Best Buys
Best Buys are wines that offer a high level of quality in relation to price. There are no specific guidelines or formulae for determining Best Buys, but they are generally priced at $15 or less.
Tenute Rubino 2004 Marmorelle Red (Salento)
- Best Buy
- $10
An initial blast of musky earth wears off to reveal blueberry, blackberry and ripe red fruit. The wine performs well in the mouth thanks to firm tannins and good acidity.
— M.L.
(8/1/2007)
Castello di Monsanto 2005 Monrosso Red (Chianti)
- Best Buy
- $10
Stay-at-home pasta or pizza dinners call out for a simple but solid Chianti, and Monrosso fits the bill beautifully. The ruby-colored wine (80 percent Sangiovese with smaller components of Canaiolo and Merlot) is fermented in steel and aged six months in oak casks for fresh, fruit-forward results. It is redolent of cherry, plum, milk chocolate and has distant hints…
— M.L.
(11/15/2006)
Andrew Peace 2005 Peace Family Vineyard Red (South Eastern Australia)
- Best Buy
- $8
Basic Australian red wine done well, this blend of 44% Shiraz, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Grenache and 10% Mataro is medium-bodied, with jammy cherry fruit and touches of graham crackers and Nilla wafers. Creamy in texture, with a slightly sticky quality to the finish.
— J.C.
(11/15/2007)
La Pisara 2004 Salice Salentino Red (Salento)
- Best Buy
- $9
There’s chewy ripeness in this 80-20 Negroamaro-Malvasia Nera blend with aromas of freshly brewed coffee grinds, blackberries, plum and cherry. Not hugely intense, but it is genuine with good structure and many food-friendly elements. Try it with barbecued meats.
— M.L.
(8/1/2007)
Cantina Gallura 2005 Karana Red (Sardinia)
- Best Buy
- $5
Vibrant cherry aromas and berry fruit are backed by flinty-mineral tones and toasted nuances. This Nebbiolo-based wine (with 10% Sangiovese and Caricagiola) delivers cola and tealeaf tones but is lean in the mouth with medium persistency.
— M.L.
(11/15/2007)
Estampa 2005 Syrah-Cabernet (Colchagua Valley)
- Best Buy
- $8
A rewarding mix of sweet red fruits and earthy chocolate is what this Syrah-Cabernet blend holds in store. The nose deals cola and coffee with some syrupy berry aromas, while the palate is grabby and a touch rough but also endowed with a ripe, forward fruit character.
— M.S.
(9/1/2007)
Marquis de la Tour NV Rosé Dry Red (Vin Mousseux)
- Best Buy
- $10
Lightly off-dry, flavored with sweet strawberries, the wine’s easy flavors are just what’s needed for a casual get-together.
— R.V.
(12/15/2007)
Leucadia 2005 Rooftop Red (Paso Robles)
- Best Buy
- $9
Just about half and half Cab Sauvignon and Petite Sirah, this red smells Porty, with caramelized, brown sugar aromas. Tastes semi-sweet, too, with chocolate fudge, cherry jam and cassis flavors. What are we to make of it? It’s all wrong for a table wine, but it’s so yummy.
— S.H.
(11/1/2007)
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