Wine Press: Top 10 wines under $10 for 2022

When I started writing this wine column 10 years ago, one of my main goals was to prove that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to find great wines.

That’s why my first column in November 2012 was about inexpensive wines from Walmart.

The next year, I did my first, annual wines under $10 column. It was just five wines that year. In 2014, the list was still only five wines. It wasn’t until 2015 that I expanded the list to 10 wines.

Looking back, it’s interesting to see which wines I picked over the years. Only one of the top wines was a white while the rest were red wines. And of the nine top wines, five came from France and one each from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Argentina.

Finding great wines for under $10 a bottle has definitely gotten more difficult over the years. This is especially true the past two years, when the price of everything seems to have skyrocketed.

Fortunately, there are still bargains to be found, and that includes the wines on this year’s list. Let me add that the price of each wine refers to a standard, 750 ml bottle.

I hope you enjoy these wines as much I did this past year. And I look forward to finding more great bargains for all of us to enjoy next year as well.

Thank you.

TOP 10 WINES UNDER $10 FOR 2022

10) 2020 Bonterra Equinox Red Blend ($9.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield):

This is a California blend of merlot and petit sirah. Bonterra Organic Vineyards consistently makes great, affordable wines, including this outstanding red. Made with a blend of grapes grown in California’s Mendocino, Lodi and Paso Robles regions, this wine has a plush, powerful finish with a wide range of flavors, including blackberry, dark chocolate, plums and black licorice;

9) 2018 Veramonte Carmenere Reserva ($10 suggested retail price):

From the Colchagua Valley of Chile, this wine is made with 100% carmenere grapes. This subtle red wine made with organic grapes beautifully illustrates why carmenere wines can be such a pleasure. Like many wines made with carmenere grapes, this wine’s flavors are soft, subtle and understated. Think of a mist or a gentle breeze rather than a strong wind or a heavy rain. This wine’s flavors range from hints of raspberry, blueberry and a dash of apricot;

8) 2015 Le Petit Balthazar Merlot ($8.99 at Yankee Spirits in Sturbridge):

From the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, this is 100% merlot grapes. One word perfectly describes this red wine: smooth. While there’s definitely something to be said for big, bold, complicated wines, this easy-drinking wine proves there’s also a lot to be said for subtle, well-rounded wines that taste great straight out of the bottle. Here, the muted flavors include hints of plum, raspberry and melted chocolate. Truly delightful;

7) Oak Leaf Vineyards Chardonnay ($2.97 at Walmart):

This wine is 100% chardonnay grapes from California. I reviewed several wines from Walmart recently in honor of the 10th anniversary of my first Wine Press column, which featured Oak Leaf wine makes exclusively for Walmart. While there were several good Oak Leaf wines, this one stood out. There are no over-the-top butter flavors in this wine. Yes, there are definitely some of the butter flavors you sometimes find in many California chardonnays. But they’re subtle and understated and they’re not even the most dominant flavors. In addition, there are hints of apricot, orange zest, lemon and grapefruit. I cannot say enough great things about this delicious, affordable, California chardonnay;

6) 2020 Vignes Des Lumieres Cotes du Rhone Red ($21.98 at Yankee Spirits for 3 liter box):

From France’s Rhode region, this wine is a blend of red grapes. Box wine gets a bad rap, but the reality is it’s just a different way to package the wine. Unfortunately, I do find that most winemakers seem to only put super sweet wines in boxes. If you love dry red wine like me, this particular box wine’s a dream come true. This wine costs a mere $5.49 a bottle since each 3 liter box contains four standard bottles of wine. Like many red wines from the Rhone region, this wine’s flavors are earthy yet elegant, powerful yet precise. Flavors include dried blackberries, almonds and raspberries;

5) 2016 Les Clos Millesime Sainte-Eugenie ($9.99 at Yankee Spirits):

From the Languedoc region of France, this wine is a blend of 50% merlot grapes, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 20% syrah. This delightful red wine from southern France near Narbonne tastes a bit like the number eight wine. It’s definitely on the softer side, but there’s also a hint of spiciness on the finish. Its flavors and aromas include a wonderful blend of blackberries and raspberries, along with hints of vanilla and cashews;

4) 2021 Ninety Plus Cellars Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ($9.99 at Table & Vine):

This wine is 100% montepulciano grapes from Italy’s Montepulciano D’Abruzzo region. A few weeks ago, I wrote about red wines from this region. This particular wine comes from Ninety Plus Cellars, which does a great job of making consistently good, affordable wines. This dark, dense wine has a plump, robust finish. Flavors include roasted blackberry, blueberry and cherry. In addition, this wine tastes great the second day as well. In fact, it’s even a little livelier and brighter the second day. A delicious wine at a great price;

3) 2021 Folium Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99 at Table & Vine):

This is a 100% sauvignon blanc wine from the Loire Valley of France. I raved about this wine when I reviewed it in June. Like many Loire Valley sauvignon blancs, this delightful wine has a slightly flinty, crisp taste and finish. That’s probably due to the rocky limestone soil found throughout much of the Loire Valley. Flavors range from dried lemons and sea salt to melon and apricots. Serve this wine chilled but not too cold – probably somewhere at 40 to 50 degrees. That way, you can taste the subtle, understated flavors of this outstanding bargain perfect for warm afternoons and crisp, chilly evenings;

TIE 2) 2021 Chateau Mourgues Du Gres Galets Dores ($10 suggested retail price):

From the Nimes region of France, this wine is 40% roussanne grapes, 25% white grenache, 25% vermintino, 8% marsanne and 2% viognier. A few months ago, I wrote about several outstanding wines from Nimes in southern France. This particular outstanding, dry white wine has a crisp, dry, flinty finish similar to many white wines from France’s Rhone region. This wine’s flavors include hints of lemon and citrus flavors and floral aromas. An absolutely outstanding wine at an amazing price;

TIE 2) 2016 Cellier des Dauphins Cotes Du Rhone White Wine ($9 suggested retail price):

From the Rhone region of France, this wine is a blend of 65% grenache blanc grapes, 15% marsanne, 10% viognier and 10% clairette. Many readers may already be familiar with Cellier Les Dauphins’ charming, affordable red wines from the Rhone region. Their white wine is just as enjoyable and entertaining. Its flavors are on the softer side compared to the other two wines recommended this week. Such flavors range from hints of melon and green apple to a dash of sea salt and elderflower. Delightfully delicious; and

1) 2021 Le Salare Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ($10 suggested retail price):

Also from Montepulciano D’Abruzzo in Italy, this wine is 100% montepulciano grapes. It’s another Italian red wine that I recently reviewed. This one absolutely blew me away with its complex flavors, aromas and character. Its intense, fleshy flavors have a wonderful, fruit-like finish (blackberry and raspberry in particular) without being over the top. Everything about this wine is soft and clean and well-balanced. In addition, the wine tastes great and holds onto its soft, subtle flavors the day after first being opened. Let me add that the wine cost less than $10 a bottle when I bought it in November, but has since gone up slightly in price in some stores. However, a quick internet search found that this wine’s still available for less than $10 a bottle in many other Massachusetts stores. The bottom line – this magnificent, affordable wine tastes great.

Cheers!

If you want to check out the top wines under $10 through the years, check out these links:

Top Five Wines Under $10 For 2013

2013 Top Wine – Herencia Altes Garnacha (Spanish red wine for $8.99)

Top Five Wines Under $10 For 2014

2014 Top Wine – 2012 Chateau Pesquie “Le Paradou” Grenache (French red wine for $8.99)

Top 10 Wines Under $10 For 2015

2015 Top Wine – 2011 L’Ameillaud vin de pays de Vaucluse (French red wine for $8.99)

Top 10 Wines Under $10 for 2016

2016 Top Wine – 2014 Luccarelli Puglia Negroamaro (Italian red wine for $8.99)

Top 10 Wines Under $10 for 2017

2017 Top Wine – 2013 Tortoise Creek “Le Charmel” Rhone Valley Costieres de Nimes (French red wine for $9.99)

Top 10 Wines Under $10 for 2018

2018 Top Wine – 2015 Colossal Reserva Casa Santos Lima (Portuguese red wine for $8.99)

Top 10 Wines Under $10 for 2019

2019 Top Wine – 2018 Domaine Felines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet (French white wine for $10)

Top 10 Wines Under $10 for 2020

2020 Top Wine – 2016 Ninety Plus Cellars French Fusion Lot 21 (French red wine for $10)

Top 10 Wines Under $10 for 2021

2021 Top Wine – 2019 Zuccardi Serie A Malbec (Argentinian red wine for $9.99)

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday. Older “Wine Press” articles can be found here. Follow Ken Ross on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.