I like to make a New Year’s Resolution. I like to challenge myself to be better in general, because that is really what you’re doing. Whether you resolve to eat healthier, get to the gym more, watch TV less, it’s all an attempt to live better. Well my New Year’s resolution for living better comes down to what I drink. I have resolved to drink better wine.

I have found that by upping my wine budget by just a smidge, I reach a caliber of wine that outshines the more value-driven wines of my past, and it doesn’t take much effort or much of a price jump. I have discovered a sweet spot of gloriously delicious wines in the $15-$25 range. What a difference.

My current favorite, the Domaine Gallety Cotes du Vivarais 2009, tops my new range at exactly $25 a bottle. But the 2009 vintage is being characterized as a superbly great vintage in the Southern Rhone and the wine is incredible, which makes that price a real bargain.

The Gallety is a blend of 50/50 Syrah and Grenache. It is hand-harvested, vinified in cement and bottled unfined and unfiltered after aging 15 months in neutral oak. It’s on par with many Chateauneuf-du-Pape’s that’ll set you back three times as much. The nose is beautiful and smells of lavender, rosemary, fig and cracked pepper. It is full bodied and sleek, with a juicy fig, red cherry and raspberry mouth. Drink it now or set it down for a few years. Awesome.