Best Buys $10 And Under

Wine Spectator:
A bright Moscato, with lively acidity and flavors of white peach puree, aromatic lilac, crushed almond and orange granita. Zesty finish. Drink now.

Organic

I Custodi’s cellar master is long-time Etna guru Salvo Foti, and his touch is one of a bianchista (white wine lover) prizing elegance, tension, and keeping the pristine volcanic spice found in these wines. Mario and Salvo have decided to release both red and whites only after extended elevage; it’s another sign of the dedication of this winery to natural and fine wines, a shared mantra also of PortoVino.
Pistus is primarily the younger vines that don’t make it into the Aetneus bottling. Fresh and pure, volcanic spicy, good with a slight chill, and also good not with a slight chill!


80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio

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

97 points Wine Spectator
Laced with pure cherry, strawberry, graphite and tobacco aromas and flavors, this red is beautifully supported by a backbone of vibrant acidity and taut, refined tannins. Everything is framed by vanilla and toasty oak in the best sense, revealing harmony, with a long, orange-tinged finish and, yes, even drinkability at this stage. Best to give this a few more years in the bottle. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2045.

98 points Wine Advocate
First made in 1971, this legendary Italian wine now celebrates its 50th birthday. Happy Birthday, Tignanello! The Marchesi Antinori 2021 Tignanello (made with 79% Sangiovese, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc) pulls on all the heartstrings. To be released in May, the wine shows a quintessentially pretty taste profile with tart fruit flavors, redcurrant, tea leaf, heritage rose, crushed white pepper, licorice, nutmeg, clove and chopped mint. It opens slowly to reveal more richness and exuberance with time, becoming downright voluptuous and heady a short while later. The through line, however, remains the bright freshness and minerality of Sangiovese. Compared to the 2018 vintage (which I also loved), this vintage has more overall fruit weight and volume. (ML)

98 points Vinous
The 2021 Tignanello is every bit as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel and then just after bottling. Silky and polished, with exceptional finesse, the 2021 has all the pedigree to become a modern benchmark for Tignanello and Italian wine more broadly. Bright dark red fruit, blood orange, spice, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco all soar out of the glass, framed by a discreet touch of French oak that adds raciness. In some vintages, the elements are discernible. In 2021, it is the total harmony of the wine that makes the strongest and deepest impression. The 2021 spent 17 months in wood, three months in neutral oak during the malolactic fermentation and then 14 months (50% new) for the rest of its aging. Superb.

91 points Wine Spectator
This sleek, minerally white offers hints of grilled macadamia nut, which underscore and enrich a finely meshed flavor profile of tangerine, persimmon and chamomile. Racy finish. Drink now through 2027. 6,000 cases made, 250 cases imported.

The Montefusco vineyard is dedicated solely to the production of Nova Serra Greco di Tufo. It has a south-east exposure, with clay-calcareous soil and traces of volcanic ash along the profile. Positioned 550m a.s.l., the vines are Cordon spur-pruned and Espalier-trained, with a planting density of 4,000 vines/ha and a yield of about 6,000 kg/ha (1.5kg/vine). The vines have an average age of 15 years. Manual harvest takes place at the end of October. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature. Refinement in bottle for three to four months before release.

The Valpolicella Ripasso Ca’ del Laito Classico Superiore from Tommaso Bussola is made all from very low yielding, old vines of 40% Corvina and Corvinone, 40% Rondinella, 10% Molinara, and 10% Others. Corvinone in particular is quite rare today because of its low yields and finicky growing habits. Yet, Tommaso claims it is the Corvinone that gives his wines their depth. He calls it the Super Corvina, saying that it produces stronger, denser, richer, more perfumed wines. This wine offers up a deep, complex, and vibrant bouquet of sweet blackberries, a bit of red currant, a gorgeous array of spice tones, a fine foundation of soil, a touch of new leather, and a top note of sultana raisin. On the palate, the wine is pure, full-bodied and very expressive, with superb focus and grip, a beautiful core of fruit, fine mineral drive and bounce and a long, tangy moderately tannic finish.

Grapes were hand-harvested from vines ranging from 5 to 30 years old, pressed, then fermented with selected yeast for ten days. Then refermented on the skins of Amarone for another ten days. Finally, the wine is aged for 17 months in 700L Austrian oak - second passage.

Ca’ del Laito was a place-name for a vineyard that straddles the ridge above Quintarelli. Tommaso purchased the vineyard (and the little workhouse there) from Masi in ~2002. Tommaso Bussola is now often mentioned along with Giuseppe Quintarelli and Dal Forno Romano as the top estates in the Valpolicella appellation.

96 points Vinous
A mentholated freshness introduces the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino, as a vibrant wave of crushed cherries, mint leaf, clove and dusty roses make up its absolutely gorgeous bouquet. This is silky and enveloping yet lifted and full of energy, with crunchy red berry fruits that leave a crackle of primary concentration toward the close. It finishes pretty saline and spicy in character, leaving edgy tannins to mingle with a residual bump of acidity that maintains a wonderfully fresh sensation as tart cranberry notes fade. This is one of the most exciting young renditions of Voliero I have ever tasted. It captivates with its precision and spry personality while holding depths of complexity in reserve. Wow.

Organic

91points Vinous
Wonderfully balanced and full of character, the NV Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry displays a bouquet of crushed yellow apples with savory herbs and white smoke. It’s smooth in texture and gently sweet, blending ripe orchard fruits and spices with notes of candied ginger. This cleans up remarkably well, becoming dry and almost savory in character; yet above all else, it’s refreshing.

Organic

97+ points Vinous
The 2020 Barbaresco Pajor?? is a textbook wine from this site. A wine of depth and stature the Pajor?? is so impressive even just bottled. Dark cherry plum lavender spice and menthol race across the palate as the 2020 shows off its obvious pedigree. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of spice balsamic-infused nuances that build into the palate-staining finish. The 2020 is shaping up to be truly magnificent.

95-97 points Wine Advocate
Tasted from barrel, the 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be presented in the fall but won’t hit the market until spring of the following year. This is a beauty, so generous and opulent with fully seamless transitions. The wine’s traditional blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with tiny percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, although this warm vintage makes due with a pinch less of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit is selected across 107 hectares of Ornellaia vines, although the estate recently purchased an additional eight hectares next to Guado al Tasso in Castagneto Carducci, with terraces and vines aged between 15 and 28 years old. This broad and generous expression has a beautiful quality of fruit and oak that speaks to the very best of Italian winemaking. Drink: 2026-2050.

Organic

Although native to the Côte d’Or, Pinot Noir has been cultivated in the Val d’Aoste since both regions were under the Burgundian Dukes in the Middle Ages. While 70% of Grosjean’s vines are French clones, 30% are the rare Wadenzwil cultivar. Grosjean’s example blends varietal typicity with raciness and freshness. The vineyards are at a high altitude (600-750m) and steep incline, allowing for the distinct alpine characteristics to show through. Vinification in wood casks with daily punching down for three days, followed by 10-12 days of settling before aging partly in steel, part in oak.

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

Organic

100% Ciliegiolo grapes sourced from a few carefully chosen vineyards in Vallerana and Sovana, in Southern Maremma, mostly clay soil. Hand harvested in mid-September. Fermented in open stainless steel vats, native yeast. Matured in concrete vats.

Dry Rose of Lambrusco

" Full-flavored with notes of anise and licorice that carry through a richly elegant texture, it is delicious alone, with espresso, or of course, with the traditional three toasted coffee beans in an after dinner snifter. " ~ Distillery notes

100 pts James Suckling
This is really muscular and really powerful. It is amazing. Full-bodied, yet tight and super structured with incredible power and super toned tannins. It goes on for minutes. The greatest Barbaresco ever from here? I love the strength with fruit finesse. I don?????t remember tasting a young Asili like this. Give this a lot of time to come together. One for the cellar. Try after 2026.

97+ points Wine Advocate
Packaged in its distinctive red label, the 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is a rich and profound wine with incredible depth and dimension. Bruna Giacosa skipped over the 2015 vintage because she felt that the fruit was not poised for long aging. From the 2014 vintage, we jump to this 2016 expression, a wine that Bruna says reminds her of the epic 2001 and 2004 vintages. She also loves the 2017 vintage, which I look forward to tasting next year. This wine is incredibly precise and sharp; however, the volume and generous fruit weight promises a long aging future. The aromas veer toward red berry, cherry and cassis, and the darker black fruit tones that you might expect are less prominent in the Asili. The wine majestically captures the elegance and the power of this iconic vintage.

"The effusively fruity, light bodied Pink offers terrific floral notes, persistent effervescence and a clean, delicate finish. There is perfect body and weight in this crystal clean and pure sparkling wine. It’s an ideal aperitif to enjoy any day of the year. It’s simply amazing!" - Riondo

A fresh, dry, mineral-driven wine produced exclusively from the Erbaluce grape. As are all the grapes in the Ferrando lineup, the Erbaluce is hand-harvested. Harvest usually occurs in late September. This cuvée is fermented and aged in stainless steel. The vineyards are situated in and around the village of Caluso in the heart of the Canavese district known for its many lakes and the hillside vineyards which overlook them.

93 points Wine Advocate
Packaged with its distinctive black label, the Mastroberardino 2018 Taurasi Radici offers impressive complexity with a long succession of aromas that includes dried blackberry, cherry liqueur, tarry smoke, campfire ash, sweet baking spice and cinnamon. The bouquet is also heavy on bramble, rosemary sprig and forest floor. It is all smoothed out by soft tobacco. This wine shows robust fruit weight and equally balanced oak spice. The tannins are well managed and Radici is long in persistency.

Organic

Straw yellow in color with greenish reflections. On the nose it has fresh and clear aromas of green apple, citrus fruits, ripe pear and white flowers with a final mineral note. On the palate it stands out for its acidity, moderated by softness generated by the alcohol content; It is very reminiscent of citrus fruits on the nose, in particular candied citrus fruits. The sip is refreshing and the finish decidedly savory.

98 points Vinous
Antinori’s 2018 Solaia captures all of the elegance of this important vintage. The bouquet alone is mesmerizing. It speaks to the stunning beauty and pedigree of Cabernet Sauvignon as grown at the Antinori family’s Tignanello property. Sweet scents of crème de cassis, lavender, graphite, mint, spice and espresso lead into a fine, delineated palate. Bright and energetic, Solaia is decidedly medium in body in 2018, with striking purity and exceptional beauty. I can’t remember ever tasting a young Solaia with this much sheer appeal and balance in the early going. In 2018 Solaia is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 7% Cabernet Franc.