Best Buys $10 And Under

Legent is a marriage of East and West. It’s a celebration of the craftsmanship of Kentucky Bourbon balanced with the artistry of Japanese blending.

From rich aromas of mature oak and lingering spice to the flavors of dried fruit pulled from wine and sherry casks,

Aged for ten years, the nose is complex, with aromas of toffee, hints of orange peel, herbs, honey, leather and oak. The taste is bold, dry and delicate with notes of candied almonds and very rich cocoa. The finish is dry and lingering. 45%abv. Silver Medal - 2018 New York International Spirits Competition

This is a blend of 40% Malbec, 27% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller amounts of Mourvedre, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Together, they work to offer inviting elements of baking spice, cherry vanilla and a creamy palate of integrated tannins and toasted oak. The fleshy, lush feel benefits from a fresh backbone of acidity.

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

95 points Wine Spectator
Deeply structured yet agile and vibrant, with handsome flavors of black cherry and raspberry that take on accents of dried fig, orange peel and brown spices as this builds richness toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2035.

95 points Vinous
The 2021 Zinfandel Papera Ranch is a powerful wine. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of red/purplish fruit. Savory, floral and earthy notes add quite a bit of character. This potent Russian River Zinfandel packs quite the punch. Time in the glass brings out the wine's natural breadth and resonance, much of that attributable to the 15% mixed blacks that includes a number of varieties that confer structure.

Organic / Natural

100% Arinto aged 6 months in stainless steel sank and neutral French oak barrels. An indigenous grape to Portugal that produces exceptional, age-worthy whites with the ability to evolve over 7 or more years; revealing flavors of beeswax and nuts. Arinto makes an excellent pairing with richer seafood including Portugal’s famous bacalhau (salt cod) due to it’s high acidity and lemon-zest like flavors. Only 122 cases were produced.

"This creamy Chardonnay opens with aromas of ripe apple, pear, Meyer lemon, and mineral with notes of toast and sweet brown spice. On the palate are ripe pear, apple, and citrus with hints of lemon curd. The wine is rich and concentrated with balanced acidity and well-integrated oak." Winemaker notes

97 pts Wine Advocate
sashays out of the glass with provocative Black Forest cake, warm blackcurrant, wild blueberries and black raspberry scents with an undercurrent of candied violets, menthol, pencil shavings and forest floor...Full bodied..

99 pts James Suckling
Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now.

97 pts Wine Advocate
The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. 17,000 cases were made.

97 pts Vinous
The 2018 Insignia is a boisterous, explosive wine. Medium in body and gracious, with striking aromatic presence and tons of silkiness, the 2018 is all class. Today it comes across as a more refined version of the 2016, with similar depth, but riper, sweeter tannin and perhaps a touch more finesse as well. I can't wait to taste it from bottle.

"Half Sour is our most thought-provoking cider. It begins with the aromas of wild flowers and honey, followed by a hint of pickled pear. Take a sip and pow! It hits the palate with a wave of citrus fruit flavors that are edgy, refreshing and tickle your tongue ultimately providing endless possibilities for pairings. Our Half Sour answers to no one.". -Brooklyn Cider House

Inspired by the cider tradition in the Basque Country, we wanted to make a dry, wildly natural cider with beautiful acidity, and we were excited to see what spin New York apples would give to this style of cider. We discovered that the incredible acidity of New York apples really packs a punch, in the true spirit of Brooklyn! Our Raw cider is fresh and mouth puckering with crisp green apple and citrus aromas. Raw undergoes three fermentations with wild and wine yeasts, making it an earthy cider remarkably expressive of its terroir. It is aged on the lees for a minimum of 6 months. -Brooklyn cider House

This Washington Merlot opens with a beautifully knit blackberry, cherry and spice-scented nose with a toasty oak background. Ripe fruit on the palate is complemented by the medium-body and soft, yet present tannins.

Aviation is a craft gin from Portland, Oregon. It uses seven botanicals - cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel - with the juniper more in the background campared to other gins. 97 pts. - Wine Enthusiast

42%abv

Our 2016 Merlot is ruby red in color. It opens with aromas of ripe cherry, Asian plum, and cranberry with hints of tea leaf, baking spice, mocha, and sweet oak. Flavors of dark, ripe cherry, marionberry, and plum follow with sweet brown sugar, English toffee, and mocha. The finish is soft and lingering. Enjoy this wine with rotisserie chicken, meat ravioli, grilled wild salmon, and herbed soft cheese.

Winemaker Notes:
The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon brims with black currant, blackberry, some sage and cedar underscored with mocha and tobacco threads. This wine's lush core of bright blackberry, dark cherry and graphite are complemented by expressive earthy and toffee notes on the mid-palate. The finish is full of well-rounded fine-grained tannins and fresh, balanced acidity making this Cabernet the perfect pairing for port-braised beef short ribs topped with mint leaves.

Winemaker Notes:
"Lose yourself in the sensual pleasures of Menage a Trois Silk - a smooth, seductive red blend that caresses you with every sip. With its bright, red ruby hue in the glass and alluring fragrance of dried violets and berries, Silk beckons, promising an unforgettable experience. Succulent cherry and ripe raspberry flavors mingle with delicate hints of rose petals and toasty spice, and glide gracefully across your palate like liquid silk. Seamless and lustrous, Silk is the lavish, luxurious encounter you’ve
been craving."

70% Pinot Noir, 10% Petite Sirah, 20% Malbec.

#4 on The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2024!

94 points Wine Spectator
Packed and broad in feel, with a ganache note draped over black currant, blackberry and steeped cherry. Licorice root and alder smoke flavors check in on the finish as the fruit pumps through, ending with a flash of violet. Hard to resist now, but this has some development ahead. Drink now through 2036

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

94 points Wine Spectator
Bursting with flavor and personality, this offers lemon meringue, fresh peach and Fuji apple notes up front on a juicy, succulent frame, while amber aromas and salted lime accents emerge on the long, expressive finish. Drink now.

Very crisp and dry, with notes of lime, and honeydew melon, this is officially the best white wine in the Hudson Valley. We won Best White in show for this at the Hudson Valley Wine Competition in 2022! - Winery

Vegan friendly.

Winery Notes:
"Deep garnet color. Luxurious and dynamic aromas of ripe strawberry, bright cherry and faint notes of spicy oak and vanilla. The complexity of the palate smoothly layers rich red currant notes and baking spice flavors with light smoke, earth and leather. A balanced, velvety texture and supple tannins carry the wine through to a lingering, succulent finish."

We source our Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc from grapes grown in top vineyards throughout Napa Valley, including our own estate ranches in Carneros, Suscol Springs, Rutherford, and Calistoga. The cooler, southern part of the valley gives us sauvignon blanc with bright citrus characters, flinty minerality, and balanced acidity, while the warmer northern region brings out tropical notes in the final wine.

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

94 points Wine Spectator
Broad-shouldered in style but rich and detailed, with blackberry and currant flavors accented by black olive, stony mineral and licorice notes that gather tension toward firm tannins. Needs time. Best from 2025 through 2033

Lava Cap’s Cabernet Sauvignon has long been recognized for producing age-worthy wines that showcase vibrant fruit and rich texture. The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon holds true to this, with a dark purple color, and dark black fruit on the nose. On the palate, vibrant fruit mingles with allspice and clove, framed by vibrant acidity and well integrated tannins.

92 points Wine Enthusiast
This is a smashing deal every vintage, and this year's blend of 58% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and 3% Tempranillo doesn't disappoint. Fresh but savory aromas of roasted red fruit and baking spice drop into a tightly wound palate of snappy red currant and light pepper that rides a zippy acidity through the finish.

2018 Double Gold medal winner at San Francisco International Wine Competition! Made from estate grapes in our Hudson vineyard and totally dry. Light and complex, we get notes of cherry, herbs, and leather. - Winery

Vegan friendly.

"Versatile, crisp, and an ideal match for cocktails that also include orange liqueur, as well as its namesake classic cocktail. Light aromas include vanilla and a touch of juicy citrus. Flavors run to bitter orange, dark chocolate and black tea, finishing with a pepper tingle. Velvety feel, despite the brisk alcohol." Best Buy. 95 points - Wine Enthusiast