The weather is getting worse, temperatures are getting colder, and it’s getting dark earlier and earlier. What better way to lift your spirits than with an affordable hottie? Thanks to our guide, you’ll find the five nuggets under 20 euros to warm up your evenings!

Le bon-vivant – Morgon La Grosse Pierre 2019

Ideal for an aperitif, on a barbecue or with traditional tripe, the 2019 vintage of Domaine de la Grosse Pierre’s Morgon is one of those wines that can be enjoyed at will without stopping. Typical of a Gamay made by friends, this cuvée is very drinkable and fresh. Red fruit and grenadine aromas are very present, for optimal drinkability.

Le léger – Bergerie de l’Hortus 2020

Always a wine for drinking with friends, this cuvée is renowned for being particularly light and easy to digest. Produced in the Pic Saint-Loup appellation, Bergerie de l’Hortus is a classic GSM blend that surprises with its suppleness and finesse. Full of fruit and sweet spices, this wine also boasts powerful aromas of garrigue, bringing great freshness. Ideal as an aperitif or with a vegetable salad as a starter!

The warm – I have an appointment with you 2020

A real buddy wine, this cuvée is an explicit invitation to make an appointment with a couple of bottles and some buddies for a spellbinding evening. At an unbeatable price (€7.9 on twil.fr), this wine has nothing to envy the other stars of this guide. The team and I discovered it during an evening at a wine bar, and we were all won over: a real treat for the taste buds. There’s no need to have a bite to eat on the side, this wine drinks like whey, but you can accompany it with a platter of charcuterie and cheese.

Le puissant – Clos de Los Siete 2016

A great Argentine classic, Clos de Los Siete is a rather powerful wine, but at no point is it unpleasant or overly astringent on the palate. Full-bodied, with silky tannins, this wine is perfect with a good piece of beef or well-seasoned red meat. But beware, this is an Argentinian wine, so it’s quite strong! Don’t serve it too chilled, and feel free to drink a lighter bottle beforehand. It would be a little rough on an aperitif as a first course…

Le vin de résistance – Le Petit vin d’Avril

Here’s the new cuvée from Domaine Paul Avril, a producer in the southern Rhône Valley who’s no longer a household name when it comes to wines from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. A non-vintage wine, Petit vin d’Avril is a blend of numerous grape varieties from the south of France (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Marselan Caladoc in that order). After an hour’s decanting, this wine reveals beautiful aromas of red fruit, cherry and blackcurrant, as well as spicy notes, all of which form a fine balance. Full-bodied and generous, this wine is perfect with red meat or hearty French dishes (pot-au-feu, duck confit, tripe…).

Photo by Kesley Knight / Unsplash