Best Buys $10 And Under

Organic

Write up is on the 2019 vintage:
I’m pretty picky about sauvignon blancs from California. Too often, I find, they are heavy and just sweet enough to make them fatiguing. But this bottle, made from organically grown grapes, is well-balanced, lively, dry and pungent, almost in a New Zealand style. - Eric Asimov of The New York Times

Winemaker Notes:
Toasted oak and dark fruits introduce Beaulieu Vineyard's Coastal Estates Cabernet Sauvignon. Straightforward and well-balanced, it expresses blackberry and black cherry in equal parts to the toasty, vanilla-oak spices. For all its "black" character, the fruit remains bright and fresh, joined by subtle toffee-coffee notes. Juicy and long, the palate is structured by ripe, easy tannins. This is an enjoyable, pop-the-cork wine made for everyday occasions.

Winemaker's Note:
Do you dare an exploration into the dark unknown? This sinfully delicious Red Wine just might set you down a path of gluttonous pleasure. Crafted from the diverse and hallowed soils of the Lodi Appellation, where greedy winemakers hunger to craft not just wine, but also a lifestyle of sin. Here for six generations, we’ve tempted evil’s wrath and are eternally damned to deliver decadent wines like our Seven Deadly Red.

"Soft, elegant, and nicely rounded, with honeyed orchard fruit and gentle spice on a bed of vanilla and caramel. Very versatile; a pleasing, unchallenging bourbon to suit most moods and situations" Whisky Advocate.

This is a very bold style of Pinot Noir, so much that it's not very reflective of the grape but would work well paired with a juicy grilled steak. Concentrated aromas of blackberry, maple syrup and hot pancakes lead into a viscous, thick palate of berry jam, clove and cardamom flavors.

"Our Bone Dry is a throwback to the original American dry cider. In that spirit we make Bone Dry with a higher concentration of heirloom and bitter cider apples, age it on the lees for 10-12 months, and then lightly carbonate it. It walks a tightrope of finesse AND intensity. Its clean, crisp mouthfeel is balanced by bitter notes and, of course, a spine of acidity. Is it any wonder why this was our first cuvee to sell out!?" -Brooklyn cider House

Simple nose comprised of corn and oak notes with slight honey influence. Palate is of equal sublet sweetness, with wood and spice predominating its flavor profile, only to fade into a sweet, long finish.

Organic

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

93 points Wine Spectator
Alluring for its sleek polish and precision, this sparkler has tiers of Asian pear, strawberry, fresh almond and ginger flavors that unfurl slowly. Drink now

Natural

Inspired by the fresh and lively nouveau wines of Beaujolais, this bottling is the first glimpse of this year’s vintage and its vibrant energy naturally accompanies the celebrations of the season. This wine goes through 100% carbonic fermentation with native yeast and is bottled unfined, unfiltered and without sulfur. It’s alive and ephemeral – meant to be enjoyed right away. 12 % abv

Dave Phinney's new red blend! If you like the Prisoner you are going to love this!!!

A mix of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Grenache. Mixed raspberries, blackberries and blueberries appear on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, ripe and supple, yet with just enough softly dusty tannins, a velvety texture and no suggestion of raisined fruit. With its amiable nature and fresh, lingering finish, it should win lots of fans.

Winemaker Notes:
Aromatic blue fruits and brown spices delight the nose, yielding fresh plum and blackberry fruit. The wine is juicy with the plum and blackberry flavors prominent, layered with smoky roasted almonds and hazelnuts, finishing long with fine, elegant tannins and white stone fruits that linger, finishing with a fresh and clean acidity. A rich, red wine crafted in honor of Josh. Pairs well with his favorite meal: a thick, juicy steak and potatoes. 45% Merlot, 45% Zinfandel, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah.

95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, 2% Petite Sirah, 1% Petit Verdot. Lightly-roasted coffee, graphite and carob aromas pave the path to flavors of rich plum and brambly blackberry. The ripe fruit core remains lively through the gentle midpalate and firmer finish, showing grace and balance. Subtle toasty oak adds a vanilla component and complexity. Aged in 65% French, 15% Hungarian and 20% American oak barrels.

Winery Notes:
Irresistibly charming, our Chardonnay has gracious California style with vibrant fruit and supple texture. Crisp Gala apple, Bartlett pear and hints of pineapple are layered by lovely pie spices and toasty vanilla notes. The palate is long and round with rich viscosity that comes from partial malolactic fermentation and barrel aging. Clean, ripe citrus flavors extend the finish and add a refreshing lift to the rich fruit. A go-to Chardonnay, this wine has the perfect poise for any occasion. Pair it with grilled chicken, seafood or light pastas.

"Conundrum Red is both bold and mysterious, opening up with aromas of dark fruit, plums, and rich berries that are layered with a subtle smokiness and the whiff of BBQ. The wine has a round, full-bodied entry on the palate, delivering an extravagance of fruit that leads into a lingering finish. An evocative quality of brown spice combines with a serious red wine texture to leave a strong yet nuanced final impression, one that entices rather than reveals the mystery." Winemaker notes

A silky, lilac and red berry scented bouquet with flavorful layers of raspberry, dark chocolate, and hints of vanilla and toasted oak.

Organic / Natural / No Sulphur

Hand-harvested organic Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from twenty year old vines in Los Carneros California. Fourteen day spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts then aged 24 months in neutral oak, 12 months in bottle. There is no fining nor filtration and zero sulfur is added. Their red blend from Carneros is a knock-out! A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that spent 24 months in neutral oak and 12 months in bottle before release. The wine is deep, but not brooding, with classic cassis, blackberry, tobacco leaf, and allspice notes. Although full-bodied the wine is lively and easy to drink. No gloppy late-harvest fruit put in 200% new oak barrels here, just a beautifully balanced well-made wine. Bravo Les Lunes!

Gideon Beinstock has become known for his amazing Clos Saron wines, but the history goes back much further than that. A long and winding road from growing up in Israel, an artist’s life of painting in Paris, helping to plant the Renaissance Vineyards in the 1970’s, international wine sales, and finally finding his way into winemaking at the very same vineyards he had planted almost two decades earlier. It was there at Renaissance that he began learning his craft and made the first of his incredible wines.

Gideon left Renaissance in the late 1990’s to found Clos Saron, just a few miles down the road, but has always felt a connection to Renaissance, both as a piece of his history, and also as a totally unique and special terroir.

Which brings us to the present: Gideon was given the opportunity to reclaim some of the greatest wines he made during his time at Renaissance! These wines have never left the winery and have been aging perfectly, undisturbed for the past two decades.

The cuvees that were hand-picked by Gideon are showing outstandingly right now, and should continue to age gracefully for years to come.

Winery Notes:
"Stashing Pinot Noir in brandy barrels creates a lush mouthfeel, with salted caramel and delicious baking spices flavors. Each taste of this California Pinot Noir gives way to aromatic hints of cherry, cardamom and spiced apple. This red wine garners its unique taste thanks to Pinot Noir grapes found all across California's prime winegrowing regions. By blending a portion of Pinot Noir that’s been aged in brandy barrels, we produce a complex, smooth and rounded wine. Stack this flavorful, bold California wine up against steak or poultry, or enjoy on its own as a new sort of night cap. For a devilishly good taste, chill this Pinot Noir for 20 minutes prior to serving."

Organic / Biodynamic

96 points Vinous
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Vineyard is fabulous. It emerges from a terraced vineyard at 1,800 feet in elevation in Napa Valley, just above the Coombsville AVA. Rich, dark and beautifully structured, the 2021 possesses notable pedigree and character. Black cherry, plum, gravel, licorice, bay leaf and espresso all race across the palate. Readers who enjoy old-school Napa Cabernets will adore this. This wine, if sold in Napa Valley, would cost four to five times as much. Don't miss it! I was super impressed with the wines I tasted from Maître de Chai. Marty Winters and Alex Pitts met as young chefs working in some of California’s most prestigious kitchens. Over the years, both of their career paths led to wine. Winters and Pitts founded Maître de Chai in 2012 and have quietly built their range since then. The wines draw from a number of sites across several appellations in northern California, all done in a style that emphasizes freshness and verve. As readers will discover, a number of wines in this lineup are truly compelling, most notably the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Vineyard, which may very well be the single best value in Napa Valley Cabernet today.

Owned by footbal great Charles Woodson.

Winemaker's Notes:
"Our Sauvignon Blanc is produced from grapes grown in various microclimates of the Napa Valley. The warmer Napa Valley microclimate gives us grapes with melon and citrus characteristics in both aroma and flavor. The cooler areas of Napa Valley provide fruit with a solid, crisp backbone that gives the wine an exciting liveliness and balances the rich creaminess from "sur lie" aging."

Organic / Biodynamic

91 points Wine Enthusiast
Aged for 10 months in French oak of an undisclosed age, this medium-bodied Pinot Noir feels round and smooth in the mouth, with ample tannins supporting gobs of dark raspberry and sweet mulberry fruit flavors. The wine's aromatics are a wall of dark fruit accented by chalk and orange pekoe tea.

90 points Wine Spectator
This generous version is full of energy, with appealing raspberry flavors laced with blueberry, toasty spice and vanilla tones that zip along the finish. Drink now through 2030.

Organic

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

93 points Wine Spectator
This distinctive white features a lively, mouthwatering and energetic mix of pomelo, yuzu and lemon sherbet flavors, with hints of sweetgrass, apple blossoms and lime zest. There's also an appealing grip on the finish.

Due to its especially high rye content, Bulleit Bourbon has a bold, spicy character. Medium amber in color, with gentle spiciness and sweet oak aromas. Mid-palate is smooth with tones of maple, oak, and nutmeg. Finish is long, dry, and satiny with a light toffee flavor. 45%abv

"Our Bone Dry is a throwback to the original American dry cider. In that spirit we make Bone Dry with a higher concentration of heirloom and bitter cider apples, age it on the lees for 10-12 months, and then lightly carbonate it. It walks a tightrope of finesse AND intensity. Its clean, crisp mouthfeel is balanced by bitter notes and, of course, a spine of acidity. Is it any wonder why this was our first cuvee to sell out!?" -Brooklyn cider House