You’ve got the wings, the dips and the chips. The beer is on ice. What else do you need for a crowd? Some wine. You don’t, however, have to spend a lot to get a variety of great wines. All these ten dollar and under bottles, from white to sparkling to rosé to red, have all been given a Best Buy designation by our reviewers.
White Wines
Famiglia Cielo 2016 Pinot Grigio (Delle Venezie); $8, 85 points. This simple white opens with aromas of honeysuckle and pear while the easygoing palate offers hints of nectarine and green apple. Fresh acidity gives it a brisk finish. Drink soon. Vintage Imports, Inc. —Kerin O’Keefe
Château de Montguéret 2014 Chenin Blanc (Anjou); $8, 88 points. This is an aromatic, ripe, fresh wine, full of baked-apple and pear flavors. They are cut with grapefruit acidity to give a wine that’s both rich and really crisp. The wine, produced on the edge of the sweet wine region of the Layon Valley, is ready to drink. Advantage International. —Roger Voss
Jones of Washington 2015 Riesling (Ancient Lakes); $10, 87 points. This wine is still settling into the bottle, with light spritzy scents of honeysuckle, pear and ripe peach. The off-dry stone-fruit flavors exhibit well-balanced acidity that carries through the finish. The concentration comes off as somewhat light but what’s there is good. —Sean Sullivan
Sparkling Wine
Marqués de la Concordia 2013 Federico Paternina Banda Azul Sparkling (Cava); $10, 87 points. Apple, spice and mild yeast aromas are composed and hint at complexity. This feels complete, with a layer or two of depth. Dry flavors of apple and apricot are clean and direct. The Haciendas Company. —Michael Schachner
Rosé Wine
Goats do Roam Wine Co. 2015 Rosé (Western Cape); $10, 87 points. A blend of 37% Shiraz, 19% Gamay, 18% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache and 12% Cinsault, this soft rosé has an herbaceous kick that lends depth to the red currant and cherry fruit core. The palate is ripe and fruity, but not overdone, with supporting acidity and subtle hints of pepper and blackberry leaf on the finish. Drink now. Vineyard Brands. —Lauren Buzzeo
Red Wines
Bogle 2014 Merlot (California); $10, 89 points. Nicely behaved and well balanced, this gentle wine offers medium body, fresh plum flavors and a texture that’s smooth and lightly tannic. The color is relatively deep and aromas are fruity, with a touch of earth. —Jim Gordon
Casa Ermelinda Freitas 2013 Reserva Alicante Bouschet (Península de Setúbal); $9, 88 points. Ripe and juicy, this is a rich wine with layers of tannins and generous black fruits. It is well balanced and concentrated with the acidity bringing out both the warmth of the grape and its natural fruitiness. Drink now. Aidil Wines/Old World Import. —Roger Voss
Hacormim 2014 Adi 13 Cabernet Sauvignon (Israel); $9, 88 points. Aromas of cherry, orange zest and vanilla custard set the stage for flavors of blackberry, blueberry, mocha, anise and flame-broiled meat. It is bright on entry, with soft but ever-present tannins. The finish features a burst of brightness and a note of aniseed. Allied Importers, USA, Ltd. —Mike DeSimone
Château des Arnauds 2014 Bordeaux; $10, 87 points. Pure Merlot, ripe and fruity, this wine has only the lightest of tannic structure. That makes for a soft rounded wine from the area close to Lussac Saint-Émilion. Black plum and berry flavors are laced with acidity and finish with a smooth aftertaste. Drink now. Miss Imports. —Roger Voss
Grandes Vinos y Viñedos 2015 El Circo Volatinero Tempranillo (Cariñena); $8, 86 points. Earthy gritty berry aromas come with a hint of animal. This is juicy and in good shape across the palate, while bright plum and berry flavors are dusted with spice and chocolate notes. A wiry finish with lightly medicinal berry flavors shows kick. Seaview Imports—Michael Schachner
Published: February 3, 2017
