Best Buys $10 And Under

(50% Xarel??lo, 30% Macabeo, 20% Parellada)."My favorite of the two sparkling Cavas is the non-vintage Brut Reserva Cava. Made from a classic blend (for this area) of Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada planted in limestone and clay soils, the wine spends 24 months on its lees before disgorgement. It is an excellent value for consumers looking for alternatives to French Champagne. Lemon/lime, crushed rock and white currant notes are present in this crisp, elegant, refreshing, zesty, dry sparkler. Hints of wheat thins and brioche add complexity.

90 points Wine Advocate
The 2022 Breca has ripeness and 15% alcohol but also a leafy twist on the nose. It's sultry and juicy, with abundant, fine tannins and a dry finish. It was produced with fruit from old vines on different soils—slate, clay and limestone—fermented with uncrushed grapes and matured in second- and third-use 500- and 600-liter barrels for 16 months.

Organic / Biodynamic

This review is on the previous vintage.

93+ points Wine Advocate
The 2023 Clos Lojen is even more of a bargain than in previous years, as the price is the same and the quality is even higher!! It started being produced with 40-year-old vines, but those are by now 60 years old (I saw some of them, and they were REALLY impressive!); so, there's more depth and complexity; the vines are wiser (they've been tended nicely...) and manage to keep the freshness and approachability. They started harvesting the last week of August, and the result was 12.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.65 and 5.4 grams of acidity. The full clusters fermented in 4,500-liter oak vats and matured in foudres of different sizes—4,500, 10,000 and 15,000 liters—and lasted six months. The wine is fruit-driven, juicy, complex and spicy, balanced and tasty, textured and with a chalky feeling. This is way beyond what the price might suggest. 52,000 bottles produced in 2023. It was bottled between April and June 2024.

Organic

"A bright, straw-yellow coloured wine. As you expect from a verdejo wine, on the nose it has high aromatic intensity, with tropical fruit and hints of fennel and fresh grass. In the mouth it is both syrupy smooth and refreshing, with a slightly bitter finish which is typical of the variety making it long and pleasant to drink. Overall it is a fresh, well-balanced wine." Winemaker notes

Bodegas de los Herederos del Marques de Riscal S.L. has 225 hectares of vineyards of more than 15 years, planted with among other grapes, the indigenous verdejo variety. A versatile grape with a lot of character and personality, it is very well suited to the extreme conditions of the region, allowing us to produce fresh young wines or cask-fermented whites.

Organic / Biodynamic

A firm backbone of Meyer lemon peel acidity frames this vivid sparkler, enmeshed with rich notes of lightly charred toast and smoked almond, backed by flavors of ripe white cherry and peach fruit. Hints of thyme and anise play on the finish. Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada and Malvasia de Sitges.

Organic

The review is on the 2019 vintage.

92+ points Wine Advocate
The village red 2019 Bellmunt was produced with 65% Garnacha, 30% Cariñena and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and is very expressive, ripe with 14% alcohol and some herbal notes and very good freshness. The palate is medium-bodied and reveals abundant, fine-grained tannins. Very Priorat.

Eric Asimov of The New York Times:
This cava, the bubbly of Spain, is straightforward and uncomplicated. It’s dry and fresh, with yeasty, apple flavors and a lacy texture. In case anybody confuses it with a far more exalted sparkling wine, the label will set you straight: Jaume Serra Cristalino is not affiliated with, sponsored by, approved by, endorsed by, or in any way connected to Louis Roederer’s Cristal Champagne or Louis Roederer.


Subtle, leesy aromas of apple, spices, flowers and nuts. Dry, racy and perfumed, with intense ginger and apple flavors complicated by nutty and floral nuances. Finishes quite dry and restrained. Unusually subtle, fresh, clean Cava. - IWC

Good fruit and depth here, a medium to full-bodied palate and fine-grained tannins, and the wine has the stuffing and balance to overcome the creamy oak with some more time in bottle. It matured in a mixture of oak vats and barrels for some six to eight months. 200,000 bottles produced.

Organic

92+ points Wine Advocate
The first wine they produced in 2007 is now the current 2023 Graciano, produced with grapes from different vineyards in the village of Corella in a zone with more Mediterranean influence, crafted in an approachable and fresh style with the local typicity, produced with very soft pump-overs. It fermented in 10,000-liter stainless steel vats with a soft extraction and matured in French oak barrels of different sizes for nine months. It has a nose of ripe berries, quite primary, and is fruit-driven with some honeyed undertones, herbal and balsamic. It has good ripeness, 13.3% alcohol, a pH of 3.40 and 5.35 grams of acidity, along with a juicy palate with very fine tannins.

The high-acid Graciano is the last one of their grapes to be harvested, in their vineyards around the village of Corella. Following a light maceration the wine ferments in steel. 25% of the wine is racked into French oak for malolactic, the rest happens in steel. The wines were blended and stayed 9 months on their lees in French barrels.

A hint of mushroom here, along with honey and citrus. It's rich and frothy, with a crisp finish. - WS82

Organic

91 points Vinous
A sparkling wine based on Monastrell is an oddity, but the 2021 Ros from Llopart showcases it beautifully. This blend of 60% Monastrell, 20% Garnacha and 20% Pinot Noir, from Subirats, Peneds, is bright cherry-red in hue. The floral, perfumed nose features cherry and herbal notes. Indulgent and chalky, it delivers a savory palate that finishes with a lasting note of waffle.

The Llopart does an extremely gentle press in a vertical basket press. Maximum permitted yields of must per weight of grapes is 66.66% - the Llopart family does not extract past 45-50%. The semi-unpressed grapes are sold off to a local cooperative. The must ferments in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and is aged sur lie for four months before being returned to bottle. The secondary fermentation is carried out in the bottle in underground cellars.

The Llopart family were granted their family estate in 1385, making them one of the oldest growers in Penedès. They founded their company for the production of sparkling wines in 1887, making them the second oldest house for sparkling wine in Spain, and the oldest family-owned sparkling wine house in the country. They own 500 Ha of land, 95 of which are planted to organically certified vineyards. In 2017, Llopart became one of the six founding members of CORPINNAT, an new recognized classification for premium organically farmed sparkling wines from heart of Penedès. Llopart were pioneers in the production of Rosé sparkling wines and were one of the first producers to make rosé sparkling from exclusively red varieties.

93 points James Suckling
Fine spices, blackberries, cocoa powder and graphite. This is juicy and flavorful on the palate, with a full body and a heap of dusty tannins. Tight, structured and pretty long.

92 points Vinous
The 2022 Tritn originates from Toro and has been barrel-aged for up to eight months. Garnet in color. The ripe fruit aromas include blackberry and sour cherry above a backdrop of wild herbs. Rich and indulgent, the firm yet polished tannins and balanced acidity contribute to a long-lasting and overwhelmingly satisfying palate. This is truly a Toro red.

#53 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023.

91 points Wine Spectator
A dry, aromatic white, with mouthwatering acidity and a chalky underpinning, this refreshing sipper shows notes of nectarine, lime blossoms, pink grapefruit granita, fresh tarragon and pickled ginger. Very appealing. Drink now through 2025.

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 Malaga approximately 2,800 years ago. Over 50 small vineyard plots planted in the Axarquia Malaguena, primarily surrounding the village of Almachar. Given the steep inclinations (up to 70°) and the lack of trellising, terraces, or mechanization, these are the most extreme vineyards in Europe. Vineyards planted Between 1946-1975. Traditional dry-farmed goblet trained bush vines. Cultivated by hand, with minimal human intervention. No organic matter or soil whatsoever. Solid slate rock and decomposed slate with a small percentage of white quartz.

Aged on the lees for eight months before bottling. The lees are racked over the wine weekly.

Organic / Biodynamic

A previous vintage was featured in The New York Times article: 20 Wines Under $20: For When the Weather Is Sultry by Eric Asimov

"Several efforts are underway to differentiate conscientiously produced cava from the run-of-the-mill stuff that dominates the category. The Cl??ssic Pened??s appellation is one of them. Those producers under this classification must make their own wines, instead of buying them. If they grow grapes, they must farm organically, and the wines must be aged at least 15 months after the initial fermentation. Loxarel farms biodynamically, and makes this wine with the three classic cava grapes, parellada, macabeu and xarello (of which Loxarel is an anagram). For a $15 wine, this bottle has great delicacy and finesse."

Organic / Natural

Owned by the Suriol family, Cellers de Can Suriol del Castell is known for making wines and vintage Cava with personality in the organic winemaking tradition. They make wines under the Suriol brand which are all estate bottled fruit and then they make the Azimut line from purchased grapes from their neighbors, all of whom work organically. The Can Suriol vineyards and winery are situated in Alt Penedes, Province of Barcelona, Catalunya. This region is justifiably famous for producing fine wines and cava. The cultivation of the Can Suriol vineyards is done by 100% organic methods as certified by the CCPAE (until 2007 NOP certification). - Jenny & Francois

Sliced green apple, lemon zest and white almond on the nose with a crisp and bright profile of yellow and green fruit on the palate. Elegant and fresh-toned.

Winemaker Notes:
The grapes come from vineyards, 30-40 years old, with yields of 2T/Ha and located high on the hillsides, 700-900 metres above sea level. The vineyards are planted in mainly decomposed slate and gravely clay soils. The fermentation was carried out in small stainless steel tanks for 15 days at temperetures below 27ºC, and then spent a short period of two months in French oak barrels.
It exhibits greater aromatic complexity, richness with mineral and blueberry notes leading to a savory and spicy wine nicely balanced and very easy to drink.

Food Pairing:
Pair with rice, pasta (noodles, spaghetti, macaroni), white and blue fish, goat cheese, cold meat, vegetables, lentil soup, peas,
mushroom, beef, chicken, roast meat, red and white grill meat.

Tasting Notes:
Color of intense dark cherry with a violet edge. Intense nose, dominated by ripe red fruits, raspberry, currant, together with balsamic and mineral notes. Powerful in the mouth, full-bodied, pleasantly tannic and fruity with a light spice on the finish.

Organic

90+ points Wine Advocate
The 2022 Brut Reserva was produced with a blend of 40% Xarel.lo, 30% Macabeo and 30% Parellada from organically farmed vineyards and aged for at least 20 months with the lees in bottle. It comes in at 11.5% alcohol, a pH of 2.95 and a dosage to complete eight grams of sugar. It's young and fruit-driven, not too sweet, approachable and pleasant. It feels serious, clean and harmonious, very drinkable. 37,000 bottles produced. It was disgorged in February 2025, but like all Corpinnat wines, the disgorgement date is printed on the back label.

Winemaker's Notes:
According to a document written in Latin and dated 1385, a Llopart family?????s ancestor, Bernardus Leopardi, was granted some vineyards located in the present country estate Can Llopart de Subirats. Over the following centuries the Llopart family combined the cultivation of traditional agricultural Mediterranean products: grapevine, wheat and olive. At the end of the XVIII century the Lloparts decided to devote themselves exclusively to wine growing. The secular dedication to vine cultivation, elaboration and wine growing reaches its turning point, after intense testings, with the production of the first Cava Llopart bottles at the old country house cellar in 1887. In the early 1950s, Pere Llopart i Vilaros gave his cellars a new drive. He actively contributed in launching the "craft cavas" and consolidated cava Llopart as a high quality product.

93 points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Nisia Las Suertes is 100% Verdejo from very old vines (possibly even the 1880s) and was aged on the lees with bâtonnage for a minimum of 7 months in French oak puncheons and demi-muids. It has more melon ball, hay, crushed stone, and subtly honey nuances that carry to a beautifully textured, layered white with a gorgeous mid-palate, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a serious wine that's geared for the dinner table.

A bright white, light on its feet and graceful yet still creamy and generous on the palate, with flavors of baked white peach, macadamia nut, grated ginger and a touch of lemon-infused pastry cream. Shows a spine of lively acidity and a subtle layer of salty mineral. - Winery

A firm, dry rosé, offering cherry compote flavor and moderate concentration, backed by an aftertaste of rhubarb. - WS82

Vibrant aromas of ripe peaches, pears and toasted bread with a hint of spice fill the nose. The palate is dry with a rich, creamy texture. Layers of flavor include orange rind and spice that persists through an elegant finish. - Winemaker's notes - PJ

Full-bodied and oozing with complexity. Brawny, oxidative Riojan charm in spades, this is a wine that begs for the cellar. - Billy Norris of Vinous in his article Rosé Revolution: Light Red is the New Pink.

92 points Vinous
The 2024 Marqués de Riscal Rosé is exceptionally complex, building layer upon layer of spice-laden, mineral-drenched fruit all the way through the beautiful finish. Savory nuances mount with air as the 2024 glides across the palate with plushness and generous body but no excess heft. This feels very complete today, but I wouldn't be afraid to give it a few years to develop.

Vibrant aromas of ripe peaches, pears and toasted bread with a hint of spice fill the nose. The palate is more round with a rich, creamy texture. Layers of flavor include orange rind and spice that persists through an elegant finish. This is quite good at a very reasonable price.

Organic

100% Cencibel, the local clone of Tempranillo. The alluring aromatics immediately envelop the senses, fresh red berries and subtle floral components waft from the glass. The dark core gives the impression of power and heft but the solid backbone of acidity provides lift, a weightlessness on the palate. Texturally lush with juicy blackberry and currant characteristics and a long finish that is dry. The balance from start to finish in this wine demonstrates the touch of a talented winemaker. This wine will surely earn a plethora of new fans.

Organically grown grapes in the village of Villarrobledo and El Provencio. 75+ year old vines (Castilla-La Mancha). Hand harvested. The grapes are destemmed, and then fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tank. Maceration lasts until the end of alcoholic fermentation, with regular wetting of the cap. The wine is then pressed into centenarian local clay tinajas (amphora). The wine ages in tinajas for 3 months followed by 2 months in used French barrels and then 6 months in bottle before release.

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.

Spending 18-24 glorious months aging in used bourbon barrels from legendary Pappy Van Winkle, old vine fruit shines through with aromas and flavors of blueberry liqueur, blackberry, black cherry and peppery spice. Then there is a graceful segue into wood smoke, brown sugar, vanilla, and sweet spice that frame all of that ripe and savory fruit very nicely. Super full bodied and full flavored, but smooth and silky on the palate, this is probably about as close as most of us will get to Pappy van Winkle. -PJ Wine