Best Buys $10 And Under

"Dark and deep purple. Luscious fruit flavors. Dark plums and blackcurrant, black chocolate with hints of coffee and toasted oak barrels. Notes of dark plums and spice, generously framed by toasty American oak with a soft and well structured mouth ling texture." Winemaker notes

This variety disappeared from its place of origin in Médoc, north of Bordeaux, France following the phylloxera outbreak in the 19th century. It reappeared in Chile at the end of the 20th Century. In Casillero del Diablo Carmenere is smooth and delicate with intense color, smooth, round tannins, and attractive aromas of black currant and chocolate. Ideal with aged cheese.

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.

"The millennial Unico was tasted twice in January and June 2012. It has a Bordeaux- inspired bouquet that demonstrates more austerity than the 2004 with herbaceous notes infusing the brambly black fruit: smoke, forest floor, wild mint and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with bright blackberry, strawberry and Morello on the entry. It is extremely well balanced and more feminine than the nose suggests. There is also impressive tension and vivacity towards the finish. There is great backbone here, a solid and obdurate Unico at the moment, but it will surely mellow in bottle. 108,536 bottles produced. Drink 2018-2030+." 93pts WA

Winemaker Notes:
The aroma brings a fragrance of spring flowers, pear and apple, while on the palate, a fine string of bubbles is your first indication of the quality of this Prosecco. The flavor is soft, with a creamy fruitiness that hints of almond. This wine is great as an aperitif or with dry sweets and soft cheeses. Serve well chilled.

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.

90pts- Wine Enthusiast:
Dry fino sherry imported from Spain. From the eighth largest sherry producer in the world, the Barbadillo family has been producing sherry since 1821. Pale straw color. Fresh, yeasty aroma. Light-bodied, clean and crisp with a zippy acidity. Dry, nutty, yeasty flavors. Serve well chilled as an aperitif or during the meal.

#82 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2024!

90 points Wine Spectator
Plump, juicy raspberry, blueberry and maraschino cherry flavors mingle with notes of red licorice, blood orange, clove and green cardamom, backed by a hint of toasted green tea that lingers on the silky finish. Drink now. 1,000 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Organic / Natural

This is an incredible find in Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. This has everything you could want in a classically styled Chinon but with a “new-age” touch of freshness (no oak used, only concrete). The bouquet wafts out of the glass displaying notes of wildflowers, blackberries and bell peppers. This medium-bodied Cabernet Franc has the classic spice and pyrazine (green notes) Chinon is known for but not in a stemmy or unripe fruit way. It is subtle and adds a desired complexity. This is bright and joyful and should not be missed by Loire Valley wine enthusiasts. Lower its temperature for maximum enjoyment! Organic / Natural. 12% abv.

At the crossroads of traditional Chinon and modern, youthful winemaking you will find Domaine de la Mariniere. The depth and purity of the fruit they achieve ia terrific.

The Domaine de la Mariniere, situated in Panzoult on the eastern edge of Chinon, has been farmed by the Desbourdes family since 1965. The land here was initially used as a true, polyculture farm, raising animals and growing cereal grains in addition to grapes. Renaud Desbourdes returned to help his father in the 1980s, turning the focus to grape growing and winemaking and expanding the vineyard plantings, and eventually took full control of the domaine in 1999 when his father retired. Today, Renaud’s son, Boris, has joined his father full-time and is helping to take this traditional family domaine into the next generation.

Boris initially became passionate about organic farming after working with Vincent Laval in Champagne, and upon his return, he immediately transitioned his family’s vineyards to organics (certified in 2018). The 15 hectares of vines average 30 years old (with some old parcels having been planted in the ‘50s and ‘60s) and are planted on a mix of gravelly sand and limestone soils on the hillsides. In addition to the increased focus on farming, Boris has introduced hand-harvesting and the use of native yeast for fermentations. The result of all of this work is a set of wines that are at the forefront of a modern approach to classic Chinon, combining the best of old traditions with youthful energy.

Organic

Agust?? Torell?? Mata Xic 2023 is a white wine that radiates with a straw yellow hue and golden glimmers. On the nose, it unfurls a bouquet of aromas with highlights of green apples and pears, accompanied by a citrus hint reminiscent of zesty lemon. Upon tasting, it reveals itself to be light and invigorating, with a balanced acidity that accentuates its fruity character and renders it effortlessly enjoyable. Its crisp and distinct flavours make this wine an astute choice for those in search of vibrancy and uncomplicated pleasure.

In addition to bubbles, Agusti Torello Mata also makes a light and bright, 100% Xarel-lo from all organic, estate fruit. This playful wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged on the lees for six months before bottling. Light citrus and peach notes on the nose with a medium body and fresh, racy acidity. This is a wine that overdelivers for the price. Certified Organic. Only 11.5% alcohol

Gentle, creamy bubbles propel this soft crmant. Its rich with peach and Anjou pear flavor, and some nutty oxidative notes that bring to mind a match with aged cheese.

#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.

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."

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

Organic

Organic

An aromatic explosion of cherry and red fruit aromas. Crunchy and complex on the palate with a long finish. The color is electric, a glowing cherry color. Elegant and graceful on the palate with soft balanced tannins. This is a mountain wine through and through. This is a fine example of Pinot Noir, as the varietal is meant to be pretty not syrupy. 100% Pinot Noir, organically farmed, from 30 year old vines aged twelve months in used oak barrels.

90 Points James Suckling
Pleasant nose with peaches, sweet apricots and mild spices. Medium body with a flavorful, vibrant mid-palate and a succulent finish. Drink now. Screw cap

Organic / Natural

Located in the South of Chile, in the region of Bio-Bio, Tinto de Rulo is the project of three friends with the same dream, make artisanal, terroir driven wines. They work closely with small winegrowers, using only grapes from organic vineyards established at least a century ago. They aim to bring out the character of each place, emphasizing minimal intervention in order to showcase all of the vineyard??s characteristics to the bottle. The wine is electric with energy as red fruit seems to jump from the glass. Clean and precise.

Owned by footbal great Charles Woodson.

"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

Made with water from the same crystal-clear mountain streams, in the same cold, pure air, The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve is as smooth and fruity as the whisky that first ran from the original copper pot stills. These unique, lantern-shaped copper stills, designed by the man himself, are not the only important tools in our distilling legacy. The traditional oak casks in which we mature the whisky give each expression its own distinct characteristics. When George Smith began distilling, The Glenlivet had no age statements and he selected whisky from casks of a range of ages. We have replicated this freedom with The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, selecting whisky from a variety of traditional aged oak casks. Then, to lend a modern twist to the flavour of the expression, Master Distiller Alan Winchester marries together a selection of the aged oak casks and American first-fill oak casks. American first-fill oak casks are those that have never before been used to mature whisky. Selective use of these casks provides a smooth, creamy sweetness that mingles harmoniously with the delicate flavours and complex fruity tones already present in the whisky.

Features juicy plum and black cherry flavors, with a weave of anise and earth details. Falters a bit on the finish, where the wood plays a more prominent role. A very appealing Pinot. Drink now.

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."