Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?!

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Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 8:05:34 AM

DoubleD1969

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Okay. I had a $50 Total Wine gift card and went to the store yesterday to pick up a bottle for dinner. Good grief, that was difficult to do. I didn't have all day, but I spent about 45 minutes wandering around. I first went to the Brunello section and was shocked at the 14.5, 15.0, and 15.5 ABVs including the Rossos. Pinot Noir was slightly better - perhaps a handful from over three dozen labels. Unfortunately, the ones that were under came from areas with a lot of fires that year. I ended up picking up a 2018 St. Innocent Shea Vineyard which was very good after an hour of air time.

I wish the stores and even CT captured the ABV data so searches can be a lot easier.

Do you have any recent buys or suggestions that fit my criteria?

< Message edited by DoubleD1969 -- 1/28/2024 5:50:27 PM >

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 9:18:05 AM

jmcmchi

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I’ve noticed several Woodinville winemakers are producing at least a few reds at 14% and below. Not sure how helpful this is given their limited distribution. Plenty of whites at less than 13%

Other than that I’d focus on Pinot, or something like Leeuwin Art series Cab S

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 9:47:12 AM

ImUrHuckleberry

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They usually have a few Dolcetto in the 12-14 percent range. Maybe some Oregon PN. Haven't noticed if they carry any Mencia, but those are usually lighter in alcohol.

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 9:56:36 AM

Blue Shorts

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I tend to go for Burgundy wines or Chianti when I want a good, low alcohol red. The Chiantis tend to be in the 11%-12% range

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 10:14:56 AM

ImUrHuckleberry

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Blue Shorts

I tend to go for Burgundy wines or Chianti when I want a good, low alcohol red. The Chiantis tend to be in the 11%-12% range

Wow, I didn't know Chiantis could be so low. I need to start exploring them again.

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 10:21:09 AM

DoubleD1969

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@ Blue Shorts, have you checked out the Chianti aisle lately? 11-12% ABV? 🤭 More like 14.0 - 15.0.

@ Huckleberry, any particular producer I should look for Dolcetto? I have limited experience but my impression was that they were simple wines for like pizza.

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 12:15:04 PM

jmcmchi

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DoubleD1969

@ Blue Shorts, have you checked out the Chianti aisle lately? 11-12% ABV? 🤭 More like 14.0 - 15.0.

@ Huckleberry, any particular producer I should look for Dolcetto? I have limited experience but my impression was that they were simple wines for like pizza.

Looks like Italy (and Spain) are often producing higher alcohol versions for the US market “international style”

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 2:23:07 PM

CranBurgundy

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Well, there's always German Riesling. It's usually 7.5% - 9% ABV.

Since the climate is getting warmer in general, grapes are getting more ripe with a higher brix, which ferments into a higher ABV.

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 5:03:17 PM

jonboy74

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Almost all champagne is <= 12.5% ABV
Agree with Rieslings - Kabinett and Spatlese would be <10%. Trocken (dry) can be 12%+
Bordeaux or Napa Cab from cooler vintages can be <14%. Some of my older ones were 12-13% (20+ yrs old_

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 5:49:55 PM

DoubleD1969

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I guess I should be more specific. Are there any great reds (current releases) under 14% ABV? 🤦‍♂️

2010 Bel Air Marquis d’Aligre - 12.5
2008 Chapoutier Les Greffieux - 13.5
2005 Lynch Bages - 13.0
2005 Jadot Corton - 13.5
1997 Ridge MB - 12.9
1996 Clape Cornas - 13.0
1991 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill - 12.5

< Message edited by DoubleD1969 -- 1/28/2024 6:06:18 PM >

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/28/2024 6:05:31 PM

Claymonster

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The Beaujolais and Chinon sections come to mind. I also just had a decent Aglianico from Total Wine that was 13.5%.

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/29/2024 1:08:27 AM

penguinoid

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In addition to the good suggestions so far, northern Rhône Syrah can be under 14%, but it depends on the precise wine. I had a 2021 Les Vins de Vienne St. Joseph "l'Arzelle" rouge last week that was 12,5%. I have a 2012 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas "Granit 30" lurking in wait at home that (from memory) is also less than 14%, though I can't remember the precise ABV offhand.

South Tyrol (where I am now) is variable -- plenty of wines below 14%, but plenty above too -- for whatever reason, Pinot bianco/Weißburgunder is often about 14%, Lagrein sometimes is but often isn't, and (I think) Schiava rarely is. You'd need to check the labels.

Increasingly, though, if you're keen to stay below 14% ABV it will be a matter of checking individual wines prior to purchase. Even Burgundy sometimes goes above 14%. More old fashioned Bordeaux can be below, but again it depends on the specific producer and vintage. (Vintage is important too -- Greenock Creek in the Barossa Valley is generally known for making wines with higher ABVs, but their 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon was delicious at 12,5%!)

Some other wines I've had recently with less than 14% ABV, all current releases
2020 Franz Haas Südtirol Pinot Nero "Schweizer" -- 13% ABV
2020 Colterenzio Südtirol Schreckbichl Lagrein Riserva Mantsch -- 13% ABV
2016 Cecchi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano -- 13,5% ABV
2022 Domaine de la Solitude (Lançon Père et Fils) Côtes du Rhône Blanc -- 13% ABV (though other examples can easily be 14%+)
2019 Weingut Wolfgang Mertes Mosel Waldracher Meisenberg Pinot Noir "Cuvée Lara" -- 12,5% ABV

< Message edited by penguinoid -- 1/29/2024 1:09:45 AM >

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 1/29/2024 6:46:34 AM

wine247365

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Drank a Mendoza Malbec last night and was surprised to see the label read 13.5 ABV, so you may want to look there. After finishing it with my SO, I can confirm that’s a realistic value.

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 1/29/2024 7:05:12 AM

penguinoid

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I think most regions will have at least some wines below 14%, even pretty warm regions. There are plenty from different parts of Australia that are below 14%, including from places like the Barossa Valley. Cooler regions like the Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, or Tasmania might be a better bet, of course. Equally, the Hunter Valley, although quite warm, often produces wine with lower alcohol levels than other warm regions.

Even so, you'd need to check every individual wine. Easier said than done if shopping online

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/29/2024 4:25:45 PM

ImUrHuckleberry

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DoubleD1969

@ Blue Shorts, have you checked out the Chianti aisle lately? 11-12% ABV? 🤭 More like 14.0 - 15.0.

@ Huckleberry, any particular producer I should look for Dolcetto? I have limited experience but my impression was that they were simple wines for like pizza.

I think they are mostly simple wines for pizza, but also great! Sorry I don't have any particular recommendations. Sometimes I never even entered them into CT before I drank them.

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/29/2024 4:42:17 PM

recotte

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Take a look at the reds from Arianna Occhipinti (Sicily). I recently had her 2021 Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Rosso (Frappato/Nero d'Avola blend), which was 12.5%. Maybe Frappato makes for lower alcohol wines, in general? I'm currently looking at a bottle of COS Frappato that is also 12.5%.

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RE: Any Great Wines Under 14% ABV?! - 1/29/2024 4:46:38 PM

ImUrHuckleberry

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quote:

ORIGINAL: CranBurgundy

Well, there's always German Riesling. It's usually 7.5% - 9% ABV.

Since the climate is getting warmer in general, grapes are getting more ripe with a higher brix, which ferments into a higher ABV.

But it's hard to find the great red German Rieslings.

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 1/30/2024 8:45:47 AM

grafstrb

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Go to the Bdx. section; I imagine one could easily have success there (notwithstanding the fact that TW's wine pricing, in general, jumped the shark years ago when tariffs were in effect --- prices were never rolled-back when the tariffs were lifted (shocker

)).

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 1/30/2024 4:20:33 PM

DoubleD1969

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Thanks for the comments everyone. I’ll try to look some of these up. The challenge is finding them in a big box store on the east coast. A red under 14% ABV seems more like an exception than the rule especially with Bordeaux, Tuscany, and California. I think it’s amazing that a Diamond Creek or Ridge MB can be under 13% and still be drinking great at age 30+. They’re so good.

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 1/30/2024 5:01:35 PM

jmcmchi

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For interest, I looked up a Niagara winery I used to like before I moved west (Stratus)

Looks to be significant vintage variation, with 2019’s way less abv than 2020’s. Then a 2021 gamay comes in at 12.8%!

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 1/30/2024 5:14:55 PM

khmark7

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DoubleD1969

Thanks for the comments everyone. I’ll try to look some of these up. The challenge is finding them in a big box store on the east coast. A red under 14% ABV seems more like an exception than the rule especially with Bordeaux, Tuscany, and California. I think it’s amazing that a Diamond Creek or Ridge MB can be under 13% and still be drinking great at age 30+. They’re so good.

Ha! Cabernet these days with ABV <13% is completely labeled as green & unripe yet those wines were magnificent back in the day and they aged beautifully.

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 2/9/2024 7:21:42 AM

DoubleD1969

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In pursuit of a great wine with less than 14% ABV, I had this wine last night with a mushroom risotto that was yummy:
2022 The Great Oregon Wine Company Rascal Pinot Noir

13% ABV. Balanced. $15. I'm a buyer and will try to find as many as I can.

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 2/9/2024 11:47:01 AM

Sarastro

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I would wait for the release of the 2021 Bordeaux which is around the corner in the next months.

Lots of wines are 1-2% lower ABV than usual so plenty of good wines under 13,5%.

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 2/9/2024 12:26:43 PM

BornToRhone

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Now for something completely different. 12.5% Cabernet Franc from the Fingerlakes region.

https://www.wiemer.com/product/cabernet-franc-2/

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 2/9/2024 12:29:18 PM

mye

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How about Etna Rosso, food friendly and usually not too expensive.. maybe not the 13% but definitely not too heavy?

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 2/9/2024 1:06:21 PM

DoubleD1969

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Sarastro
I would wait for the release of the 2021 Bordeaux which is around the corner in the next months.

Lots of wines are 1-2% lower ABV than usual so plenty of good wines under 13,5%.

I had a 2021 Kirkland Bordeaux Superieur recently (about USD $7), and it was very good. ABV was 14%. I’m not sure if you know what Kirkland is the brand under the Costco Wholesale. They generally buy excess fruit or juice and put their label on the bottles.

But good to know about the expected lower ABV for this vintage.

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 2/12/2024 8:45:44 AM

Wademartin

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Wow, sounds like you had quite the adventure at Total Wine! It can be overwhelming with so many options to choose from, especially when you have specific criteria like ABV in mind. I haven't made any recent wine purchases myself, but I can definitely sympathize with the struggle of finding wines with lower ABVs, especially when you're trying to avoid high-alcohol content.

< Message edited by Wademartin -- 2/13/2024 5:19:58 AM >

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 2/12/2024 9:30:46 AM

KPB

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The Sineann Pinot Noir lineup never creeps up as high as 14%, and those wines are fantastic (especially the TFL half-bottles from their best barrel off their best site). In fact most wines in my cellar are well below 14% I think 12.5% would probably be the most common upper-range number for me, with just a few pushing into the 13% range. 14% is quite high, and not at all typical of wines I drink -- even from places like the Rhone.

Do you use the WA scores as the basis for what you normally buy? If so, you might consider shifting to Vinous (shown as VM for Vinous Media). They have a great web site with a lot of chances to interact with the team, and they make a real point of avoiding fruit-bomb cocktail kinds of wines, whereas ever since Robert Parker discovered his personal love for that style, WA scoring has tended to be very generous on wines in the upper end of the ripeness and alcohol range.

It also is worth thinking about varietals. Pinot Noir from slightly cooler areas (hence my Oregon suggestion) are more likely to tone it down. Cabernet from hot parts of California are more likely to go through the roof. And then there are wines like Rhone reds, which can hold alcohol a bit better without seeming quite so cooked and unbalanced. A Gigondas at 13% might not seem unbalanced, whereas a Cabernet Franc at 13% will already feel very aggressive...

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 2/12/2024 2:48:29 PM

prasm

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A couple of areas I would recommend for excellent sub-14% abv reds are Santa Rita Hills (SRH) Pinot/Syrah and Spain's Bierzo region Mencia. I've recently enjoyed several SRH pinots from La Rinconada, Radian, and Bentrock vineyards (usually the more west you go the lower the temps and abv). I've also enjoyed a few Mencias from Spain's Bierzo region recently and most of them are sub-14% abv. While I think SRH produces a higher percentage of sub-14% abv reds than Willamette, if you do find a sub-14% Willamette Pinot chances are it will provide a bit more depth and structure than a SRH Pinot - if you prefer that style.

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RE: Any Great Wines (Reds) Under 14% ABV?! - 2/22/2024 5:35:22 AM

DoubleD1969

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Thanks for the recs prasm! Hopefully some of these make it to my LWS.

Last night:
2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Pinot. Delicious. 13.2% ABV.

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