25 great bargains for your wine list

Economy-minded operators already know it’s smart to consult the Ultimate Wine Challenge’s “Great Value” recommendations when adding new labels to their list. The New York City-based wine evaluation company just released its 2015 results, including its Great Values, but we’re taking it one step further, highlighting wines that placed high in UWC’s overall quality rankings yet cost just $10.00 or less.

Keep in mind that wines are judged by a panel of top buyers, sommeliers and consultants. The judging protocols state that “all wines are flighted like-with-like and judged blind.” The panel gives each wine a point score, a descriptive accolade (i.e., “excellent”) and and a recommendation (“extraordinary,” “excellent,” “very good,” “good”).

Only a very small percentage of the wines that scored high enough to make it onto Ultimate Wine Challenge’s list of results—80 points or above—met our $10-and-under criterion. Here’s what we found when we looked for affordable whites.
• Barefoot Bubbly Prosecco. Italy, 86 point score, very good, strong recommendation. $9.99. Ten other Barefoot Bubbly champagnes and sparkling wines that cost $9.99 also made the Ultimate Wine Challenge rankings.
• Belle Ambiance Chardonnay 2013. California, 92 point score, excellent, highly recommended, and was a finalist in its category. “A guzzler,” said the judges of this $9.99 wine.
• Gnarly Head Chardonnay 2013. California, 91 points, excellent, highly recommended. $9.99.
• Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc 2015. Western Cape South Africa, 92 points, excellent, highly recommended, and a finalist in its category. $7.99
• 14 Hands Sauvignon Blanc 2014. Washington, 91 points excellent, highly recommended. $10.
• Wollersheim Winery Dry Riesling 2014. America, 90 points, excellent, highly recommended. $9. This winery’s White Riesling, same price, was close behind, scoring 88 points.
• Barefoot Cellars Riesling California. 85 points, very good, strong recommendation. $6.99.
• Two Oceans Pinot Grigio 2015. Western Cape South Africa, 92 points, excellent, highly recommended, and a finalist in its category. $7.99.
• Domino Pinot Grigio 2013. California, 91 points, excellent, highly recommended, and also a finalist in this category. $7.49.
• Kitchen Sink White Table Wine. California, 86 points, rated very good with a strong recommendation $8.99.
• Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Chenin Blanc 2013. Western Cape South Africa, 86 points, very good, strong recommendation. $9.99.

Here are some of the standout reds that can be had at the $10 or lower price point.
• Batuko Elegant Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013. Maule Valley, Chile, 90 points, excellent, highly recommended. $9.99.
• Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon 2013. California, 88 points, very good, strong recommendation. $10.
• Yosemite Road Cabernet Sauvignon. California, 82 points, good, recommended. $2.99.
This price is not a misprint. Yosemite Road is the house brand at 7-Eleven stores.
• Flipflop Pinot Noir Left Coast. Chile, 91 points, excellent, highly recommended. $7.
• Trinity Oaks Pinot Noir 2013. California, 89 points, very good, strong recommendation. $9.
• Gallo Family Vineyards Merlot. California, 91 points, excellent, highly recommended. $4.99.
• Sutter Home Winery Merlot. California, 83 points, good, recommended. $6.
• Oak Leaf Shiraz. America, 90 points, excellent, recommended. $2.99. “A soft and plush structure creates a smooth sip,” according to the judges. Oak Leaf is Walmart’s house brand.
• Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec. California, 90 points, excellent, highly recommended, $9.99.
• Twisted Old Vine Zinfandel 2013. California, 88 points, very good, strong recommendation, $7.99.
• Menage a Trois Red Blend 2013. California, 91 points, excellent, highly recommended. $10.
• Acronym Red Blend 2013. California, 88 points, very good, strong recommendation. $8.99.
• Cote Mas Rough Intense 2014. Pays d’Oc France, 90 points, excellent, highly recommended. $8.99. “On the palate it is playful and juicy with more candied fruit and flowers before leading into a fresh and fruity finish littered with lifted fruit,” the judges said.
• Stemmari Nero d’Avola 2012. Sicily, Italy. 90 points, excellent, highly recommended. $8.99.

A number of other choices met or came very close to our $10 price point cutoff. Among Cabernet Sauvignons, there were 11 additional options that cost $10 or less and scored 80 or better, thus earning the designations “good, recommended.” Be sure to check out the full results to see if some of them might work for your particular operation.

Contact Bob Krummert at [email protected]