Best Buys $10 And Under

Organic

#41 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

90 points Wine Spectator
There's a flinty underpinning to this fragrant white, which shows a succulent range of ripe apricot, blood orange, white blossoms, lemon peel and pickled ginger. Sleek and linear, with a hint of saline on the finish. Alvarinho and Trajadura. Drink now

A light, delicate pink hue with a lively effervescent palate. Fruit forward and delicious without being sweet.

93 points Wine Enthusiast

Skin contact has given this rich wine its density. It is a full wine, hinting at spice and minerality. The wine's ripeness shows some aging potential. Drink this great wine from 2024.

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

90 points Wine Spectator
Bright, buoyant acidity supports a pretty mix of ripe nectarine, Gala apple, blood orange pith and almond blossoms in this lithe, light-bodied white, with a salty undertow. Drink now.

This is an incredible buy in crisp refreshing white wines. Their Alvarinho is citrus in color, aromas reveal classic tropical and mineral notes. The wine is clean and fresh on the palate with a subtle intensity about it. The bright acidity makes this quite refreshing and easy to drink which is ideal as an aperitif or to accompany seafood dishes, fish or poultry dishes.

Hot days and cold nights, not only makes for good sleeping weather but also ideal for growing Alvarinho. This Portuguese grape thrives in those conditions, producing wines with open aromatics, round balanced fruit, and tart racy acidity.

Melgaco, the most northern region of Portugal, is protected by the surrounding mountains that allow a perfect marriage between rainfall, temperature and the number of hours of sunshine needed for the better maturation of the Alvarinho grapes. This climate characteristic during ripening is frequently associated with the microclimate of Moncao and Melgaco, where hot days alternate with cold nights. Soalheiro is perfectly situated to take full advantage of this.

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This is a concentrated wine that has fine tannins that are integrated with the ripe blackberry flavor. It is rich and dense in feel, with a succulent texture. A fruity blend of four varieties, including the rare Caladoc, the wine is lightly structured with spice and tannins to support the red-berry fruits. Drink now.

Classic fermentation method with destemming and pre fermentative skin contact followed of the application of dry yeasts. Fermentation up to 30º C in the first 2/3, and lowering down to 20º C during the last 1/3. During the whole fermentative process, pumping over 2 times per day, using each time half of the volume contained in the vat. After the alcoholic fermentation, the cap is plunged for 30 days, and during that period, extraction of the gentle tannins is conducted, along with the malolactic fermentation and the natural stabilization of the wine.

Wine is aged in French oak barrels from Seguin Moreau of 225 Lt for 3 months.

90 points Wine Enthusiast
This generous, ripe wine is full of black fruits that have been smoothed by wood aging. Its balanced texture and fruitiness have some of the region's minerality as well as a fresh aftertaste.

Winemaker Notes:
Lovely dark ruby red, clear and bright with garnet reflexes. Intense and involving aroma. It starts with the final notes of red berries and floral aromas, followed by notes of cocoa and spices. In the mouth it is full, embracing and harmonious, with a fine texture, freshness and persistence. Excellent if drunk now but with great ageing potential.

The Clássico Branco is made from 50% Antão Vaz, 40% Roupeiro, and 10% Fernão Pires grown in the schist soils of the Alentejano. The wine is medium bodied with a broad, integrated acidity. Flavors of ripe apple skin, meyer lemon and a distinct, spicy minerality flow across the palate. Enjoy with oily fishes or braised vegetables.

A wine which pays homage to the adventure of the Portuguese sailors that explored the world in the XV Century. The route from Europe to the Indian Ocean - known as the "Silk & Spice Route" - was pioneered by Vasco da Gama who rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1498. Flavors like nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper changed world cuisine, while silk from China became prized for its luxurious touch. An original XV century map on the label shows the Bay of Bengal, separating South and Southeast Asia, and the Portuguese coat of arms, a historical graphical element dating to 1248.

A slightly sweet red.

This blend of wines from Dao, Bairrada and Lisboa is ripe, full of black fruits and with subtle signs of the wood aging.... it is warm with its own spiciness as well as as a juicy aftertaste.

It's a touch ironic that Portuguese reds have been somewhat of a rarity on these shores, considering the long history the country has of producing exciting wine. Here's a chance to jump in and see what the quaint country next to the Atlantic has to offer. - PJ

Blend of: Tinta Roriz, Periquita (Castelao), and Cabernet Sauvignon

90 pts Wine Advocate
The 2020 Meandro do Vale Meão is a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 35% Touriga Franca, 10% Tinta Roriz and dollops of Tinta Barroca and Alicante Bouschet for the rest, all aged in used French oak for 14 months. It comes in at 14.2% alcohol. This was in bottle about a month when seen. In the tough vintage, this doesn't seem to miss a beat. It's fresh, understated, elegant and full of great fruit. It has ripe tannins for support and some ability to age too. Most of all, it's another nice bargain in this consistent brand.

Ema's Vineyard Red is an estate bottled wine from Alentejo's DOC of Vidigueira. Winemaker Paulo Laureano uses a blend of Aragonez, Tinta Grossa, Trincadeira, and Alicante Bouschet grape varietals in this wine. Soft fruit-forward red that is garnering a following here at the store.

Bright garnet. High-toned red and blue fruit aromas, tinged with wet stone and violets. On the palate, lush, but with bright acidity to balance the red cherry and pomegranate fruit. White pepper, slate and herbal aromas overlay the core of fruit on a juicy, fresh finish. 30% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Amarela, 20% Tinta Roriz, 10% Rufete, 10% Tinta Barroca, 5% Malvasia Preta, 5% Donzelinho Tinto. Sustainably farmed vineyards planted from 1960 to 1980 in schist soil at 400-600 m (1,232-1,968 ft) elevation. 30% fermented in stone lagar with foot pigeage; other 70% in vat, 100% whole cluster. Maceration – lagar for 8 days; vat for 25 days. Racked to neutral barrel for 1 year followed by 5 months in tank. 100% natural yeast fermentation (no cultivated yeasts).

Xisto Illimitado, by famed Douro winemaker Luis Seabra, is a Portuguese analogue to the idea of a “village” level Burgundy. A field blend of 6 varieties planted across 3 subzones in the Douro, Illimitado is a survey of the schist-driven terroir in the appellation. The Douro is the oldest demarcated appellation in Western Europe, chartered in 1756. Since 1986, the focus has diversified from the early days of fortified wine production in Porto, giving rise to a number of fine table wines that spearheaded the Portuguese wine market in America in the early 2000s. Luis Seabra, former winemaker at Nieeport, has focused his winemaking on the distinct soil types in the valley, and this latest project shows the breadth of style that is achievable in the region. Bright, focused and fresh, Xisto Ilimitado is a great introduction to the new Douro.

A batch of Aragonez and Trincadeira and a small percentage of Alicante Bouschet. After fermentation in stainless steel vats, a small part ages in French oak barrels. Aroma of ripe plums, black fruits, spices, a set with freshness structured with irreverent young tannins without losing the seduction of the warm lands of the Alentejo.

Light straw. Perfumed, spicy aromas of ginger, quinine, lime zest and jasmine. Offers excellent energy on the palate, with pronounced spicy ginger lifting the fruit flavors of tangerine and fresh pear. A wonderfully fresh rendition of Vinho Verde, with good purity and precision. - IWC88

From rabigato, codega, godello and viosinho planted on mica-schist and fermented mostly in old barrels, it has the lemon-mineral punch of great Burgundy, plus a ripe pear fruitiness, white poppy and remarkable density. This is sleek, contemporary white winemaking of the highest order. Bright straw yellow. On the nose, stone and orchard fruit abound, with flinty wet stone and white pepper laid over the dominant aromatics. On the palate, impressively bright and mineral-driven, with a great balance between power and lift. Lemon, green apple, and bosc pear flavors co-mingle with a touch of floral tone and slate minerals. Juicy and mineral-driven all at once. 50% Rabigato, 20% Codega, 15% Gouveio (Godello), 10% Viosinho. 30-45 year old vines, planted to mica schist at 500-600 m (1,640 -1,968 ft) elevation. 90% fermented in used barrel; 10% fermented in stainless steel. All indigenous wild yeast fermentation. Aged in 90% used barrel and 10% stainless steel. 1 year of lees contact with no battonage.

Xisto Illimitado, by famed Douro winemaker Luis Seabra, is a Portuguese analogue to the idea of a “village” level Burgundy. A field blend of 6 varieties planted across 3 subzones in the Douro, Illimitado is a survey of the schist-driven terroir in the appellation. The Douro is the oldest demarcated appellation in Western Europe, chartered in 1756. Since 1986, the focus has diversified from the early days of fortified wine production in Porto, giving rise to a number of fine table wines that spearheaded the Portuguese wine market in America in the early 2000s. Luis Seabra, former winemaker at Nieeport, has focused his winemaking on the distinct soil types in the valley, and this latest project shows the breadth of style that is achievable in the region. Bright, focused and fresh, Xisto Ilimitado is a great introduction to the new Douro.

Dark red color with hints of caramel and floral notes on the nose. This red is bursting with tremendous red berry flavors and has a surprisingly pleasant lingering finish.

This is rich on the nose, with candied fruit, fruitcake, toffee and maple syrup. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a brilliant aftertaste of fruit and caramel. Lasts for minutes on your palate. - WS92

#76 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

93 points Wine Spectator
Lovely, with a mix of persimmon, white peach, hazelnut, green tea and singed alder notes all moving together in streamlined harmony. The long, elegant finish has nice latent energy. Drink now.

Organic / Natural

The New York Times article on the 2020 vintage: 20 Under $20: Minimal Effort, Maximum Pleasure.
In most cases, wines with gimmicky names like Nat Cool are a turnoff. They reek of marketing, more than careful winemaking. But Dirk Niepoort is a visionary producer, so don’t look at the label, just drink. This is a delicious thirst quencher made of the baga grape, not complex. It’s easygoing and low in alcohol at 12 percent, with aromas and flavors of flowers and earthy red fruit. And it comes in a liter bottle.

Very light in color, the 2021 vintage of this wine offers a frank and expressive aromatic profile full of freshness and floral notes. It showcases the character of the Baga grape variety and Bairrada region superbly, with beautiful aromas of strawberries, dried roses and some spice. The wines minerality is reminiscent of the vines calcareous soils and unmistakable Atlantic climate. Fresh, direct and very seductive, this wine is light on its feet and so easy to drink, it will entice you to have another glass. It makes a very versatile food wine just add a good meal and good friends! Serve chilled. All work is done by hand implementing organic and biodynamic principles, utilizing natural fermentation with wild yeast. No sulfur is added. Nat Cool is naturally cool and funky. It represents an innovative concept initiated by Niepoort, in which various producers came together to create light and easy-to-drink wines. In the Bairrada region we have produced the DrinkMe, the first Nat Cool, where we try to showcase a different and elegant side of the Baga grape variety. An incredibly light and accessible wine which just begs to be enjoyed. Welcome to the Nat Cool world! -Winery

The baga vineyards are farmed organically and are located in Bairrada. All work is done by hand. Soil is calcareous clay. They utilize natural fermentation with wild yeast. No sulphur is added. 11% abv

#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.

Lean and restrained, with focused spicy plum and chocolate flavors, gaining some interest in the tension between sweetness and alcohol. - WS78

Silky and plush, this tawny sees about 3 years of barrel aging in small oak casks, giving it a rich, amber hue and deliciously decadent notes of butterscotch, toffee, vanilla, and dried fig. For port-lovers, this a great every-day sipper for the price -- a little bit of luxury in the middle of the week! -- PJ