Artisan Wine on a Budget

I love Langhe Nebbiolo, and Perbacco is my favorite. At $22-$25 a bottle, Perbacco is neither the least nor the most expensive of its type, but I consider it one of the best--approaching the quality of a good Barolo.
The bouquet is slow to open but impressively deep. Nothing flashy. From the first sip, though, the Nebbiolo flavors dance on the palate. Medium body and weight with smooth tannins and a long, sparkling finish....

There are many ordinary wines from Sicily on the market. But there is nothing ordinary about this wine, produced from low-yielding Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappubbio vines near Mount Etna. It still sells for less than $20 a bottle, but that is likely...

This is my favorite of three red wines we had for Thanksgiving dinner. Now 28 years of age, it illustrates well the aging potential of red Bordeaux, even from relatively modest appellations.
Some amber tones around the rim, but otherwise no signs of advancing age. Currants, berries, blue flowers. Lead pencil tones on the palate. Long, beautiful finish....

Situated on the highway leading into the Pinot-centric Anderson Valley, Yorkville Cellars focuses on Bordeaux-style wines. This Cab Franc, made from organic grapes grown in the Rennie Vineyard, is at a good stage of development right now.
Ripe raspberries, fresh and bright. None of the earthy traits you sometimes get from Cab Franc produced in the Loire Valley. Bordeaux in style--stylish and reserved. But the northern California traits are hard to ignore. Good fruit on finish....