12 Magnum Wines That Won't Put A Dent In Your Wallet
Magnums — wine bottles that contain 1.5 liters of liquid (via Spiral Cellars) — ooze class and luxury. However, despite what some people may believe, magnums are not just about appearances. As St. Louis Magazine explains, bottling wine in magnums actually helps the wine age slower as the ratio of oxygen to wine is reduced. But, at 16 glasses per bottle, what happens if you and your guests cannot finish all the wine? This, The Guardian explains, is nothing to fear. When stoppered properly, the wine inside opened magnums can actually improve, making them a popular choice for bars around the world.
So, if the wine sold in magnums ages better and you need not fear being unable to finish it, why are people still so hesitant to buy them? The answer, of course, is cost. As highlighted by The Guardian, magnums are generally more expensive due to increased production and shipping costs. However, that is not to say that affordable magnums are non-existent. On the contrary, there are many excellent options for those looking to buy magnums without breaking the bank.
1. Scala Cirò Rosso
When it comes to wine, Calabria — a region in Southern Italy — specializes in red. In fact, Eataly reports that the overwhelming majority of wine produced in the region is red, with the most popular grape being Gaglioppo. According to Wine Folly, this grape varietal produces a fruit-forward wine that can be relatively difficult to find in areas outside of southern Italy. Fortunately, Scala, a family-owned winery in Calabria itself, has been consistently producing and distributing magnums of Cirò Rosso, a red wine made from the grape (via Only Italian Products).
According to Only Italian Products, the wine balances typical Gaglioppo flavors alongside a powerful aroma. This strength of character demonstrated by Cirò Rosso makes it the ideal wine to accompany a hearty meal. Think meats, stews, and rich tomato sauces, as per Wine Folly. Unfortunately, the current vintage is relatively difficult to find. However, Scala has a strong history of exporting its affordable wines to countries around the world, including the United States (via Only Italian Products) and Australia, as per Not Wasted. Suggesting that, when released, it shouldn't be too difficult to grab yourself a magnum of this powerful wine.
2. Louis M. Martini 2016 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
As previously mentioned, one of the main fears people have when looking to purchase a magnum is the potentially high cost. This is not the case when it comes to Louis M. Martini's 2016, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a magnum of which comes in at a reasonable $79.99 (via MyWinePlus). While still a lot of money, it quickly becomes apparent that this magnum is a bargain once you realize the quality of the liquid within.
Noted wine critic James Suckling awarded the cabernet sauvignon an incredible 93 out of 100, lauding its classic texture and taste, as per MyWinePlus. Add to this the fact that the winery has a fantastic history of producing incredible tasting, well-critiqued cabernet sauvignons (per Louis Martini), and you begin to see how special this magnum is. While an incredible drinking experience is all but guaranteed, VinePair reveals that you would be equally well served in letting the wine age.
3. Drappier Carte d'Or
In a market where the price of magnums can gallop into the thousands of dollars (via Vino Vest) and even stretch into the millions (per Elite Traveler), finding a reasonably priced 1.5-liter bottle of Champagne can feel almost impossible. Fortunately, there are a few producers that, while flying under the radar, produce some exceptional wines at much more reasonable prices.
Among these is Drappier, a producer renowned for creating assertive and fruit-forward Champagne, thanks to a mixture of grape choice and climate, as per Forbes. The particular champagne we are referring to is Carte d'Or, a magnum of which can be bought for around $100 (via Millesima). According to Drappier, this particular Champagne is characterized by complexity, fruit, and spice, making it a drink that will appeal to connoisseurs as well as your average drinker. Serve it before a meal to have the greatest impact or as an accompaniment to lighter food such as white fish.
4. Roberto Henriquez Corinto Super Estrella
VinePair reports that orange wine — made through increased skin contact time — is an extremely ancient type of wine, having been produced in Georgia for some 8,000 years. Despite its longevity, orange wine has only become known to many during the past 20 years, beginning as something of a fad until it earned the respected place in the wine world it currently inhabits (via The New Yorker).
Produced in Chile by independent winemaker Roberto Hernandez, Corinto Super Estrella is a superb magnum of orange wine, of which there were only 400 made, as per Kingston Wine Company. The fact there are so few, would suggest astronomic price points, however, the opposite is true with the magnum coming in at an incredible $47.99 (via Kingston Wine Company). This astoundingly affordable bottle is made using traditional techniques (per Roberto Hernandez) and goes unfiltered, ensuring none of the wine's character escapes the bottle.
5. Chȃteau la Croix de Grézard 2016
Lussac-Saint-Émilion is a wine-producing region in the Southwest of France. Wine Searcher reports that the region is best known for its merlot, which can be characterized as dry, smooth, and, as per Usual, even plummy.
A great study in merlot from Lussac-Saint-Emilion comes via Château La Croix de Grézard, a small winery of only nine acres, according to Honest Grapes. Here, a well-balanced merlot bearing the name of the winery is made. In years past this wine achieved great acclaim, including a Gold award at The Sommelier Awards (via Honest Grapes).
A magnum of the 2016 vintage is available for only $44 (via The Magnum Company). This fruit- and spiced-forward wine is a great accompaniment to a range of foods, making it a strong choice to serve at a dinner party. A gentle mouthfeel and lasting aroma complete the magnum. At such an affordable price, this classy red can add a touch of style to any dinner, whether it be a celebration or not.
6. Miraval Rosé
Château Miraval, which was a joint venture between previously married couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has built itself a rare reputation among the throng of celebrity alcohol companies as a business that is actually producing a very good product, as per Decanter. The most prominent wine produced at this particular winery is the rosé, previous vintages of which have been lauded by vintners such as Joe Bastianich, who noted to Vanity Fair: "With the nose, it has macerated wild strawberries, confectionary sugars, and strawberry or raspberry PEZ, like the candy. In taste, the varietals it's made of—grenache, etc.—make it slightly acidic on the palate. Not in a bad way, but it's definitely real and acidic, and firm. It's very pretty on the olfactories—rose petals and confectionary sugar—but a little rougher on the palate. But it's a very serious wine."
Sold in a beautiful bottle that is even more imposing when in magnum form, Miraval rosé is a striking wine. Its very light pink hue, resounding design, and mature taste make it sure to grab attention when served. What's even better is that a magnum will only set you back $52 (via The Magnum Company).
7. Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Rouge 'Les Moulins'
Saumur is a small town in Western France that has become known for producing wines typical of the Loire. When it comes to red wine in Saumur, cabernet franc is the grape of choice, as it's able to grow unusually well as Jacques Genet, a winery owner, explained to Wine Enthusiast: "We're in a microclimate, a small area of the Loire Valley that can ripen the Cabernet Franc, while keeping its freshness and elegance."
The cabernet franc made by Romain Guiberteau varies slightly from this norm thanks to the fact that the grapes are grown on a local hill, Brézé. This seemingly innocuous change in topography has transformed Guiberteau's wine, lending both the cabernet franc and the Chenin blanc an intense minerality (via Becky Wasserman & Company). A magnum of the 2020 cabernet franc vintage has been sold for under $70 (per Flor Wines), offering individuals a fantastic means of getting their teeth into this unique red.
8. Ridge 2018 Lytton Springs
You know your winery has succeeded when celebrity chef Bobby Flay serves one of its wines to two of the most powerful men in the world; Barack Obama and Xi Jinping. Ever since Geyserville was served to the then Presidents in 2008 (via Ridge Vineyards), Ridge hasn't looked back, producing stunning wine after stunning wine via a natural, hands-off process Ridge Vineyards describes as pre-industrial winemaking.
Among these Californian stunners is Lytton Springs, a red that has achieved great acclaim through its various vintages, including an incredible score of 96 out of 100 from the noted publication Robert Parker Wine Advocate (via Brix26). While several reviews note the wine's immediate, red fruit and herbaceous taste, they also state that the wine would do well to age, as per Berry Bros & Rudd. As previously mentioned, there are few better ways to age wine than in a magnum, making this under-$90 bottle a brilliant investment (via Brix26).
9. AIX Rosé 2020
As the leading global supplier of rosé — with around 153 million bottles being produced in 2019 alone (via Wine Business) — winemakers in the French region of Provence know a thing or two about this pink-colored wine. One wine that has been making waves in the area is AIX, a brand owned by Eric Kurver, proprietor of Maison Saint Aix (via AIX). Kurver, who only came to winemaking in his 40s, had this to say about his goal when making AIX rosé: "My idea was to create a wine that is a pleasure to drink, but also complex enough to win gold medals and high rates around the world. A wine for a starter but also a great match with several meals. A wine you don't talk about but just enjoy till the last drop," (via AIX).
This is something Kurver has achieved, with the rosé being awarded multiple awards including gold from The Fifty Best. The high quality of the wine has not resulted in inflated prices, either. Quite startlingly, a magnum of AIX rosé can be picked up for as little as $37 (via The Magnum Company). Quite the steal when you consider the glowing reviews it has received.
10. Domaine Thillardon 'Les Blemonts' Chénas 2019
Chénas is a small area of Eastern France, located in the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée of Beaujolais. Home to over 120 wine producers (via Beaujolais), Chénas is known for Gamay grapes that produce well-structured, berry-rich wines. The prevalence of Gamay is not the only reason Beaujolais has made a name for itself, however. Rather, the area is known the world over for the popularization of a wine-producing technique called carbonic maceration (via Wine Enthusiast).
As Wine Enthusiast explains, carbonic maceration is a process during which grapes are left whole and fermented from the inside out. This adds an extra fresh dimension to the wines while also softening tannins. Playing to Gamay's strengths, a wine produced using this technique in Chénas typically demonstrates good levels of acidity and minerality. These features are exemplified in Domaine Thillardon's Les Blemonts, a red wine made using semi-carbonic maceration (via Flor Wines). At $80 for a magnum, Les Blemonts gives drinkers ample opportunity to experience this iconic blend of grape varietal and production method while also providing an extremely sippable accompaniment to a number of occasions.
11. Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvée Tardive
If you like the sound of semi-carbonic Gamay from Beaujolais but prefer to invest in a bottle that is a little more suited to aging, consider Clos de la Roilette's Tardive (via Wine Library). Produced by veteran winemaker Alain Coudert, the Tardive demonstrates intensely fresh notes of fruits and vegetables, partly due to Coudert's use of semi-carbonic maceration.
As the wine is produced in Fleurie, just bordering the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée of Moulin-à-Vent (via Wine Searcher), the Tardive contains some differences from other Gamays. Notably, the wine retains good structure and richness, allowing it to age incredibly well with some even going as far as to liken it to Pinot Noir, as per Bowler Wine. As previously mentioned, buying a magnum will only improve the aging process further and at under $60 (via Wine Library) this bottle is an investment definitely worth making.
12. Bottega Gold Prosecco
Despite its lavish, decked-out gold appearance, Bottega's gold prosecco is incredibly affordable, coming in at around $50 per magnum (via Selfridges). What's even more impressive is that this great price point does not negatively influence the final quality of the product, with the wine being awarded a brilliant 94 out of 100 by VinePair. The reasons behind Bottega's exceptional quality are explained by owner Sandro Bottega: "(T)he most important thing to remember, above all, is the passion and time we put into our products. Also, technically, the quality of the grape that we use is what makes our prosecco stand out from the rest." (via The Morning Advertiser).
As with just about all prosecco (via Virgin Wines), Bottega's is made from Glera grapes in the Italian region of Veneto. Virgin Wines also notes that Glera grapes are known for presenting sweet, green fruit, and floral tasting notes while the tank fermentation method of production results in a light effervescence. Bottega's Gold Prosecco demonstrates these typical features splendidly and as such would prove a popular magnum to serve at any celebration.