everyday pour, the younger vintage gives you a good portion of the experience for less dough.  Plus, frugal doesn’t always have to mean sacrifice.