Some Fine Wines for $10 and Under
2003 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhone
Rhone, France. $10
This earthy classic, made from 60 percent Syrah, 30 percent Grenache, and the rest Mourvedre and other grapes, is especially so because it was produced in 2003–considered one of the best vintages in decades. Its deep ruby color is followed by a "spicy, earthy bouquet revealing scents of crème de cassis, wild herbs, kirsch, and blackberries," says Shawn Lightfoot, wine buyer at Applejack Wine and Spirits in Wheat Ridge, Colo.
It can age as long as an additional eight years, but its "dense, medium-bodied, and lightly tannic" flavor can easily be enjoyed now, and it makes a great accompaniment to cold meats, game bird, and cheese.
www.applejack.com
2004 Borsao "Primizia" Grenache
Zaragosa, Spain. $6
Borsao wines have been widely heralded as some of the best values around, and this 100 percent Grenache is no exception. In fact, this may be "the single best supermarket wine available in the States today and unarguably one of the best global wine values anywhere," Vinography.com Editor Alder Yarrow says of the least expensive wine in our survey.
Aged in steel bins, it features a fruit bowl of flavors: scents of "strawberries and blackberries followed by flavors of tart raspberry and cherry. And its good acidity and medium body make it extremely food friendly."
www.finewinehouse.com
2005 Lucien Albrecht Pinot Blanc, Cuvee Balthazar
Alsace, France. $10
Pinot blanc is the other, other pinot. It's not pinot noir. And its not even pinot grigio. But this 100 percent pure pinot blanc is equally alluring with "light floral notes ... balanced with crisp acidity," says wine educator Tyler Coleman, who edits the popular Dr. Vino's Wine Blog.
The crispness comes from the fact that the wine never sees an oak barrel, which lets its fruitiness stand out. Coleman says it makes "a good choice for a Mother's Day brunch, one heavier on savory than sweet." The price can vary widely, but we found it at www.madwine.com for $10.
2005 Cycles Gladiator Syrah
California. $10
Any bargain wine list would be suspect if it didn't include at least one wine from California, where producers are also enduring their own wine lake. In recent years, many have moved to capitalize on the pinot noir craze (thanks largely to the movie Sideways). But the folks at Soledad's Cycles Gladiator have found equal success with Syrah, a versatile grape that winemakers Adam LaZarre and Paul Clifton cull from vineyards in Monterey and Paso Robles.
The result is a combination of "raspberry and plum aromas framed by fresh cracked pepper and pretty oak notes," says Steve Wallace, chairman of Wally's Wine & Spirits in Los Angeles, who notes that this "little-wine-that-could" has earned best of show awards, such as a silver medal at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, "triumphing over much more costly rivals."
www.wallywine.com
2001 Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva
Rioja Alavesa, Spain. $10
This Spanish classic is probably the most recognized Rioja sold in the United States. (The gold-mesh-wrapped bottle surely helps.) But, in this case, well known also means well worn, thanks to its ruby-red mixture of 90 percent Tempranillo and 10 percent Graciano and Mazuelo grapes, which are aged two full years in American oak barrels.
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