Best Buys $10 And Under

"This "crazy value" Napa Cab was sourced from a couple of top "Cult" wineries in the Valley (SHHH...their wines sell for between $75-150/bot!). Deep, rich and plush with classic Napa Cab fruit, it drinks like a wine costing 2-3 times as much! The Hardin Cabernet Sauvignon is a combination of top valley floor and hillside sites, it's a blend of 98 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 Cabernet Franc aged in French oak (20 new) for about 22 months. A wine that displays the outright richness and power of the vintage. Deep, intense, plum, dark cherry and spice are prevelant right away on the nose and palate. But the signature of the vintage is then on full display with minerality, balancing structure and a vibrant, fresh core that lifts the fruit and carries the wine. A classic Napa Cab that will drink well for many years."~Distributor Notes

92 pts Vinous
Bright, dark medium ruby. Lively aromas and flavors of crushed blackberry, licorice, bitter chocolate and mocha. Densely packed, fine-grained and savory, with its ripe, creamy flavors complicated by a wild gamey quality. As rich, concentrated and deep as this wine is, it's not over the top. This outstanding Malbec finishes ripely tannic and long, with compelling sweetness of fruit. (14.9% alcohol; this wine represents a blend of vineyards and altitudes in Calchaqui Valley; aged for 15 months in a mix of one- to ten-year-old French barriques).

Winemaker Notes:
Ruby red with a gold-tinged rim. Deep, vibrant color. A Complex nose. It retains the ripe red-berry fruit aromas of blackberries, blueberries, and block plums extraordinarily well. Gradually it opens up to reveal smoky, toasted wood nuances, with spices and hints of minerals and tobacco. A Smooth mouth-feel, with sweet, polished tannins. A long, elegant, perfumed finish with final hints of coffee with chocolate.

93 points Wine Advocate
The textbook Rioja Alavesa red 2016 Viña Real Reserva was produced with 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano, Garnacha and Mazuelo, mostly from their own grapes. It fermented in stainless steel vats and matured in new and second use barriques for 22 months. This is a more delicate version of the Reserva with added freshness and a touch of red fruit. It has contained ripeness, elegance and balance with very tasty flavors and abundant fine-grained tannins.

92 points Vinous
Deep, shimmering ruby. Expressive, spice-accented red berry and cherry preserve and floral aromas are complemented by suggestions of smoky minerals, vanilla and cured tobacco. Sweet and energetic on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry and cherry flavors that flesh out slowly with air. In a lively style, displaying sharp clarity, discreet tannins and an echo of candied rose on the long, penetrating finish.

Organic

The review is on the previous vintage.
92 points Wine Advocate
The 2021 Chardonnay Vino de los Ranchos, matured for 19 months and sulfured only for bottling, takes some time to reveal scents of lemon peel, beeswax, gravel dust and herbal undertones. The light-bodied palate is bursting with crunchy citrus flavors reminiscent of Chablis. It has stony mineral character, a razor-like spine of acidity, and a touch of textural breadth lends an expansive feel that extends the finish.

#26 On The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2024!

93 points Wine Spectator
Sleek and fresh, with dark plum and blackberry notes laced with singed alder and ganache. Shows nice drive through the polished finish as the fruit expands. Drink now through 2031.

The Nose - floral, summer meadow notes, followed by mellow rounded juniper and zesty, citrus freshness. The Palate - dry juniper leads, then reveals lemon tart & orange marmalade, before all the flavours harmonise. The Finish - dryness leads, with spicy juniper & a hint of lemon tart emerging.
41.6%abv

Indiana- Sweet corn is well balanced with Rye spice for an aromatic and flavorful bourbon. A nose of bright fruit and light mint notes leads to a palate of cocoa and cinnamon.

#69 On The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2024!

91 points Wine Spectator
A rich version, bordering on creamy, this peach-, apple- and stone-inflected white is complex and long, with fine balance and a long aftertaste that resonates with fruit and mineral notes. Drink now.

Organic / Biodynamic

Grape varieties: Xarel.lo (50%), Macabeu (30%), Chardonnay (15%), Parellada (5%)

Age of vines: 35-50 years old

Farming: Certified organic (CCPAE)

Soils: Clay limestone

Fermentation: Hand harvested, whole cluster pressing, each variety fermented separately in tank

Aging: 6 months in tank, blended, secondary fermentation in bottle, on lees minimum 60 months, dosage 8g/L, suitable for vegans

Additional Information: Imperial is sourced from 13 growers/members of Aliances per la Terra, an organization established to promote organic and biodynamic farming in the Penedes. Currently, all these growers are certified organic, and 12 a certified biodynamic. Imperial is the largest production Sparkling wine at Gramona sourced from 82.5 hectares of vines and can best be described as embodying its house style ? a combination of the precision of Xarel.lo and the creamy textures for extensive aging on the lees. Imperial is a blend of 50% Xarel.lo, 30% Macabeu, 15% Chardonnay, and 5% Parellada aged 60 months sur lattes and finished with an 8 g/L dosage from an ancient solera maintained at the property. 350,000 bottles released in an average vintage.

Organic

#44 On The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2024!

90 points Wine Spectator
Fragrant hints of white peach and bay leaf on the nose lead to a brambly mix of juicy raspberry, strawberry and mulberry fruit in this expressive and well-spiced red, with light, buoyant tannins and notes of wild sage and flowers on the finish. Drink now through 2027. 10,400 cases made.

91 points Vinous
The 2022 Nero D' Avola Lagnusa is perfumed with a fresh mix of wild berries and spices accentuated by hints of blood orange. It's soft textured and lifted in feel with vibrant acidity and crisp wild berry fruit. The 2022 finishes energetic and pleasantly tart, puckering the cheekswhile keeping the mouth watering for more.

Named after a famous samurai of the region nicknamed Suigei because he drank like a whale, this sake has a strong flavor and a crisp, refreshing finish. Its high rice-polishing ratio compares favorably with other Junmai sakes, and this sake is easily paired with a range of dishes. 15% abv

TASTING NOTES
Its deep brown color is attractive and deep. Kahlúa Original offers enticing scents of bittersweet coffee bean and roasted chest-nut and multilayered flavors of black coffee and sweet butter.

Produce at it’s Chateau de Bonbonnet estate in the Cognac region of France, Citadel is a melange of nineteen botanicals. All juniper is grown on the estate: it is a true chateau-to-bottle gin. Citadelle exudes delicate aromas of fresh flowers highlighted by more assertive citric scents. On the palate, the juniper cedes to spiciness. Well balanced, it is elegant and soft, with a nice equilibrium between intensity and finesse. 44% abv. “Spirit of the Year” at the 2017 World Spirit Awards

Organic / Biodynamic

100% Malagousia, a native Greek variety that was near extinction, fermented in stainless steel tanks. Extremely aromatic with notes of green apples, waxed lemons and green tea. Fresh and saline, with a medium body and a waxy texture that finishes dry. Bring on the shellfish! 13% abv

Organic / Natural

2021: "A red wine showcasing the most rustic high elevation sites in the Willamette Valley. A wine that finds its voice in generosity of conversation through space and restraint like a deep dialogue with a friend that listens."

Vineyard: 15 to 30-year-old vines on volcanic basalt and wind-blown mineral soil. Tualatin Hills AVA, Willamette Valley. Soft-pruned double guyot

Making of: The grapes are all hand-harvested and processed with zero sulfur. The grapes are then placed in open-top neutral barrels and tubs that allow for slow fermentation. After 10-30 days (depending on the vintage) of contact with the skins, stems and seeds, the wine is put to rest in neutral barrels. The wine ages on the lees for 18 months in a cave in Oregon’s coastal mountain range. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, with a tiny amount of SO2 at bottling.

Personality: "a pure wine in which I can taste the soil where it was grown. I can taste the wind, the volcanic land and smell the gardens that are next to the vineyards. Bayleaf, tobacco, dark tea, red fruit," Jarad says.

Jarad on this wine: "Days until Harvest was created to bring forth an unadulterated expression of Pinot Noir from the most Northern Vineyards of the Willamette Valley. Our interest resides in the purity and transparency of the specific sites, and their unique texture, acidity, and rustic personality. This is a grower’s pinot noir that celebrates the time we spend throughout the season getting to know these vineyards, their soils, flowers, and fruits. The soils and high elevation are the protagonists here; the wine shows natural reduction and tension from its volcanic parent material. In each site, a small section of the vineyard is chosen to create an honest profile of what we farm throughout the year in our neighborhood."

"The dark amber-hued non-vintage East India Solera is essentially an old Oloroso blended with an old Pedro Ximenez, which gives it a sweet character. It offers more mature notes of maple syrup, brown sugar, spice box, raisin and chocolate beer nuts, and its terrific balancing acidity cuts through the sweetness. This delicious effort is best drunk after the meal." 96pts WA

A blend of 12-year-old Don Nuno Oloroso (80%) and San Emilio PX which is also about 12 years old. One of the great icons of Lustau. Its aging process mimics that of some 17th century wines developed during transatlantic journeys to distant Spanish colonies. To achieve this, after aging separately in their own soleras, the Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez that comprise it, are combined and undergo a second aging process in a solera of 33 barrels at the Sacristia de Bodegas Lustau, with its elevated humidity and temperatures that replicate the climatic conditions that the wines would have experienced on their journeys.

Emilio Lustau SA was founded in 1896 by Don Jose Ruiz-Berdejo. In the beginning, Lustau was essentially an Almacenista, a modest estate with small holdings that sold most of its wine to large exporting Bodegas. It was not until the 1950s that Lustau became Emilio Lustau SA, and it joined the prestigious ranks of a select group of exporters of Sherry. In the early 1980s, Emilio Lustau SA, then under the management of the late Rafael Balao, became one of the most innovative companies in Jerez, launching the "Almacenista" line and creating the distinctive bottle that we know today. Lustau is now widely considered one of the finest producers of Sherry, with their Almacenista line breaking new ground in hand-crafted, boutique wines. These Sherries, drawing on rare and marvelous wines held by small producers, are some of the finest Sherries made today.

Lustau offers a wide array of Sherries; bone-dry Finos are wonderful matches with garlic-y shrimp and langostinos. Racy Amontillados balance power with finesse and are wonderful with nuts, olives, cheeses, and jamon Serrano. Powerful Olorosos can be served during a meal and match well with traditional soups and stews. Of course, the wide range of dessert wines from Lustau are unparalleled; the elegant East India Cream Sherry is as soft as silk, the Moscatels offers a delightful citrus edge that keeps the wines lively on the palate while the dark Pedro Ximenez is best served as a "syrup" over vanilla ice cream, pancakes or waffles.

USA- Adds a kick to soft drinks or juices, or can be used in any rum- or vodka-based cocktail. The high alcohol content makes it ideal for cooking to extract the flavors of the food.

Though the formula is a secret, the botanicals in the perennially popular Tanqueray are thought to be just four: juniper, coriander seed, angelica root and liqourice. The lack of a citrus botanical makes it slightly drier that some other gins. According to company lore, it was Frank Sinatra’s favorite gin.
47.3%abv

Finally, a dessert wine that is not cloyingly sweet. This beautifully aromatic, floral with white fruit notes, delicate dessert wine does not lack acidity (which can be common in this style of wine). The wine is graceful on the palate, not overly viscous, displaying delectable notes of ripe peach, tangerine, apricot, and white flowers. Nearly impossible to turn down a glass of this.

100% Muscat of Alexandria. The oldest variety in the Muscat family and one of the few remaining genetically unmodified vitis vinifera cultivars remaining in the world today. The Phoenicians transplanted this grape from Alexandria, Egypt to Málaga approximately 2,800 years ago.

Late harvest (partially dehydrated) bunches are whole cluster pressed in a pneumatic press. Fermentation occurs in small (1,500L) stainless steel tanks. When fermentation reaches 10% alcohol, the temperature of the tank is dropped dramatically to halt fermentation. A small amount of SO2 is added to stop fermentation.

Among the botanicals in the Antica Torino Dry are wormwood, yarrow muscat, centaurea, hyssop, thistle, cinnamon, coriander, and sage, expertly balancing both mountain and garden herbs. The base is Cortese DOC wine from Piedmont that renders a particularly elegant, floral, and vinous vermouth. Enjoy Antica Torino Dry on the rocks with a twist of lemon or in classics such as an Old Pal or a Perfect Rob Roy. 18% abv

Organic

This complex and truly unique sparkling wine is crafted from 100% organically grown Fiano from Campania, Italy. This high elevation estate has both limestone and volcanic soil which provides amazing complexity to their wines. It is medium-bodied, bright with a salty minerality that is captivating. The grapes are pressed slowly, then fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless tanks. Then aged for three years in bottle on lees before disgorgement.

Teremana is a premium 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila grown in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. Roasted in brick ovens, distilled in copper pot and aged in American whiskey barrels. The blanco has notes of bright citrus with a smooth, fresh finish. Gluten free. 40%abv

Aromas of black cherry, pomegranate and blackberry - very complex - with hints of blood orange, licorice and spice. The palate is dense and deep showing the Moulin-a-Vent side of Fleurie, with juicy black fruits backed with firm acidity and mineral flavors. The finish is long with sappy fruit liqueur and earthy acidity.