Best Buys $10 And Under

Zesty, bold and fruity, offering raspberry and spice flavors, with a hint of mint as this finishes on a plump and briary accent. Drink now

Rkatsiteli is the one of the oldest wine grapes known to man with origins in Georgia (the country). An herbaceous wine with notes of pear, lemongrass, basil, tea leaf and grapefruit with a vibrant, crisp acidity.

90pts-Wine Enthusiast:
"Glimpses of golden ripe mirabelle plum and the slightest hint of lovage create a lovely nose and continue to feature on the creamy, finely foaming palate. The body is wonderfully light, framed by foamy autolysis and pervaded by citrus peel freshness. A totally individual but refreshing Austrian fizz."

93 pts Wine Advocate
The non-vintage Dry Amontillado Los Arcos Solera Reserva reveals a medium amber hue along with a nutty, honeyed, dry personality with great acid.
Lustau made its reputation in the foreign markets with its extraordinary single cask Almacenistas which had been accumulated by the family over many years as their soleras are among the oldest in Sherry. The family also owns over 500 acres of vineyards. These are all remarkable efforts for their stunning value. While they are still under-the-radar for most American wine lovers, I encourage readers to give them a try as they are great introductory reference points for how profound sherry can be. I first wrote about the extraordinary sherries of Emilio Lustau many years ago, in the early days of The Wine Advocate. The portfolio of under 25 a bottle selections represents remarkable value for their complex, well-made personalities. Lustau includes a bottling date code as purchasers would want to buy Finos and Manzanillas as young as possible. It is difficult to describe the glories of sherry, but Ill try. These Solera Reservas are all great reference points at a low price point from Lustau. None of the Almacenista soleras, which are single cask and very limited bottlings, are reviewed since they are priced over 25 a bottle, but they can be as profound as any alcoholic beverage in the world

Organic

91 points Vinous
The NV Rosso Cala Cala is dusty and floral with a dark mix of dried black cherries, rose petals and spice. This is a juicy and pure effort with medium-bodied weight and citrus-infused wild berry fruits. It finishes with a surprising grip, maintaining freshness as hints of tart blackberry slowly fade. This rendition of Cala Cala is intense and has the balance to evolve positively over the next three to four years.

95% Nerello Mascalese and 5% Nerello Cappuccio

Quickly becoming one of Michael David’s most sought-after wines, this brute of a Cab is midnight in color and medium in body. A myriad of French oak influenced aromas fill your glass, accompanied by toasted hazelnuts and blackberry cobbler. Flavors of ripe Mission figs and hints of clove and cinnamon give way to velvety tannins, balanced acidity and dark ripe fruits.

'-Winery Notes:
"The first taste entices, stimulating the senses. The next taste ignites, arousing the passion. The limited release blends Petite Sirah and Pinot Noir to create luscious aromas of caramel and chocolate, with a velvety smooth mouthfeel."

Wine Spectator:
"Plump and on the sweet side, with golden raisin, date, pear eau-de-vie and peach melba notes, backed by a light twinge of bitter almond that keeps this honest. Drink now. 87,000 cases made."

A distinctive blend of Palomino and Pedro Ximenez grapes. Aged in oak casks for 6 years in the traditional Solera method.

For over 130 years, Bodegas Williams & Humbert have been producing the finest sherries and brandies; as well as a diverse portfolio of spirits, utilizing one of the most traditional methods of ageing, the solera method. Founded in 1877 by Sir Alexander Williams and Arthur Humbert, Bodega Williams & Humbert has been considered to be one of the world?????s most prestigious wine producers in the world. They were involved in the creation of the Jerez-Xeres-Brandy Quality Demarcation, as well as the criteria for evaluating sherries. Now owned by the Medina family, two generations work side by side in the creation of the wines and spirits. Located in the heart of Jerez de la Frontera, Bodega Williams & Humbert has more than 1,200 acres of vineyards, and the largest wine cellar in Europe. The family owned and operated Bodega has produced a great variety of high quality sherries, while maintaining the traditional methods of solera aging. Solera is a method of producing wines, where small amounts of younger wines are systematically blended with the more mature wines over a period of time. Bodega Williams & Humbert has a variety of sherry lines, most notably the Dry Sack medium created in 1906, a staple sherry among many restaurants around the world. In the US, Bodegas Williams & Humbert has three lines of sherries - Dry Sack, Don Zoilo, and the rare aged. Each tier offers expressions that range from dry to sweet profiles. Bodegas Williams & Humbert has one of the largest and most diverse offerings of 20 and 30 year old Rare and Very Rare age expressions. The Bodegas Williams & Humbert portfolio also includes spirits such as Gran Duque D?????Alba Brandies, Crema D?????Alba, and Dos Maderas Rums.

Organic / Biodynamic

94 points Wine Advocate
The 2023 La Casilla fermented with full clusters and indigenous yeasts in 4,500-liter oak vats and matured in those vats and some 600-liter barrels for nine months. It has incredible freshness, 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and 5.5 grams of acidity. It's complex and serious, a lot more complex than Clos Lojen, despite the small price difference, and it has notes of berries, herbs and flowers, plenty of aromatic Mediterranean herbs and very good freshness and acidity, fine tannins and very good overall balance, ideal with food. It's serious but easy to drink. It's more Rhone than Burgundy. It was bottled in June 2024 and 15,000 bottles were produced. I tasted a bottle of the 2005, their first vintage, and the wine was fully mature, even if the style was different (it has 14.5% alcohol), more extractive and with more oak.

This is crafted from 100% Cabernet Franc from Chinon in the Loire Valley, France. This has always been a fan favorite here at PJ Wine. Medium-bodied, crisp, and quite interesting. The Cabernet Franc supplies a fuller texture and length. A very good alternative to those who are tired of Provence. This is an amazing value for anyone looking for a bistro-style rose.

Light orange-pink. Spice-accented strawberry, tangerine and floral scents are complemented by a subtle herbal nuance. Taut red berry and orange zest flavors show fine definition and firming back-end cut. The strawberry note lingers on the nicely persistent finish, which features a hint of fennel.

This is the best price in the country!

This is a true dry Riesling for folks who don't think they like Riesling. Slightly exotic nose, crushed volcanic rock, petrol, white peach. Racy, lean palate of salinity and mouth-tingling acidity. Bursting with character that will pair with food beautifully. A must try.

Not sure if you like Riesling because the ones you?????ve had in the past were too sweet? Well, you really should give today?????s wine a try, it will definitely open your mind to Riesling. Jakob Schneider Trocken Riesling 2022 is a dynamite example of DRY Riesling, that?????s right, dry. No cloyingly sweet fruit here. This racy, mineral-driven, divine nectar of the gods will have you loving Riesling in no time!

The Schneider family has been making wine in the Nahe village of Niederhausen since 1575. Today the winery is run by Jakob Schneider Jr. who took over after graduating from Geisenheim and interning at Knoll in Austria?????s Wachau. His wife Laura, sister Monika, and mother Liesel, all manage different parts of the estate.

Over 52 different soil types can be found here, mostly based on volcanic rock and slate. Working as closely as possible to nature in the vineyards, the Schneiders use humus in their very steep vineyards to help absorb and retain water, as well as straw and hay to prevent erosion. Schneider?????s wines maintain an old-world charm while showcasing a stalwart minerality only derived from the amazing terroirs from which they have.

The Melaphyr trocken, is named for a rare type of volcanic rock found in the estate parcels used for this bottling. Without getting too scientific, this is a "porphyritic igneous rock" / Mesozoic basalt. It?????s one of the volcanic soils the central Nahe contains, and it can provide aromas of soursop, lemon-balm, violets and ginger.

Organic

This wine offers a nicely engaging nose of pear, white flowers, herbs, and smoke. The wine proves still slightly tart but full of character on the palate and leaves a nicely light-footed and animating feel in the long finish. Tartness and zest add persistence to the aftertaste. This easy-going wine will offer much pleasure over the summer!

91 points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Selvanevada Tinto is terrific, with a ripe, medium to full-bodied, concentrated style revealing a darker core of fruits, some leafy herbs, graphite, and spicy notes, solid mid-palate depth, and ripe, building tannins. A serious wine, it will evolve for a decade. Maturity: 2024 - 2034.

91 points Vinous
The 2022 Tinto Selvanevada is 75% Tempranillo, 19% Graciano, 3% Garnacha and 3% Mazuelo from the Ebro riverbank vineyard in Laserna, Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa. Aged for seven months in oak barrels, this garnet red wine features blackberry and elder along with wild herbs and a liqueur-like touch. Dry and grippy on the palate, it is intense with reactive tannins, lingering long on its fruit notes. This is a rich wine to hold for a couple of years.

91 points Wine Spectator
This fluid red offers a pleasingly plump core of chopped black plum and raspberry flavors reined in by a sinewy frame of fine-grained tannins. Fragrant hints of lavender, rooibos tea leaf, vanilla and dusty spices lace the fruit profile and linger on the finish. Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2029.

Winemaker Notes:
Bonterra was founded on a philosophy that farming organically produces the purest, most flavorful fruit. This holistic approach balances the land and surrounding habitat of wasps, birds and wildlife to produce wines of unmatched flavor and distinction. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon offers hints of black pepper, vanilla spice and rich berry-plum flavors.

94 points Wine Advocate
The 2023 Parajes is his regional red, a blend of different places, soils, expositions and altitudes (between 450 and 780 meters above sea level). It's a real representation of El Bierzo, with grapes from 45 different plots in nine villages. The vines range in age from 80 to 142 years of old and are planted with field blends - approximately 85% Mencia, 10% Alicante Bouschet and 5% other white and red varieties like Bastardo, Souson and Estaladina. There are always some full clusters, depending on vintage and plot, and part of the wine ferments in stainless steel and part of it is in bins, as he ferments by plot. The wine matured in 225-, 400- and 500-liter oak barrels for one year. It has moderate ripeness and 13.08% alcohol, a pH of 3.58 and 5.34 grams of acidity, making it lower in alcohol than the 2022 and with more freshness. It's serious and balanced, elegant and fine-boned. It gets very close to the village red this year. This is a bargain. 34,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2025.

Cesar Marquez Perez, Raul Perez's nephew, is one of the most precise winemakers in Bierzo with the family Castro Ventosa range and his personal project, which he started in 2015. In the 2023 vintage, he is releasing a new wine from the Villegas area, a lieu-dit in Valtuille on sandy soils. The single-vineyard wines are aging in increasingly larger oak containers, combining 1,200-liter vats with 500- and 600-liter barrels. He owns 7.2 hectares and works a further seven with local growers across Bierzo, from altitudes ranging between 450 to 850 meters above sea level. His production is slowly growing, and he now crafts 60,000 bottles per year.

As he told me while tasting the wines from the family winery, Castro Ventosa, which he also vinifies, "2023 was a cooler vintage with rain at the beginning of the harvest. The wines have a floral, serious and elegant profile with a contained alcohol content of 12.5% to 13%." These are some of the finest and more elegant wines he has produced so far.

In a word... Ripe. Dense purple in color, this wine opens with aromas of ripe red fruits, cherries, anise, cedar, savory spice, roasted coffee, and tobacco. The wine is velvety and lush presenting delicious flavors of raspberry, cherry and plum with warm baking spice, earthy undertones, and a hint of vanilla. The flavors are complemented by lively acidity and fine tannins that lift the wine suggesting a long life. The finish is long, supple and mouthwatering. This Paso Robles Cabernet is the perfect match for local almond wood grilled chicken with a side of stone ground grits, roasted poblano chiles and pepper jack cheese

Organic

A light-bodied, chillable red with a crunchy acidity.
Very old vines 80-100+ years old grown on granite slopes of the Serra de Estrela. There are several varieties here but mostly Baga and Jaen. Natural fermentation in lagares with 20% whole clusters. A long maceration time but without extraction. The wine finishes fermentation and malo in casks.20 months aging in in old barriques and a 2500L old wooden vat. The wine is bottled unfiltered.
11% abv

Winery Notes:
"Crisp, clean and delicate with fine bubble caressing the palate. Intense sensations of apples and peaches drive a pleasant aftertaste, that is reminiscent of fruity and floral aromas."

#75 on The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2025

91 points Wine Spectator
A pale rosé, with just a touch of tawny hue, yet this shows good concentration in the glass, offering a well-cut mix of white cherry, pomegranate, pink grapefruit pith and mountain herbs, plus a minerally undertow that echoes on the finish. Drink now. 12.5% abv

Rose petal color and intense mousse are the first signs of a wine that has been created to make a celebration out of any occasion. The experience is completed by the vivid strawberry and cherry aromas,typical of Xinomavro, and the pronounced acidity that adds nerve and lift, balancing with
the wine’s elegant sweetness.

100% Xinomavro sourced from Amyndeon, across the mountains from Kir-Yianni’s home base of Naoussa and a historical source for high-acid grapes for rosé. This is fermented to an irresistible 17 grams or so per liter of residual sugar before a Charmat-method secondary fermentation that comes out to a creamy 3.5 atmospheres of pressure.

Organic

The Cabernet Sauvignon Ungrafted Gravel Soil hails from Isla de Maipo, aged 12 month in used barrels. Light purple in hue, the mild nose offers blackcurrant and cherry soft piracine notes. Terse with polished, slightly reactive, finely grained tannins and a flavorful juicy finish. A nuanced and lively style.

Winemaker Notes:
"Our William Hill Estate North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon has a rich palate of dark fruit flavors, with subtle hints of caramel and cocoa. The Sonoma and Napa fruit gave this wine its ripe blackberry and black cherry flavors, while the grapes from Lake and Mendocino brought tremendous structure and presence to the blend. This Cabernet, which was blended with a touch of Merlot to round out the mouthfeel, will reveal more complex layers with time in the bottle."

Winemaker Notes:
A minimalist winemaking style, free of over-manipulation, keeps the fresh, bright fruit flavors of the Pinot Noir grape intact from vineyard to bottle. The wine was carefully aged in small oak barrels, providing just the right balance between delicate varietal flavors, crisp acidity and complementary oak character.

90pts Wine Enthusiast:
"This is a delicious brut-style wine, based on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It's very rich in strawberry, raspberry and lime flavors, with vanilla and toast complexities, and the finish is honey-sweet and spicy. Great price for a bubbly this elegant." -