Best Buys $10 And Under

93 points Vinous
Deep, lurid ruby. Mineral- and smoke-accented blackberry, cherry and tobacco scents pick up floral and vanilla accents with air. Sappy, expansive black and blue fruit and violet pastille flavors open up steadily, energized by a spicy topnote. Concentrated yet lively in style, with a smoky mineral quality that adds cut to the impressively long, floral- and spice-driven finish.

"Renieri is an excellent producer of Brunello." - Monica Larner of Wine Advocate

96 points James Suckling
This is a very tight, refined Brunello that shows so much beautiful fruit and polish with dark-berry, cedar, walnut and cherry character. Its full-bodied with layers of fine tannins and a fresh, pretty finish. Needs much more time to open.

94 points Wine Advocate
"The Renieri 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a plush, fruit-forward and accessible wine that captures the purity and elegance of the vintage. The best take-away, however, is the fresh, ready and bright state of this wine that makes it almost ready to enjoy straight out of the gate. This Brunello from a nine-hectare plot with limestone clay soils offers bold cherry and blackberry with delicate spice, smoke and blue flower. The wine is marked by balanced acidity, and there is some tannic tightness that should further relax by the time this wine hits the market at the start of 2021.

This has nice tension and tannic framing. Full-bodied, firm and lightly chewy with freshness, and spicy character to the ripe strawberry and cherry on the finish. Drink or hold.

#10 on The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2022.

98 points Wine Spectator
This vivid Champagne shows up-front and linear definition, thanks to rapierlike acidity, with finely meshed flavors of ripe black cherry and mandarin orange fruit, raw almond, anise and cardamom spice as well as a touch of honeycomb, which all unfurl and expand on the fine, creamy palate. Sleek acidity continues through to the finish, with additional racy character provided by a streak of minerally saline and chalk, which gains momentum through the midpalate and rings out on the well-cut, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2040.

Organic

Methode champenoise. Rapid entry into the cellar by gravity. Gentle press with 50% extraction of free-run juice. Each variety is fermented in small tanks at controlled temperature. Secondary fermentation in bottle. Aged 40 months in bottle.

93 points The Wine Advocate
The second wine in the Bordeaux sense is the 2019 Macn Clsico, a more concentrated and powerful wine cropped from a warmer and drier year that was saved by the 80 liters of rain in the first half of September. It fermented in stainless steel with 10% of their own yeasts, and the levage was 22% in stainless steel and the rest in new and used oak barrels, mostly French but with around 5% of them American, and lasted 12 months. It has a moderate 14% alcohol, mellow acidity and good freshness and balance. 2019 was a dry and warm year when they did a soft vinification to avoid harsh tannins. The nose is ripe without excess, and the oak is neatly integrated. The palate is juicy and round, with fine tannins and a velvety texture.

93+ points James Suckling
Rich, but refined and layered nose that unwinds dark plums, dried strawberries, olives, cocoa beans and some savory Mediterranean spices. Medium-to full-bodied palate, framed by an abundance of powerful, fine-grained tannins that give a grippy texture

Among the botanicals in the Antica Torino Dry are wormwood, yarrow muscat, centaurea, hyssop, thistle, cinnamon, coriander, and sage, expertly balancing both mountain and garden herbs. The base is Cortese DOC wine from Piedmont that renders a particularly elegant, floral, and vinous vermouth. Enjoy Antica Torino Dry on the rocks with a twist of lemon or in classics such as an Old Pal or a Perfect Rob Roy. 18% abv

First Japanese gin, made in Kyoto
KI NO BI ("The Beauty of the Seasons") is inspired by tradition and is distilled, blended and bottled in Kyoto. Our gin is made in a recognisably dry style, but with a distinct Japanese accent.

KI NO BI Kyoto Dry Gin is created with Japanese botanicals such as yellow yuzu from the north of Kyoto Prefecture, hinoki wood chips (Japanese cypress), bamboo, gyokuro tea from the Uji region and green sansho (Japanese peppercorn) berries. Bottled at 45.7% abv, KI NO BI uses a rice spirit base and pure ground water sourced from the famous sake-brewing district of Fushimi.

Mastering not only the science of distillation as others have done before, but also the age-old art of blending, we separate the botanicals in our gin into 6 Elements: Base, Citrus, Tea, Herbal, Spice and Fruity & Floral, and distil each category individually. Then we blend them in perfect harmony to create the distinctive KI NO BI flavour. - Producer's notes

Rémy Martin V.S.O.P Cognac has a copious palate with notes of ripe peach and apricot, wild violets and oaky vanilla. It's silky with a hint of licorice and a balanced finish.

Zesty, bold and fruity, offering raspberry and spice flavors, with a hint of mint as this finishes on a plump and briary accent. Drink now

Organic

This complex and truly unique sparkling wine is crafted from 100% organically grown Fiano from Campania, Italy. This high elevation estate has both limestone and volcanic soil which provides amazing complexity to their wines. It is medium-bodied, bright with a salty minerality that is captivating. The grapes are pressed slowly, then fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless tanks. Then aged for three years in bottle on lees before disgorgement.

Limited Edition Gift Pack includes two bottles of Gran Reserva Rioja 2015 and a decanter.

93 pts Vinous
Glistening ruby. Expansive red and blue fruit, pipe tobacco, potpourri and baking spice aromas, with vanilla and smoky mineral notes slowly emerging. Sappy and gently chewy on the palate, offering spice-accented black raspberry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. Shows sharp focus and repeating florality on the long, subtly tannic finish, which leaves behind notes of candied blue fruits and cola.

85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo o 36 months of age in American & French oak o Hand selected grapes from "Rioja Alta" subzone o 36 additional months of age in bottle

"Half the whisky was aged in bourbon barrels, the other half in sherry casks. This whisky has always been on my short list as one of the finest, most affordable 12 year old single malts available. While the price may have gone up a bit (I remember when it was $20!), the quality remains the same. It’s fresh and lively. A well-balanced dram, with its tell-tale orange marmalade accompanied by tangerine, pineapple upside-down cake, vanilla-soaked barley, subtle brine, and caramel, all leading to a spicy cinnamon and dried vanilla finish. A nice 'every day' dram." Whisky Advocate

"Dalmore's 12-year-old expression has been matured in ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. The portion of sherry casks in the mix has been increased compared to former times, making it much more complex.Aroma: Orange, dark plums, chocolate, marzipan." Whiskey.com

Palate: Citrus, almond, coffee, cinnamon. Finish: Orange, vanilla, plums, cinnamon. 40%abv - Dried Fruit and Nut -

Subtle aromas of fresh fruit and a taste that includes hints of dried apricot, ripe pear and a sweet roasted grain. The finish has notes of charred oak and warm winter spices. 45.5%abv. Gold Medal - 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Teremana is a premium 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila grown in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. Roasted in brick ovens, distilled in copper pot and aged in American whiskey barrels. The blanco has notes of bright citrus with a smooth, fresh finish. Gluten free. 40%abv

"2001 is a great vintage for all the wines from La Rioja Alta but the long-awaited 2001 Gran Reserva 890 is otherworldly. 2001 was a slow maturing vintage which produced smaller grapes especially in the old vineyards on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria in the villages of Brinas, Labastida and Villalba where the vineyards that make it into this wine are located. The final blend contains a majority of Tempranillo with 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo. The wine ferments with the natural yeasts attached to the grapes in stainless steel vats and is aged for six years in used American oak barrels with 12 manual rackings. A selection of the best barrels were blended together and bottled unfiltered in March 2008. Only 15,000 bottles were produced. It shows (even) younger and more concentrated than the 2004 904, a darker shade of red and a somehow backward and reticent nose (relatively speaking) of forest floor, cold bonfire, antique shop, truffles, game, sandalwood, nutmeg and clove. The fruit is also a little darker and the palate more austere, but still showing vibrant and supple, with clean flavors and a great finish. This is my favorite modern time 890. Bravo! Drink 2016-2026." 95pts WA

The Bodega was formed in 1890 as a partnership of 5 quality-conscious growers keen to exploit the export potential for well-made, ?????modern????? Rioja. At this time, French vineyards were ravaged by phylloxera, and connoisseurs were having to look elsewhere for supplies of fine wine. Rioja, with its excellent climate and soils, had already attracted attention, and experiments with Bordeaux-style vinification and barrique-aging were proving very successful. The region?????s only real disadvantage was its remoteness, cut off from the lucrative markets to the north by the same mountains that ensured its favorable climate. This problem was solved by construction of the rail link to Bilbao, and it is no coincidence that Bodegas La Rioja Alta was established next to the Haro railway station in the same year it opened. In 1904, La Rioja Alta absorbed Bodegas Ardanza, and gained access to some of the finest vineyards in the Rioja Alta district. The luxury 904 bottling commemorates this important milestone in the company?????s development. Since then Rioja has seen more bad times than good, and many producers have harmed the reputation of the region and its production methods, releasing sloppily-aged wines which were never good enough to support a long time in cask. But La Rioja Alta has never let standards slip, and continues to this day the tradition of careful long-aging that gives Rioja its unique character. These wines offer a wonderfully complex bouquet, rich flavours, a seductively smooth texture, and are all ready to drink on release.

Few dispute that La Rioja Alta S.A. is the leading quality orientated producer in the Rioja. With more than 50,000 casks and 6.4 million bottles stored at any one time, the equivalent of about 8 years sales, La Rioja Alta S.A. is unique in its ability to supply large quantities of fully mature wines of world class quality. The company owns 300 hectares of vineyards in different parts of the best zones of the Rioja Alta region. La Rioja Alta S.A. is specialized in red wines. The leading grape variety is the Tempranillo with small doses of Mazuelo and Graciano. The Vina Ardanza differs from the other wines with some 25% Garnacha in the blend. After vinification in the new ultra modern vinification plant near Haro, aging is in traditional Bordeaux casks, all made from American oak. Racking is by hand every 6 months with 8 teams working full time racking the 51,000 casks. There is no filtration prior to bottling and further long aging in bottle before release. In short the wines are made in the traditional Rioja manner. The company is adamant about not using French oak, keeping the unique Rioja style which has been developed since the end of the 19th century. In spite of the varying amount of time in cask and bottle the wines all display a wonderful rich ruby colour, gorgeous aromas of oak, spices and fruit followed by a sensational feel on the palate, with a wonderful smooth texture, clean rich oaky/fruity flavours and a long lingering finish. All the wines are ready for consumption on release but will keep for many more years in bottle. This situation is almost unique in the world of wine and is the reason why so many restaurants list La Rioja Alta?????s outstanding range of truly classic Rioja wines.

Winemaker Notes:
"Our William Hill Estate North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon has a rich palate of dark fruit flavors, with subtle hints of caramel and cocoa. The Sonoma and Napa fruit gave this wine its ripe blackberry and black cherry flavors, while the grapes from Lake and Mendocino brought tremendous structure and presence to the blend. This Cabernet, which was blended with a touch of Merlot to round out the mouthfeel, will reveal more complex layers with time in the bottle."

A beautiful expression of off-dry Riesling. A touch of sweetness rounds out the palate nicely.

Located in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region on the western shore of Seneca Lake, Red Tail Ridge Winery is owned and operated by husband and wife Mike Schnelle and Nancy Irelan. As a former executive in charge of viticulture and oenology R&D at a large winery, Nancy strongly believes in sustainability. Not only is the 35 acre vineyard farmed in a sustainable manner it is also the first LEED gold-certified winery in New York. Everything at Red Tail Ridge reflects Nancy and Mike’s attention to detail – the winery that they built from scratch to their limited production, premium single varietal wines.

The bulk of Red Tail Ridge’s production is Riesling, but Nancy and Mike have also planted several clones of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir alongside small experimental plots of Blaufrankisch, Dornfelder and Teroldego. Mike and Nancy’s early efforts were duly noted by the press – they won several Gold and Silver medals, Wine Business Monthly named Red Tail Ridge one of its Hot Small Brands of 2008 and Eric Asimov the wine critic of The New York Times has lauded them for their efforts.

Winery Notes:
Like a classic muscle car, Cabernet Sauvignon’s sleek lines belie its power and endurance. Sure this bold dark beauty is racy. But though it is quick to accelerate, it downshifts into a smooth finish. Revved up and ready to go now, you can trust that a little age won’t slow it down. True high performance.

Winemaker Notes:
Bonterra was founded on a philosophy that farming organically produces the purest, most flavorful fruit. This holistic approach balances the land and surrounding habitat of wasps, birds and wildlife to produce wines of unmatched flavor and distinction. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon offers hints of black pepper, vanilla spice and rich berry-plum flavors.

Wine Spectator:
"Plump and on the sweet side, with golden raisin, date, pear eau-de-vie and peach melba notes, backed by a light twinge of bitter almond that keeps this honest. Drink now. 87,000 cases made."

A distinctive blend of Palomino and Pedro Ximenez grapes. Aged in oak casks for 6 years in the traditional Solera method.

For over 130 years, Bodegas Williams & Humbert have been producing the finest sherries and brandies; as well as a diverse portfolio of spirits, utilizing one of the most traditional methods of ageing, the solera method. Founded in 1877 by Sir Alexander Williams and Arthur Humbert, Bodega Williams & Humbert has been considered to be one of the world’s most prestigious wine producers in the world. They were involved in the creation of the Jerez-Xeres-Brandy Quality Demarcation, as well as the criteria for evaluating sherries. Now owned by the Medina family, two generations work side by side in the creation of the wines and spirits. Located in the heart of Jerez de la Frontera, Bodega Williams & Humbert has more than 1,200 acres of vineyards, and the largest wine cellar in Europe. The family owned and operated Bodega has produced a great variety of high quality sherries, while maintaining the traditional methods of solera aging. Solera is a method of producing wines, where small amounts of younger wines are systematically blended with the more mature wines over a period of time. Bodega Williams & Humbert has a variety of sherry lines, most notably the Dry Sack medium created in 1906, a staple sherry among many restaurants around the world. In the US, Bodegas Williams & Humbert has three lines of sherries - Dry Sack, Don Zoilo, and the rare aged. Each tier offers expressions that range from dry to sweet profiles. Bodegas Williams & Humbert has one of the largest and most diverse offerings of 20 and 30 year old Rare and Very Rare age expressions. The Bodegas Williams & Humbert portfolio also includes spirits such as Gran Duque D’Alba Brandies, Crema D’Alba, and Dos Maderas Rums.

#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

The wines are very fruity, round and balanced. Delicious on poultry and white meats. This former property of the Countesses of Rochefort covers an area of 10 hectares. The vines are on average around thirty years old. The soil is sandy-gravelly and the nearby Dordogne provides thermal regulation that is particularly conducive to the ripening of the grapes. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc aged in oak for 3 months

Organic / Biodynamic

93 points James Suckling
Fine oak spices and cocoa powder to the ripe cherries, cassis, black cherries and warm stones. Full-bodied and polished on the palate with tightly wound tannins that seep through the compact fruit. Good balance between tight structure and fruit density. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but better from 2024.

92 points Wine Spectator
Long and creamy, this elegant red is structured by supple tannins and juicy acidity, a fine frame for the appealing range of baked black cherry, fig cake, mocha and sage. Fresh, spiced finish. Drink now through 2028.

Organic / Biodynamic

Made from the noble Chenin Blanc grape variety, this cuvée presents all the characteristics of ripe fruit with aromas of apricots, peaches and quince. This cuvée is fermented in barrel bringing delicate nutty aromas. The palate is round and fresh, which allows for gourmet pairings.100% Chenin Blanc. Vineyard planted in 1984.Direct pressing. Fermentation in thermoregulated stainless steel vats. Natural yeast fermentation. Aging in French oak barrels (new and used) for one year. Tartaric stabilization in cold room.