Posted by Keith Wallace on Jan 7, 2011 in Wine Reviews | 5 comments
The Current Top 10 Wines Under $15
There are plenty of well made wines priced under $15, and these are a sampling of the best of the best. Even better, you should be able to find most of these wines for well under $15, often closer to $10. Why didn’t we just call this list the “Top 10 under $10″? We didn’t because most of these wines have a “Suggested Retail” price of $15, but you will mostly see the wines for less.
#10
Altos De Luzon 2004 Jumilla (Spain)
A rampaging fruit simpleton of a wine. Lush and vibrant the intensely rich dark fruit and bing cherries roll around the tongue and finish off with a bit of smoked fennel seed.
#9
McLean’s Farm 2004 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia)
Everything you expect –the intense fruit, the heavy body, the black pepper– from such a blend, but there is much more stuffing here. From the classic Cabernet aromas, to the vibrant cherry and nutmeg accents, to the loamy finish.
#8
Castell Del Remei 2004 Gotim Bru (Spain)
A kitchen-sink blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet, Merlot, Grenache… and maybe some Syrah? In any case, this bottle as a distinct personality. Lavender and roses aroma commingle with licorice and vanilla. Spices and bitter chocolate blend with black cherry and fire-roasted plum notes.
#7
Marquis Philips 2005 Holly’s Blend (Australia)
Ah, a barrel-fermented & bone dry Verdelho. This is a favored style for Aussie wine enthusiasts, but you don’t see this in the states much. This grape is originally from Portugal and one of the primary grapes of Madeira. The Aussies don’t make a Madeira-style wine, instead they create a wine that will please even the most hardened Chardonnay drinker.
#6
Hijos De Juan Gil 2004 Juan Gil (Spain)
This twice-named wine is primarily Mouvedre, a varietal overlooked far too often. Not to get off the subject of a wine review, but Ridge Winery used to bottle a Mouvedre in the Nineties (under the synonymMataro ). I really miss that wine. ANYWAYS… this Mouvedre paints its bitter-chocolate tannins straight across the glass, and a nose-full of toast and burnt cloves. A big winner, even if its not the Ridge….
#5
Step Road 2005 Chardonnay (Spain)
This is not a Chardonnay for Chardonnay drinkers. This is a Chardonnay for Mersault drinkers. Enough said.
#4
Olivares Altos 2005 De La Hoya (Spain)
This one has serious stuffing, with a nice interplay of complex fruit flavors. Full bodied and creamy, this is the definition of “fruit bomb”.
#3
Rocky Gully 2004 Shiraz/ Viognier (Australia)
A few bottles of Shiraz/Viognier have been circulating through the wine bar scene lately –”Le Freak” is the biggest culprit– that have given this blend a bad name. Fortunately, Rocky Gully’s offering puts this classic blend back into the limelights. Floral highlights, blackberry and richgamey notes jump out of the glass. Full bodied, this wine roars through layers of black fruit flavors and a bare flicker of oak notes.
#2
Argiolas 2005 S’elegas (Italy)
Made from a obscure Sardinia grape names Nuragus, is somewhere between a bowl of lemon sherbet and a glass of Chablis. Intensely mineral-laden, the wine shows a racy acidity that is moderated by a lush body that resembles a creamsicle, with its creamy lemony richness. Throw on top of that a whiff of burnt hay and fresh basil. Exquisite.
#1
Theres never a number one. 
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