CheapWineFinder Podcast

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Elliot Cooper sounds like the guy who was in your gym class.

It is a non-vintage wine that does not sound too promising.

But it is actually a very good California Chardonnay.

It drinks well, is versatile, and did I say it drinks well?

Non-vintage wine from Aldi, and you expect something less, but instead 

You get something more.

A $10 Chardonnay that hits above its price tag!

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Bought a bottle of Chardonnay from a local grocer. It was 5 years old and not stored properly. It should never have been on a store shelf.

This does not happen often, but it has occurred often enough that you must always check, never assume it is a current vintage.

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Doamine Dave was first drawn to ths wine by the label.

It's a copper engraving from 1624 that has been colorized, 

Lapis Luna translates in Latin to the Stone and Moon.

The label is an angel tether to a rock reaching for the moon.

Not you typical wine label.

As for the wine it is not as bold as New Zealand, but every bit as tasty.

This is an easy to sip wine.

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A $12.99 Chardonnay from Willamette Valley that actually overdelivers? We pop the cork on Willa Creek 2023 and trace the bigger story behind Oregon’s quiet Chardonnay comeback. For years the region leaned on California clones that struggled to ripen in cooler sites, yielding lean, austere wines. The switch to Dijon clones—and a clearer read on site and style—has unlocked balance, lift, and flavor, and this stainless-steel, unoaked bottling shows how far things have come.

We break down the tasting profile in plain terms: a clean mix of orchard fruit and citrus framed by crisp acidity, no oak, and a texture that starts soft and expands across the palate. If you avoid buttery Chardonnay, this is your lane. We also decode the label: “produced and bottled by,” the fresh Willa Creek trademark, and Precept Wine’s role crafting store brands for Trader Joe’s and beyond. The paperwork might be new, but the winemaking knows what it’s doing, and the result punches above its price.

Planning the holiday table? This is a smart pour for turkey and rich sides. The acidity cuts through creamy dishes, the fruit stays friendly, and the finish stays clean. Beyond Thanksgiving, it’s a weeknight match for roast chicken, lemony pastas, and sushi. More importantly, it signals where Oregon Chardonnay is heading: focused, bright, and increasingly reliable at value prices. Give it a try, see how it blooms in the glass, and tell us what you taste.

If you enjoy the show, follow, rate, and share it with a friend who loves finding great bottles under $15. Your rec keeps the reviews coming—what value Chardonnay should we open next?

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A $7.99 French Pinot Noir that’s organic, carbon neutral, and made by a B-Corp shouldn’t be this easy to drink—and yet here we are. We pull the cork on Florility French Organic Pinot Noir 2024 from Aldi and get honest about what’s in the glass, what’s on the label, and what really matters for a weeknight pour. The twist? It’s labeled “Product of France,” not from a famous region, sparking a candid look at terroir, consistency, and how modern drinkers balance place with principles.

We walk through the story behind Ethic Drinks—B-Corp certification, organic farming, vegan-friendly fining, and cause-driven lines that plant trees and help clean the oceans—then put the wine to the taste test. Expect a smooth, approachable Pinot with black cherry, plum, a touch of spice, and those savory pencil-lead and tar hints that give Pinot its quiet edge. It won’t morph from sip to sip like a top cru, but it delivers friendly texture and steady flavor that make sense for pizza night, roast chicken, or backyard hangs. If you’re chasing a site-specific, shape-shifting Burgundy experience, this isn’t your bottle; if you want honest, ethical, and affordable, it hits the brief.

Along the way, we unpack vegan fining in simple terms, talk about why multi-region French labeling is rare, and lay out where this wine shines and where it doesn’t. The bigger takeaway: you can support responsible producers without sacrificing everyday joy, and sometimes the best bottle is the one that fits the moment, the budget, and your values. If that sounds like your kind of pour, queue it up, grab a glass, and tell us where you land on the terroir-versus-values question.

If you enjoy these tastings and unfiltered reviews, tap follow, share with a friend who loves wine on a budget, and leave a quick rating—your support helps us keep it cheap and keep it coming.

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