Wine For Value Investors

· Not a wine snob? Just want a good value?

· I hate wasting money and know what I like.

· Wines with +EV that you might like, too.

Antiche Terre Venete Amarone della Valpolicella Veneto

What you get

Today’s idea is the wine with the best expected value. I look for something at a reasonable price and available at a discount. I just mention wines that 1) I personally love and 2) that are not particularly controversial or weird such that my love for them is a reasonable proxy for something you are likely to at least like. According to Wine Access’ Tasting Notes, today’s pick is,

Dark ruby with garnet reflections at the rim. The fruit is dark and brooding, with scents of balsamic-soaked plum, crushed black raspberry, and fig. Dried herbs, fruit leather, and slightly smoked meat interplay with wild violets and cola. Full and rich on the palate, this wine shows a crushed-walnut character that is classic and savory. The best expression comes forward after an hour in a decanter when the wine has had enough time to breathe — then the rewards of a $25 Amarone can be truly enjoyed. Drink now — 2027.

You can order today and get the case by Tuesday, February 2nd in time to decant that evening. If you do, please comment below with your view. I love it and hope you do too.

What you pay

$100 with free shipping when you buy a half of a case of this using this link for the first time.

What you save

This is a $45 bottle of wine at retail for a total value of $270 for the half case; you save $170 with this combination of savings. But even at $45, it is a good wine that tastes more like a $80 bottle running at $960 per case. These big red Italian wines can run very pricey; this one is a high quality proxy for expensive versions without the expense (an expense that, unless you have a far subtler palate than mine, will probably just waste money).

What I think

First of all, it is a beautiful bottle which I don’t care about for my own consumption, but it gets extra points for gifts. It looks more expensive than it is.

It is intense and a good example of the category. I love it but almost couldn’t imaging your not at least liking it (assuming you like bold reds). They also happen to have a terrific website, if you want to learn more. My confidence level is 60% that you’ll love it and at least 90% that you’ll at least like it and think it was a marginally good use of $100. My favorite online wine retailer does really deep research to find smart wine deals. They describe this one’s provenance as such,

Antiche Terre Venete is located in the Valpantena subregion of Valpolicella, situated inside an amphitheater of meticulously terraced vines that provide ideal sun exposure. The estate dates back to the early 1900s, when Vittorio Sancassasi began cultivating vines along hillsides, which have typically produced the region’s superior grapes.

Today, his descendent Luciano Sancassani is carrying on the family heritage. Together with another local family scion, Riccardo Degani, Sancassani tends 123 acres of Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone. Their approach to creating this wine requires sacrifice, patience, and know-how that’s been passed from generation to generation. A producer like Antiche Terre Venete works just as hard in the vineyard as a producer of Barolo or Brunello, but ends up with 40% less wine.

After a hand-picked harvest, the team dries the grapes for three to four months in specialized lofts, requiring constant humidity maintenance to avoid rot. After the grapes have lost a third of their water volume, the winemaking begins. The drying concentrates everything: sugars, aromas, flavors, and — crucially, to maintain balance — acids. The result is a monumental level of concentration that you’ll struggle to find elsewhere in Europe.

But that’s exactly what Wine Access members will pay for this bargain-priced gentle giant from Valpantena.

What actual experts think

James Suckling gave it 92 points calling it,

A creamy, fruity red with ripe plums, orange peel and chocolate-powder undertones. Full to medium body. Fruity and flavorful. Dry and refined. Drink now.

Wine Spectator gave it 91 points saying it is,

A rich red, with creamy tannins and juicy acidity, showing an expressive range of fig cake, sun-dried black cherry, coffee liqueur, dried thyme and smoke flavors. A balanced crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2027.

TL;DR

If you’re new to Wine Access, join here then buy 6 of today’s wine pick.