Here's a good strategy for finding excellent but affordable wines: Look for the entry-level wines from wineries that produce amazing wines at the higher end of the spectrum. Delas is one of the most respected wineries in the Northern Rhône Valley and their Hermitage les Tourettes and Hermitage les Bessards are two of the finest Syrahs made anywhere.
The same passion and attention to detail goes into their Côtes du Rhône and the 2018 Delas Cotes du Rhone "St.-Esprit" is just a wonderful wine. Medium-bodied, dry with dark red fruits, loads of forest floor and garrigue on the nose, earthy, a bit rustic but with polished tannins - and it is perfect to drink right now and over the next couple of years. I enjoyed it with a pepperoni, mushroom, kalamata olive, and jalapeno pizza from our deli recently and it was a match made in heaven.
It tremendously over-delivers at only $9.99 and you can have a pretty nice dinner for two with one of our pizzas for under $25!