La classifica dei migliori vini al di sotto dei 15 dollari

Classifica stilata dalla rivista online www.foodandwine.com

prendendo a riferimento i prezzi sullo scaffale.

Buona lettura

Roberto Gatti

 

Best $15-and-Under Red Wines

( 2010 Casamatta ($11). Photo courtesy of Bibi Graetz.

Courtesy of Bibi Graetz )

 

Here, super-affordable reds from some of the world’s best wineries. These bottles are all $15 or less and on store shelves now.

 

 

Wines $10-and-Under

 

2009 Lindeman’s Bin 40 Merlot ($8)

This shows surprisingly robust tannins for a value-priced red.

 

2009 Bodegas Nekeas Vega Sindoa Tempranillo ($8)

Juicy red-fruit flavors and a bit of spice make this delicious red perfect for barbecues.

 

2009 Morse Code Shiraz ($9)

A nicely affordable Shiraz that delivers a juicy, generous mouthful of black licorice, spice and ripe blackberry.

 

2010 Elsa Bianchi Malbec ($9)

Made with grapes from the Doña Elsa vineyard, this juicy, dark berry-flavored Malbec is another great value.

 

2009 Banfi Col di Sasso ($9)

A well-priced, cherry-scented Cabernet-Sangiovese blend.

 

2010 Luzón Verde ($9)

Aging without oak keeps the bold red berry flavors in this organic Monastrell center stage‚äîand the price low.

 

2009 Hardys Nottage Hill Pinot Noir ($10)

Juicy watermelon and raspberry flavors are up front in this tangy, light-bodied Pinot.

 

2009 Castaño Monastrell ($10)

Fresh-cracked black pepper notes spice up this plummy, plush, incredibly low-priced Monastrell.

 

2009 Loios Vinho Tinto Alentejano ($10)

An appealing, herb-laden red blend of the indigenous Aragónez, Trincadeira and Castelão varieties.

 

2009 Domaine Skouras Red St. George-Cabernet Sauvignon Peloponnese ($10)

This shows Beaujolais-like fresh cherry flavors. (St. George is an anglicization of Agiorgitiko.)

 

2009 Esser Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon ($10)

A dash of peppery Petite Sirah adds a bit of firmness to this supple, berry-driven Cabernet.

 

2008 Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel ($10)

There are nice vanilla tones in this flavorful, berry-driven red, thanks to a year of oak aging.

 

2009 Doña Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon ($10)

Vineyards 3,300 feet above sea level yield this amazing value-priced wine full of exuberant blackberry.

 

2009 The Wolftrap ($10)

Pronounced blackberry, dark plum and spice notes define this affordable and tasty Syrah-Mourvèdre blend.

 

Wines Under $15

 

2006 Chivite Gran Feudo Crianza Navarra ($11)

Fruity Garnacha and bold Cabernet Sauvignon bolster juicy Tempranillo in this accessible blend.

 

2009 Delas Côtes du Ventoux ($11)

Aging in stainless steel keeps this southern Rhône red’s focus on juicy, ripe plum flavors.

 

2010 Mas de Guiot 40% Grenache-Syrah 60% ($11)

Plush Grenache and spicy, plummy Syrah come together nicely in this terrific value wine.

 

2009 Coltibuono Cetamura Chianti ($11)

Tangy berry flavors define this charming entry-level Sangiovese.

 

2010 Casamatta ($11)

Made from Sangiovese, Graetz’s entry-level red is a super value, with lush, energetic plum and cherry flavors.

 

2009 Di Majo Norante Sangiovese Terre degli Osci ($11)

This lush, dark and fruity red is packed with far more flavor and complexity than its price might suggest.

 

2008 Navarro Correas Colección Privada Malbec ($11)

Smooth and lush, with plum and coffee flavors.

 

2006 Mas Amiel Notre Terre Côtes du Roussillon Villages ($12)

A soft blend of Grenache, Carignane, Syrah and a bit of Mourvèdre, with cherry and raisin notes and firm tannins.

 

2010 Casa de la Ermita Roble Jumilla ($12)

A touch of Petit Verdot adds firmness to the finish of this grapey, juicy Monastrell blend.

 

2009 Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages ($12)

An excellent vintage gave this basic wine depth and richness.

 

2009 Delas Saint-Esprit Côtes-du-Rhône ($12)

The rugged southern Rhône region of the Ardèche—famous for its spectacular river gorge—yielded this red loaded with notes of luscious raspberry.

 

2009 Fontanafredda Briccotondo Barbera ($12)

One of Piedmont’s most reliable bargains, this delivers loads of spicy, supple black cherry flavors.

 

2009 Valle Reale Vigneto Vigne Nuove Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ($12)

Made from young vines, this overachieving, unoaked red brims with juicy red fruit and food-friendly acidity.

 

2009 Barahonda Monastrell ($12)

Made sin madera (without oak), this delivers the burly, earthy intensity of a more expensive red.

 

2009 Castle Rock Pinot Noir ($12)

Making decent, value-priced Pinot Noir is almost impossible, but Castle Rock pulls it off with this bright, plummy wine.

 

2009 d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvèdre ($12)

Named for a 19th-century plow invented in South Australia, this fresh wine is berry-driven.

 

2009 Trumpeter Malbec ($12)

A juicy, highly drinkable Malbec packed with freshly ground coffee and bold red-fruit notes.

 

2008 Santa Ema Barrel Select 60/40 ($12)

This Cabernet-Merlot blend reveals layers of earth and fruit.

 

2009 Georges Duboeuf “Flower Label” Morgon ($13)

Juicy, fruit-forward and affordable, this cru Beaujolais from the superb 2009 vintage is a true bargain.

 

2008 Cantina Santadi Grotta Rossa Carignano del Sulcis ($13)

The Carignane grape thrives in Sardinia, as this plush, sexy, cherry-infused wine shows.

 

2009 Argiolas Perdera Isola dei Nuraghi ($13)

In the right hands, the Monica grape (which dominates this blend) yields sleek, juicy, raspberry-driven reds, like this one.

 

2009 Sierra Cantabria Tinto Rioja ($13)

A reliable value, the ’09 vintage offers exuberant black-fruit flavors and a pleasant herbal edge.

 

2009 Nabuko ($13)

Another amazing value, with meaty spice and chocolate notes.

 

2009 Olivares Altos de la Hoya Jumilla ($13)

Made from ungrafted old vines, this great-value Monastrell-Garnacha blend is loaded with berry and mineral flavors.

 

2008 SKN Merlot ($13)

This plum-rich Merlot is particularly lush and enjoyable.

 

2007 Tasca d’Almerita Regaleali Nero d’Avola ($14)

This tasty, bold Nero d’Avola is an excellent value.

 

2008 Quinta do Crasto Flor Douro ($14)

A great everyday wine with appealing plum and herb flavors.

 

2010 Marcel Lapierre Raisins Gaulois Vin de France ($14)

A light, easy-drinking, berry-driven red that’s great with food.

 

2008 Château de Jau Côtes du Roussillon Villages ($14)

A sleek blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignane and Grenache.

 

2010 Vinos Sin Ley Puerta Bonita G5 Vinos de Madrid ($14)

This terrific old-vine Garnacha features ultra-ripe and chewy raspberry flavors laced with minerals.

 

2008 Kenwood Vineyards Zinfandel ($14)

A bit of Petite Sirah adds heft to briary berry and vanilla.

 

2009 Woop Woop Shiraz ($14)

Grapes from Wrattonbully and Langhorne Creek contribute to this fleshy Shiraz marked by chocolate and black cherry.

 

2008 Brancott South Island Pinot Noir ($14)

Wild strawberry and raspberry flavors take on herb accents in this silky red crafted in an elegant, medium-bodied style.

 

2009 Montes Limited Selection Apalta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenère ($14)

Tastes like a wine twice its price, with great concentration and polish.

 

$15 Wines

 

2009 Perrin & Fils Côtes-du-Rhône Villages ($15)

Exuberantly fruity, with raspberry and sweet cherry tones.

 

2008 Mazzei Badiola ($15)

Don’t let its peculiar orange cork deter you: This sturdy, raspberry-inflected blend is a terrific everyday-drinking wine.

 

2008 Periquita Reserva Setúbal ($15)

From an emerging coastal region, this cherry-driven blend of Castelão, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca is very fresh.

 

2008 Michele Chiarlo Le Orme Barbera d’Asti Superiore ($15)

A great house red, with energetic cherry and licorice flavors.

 

2009 Allegrini Valpolicella Classico ($15)

Aging in steel tanks keeps this bottling’s juicy, supple red-fruit flavors bright—and the price reasonable.

 

2008 Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano ($15)

A supple, invigorating blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet.

 

2008 Argiolas Costera Isola dei Nuraghi ($15)

Made mostly from Cannonau, this bursts with red-fruit flavors.

 

2008 Bodegas Hijos de Juan Gil Juan Gil Jumilla ($15)

A fleshy, international style of Monastrell with rich flavors and ample mocha and oak notes.

 

2009 Emilio Moro Finca Resalso Ribera del Duero ($15)

An earthy red whose firm tannins, spice and acidity make it ideal for burgers, lamb or steak.

 

2008 DQ Douro ($15)

This peppery, layered blend of Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional offers excellent value.

 

2009 Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel ($15)

A supple, juicy Zin with expressive root beer and red plum flavors layered with notes of oak.

 

2009 Cline Cashmere ($15)

Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah yield chocolate and cherry flavors in this lush Rhône-style blend.

 

2007 Clos du Bois Merlot ($15)

Clos du Bois helped popularize Merlot in the 1980s with plummy, herb-accented bottlings like this one.

 

2009 Foxglove Zinfandel ($15)

The juicy wild berry and herb flavors in this great-value Zinfandel finish with tart acidity.

 

2009 Qupé Syrah ($15)

A restrained, elegant Syrah with lovely notes of peppercorn, herbs and pomegranate.

 

2007 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel ($15)

Petite Sirah and Carignane add weight to this exuberant Zin.

 

2009 R Collection by Raymond Lot No. 7 Field Blend ($15)

A sturdy, spicy kitchen-sink blend that includes Cabernet, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah.

 

2008 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon ($15)

Lavishly oaked, with caramel, chocolate and cedar flavors filled out with black fruit.

 

2008 Frankland Estate Rocky Gully Shiraz-Viognier ($15)

A touch of the white grape Viognier adds a floral note to this fresh, blackberry-inflected red.

 

2010 Doña Paula Estate Malbec ($15)

Made with grapes from Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley, this Malbec offers waves of plum, red currant, tobacco and smoke.

 

2008 Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec ($15)

The depth and concentration in this jammy red comes from grapes sourced from higher-elevation vineyards.

 

 

( Fonte www.foodandwine.com )