Budget Wine Favorites in 2013

It is not that easy to find a decent everyday drinking wine. Of course everybody's taste is different, and none of these are really great wines, but one could never expect that at these prices.  With wine you do not always get what you pay for, but you always pay a premium price for really exceptional wines. Purchase prices and sources are indicated with each listing.  Taking detailed tasting notes is very time consuming for me, and I do not see the point in doing so in this price range, so notes are brief. Being a writer who focuses on reviews of Napa Valley wineries, most of the wines I taste and purchase are from Napa Valley and these wines rarely fall in the budget price range, but you may view these wines here: Favorite Wines from Napa Valley Wineries

Brancott Estate 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand. $8.99 Safeway Pale straw color with a good nose. Dry, crisp and bright on the palate with mostly lemon and some melon. Slight but pleasant freshly mowed grass. Clean finish. Should appeal to those who find some New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs to be too fruit forward, although this certainly has decent fruit.  I've had three bottles now.  Moderately recommended at this price.  You might want to see my previous New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc post at:  New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs

BV 2010 Coastal Chardonnay-$5.99 at Safeway.  Often recommended as a wine bargain, this is a decent enough Chardonnay for the money and the probably the least expensive Chardonnay I can even mildly recommend. For only $2 more, though, you can get the Clos du Bois, which I like much better. Very mild, rather tepid, recommendation at this price if you really can't afford $7.99 for the Clos du Bois.

Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir-$7.99 Trader Joe's- Not nearly as good as the Castle Rock 2009 Mendocino Pinot Noir which I highly recommended.  I got some cherry and vanilla on the nose.  It was lighter in body than the 2009, had a less substantial mouth-feel and didn't come together as well.  The finish was unpleasant and fortunately short. A second bottle was better but still not nearly as good as the 2009. (I suspect the first bottle was mishandled.)  You take your chances on the 2010 Mendocino. Addendum 5/13/13:  I've now tried about a dozen of these 2010s and they are all over the map. Some are fairly good and others have been undrinkable but none have been as good as the 2009. I know Castle Rock has an unbelievably huge production.  I doubt that the problem is with them but rather with those who retail their wines.  It appears that some of these are improperly handled. Just be aware that Castle Rock produces huge quantities of Pinot and have a wide distribution.  So the Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir that one person buys might be totally different than the one another person buys. Obviously it will vary in different areas of the country.  It is a good example, though, of how wines vary, depending on how they are handled by distributors and retailers.  The wine a critic drinks and recommends might be completely different than the one you purchased even though the labels are identical and it is the same winery, varietal and year.  This is a good reason to make purchases from wineries and reputable wine stores.  But in this price range this is not usually an option. You just take your chances.  In 2010 Castle Rock's annual production was a total of 600,000 cases.  That makes it among the largest producers in the U.S.

Castle Rock 2009 Monterey Pinot Noir-$7.99 Trader Joe's. Moderate to full body. Some forest floor. More black cherry than red with some tart plum on the finish.  Good, smooth tannins. Well balanced . Very nice for the price.  I also like the Castle Rock Russian River PN at $20 and the Castle Rock Mendocino PN at the same price as the Monterey ($5.99 to $9.99). When comparing the Mendocino and Monterey side by side, I actually liked them equally.  I've had three bottles of this Monterey now and plan to buy more. (I've had many of the Castle Rock Mendocino Pinot Noir, which is a nice alternative at the same price.)  How does Castle Rock do it? Highly recommended at this price for a PN. Addendum 6/21/13: The 2010 is just as good as the 2009 and, unlike the Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir, I have not encountered any bad bottles.  It has been consistently decent.

Chalone 2010 Chardonnay-$9.99 at Safeway.  Another one that was recommended as a decent budget Chardonnay by a famous wine critic.  It is a decent $10 Chardonnay, and  I purchase a bottle or two perhaps once a year. I do like the dry flintiness and absence of excessive butter. Mild recommendation at this price.

Cline 2011 Cashmere (Mourvedre, Grenache and Syrah)-$14 Cost Plus. Has a good reputation and is fairly good for the price but I'll pass on trying any more. Mild recommendation at this price if you are looking for a Rhone style California wine.

Clos du Bois 2010 Northern California Chardonnay-$7.99 at Safeway.  Very nice for the price and consistent from year to year.  I don't drink that much of this, but I've purchased a bottle or two every year for many years and have never been disappointed. One of the finest budget Chardonnays.  Highly recommended at this price.

County Fair 2010 Flying Pinot Noir-$8.99 Trader Joe's. Deep garnet. Red plum with some mushroom on the nose. Smooth entry of soft red fruit. Well balanced, simple with medium body. Medium length finish with some slightly tart cherry. Despite the silly name, it is not bad at this price. When you first open this wine it might seem too tight and thin.  If it does, then give it some air. Usually it is the big red wines that we think of as needing this, but Pinots also often need air to open up.  Mild recommendation at this price.

Delas Saint-Esprit 2011 Cotes-du Rhone Rouge-French. $9.99 on sale at Cost Plus.  I really liked the 2010 so thought I'd try the 2011.  This one is has a good nose but is a bit rough right out of the bottle.  Decant it or give it some air first.  Mostly black cherry, blackberry and some spice on the palate with blackberry and pepper on the medium length finish.  I gave the 2010 a moderate to high recommendation and it is the better of the two vintages.  I bought a number of 2010s but will not buy any more 2011s and will wait until 2012 comes out. It is not as well balanced as the 2010. This 2011 is only mildly recommended at this price level.

Delas St. Esprit 2010 Cote du Rhone Rouge-Cost Plus $13 sale $10. Very nice for money. Decent fruit. Well balanced. Enjoyable. Tastes like a decent French Rhone and is a very good buy.  I plan to buy more and take detailed tasting notes. Moderately to highly recommended at this price.

DeLoach 2011 California Pinot Noir-$9.99 on sale at Safeway. A lighter style Pinot with lots of strawberry. This one is well balanced and refreshing.  It is not a complex Pinot and you will not think it is from Burgundy.  But for its style, it is very honest and well worth the price.  Some light, fruity Pinots almost taste like Nouveau Beaujolais.  Not this one.  The PN varietal characteristics are quite evident. I'm not sure what the regular price is on this but it is worthwhile at anything less than $15.  There are also a DeLoach 2011 Russian River and a DeLoach 2011 Heritage Reserve that sell for more, but I have not tried these.  I enjoyed drinking this wine and have to give it a moderate recommendation at the price if you like this style Pinot

Dry Creek Fume Blanc 2011-$9.99 Safeway. Pale color with light nose.  Dry, pleasantly grassy and balanced on the palate.  No green pepper. Fruit is fairly good but restrained, more melon than anything else.  Acid good but not lively.  All the components come together which is more than I can say for most California Sauvignon Blancs. Very much in the California tradition but not as good as the Mondavi Fume Blanc, which sells for a few dollars more and is a real bargain.  Mildly recommended at this price.

Epicuro 2009 Salice Salentino-$5.99 Trader Joe's. Good nose of cherry and raspberry. Smooth and fruity w. raspberry entry. Soft tannins, rather simple, light to moderate bodied but balanced. Pleasant, medium length finish.  Decent for the price, but I prefer the Epicuro Anglianico and the Epicuro Primitivo that are both better red wines from the same winery at the same price.  Please see my previous budget wine reviews for descriptions of these two wine bargains. I tried a second bottle of this and it will be my last. Very mild recommendation at this price.

Giesen 2011 Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand-$8.99 Cost Plus. Pale straw color. Light, but pleasant aroma. Fairly dry with a fruity entry of mostly tropical fruit. No grassiness.  Okay finish.  I don't plan to purchase any more. I prefer the Brancott New Zealand SB mentioned above at the same price. A pleasant enough SB, though, so mildly recommended at this price.

Gnarly Head 2010 Malbec-$8.99 at Safeway-Tastes rather like a Malbec.  Okay for the price.  Not many budget Malbecs out there. Mildly recommended at this price.

Gnarly Head 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi-$8.87 Safeway. Pleasant aroma of blackberry and oak. This is a big fruity, rather jammy Zin, mostly blackberry, with some oak, not too high in alcohol (14.5%), and fairly well balanced.  Plenty of  lush fruit. It is ripe and smooth, with tannins being relatively soft and integrated.  Should appeal to those who like a full bodied, fruity but fairly well-balanced Zin.  Might be too jammy for some, but I enjoyed it. It is easy to drink and should go well with BBQs, pizzas, some Mexican food, spaghetti, etc.  Some Lodi Zins I've had have been too high in alcohol, but this one holds its alcohol very well. I'll definitely buy another bottle and add more tasting notes.  The 2010 is moderately recommended at this price but not the 2011. Addendum 1/24/13: Tried a second bottle of the 2010.  Deep, dark ruby color. Got some dark cherry on the nose and palate this time along with the previous blackberry and also some spice on the palate.  Pleasant touch of rusticity. Finish is short.  I also tried the Gnarly Head 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel and did not like it. Lacking balance with too much jammyness overwhelming everything else. I tasted the 2010 and 2011 side by side for comparision, and the difference between them was remarkable.  The 2011 is not recommended. If you like super jammy Zins, though, you might like it. All Gnarly Head wines are worth trying to see if you like them.  They are sometimes amazingly good bargains.

Hess 2010 Select Chardonnay-$8.99 at Safeway or just about anywhere. Fairly decent Chardonnay at under $10. It is widely available and is reliable from year to year. Mildly recommended for the price.

La Ferme Julien Rouge 2012 Rhone Red- French. $4.99 at Trader Joe's. They have a white, rose and red.  Of these, I prefer the red which is  a Rhone blend of Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah.  I'm very fond of Rhone red wines but can rarely find a decent one for under $10.  At only $5 I find this one to be a real bargain.  If you like Rhone wines and are looking for something very inexpensive, this would be a good choice.  I have only tried the 2012 so cannot comment on other vintages.  This is an honest, simple, pleasant every day wine that benefits from a little air.  It is mostly spicy blackberry on the palate, with good body and decent balance.  Highly recommended for a $5 wine.

La Merika 2011 Pinot Noir. $9.99 at Cost Plus. Not bad. Light nose. Medium bodied with plenty of ripe fruit, mostly red cherry.  Somewhat fruit forward for a Pinot. Not very complex, but extremely easy to drink. Good ripe cherry finish of medium length. Should appeal to those who like a smooth, fruity, simple Pinot.  This Central Coast Pinot was rated at 98 and given double gold medals at the 2012 California State Fair International Wine Competition.  It is a good deal at the price, but not a 98 point wine. Worth trying if you like this style Pinot. Just don't expect it to be a complex, elegant 98 point Pinot.  I'm undecided if I'll ever try another bottle. Mild recommendation at this price.
Les Portes de Bordeaux 2012 Sauvignon Blanc-French. $4.99 at Trader Joe's. Grapefruit and citrus with a decent finish. Fairly decent for price, but I don't plan to buy any more.  Mildly recommended for a Sauvignon Blanc at less than $5.

Mezzacorona 2010 Pinot Grigio-Italian. $6.99 at Trader Joe's. Recommended by our local TJ's wine guru and very nice for the price.  Good fruit, decent balance and tastes like a Pinot Grigio.  A winner.  One of the best buys in a white wine. I have had numerous bottles of this. It is very pleasant and I've never grown tired of it. One of the best white wine bargains I've found recently. Very highly recommended for the price.

Panilonco 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Chile-$4.99 Trader Joe's. This seems to be a regular stock item at TJs.  Not much varietal comes through, and it has very little finish, but it is a smooth, rather full bodied, drinkable wine for this price. I wouldn't buy another bottle, but it is very mildly recommended if you are looking for a Cab at under $5.

Piper Sonoma, Sonoma Valley NV Brut-$11.99 widely available. My favorite budget sparkling wine, and I've tried many of them in the $10 to $20 range because I'm very fond of sparkling wine and can't always afford French Taittinger or Schramsberg.  (I'm not going to list all the ones I tried but didn't like.)  On the nose I get green apple and pleasant yeast, more aroma than most budget bubblies.  Palate-wise I get mostly citrus, dry and crisp, but not at all austere and very well-balanced, with more yeast and minerality than most inexpensive sparklers plus more delicate bubbles. This is a real class act in this price range, and I haven't found anything at this price that comes close. The Gloria Ferrer NV Sonoma Brut  is several dollars more and tastes sweeter and fruitier.  It use to be my favorite budget bubbly until I started drinking the Piper Sonoma and now it is hard to go back. I tried the Piper Sonoma Rose bubbly, too, but didn't care for it.  This Piper Sonoma NV Brut is 60% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier. If you find a sparkling wine for under $20 that you think is better, please email me.  Very highly recommended for the price!  

Portico da Ria 2011 Albarino-Spanish. $5.99 at Trader Joe's. Finally a decent, inexpensive Albarino. TJ's hardly ever carries this varietal, much to my disappointment. . It is a wonderful, much underappreciated varietal here in the U.S. but, of course, is well known and appreciated in Portugal. I'm very fond of good Albarinos but rarely find a decent one for under $20 and don't seem to find any for under $10.  Mostly lemon and green apples on the palate, well balanced, this one is a winner at the price and should be selling for at least $10 to $15.  If you have never had an Albarino before, this would be a good start.  If you love pleasant, floral, not too sweet but not bone dry, easy to drink white wines that are not one dimensional you might love this one.  Buy a case before they run out.  I do not know of a better red or white wine deal, and I do not know how long TJ's will carry this. (It is a fairly recent arrival.) Very highly recommended Albarino for the price.

Reserve des Cleones 2012 Muscadet Severe et Maine Sure Lie-$7.99 at Trader Joe's. Muscadet is made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, often referred to as melon.  Pale yellow in color, this one is light, very dry, and crisp with melon and lemon on the palate.  Balance is okay for the price. Short finish. It is not very complex, but if you are looking for a Muscadet to pair with seafood or whatever, this is worth investigating. I doubt I will purchase any more, but I have to give it a mild recommendation at this price.

Saint-Bris Vin de Bourgogne 2012 Sauvignon Blanc-French. $9.99  at Trader Joe's.  A Sauvignon Blanc from Chablis?  Yup.  And very nice for the price.  This one has hints of what premium Sauvignon Blancs offer but costs a fraction of the price.  I've several bottles so far and really like it. Moderately recommended.

Seaglass 2011 Sauvignon Blanc-$9.99 Cost Plus. Pale straw color. Light melon nose. Pleasantly dry but not overly crisp. Melon with some grassiness on the palate rather than grapefruit or tropical fruit.  Light to medium body. Medium finish with some grassiness.  A decent California SB for the price.  I don't think I'll try another bottle. Mild recommendation at this price.

Tarmina 2012 Monastrell-Spain. $6.99 at Cost Plus.  Monastrell is Spanish for Mourvedre, a varietal that is used in French Rhone GSM blends.  Inky purple in color with a decent nose. Full bodied but smooth, jammy and round with lots of balanced dark fruit.  Very appealing and easy to drink for the price.  I'll have to buy some more. Moderate plus recommendation at the price.

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Carneros Pinot Noir-$12.99 Trader Joe's-Aroma of red, ripe cherries.  Medium bodied with lush mouthfeel of red cherry and some baking spices.  Extremely well balanced! Medium length finish.  This one tastes like a Pinot that should sell for at least three times the price.  (If I tasted this blind I would think it was one of the better Pinots in the $30 to $40 range.) I like it much better than the decent Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir (see below) or the very pleasant TJ's  Reserve 2011 Napa Valley Pinot Noir. It is also a finer wine than any of the Castle Rock Pinots but then most of them sell for almost half the price and are still great buys. This is a fantastic buy!  The best under $20 Pinot I've encountered and a complete winner!!  Very highly recommended!!! Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with others that sound similar.

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir-$12.99 at Trader Joe's.  Decent nose of cherry and vanilla. Somewhat tart red cherry on the palate with medium body. Not much finish.  A fairly good Pinot for the price. (Inexpensive Pinots are usually not very good.)  At under $20 it is worth trying.   Mildly recommended at this price.  Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with something that sounds similar.

Trader Joe's Reserve 2011 Napa Valley Pinot Noir- (ABJ Wines, Geyserville) $9.99 at Trader Joe's. Easy to drink and pleasant but somewhat simple and one-dimensional.  One cannot expect complexity, however, in a Pinot at this price level. Well worth it considering that it is a Pinot and under $10.  A great bargain.  My neighbor is a Pinot devote and loves it for the price.  You might too.  I've tried several bottles and they have been consistently enjoyable, especially since I know how much I paid. Highly recommended at this price. Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with something that sounds similar.

Other Budget Wine Reviews may be viewed here:
Budget Wine Review 1
Budget Wine Review 2 Alsatian Gewurtztraminers
Budget Wine Review 3
Budget Wine Review 4
Budget Wine Review 5 Pinot Noirs
Budget Wine Review 6
Budget Wine Review 7 Pinot Noirs
Budget Wine Review 8 New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs
Budget Wine Review 9
Budge Wine Review 10 
Budget Wine Favorites in 2012

Budget Wine Review 10

Budget wines tasted recently (August 14, 2013).  Writing good tasting notes for me involves much time, concentration and effort, and I don't see any point in writing detailed tasting notes on these inexpensive wines so I am keeping the notes brief.  I've added a few wines at the end that are not really budget wines, since they sell for over $20, which is my arbitrary maximum limit to what I am willing to refer to as a budget wine. The wines underlined are the ones I consider the best buys.

Much of what I look for in inexpensive wines is decent balance, whether I enjoyed drinking it and if I would purchase another bottle. I do not expect much subtlety or complexity.  In non-blends I do prefer some truness to varietal characteristics. If I poured the wine down the drain I comment on that.  Some people will cook with wines they do not like.  I believe it takes a decent wine to make good food and that life is too short to drink or cook with a wine that is not pleasant to drink. Most of the wines listed below were recommended to me by reliable sources.  I rarely purchase a budget wine without a recommendation by a reliable person because there are so many of them, especially those under $10, that are  not very pleasant to drink.  If you know of any budget wines you really like, please email me and I will try them.

Acacia 2010 Red Blend-$7.99 at Safeway.  This was recommended by a well known wine critic as being a good buy. It is a Rhone style red blend with mostly raspberry on the palate and is okay for the price, but it just didn't come together very well for me and I will not buy another bottle of the 2010. You might want to try it, but I can't really recommended it.

BV 2010 Coastal Chardonnay-$5.99 at Safeway.  Often recommended as a wine bargain, this is a decent enough Chardonnay for the money and the probably the least expensive Chardonnay I can even mildly recommend. For only $2 more, though, you can get the Clos du Bois Chardonnay, which I like much better. Very mild, rather tepid, recommendation at this price if you really can't afford $7.99 for the Clos du Bois.

Chalone 2010 Chardonnay-$9.99 at Safeway.  Another one that was recommended as a decent budget Chardonnay by a famous wine critic.  It is a decent $10 Chardonnay, and  I purchase a bottle or two perhaps once a year. I do like the dry flintiness and absence of excessive butter. Worth trying. Mild recommendation at this price.

Charles Shaw California 2010 Sauvignon Blanc-$2.49 at Trader Joe's. It has almost no aroma and does not taste much like a Sauvignon Blanc--none of the crisp acid or citrus of most SBs. If you have only $3 in your wallet and need a Sauvignon Blanc, this is probably as palatable as you will find at that price. Not really recommended. Spend a little more.

Clos du Bois 2010 Northern California Chardonnay-$7.99 at Safeway.  Very nice for the price and consistent from year to year.  I don't drink that much of this, but I've purchased a bottle or two every year for many years and have never been disappointed. One of the finest budget Chardonnays.  Highly recommended at this price.

Columbia Crest 2010 Grand Estate Chardonnay-$8.99 anywhere. I have had the Columbia Crest Chardonnay in the past and liked it well enough for the price, but I don't like this 2010.  Apple, pear and butter but too much butter for me. Recommended by others, but I simply did not like it and cannot recommended it, at least not the 2010.

Contadino Pinot Grigio-Italy. $3.99 at Trader Joe's. One cannot expect much at this price. I liked it better than the Gaetano D'Aquino mentioned below but found it to be barely drinkable.  On another day I might have poured it out. Spend a three dollars more and get the much better Mezzacorona mentioned below. I can't recommend it.

Delas Saint-Esprit 2011 Cotes-du Rhone Rouge-French. $9.99 on sale at Cost Plus.  I really liked the 2010 so thought I'd try the 2011.  This one is has a good nose but is a bit rough right out of the bottle.  Decant it or give it some air first.  Mostly black cherry, blackberry and some spice on the palate with blackberry and pepper on the medium length finish.  I gave the 2010 a moderate to high recommendation and it is the better of the two vintages.  I bought a number of 2010s but will not buy any more 2011s and will wait until 2012 comes out. It is not as well balanced as the 2010. This 2011 is only mildly recommended at this price level.

DeLoach 2011 California Pinot Noir-$9.99 on sale at Safeway. A lighter style Pinot with lots of strawberry. This one is well balanced and refreshing.  It is not a complex Pinot, but for its style, it is very honest and well worth the price.  Some light, fruity Pinots almost taste like Nouveau Beaujolais but not this one. With the DeLoach the Pinot Noir varietal characteristics are quite evident. I'm not sure what the regular price is on this but it is worthwhile at anything less than $15.  There are also a DeLoach 2011 Russian River and a DeLoach 2011 Heritage Reserve that sell for more, but I have not tried these. If DeLoach sends me some I'll gladly do so very detailed tasting notes.  They obviously know what they are doing with budget Pinots. I enjoyed drinking this wine and give it a moderate recommendation at the price if you like this style Pinot. 

Gaetano D'Aquino 2011 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie-Italian. $3.99 at Trader Joe's. Barely drinkable at best.  Not at all recommended.

Gnarly Head 2010 Malbec-$8.99 at Safeway-Tastes rather like a Malbec.  Okay for the price.  Not many budget Malbecs out there. Mildly recommended at this price.

Grifone 2010 Primitivo-Italian. $3.99 at Trader Joes.  Drinkable but not a wine I would ever purchase again. On another day I would pour it down the drain.  Can't really recommend it.

Hess 2010 Select Chardonnay-$8.99 at Safeway or just about anywhere. Fairly decent Chardonnay at under $10. It is widely available and is reliable from year to year. One of the better budget Chards out there, and I've never purchased a bad one. Mildly recommended for the price.

La Ferme Julien Rouge 2012 Rhone Red- French. $4.99 at Trader Joe's. They have a white, rose and red.  Of these, I prefer the red which is  a Rhone blend of Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah.  I'm very fond of Rhone red wines but can rarely find a decent one for under $10.  At only $5 I find this one to be a real bargain.  If you like Rhone wines and are looking for something very inexpensive, this would be a good choice.  I have only tried the 2012 so cannot comment on other vintages.  This is an honest, simple, pleasant every day wine that benefits from a little air.  It is mostly spicy blackberry on the palate, with good body and decent balance.  Highly recommended for a $5 wine.

Les Portes de Bordeaux 2012 Sauvignon Blanc-French. $4.99 at Trader Joe's. Grapefruit and citrus with a decent finish. Fairly decent for price, but I don't plan to buy any more.  Mildly recommended for a Sauvignon Blanc at less than $5.

Mezzacorona 2010 Pinot Grigio-Italian. $6.99 at Trader Joe's. Recommended by our local TJ's wine guru and very nice for the price.  Good fruit, decent balance and tastes like a Pinot Grigio.  A winner.  One of the best buys in a white wine. I have had numerous bottles of this. It is very pleasant and I've never grown tired of it. One of the best white wine bargains I've found recently. Probably my favorite every day budget white wine.  Very highly recommended for the price.

Portico da Ria 2011 Albarino-Spanish. $5.99 at Trader Joe's. Finally a decent, inexpensive Albarino. TJ's hardly ever carries this varietal, much to my disappointment. . It is a wonderful, much underappreciated varietal here in the U.S. but, of course, is well known and appreciated in Portugal. I'm very fond of good Albarinos but rarely find a decent one for under $20 and don't seem to find any for under $10.  Mostly lemon and green apples on the palate, well balanced, this one is a winner at the price and should be selling for at least $10 to $15.  If you have never had an Albarino before, this would be a good start.  If you love pleasant, floral, not too sweet but not bone dry, easy to drink white wines that are not one dimensional you might love this one.  Buy a case before they run out.  I do not know of a better red or white wine deal, and I do not know how long TJ's will carry this. (It is a fairly recent arrival.) I've recommended this to many friends and neighbors and they have all loved it.  Many now purchase it by the case.  Women seem to especially like it. Very highly recommended Albarino for the price.

Red Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon-$6.99 at Trader Joe's-Drinkable.  It is okay but not something I would purchase again.  I have a difficult time appreciating most  Cabs that are under $10. As with Pinot Noirs, you really must almost always pay more to get a drinkable one. I just can't really recommend this Cab.

Reserve des Cleones 2012 Muscadet Severe et Maine Sure Lie-$7.99 at Trader Joe's. Muscadet is made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, often referred to as melon.  Pale yellow in color, this one is light, very dry, and crisp with melon and lemon on the palate.  Balance is okay for the price. Short finish. It is not very complex, but if you are looking for a Muscadet to pair with seafood or whatever, this is worth investigating. I doubt I will purchase any more, but I have to give it a mild recommendation at this price.

Saint-Bris Vin de Bourgogne 2012 Sauvignon Blanc-French. $9.99  at Trader Joe's.  A Sauvignon Blanc from Chablis?  Yup.  And very nice for the price.  This one has hints of what premium Sauvignon Blancs offer but costs a fraction of the price.  I've several bottles so far and really like it. Moderately recommended.

Sebastopol Hills 2011 Pinot Noir-$9.99 at Trader Joe's. Recommended by Traer Joe's staff and not really bad, but I did not enjoy drinking it and would not buy it again.  Not recommended by me.

Tarmina 2012 Monastrell-Spain. $6.99 at Cost Plus.  Monastrell is Spanish for Mourvedre, a varietal that is used in French Rhone GSM blends.  Inky purple in color with a decent nose. Full bodied but smooth, jammy and round with lots of balanced dark fruit.  Appealing and easy to drink.  Quite a bargain actually. I've tried three bottles now. Moderate plus recommendation at the price.

Trader Joes 2011 Coastal Sauvignon Blanc-$3.99 at Trader Joes. Some varietal characteristics but rather round, insipid and not dry or crisp enough.  Not recommended.

Trellis Sonoma Chardonnay-$4.99 at Trader Joe's. Okay for the price but not something I would purchase again.  Possibly worth a try if you want to try a Chard at under $5.  I'd recommend spending a few dollars more on a Chardonnay.

These wines below are more expensive than the wines above so I'm mentioning them separately:

De Sante 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Old Vine-$33 at a wine shop.  Fairly good and mildly recommended, although not my favorite SB at this price level despite its recommendation from a reliable source.  Mildly recommended at this price level.

Elk Cove 2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley-$20.29 at Safeway. Bright strawberry nose.  Red cherry and strawberry on the palate with some cinnamon.  Medium finish.  Quite nice for a Pinot at this price. Moderately recommended at this price.

Raptor Ridge Willamette Valley 2010 Pinot Noir -$20 at Safeway.  Strawberry nose and palate with medium body.  Finish could be better. I will pass on trying any more. Very mild recommendation at this price.

Talley 2009 Pinot Noir-$33.50 at a wine shop. Talley has a very good reputation and this was recommended by a reliable source. Pleasant, medium bodied, easy to drink, lacking the complexity of an exceptional Pinot but well worth the price.  I liked it but will pass on trying any more, at least of this vintage.  Mildly recommendation at this price level.

Previous Budget Wine Reviews may be viewed here:

Budget Wine Review 1

Budget Wine Review 2 Alsatian Gewurtztraminers

Budget Wine Review 3

Budget Wine Review 4

Budget Wine Review 5 Pinot Noirs

Budget Wine Review 6

Budget Wine Review 7 Pinot Noirs

Budget Wine Review 8 New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs

Budget Review 9
Budget Wine Favorites in 2012
Budget Wine Favorites in 2013
For favorite wines from Napa Valley wineries please see here: Favorite Wines from Napa Valley Wineries

Budget Wine Favorites in 2012

These are the budget wines I tasted during 2012 and found most rewarding.  Some budget wines (under $20) maintain consistency from year to year so the vintage matters only a little.  With other wineries, however, vintages can make a major difference, even when the overall style might continue to be similar.  With each wine below, please assume that I am only recommending the vintage cited unless I mention otherwise.

I do not try that many new budget wines and tend to stick with the few I have found to be consistently good.  New ones I do try are usually recommended by other people I have found to be reliable. Finding a good wine under $10 is a real challenge. It becomes much easier in the $10 to $20 range. Being a writer who focuses on reviews of Napa Valley wineries, most of the wines I taste and purchase are from Napa Valley and my favorites rarely fall in the budget price range, but you may view these wines here: Favorite Wines from Napa Valley Wineries

Babich 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand: $10.99 Safeway. Very pale straw color. I found the aroma to be light but my wife (who has a much better sniffer than I do) thought it had a pronounced aroma. Medium body. Good but not intense tropical fruit with a touch of lemon on the palate. Well balanced. No herbaceousness. Medium finish. Moderately recommended at this price.

Brancott Estate 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand. $8.99 Safeway Pale straw color with a good nose. Dry, crisp and bright on the palate with mostly lemon and some melon. Slight pleasant grassiness. Clean finish. Should appeal to those who find some New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs to be too fruit forward, although this certainly has decent fruit. I've had three bottles now. Moderately recommended at this price.

Castle Rock 2009 Mendocino Pinot Noir-$5.99 to 7.99 Cost Plus, Safeway or Trader Joe's. The $5.99 price was a sale at Cost Plus but they don't seem to carry the Mendocino one anymore. Castle Rock sells many different Pinot Noirs so be sure to get Mendocino and the 2009. Castle Rock has no vineyards and seems to sell almost all of their wine for below $10. My understanding is that Castle Rock does not have its own vineyards but purchases or sources their grapes from various vineyards and then produces the wine at leased facilities. I do not believe they buy wine and simply bottle it. This PN has more substance and depth than many California Pinot Noirs in the under $20 range and is a steal at the price. It is, of course, not as complex as a really good Pinot but those are all in the $30 to $60 or more range. It is almost impossible to find a decent PN for under $10. A great bargain. Very highly recommended for the price but I did not care for the 2010.  One bottle was thin, unbalanced with an unpleasant finish. A second bottle was better but not nearly as good as the 2009. (I suspect the first bottle was not stored properly.)  The 2009 is very highly recommended for the price.

Castle Rock 2009 Monterey Pinot Noir-$7.99 Trader Joe's or Safeway. Moderate to full body. Some forest floor. More black cherry than red with some tart plum on the finish. Good, smooth tannins. Well balanced . Very nice for the price. I also like the Castle Rock 2009 Mendocino PN at the same price as the Monterey ($7.99). When comparing the 2009 Mendocino and 209 Monterey side by side, I actually liked them equally. Very highly recommended at this price.  I tried the Castle Rock 2010 Monterey Pinot Noir and it was not as good but was still a decent buy and is moderately recommended.

Castle Rock 2009 Russian River Reserve Pinot Noir -$19.99 at Whole Foods. I got some raspberry and slight floral notes on the nose with a very smooth, full mouthfeel of cherry and red fruit and a nice finish. It does not have much complexity, however, not that one should expect very much in a PN for under $20. The 2009 Castle Rock Mendocino or 2009 Monterey sell for about $7.99. This reserve is possibly a point or two higher, but then it is over twice the price. This Russian River Reserve is one of the better PNs for under $20 but do not expect it to be as good as some of the premium Russian River Pinots. It just doesn't work that way with Pinots. I’m not sure how much year-to-year variation there is on this Reserve. Moderately recommended at the price but only this year.

Delas St. Esprit 2010 Cote du Rhone Rouge, France-$13 or $10 on sale Cost Plus. Very nice for money. Decent fruit. Well balanced. Enjoyable. Tastes like a decent French Rhone and is a very good buy. I plan to buy more and take detailed tasting notes. Moderately to highly recommended at this price.  (I later tried the 2011 and can only mildly recommend that vintage.)

Epicuro 2009 Agliancco Beneventano IGT, Compania, Italy- $4.99 Trader Joes. Would you believe a wine this decent at this price? This one comes from Southern Italy, the region of Campania. Dark purple in color, with a nice nose, it is a smooth, well-balanced wine with good tannin and acid with blackberry on the palate plus a hint of pepper. Almost all wines under $5 are very one-dimensional. This one is not. The 2009 is my favorite red wine for under $5. The wine expert at our local TJ’s told the story of how a customer took this to a blind tasting of Italian red wines and it came out top, over many more expensive wines in the $20 range. BTW I tried the 2008 back in May and did not find it nearly as good, so be sure to look for the 2009. Epicuro's varietals seem to vary from year to year. Great bargain. Addendum 9/18/2012: I just had a bottle of the 2010 Epicuro Aglianico Beneventano IGT and it was more fruit forward than the 2009, had less tannin and was not as balanced or interesting. It is still recommended as a drinkable wine for under $5, however.  The 2009 is highly recommended for the price.  Skip the 2008, but the 2010 is mildly recommended.

Kim Crawford 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand-$14.99 Trader Joe's. This is very easy to drink. Some nose with decent acid and fruit, mostly grapefruit with some herbaceousness. A bit light on the fruit but very well balanced. This is as easy to drink as the Kono but much more interesting. I think it is a very nice SB for the price. Don't worry about vintages with Kim Crawford. Moderately recommended at this price level.

Nobilo Regional Collection Marlborough 2011 Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand-$9.99 Safeway. Light lime nose. Smooth and well balance with white grapefruit and lemon on the palate and a hint of guava. Good acid. Long lemon finish. Might vary from year to year. Moderately recommended at this price.

Oyster Bay 2011 Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand-$9.99 Safeway. Pleasant nose. Grapefruit on palate with great balance. Long finish. I tried two bottles of this. One of the more readily available Kiwi SBs. Moderately recommended at this price.

Piper Sonoma, Sonoma Valley NV Brut-$11.99 widely available. My favorite budget sparkling wine, and I've tried many of them in the $10 to $20 range because I'm very fond of sparkling wine and can't always afford Taittinger or Schramsberg. (I'm not going to list all the ones I tried but didn't like.) On the nose I get green apple and pleasant yeast, more aroma than most budget bubblies. Palate-wise I get mostly citrus, dry and crisp, but not at all austere and very well-balanced, with more yeast and minerality than most inexpensive sparklers plus more delicate bubbles. This is a real class act in this price range, and I haven't found anything at this price that comes close. The Gloria Ferrer NV Sonoma Brut is several dollars more and tastes sweeter and fruitier. It use to be my favorite budget bubbly until I started drinking the Piper Sonoma and now it is hard to go back. I tried the Piper Sonoma Rose bubbly, too, but didn't care for it. This Piper Sonoma NV Brut is 60% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier. If you find a sparkling wine for under $20 that you really like, please email me. Very highly recommended for the price!

Robert Mondavi 2009 Fume Blanc: $13 on sale Safeway. Fume Blanc is not a varietal but is Robert Mondavi's created label for a dry, premium quality, California Sauvignon Blanc.  This one is a great value.  One of the best white wine bargains and very pleasant. One of my wife's favorite wines. It has a very nice aroma of melon, is dry and beautifully balanced, with some herbaceousness, good fruit and acid and a good finish. I think the Mondavi Fume Blanc is a very affordable wine that almost anybody would like and I've never had a bottle without really enjoying it.  It is the least expensive Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley that I can recommend.  Mondavi has an affordable winner with this wine!!!  Very highly recommended $20 or less and consistently good from vintage to vintage. 

Rodney Strong Russian River Estate 2010 Pinot Noir-$14.99 Safeway. An easy to like PN. Light nose. Medium body. Nice red cherry fruit and vanilla (French oak) on the palate with smooth tannins. Decent enough finish with a touch of spice. No problem recommending this one. It is one of my favorite under $20 Pinots. If you object to French oak with your Pinot, though, you might want to steer clear. Moderately recommended at the price.

Trader Joe’s Russian River 2010 Pinot Noir-$12.99 Trader Joe's. Light red cherry nose with cherry and a touch of cinnamon on the palate. Very smooth, well structured, with good balance and some depth. In addition to a great mouthfeel, it has a very long finish. I really like this PN for the price and enthusiastically recommend it. It could easily sell for twice the price. This is a good buy in a Pinot Noir. It is not one of their reserves and seems to be sold out. Moderately recommended for the price.

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Carneros Pinot Noir-$12.99 Trader Joe's-Good aroma of red, ripe cherries. Medium bodied with lush mouthfeel of red cherry and some baking spices. Extremely well balanced! Medium length finish. This one tastes like a Pinot that should sell for at least three times the price. (If I tasted this blind I would think it was one of the better Pinots in the $30 range.) I like it much better than the decent Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir (see below) or the very pleasant Trader Joe's Reserve 2011 Napa Valley Pinot Noir listed below.  This is a fantastic buy! The best under $20 Pinot I've encountered and a complete winner!! Very highly recommended at this price but only the Grand Reserve 2010 Carneros.  Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with others with a similar sounding name.

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir-$12.99 Trader Joe's. Decent nose of cherry and vanilla. Somewhat tart red cherry on the palate with medium body. Not much finish. A fairly good Pinot for the price. (Inexpensive Pinots are usually not very good.) At under $20 it is worth trying. Moderately recommended at this price.  Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with others with a similar sounding name.

Trader Joe's Reserve 2011 Napa Valley Pinot Noir- (ABJ Wines, Geyserville) $9.99 Trader Joe's. Easy to drink and pleasant but somewhat simple and one-dimensional. One cannot expect complexity, however, at this price level. Well worth it considering that it is a Pinot and under $10. A great bargain. My neighbor is a Pinot devote and loves it for the price. You might too. I've tried several bottles and they have been consistently enjoyable, especially since I know how much I paid. Highly recommended at this price.  Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with others with a similar sounding name.

Villa Maria 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin Marlborough New Zealand- $9.99 to 11.99 Safeway. Aroma of lemon with a hint of grass. Bursting with fruits, apple, grapefruit, and lemon with exotic fruit undertones. Some herbaceousness and minerality. Really well balanced, with a very slight hint of sweetness and good acid. Good crisp finish. Very easy to drink but interesting and complex. Classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Really delightful! Enthusiastically recommended! This is a great bargain and a really good wine for the regular price. At the sales price of $12 it is an unbelievable bargain. My favorite of the lot. This seems to be the price point at which you get the most for your dollar. I have not found any SB from any other country that is this good in this price range. I tried several bottles of this. (I later tried the Villa Maria 2011 Sauvignon Blanc which was on sale for only $9.99. It, too was very good, but not as bursting with fruit. It remains my favorite New Zealand SB for under $20.) Very highly recommended at this price regardless of vintage.

Whitehaven 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand-$15.99 Safeway. Aromatic. Slightly herbaceous with a hint of minerality. Good tropical fruit but not fruit forward. Fairly dry and well balanced. A lighter style but certainly not insipid, more like the Kim Crawford than the Villa Maria. Clean finish. I like this a lot although the bursting fruit in the Villa Maria wins me over in the end. Highly recommended at this price regardless of vintage.

Other Budget Wine Reviews may be viewed here:
Budget Wine Review 1
Budget Wine Review 2 Alsatian Gewurtztraminers
Budget Wine Review 3
Budget Wine Review 4
Budget Wine Review 5 Pinot Noirs
Budget Wine Review 6
Budget Wine Review 7 Pinot Noirs
Budget Wine Review 8 New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs
Budget Wine Review 9
Budge Wine Review 10 

Budget Wine Favorites in 2013

Budget Wine Review 9

It is not that easy to find a decent everyday drinking wine in the under $10 range.  Once you go above that amount, there are many more options.  Here are some I tried in the last six months or so, usually after somebody's recommendation. Most of these wines sell for under $10 and a few, amazingly, are under $5. Some of these I simply couldn't drink. Others were drinkable, but I did not enjoy them and would never buy another bottle.  Eight of the wines listed below are underlined and represent what I think are best values, wines that are well worth the price and that I would enjoy drinking again. One wine, the Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Carneros Pinot Noir, is a real standout and an unbelievable bargain.  I've also listed my favorite bargain sparkling wine, which I also highly recommend for the price, the Piper Sonoma, Sonoma Valley NV Brut.

Of course everybody's taste is different, and none of these are really great wines, but one could never expect that at these prices.  With wine you do not always get what you pay for, but you always pay a premium price for really exceptional wines. Purchase prices and sources are indicated with each listing.

Please see our favorite wines from Napa Valley wineries here:  Favorite Wines from Napa Valley Wineries

3 Girls 2011 Pinot Noir-$9.99 Cost Plus.  I didn't bother taking tasting notes on this. It is okay for the price, but I wouldn't buy again and I can't recommend it.

Archeo Sicilia 2010 Nero d'Avola-$3.99 Trader Joe's. Soft, round, candied fruit with little structure poor balance and short, earthy-barnyard finish.  Improved somewhat with air but was not that pleasant to drink, less so than the Epicuro Nero d'Avola.  Might appeal to some who don't ordinarily like red wine or those who like a very fruity, somewhat sweet, simple red wine, but I can't really recommend it.

Black Mountain 2011 Sauvignon Blanc-$5.99 Trader Joe's. Slight nose. Round with too much sweetness, lacking acid and insipid. Does not taste like a SB but more like some cheap jug wine. Slightly bitter finish.  Poured most of it down the drain. Not at all recommended

Black Mountain 2011 Pinot Noir-$5.99 Trader Joe's.  Not much in the way of varietal characteristics.  Medium bodied and rather smooth, with little going on. Might appeal to somebody who wants a really bland, inoffensive red wine.  After trying it at different temperatures and exposures to oxygen, I finally gave up and poured the rest out.  I've had some Black Mountain Pinot years ago that were okay so you might want to try another vintage, but I cannot recommend this 2011.

Blason de Bourgogne 2010 Pinot Noir-$6.99 Trader Joe's. Thin, rather acidic, not pleasant to drink and uninteresting.  I ended up pouring about half of it out. In general, it is best to avoid all inexpensive French Pinot Noirs.  Not recommended

Brancott Estate 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand. $8.99 Safeway Pale straw color with a good nose. Dry, crisp and bright on the palate with mostly lemon and some melon. Slight pleasant grassiness. Clean finish. Should appeal to those who find some New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs to be too fruit forward, although this certainly has decent fruit.  I've had three bottles now.  Moderately recommended at this price.  You might want to see my previous New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc post at:  New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs

Caretaker 2011 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir-$9.99 Trader Joe's.  Fruity, simple, uninteresting, and poorly balanced.  This wine did not come together at all for me, and I did not enjoy drinking it even after airing it, so poured much of it down the drain. This is about what I would expect if Charles Shaw made a Pinot Noir, although Charles Shaw might do a better job. Not recommended.

Castle Rock 2009 Carneros Pinot Noir-$9.99 Vallergas. Somewhat thin and uninteresting but not bad. Not as good as the Castle Rock Mendocino, Monterey or Russian River.  Go for the Castle Rock Mendocino and Castle Rock Monterey, two great bargains in Pinots. I won't be trying any more of this Carneros one. Pass.  

Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir-$7.99 Trader Joe's- Not nearly as good as the Castle Rock 2009 Mendocino Pinot Noir which I highly recommended.  I got some cherry and vanilla on the nose.  It was lighter in body than the 2009, had a less substantial mouth-feel and didn't come together as well.  The finish was unpleasant and fortunately short. A second bottle was better but still not nearly as good as the 2009. (I suspect the first bottle was mishandled.)  You take your chances on the Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir.  Addendum 5/13/13:  I've now tried about a dozen of these 2010s and they are all over the map. Some are fairly good and others have been undrinkable but none have been as good as the 2009. I know Castle Rock has an unbelievably huge production.  I doubt that the problem is with them but rather with those who retail their wines.  It appears that some of these are improperly handled. Just be aware that Castle Rock produces huge quantities of Pinot and have a wide distribution.  So the Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir that one person buys might be totally different than the one another person buys. Obviously it will vary in different areas of the country.  It is a good example, though, of how wines vary, depending on how they are handled by distributors and retailers.  The wine a critic drinks and recommends might be completely different than the one you purchased even though the labels are identical and it is the same winery, varietal and year.  This is a good reason to make purchases from wineries and reputable wine stores.  But in this price range this is not usually an option. You just take your chances.  In 2010 Castle Rock's annual production was a total of 600,000 cases.  That makes it among the largest producers in the U.S.

Castle Rock 2009 Monterey Pinot Noir-$7.99 Trader Joe's. Moderate to full body. Some forest floor. More black cherry than red with some tart plum on the finish.  Good, smooth tannins. Well balanced . Very nice for the price.  I also like the Castle Rock Russian River PN at $20 and the Castle Rock Mendocino PN at the same price as the Monterey ($5.99 to $9.99). When comparing the 2009 Mendocino and 2009 Monterey side by side, I actually liked them equally.  I've had three bottles of this Monterey now and plan to buy more. (I've had many of the Castle Rock Mendocino Pinot Noir, which is a nice alternative at the same price.)  How does Castle Rock do it? Highly recommended at this price for a PN.  Addendum 6/21/13: The Castle Rock 2010 Monterey Pinot Noiris is just as good as the Castle Rock 2009 Pinot Noir and, unlike the Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir, I have not encountered any bad bottles.  It has been consistently decent.

Charles Shaw 2011 California Chardonnay-$1.99 Trader Joe's. Can vary, but usually their best white.  A fairly drinkable wine at only $2. It even sometimes wins in blind tastings. Some people claim Charles Shaw wines are all terrible, but they are better than most cheap jug wines. It is amazing that anybody can produce a wine at this price level. Of course you are not going to get much of a wine at at this price. Usually their Chrad is fairly dry and somewhat balanced with at least some minimal varietal characteristics, but I recommend spending a little more for something better. Pass.

Charles Shaw 2011 California Shiraz-$1.99 Trader Joe's. Simple and  fruit forward, but not very interesting. Does taste rather like a Shiraz/Syrah. Not really bad at this price and as good as some of the inexpensive Australian Shiraz which can be real fruit bombs.  Probably the best of the "Two Buck Chuck" red wines, but I recommend spending a little more money for something better.  Pass.

Cline 2011 Cashmere (Mourvedre, Grenache and Syrah)-$14 Cost Plus. Has a good reputation and is fairly good for the price, but I'll pass on trying any more. Mild recommendation at this price if you are looking for a Rhone style California wine.

County Fair 2010 Flying Pinot Noir-$8.99 Trader Joe's. Deep garnet. Red plum with some mushroom on the nose. Smooth entry of soft red fruit. Well balanced, simple with medium body. Medium length finish with some slightly tart cherry. Despite the silly name, it is not bad at this price. When you first open this wine it might seem too tight and thin.  If it does, then give it some air. Usually it is the big red wines that we think of as needing this, but Pinots also often need air to open up.  Mild recommendation at this price.

Delas St. Esprit 2010 Cote du Rhone Rouge-Cost Plus $13 sale $10. Very nice for money. Decent fruit. Well balanced. Enjoyable. Tastes like a decent French Rhone and is a very good buy.  I've had three bottle now and they were very consistent.  Quite nice for the price.  Moderately to highly recommended at this price.

Dry Creek Fume Blanc 2011-$9.99 Safeway. Pale color with light nose.  Dry, pleasantly grassy and balanced on the palate.  No green pepper. Fruit is fairly good but restrained, more melon than anything else.  Acid good but not lively.  All the components come together which is more than I can say for most California Sauvignon Blancs. Very much in the California tradition but not as good as the Mondavi Fume Blanc, which sells for a few dollars more and is a real bargain.  Mildly recommended at this price.

Epicuro 2010 Nero d'Avola-$5.99 Trader Joe's.  Made from Nero d'Avola grapes.  Soft, fruity and simple, this is my least favorite of the Epicuro red wines.  I tried a second bottle and it was the same story. Not bad, but overly fruity and not well balanced so not really recommended.

Epicuro 2009 Salice Salentino-$5.99 Trader Joe's. Good nose of cherry and raspberry. Smooth and fruity w. raspberry entry. Soft tannins, rather simple, light to moderate bodied but balanced. Pleasant, medium length finish.  Decent for the price, but I prefer the Epicuro Anglianico and the Epicuro Primitivo that are both better red wines from the same winery at the same price.  Please see my previous budget wine reviews for descriptions of these two wine bargains. I tried a second bottle of this and it will be my last. Very mild recommendation at this price.

Fadeaway 2011 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley-$8.99 Trader Joe's.  Not much varietal character. Not very pleasant to drink so half of it went down the drain. I took detailed notes but they seem to have "faded away."  Not recommended.

Ferrari Carano 2011 Fume Blanc-$11.92 Safeway.  Light citrus nose with grapefruit and some grass on the palate. Some people seem to really like this one for the price, but I thought it was pretty ordinary at this price level.  Pass.

Giesen 2011 Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand-$8.99 Cost Plus. Pale straw color. Light, but pleasant aroma. Fairly dry with a fruity entry of mostly tropical fruit. No grassiness.  Okay finish.  I don't plan to purchase any more. I prefer the Brancott New Zealand SB mentioned above at the same price. This is a pleasant enough SB, though, so mildly recommended at this price.

Gnarly Head 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi-$8.87 Safeway. Pleasant aroma of blackberry and oak. This is a big fruity, rather jammy Zin, mostly blackberry, with some oak, not too high in alcohol (14.5%), and fairly well balanced.  Plenty of  lush fruit. It is ripe and smooth, with tannins being relatively soft and integrated.  Should appeal to those who like a full bodied, fruity but fairly well-balanced Zin.  Might be too jammy for some, but I enjoyed it. It is easy to drink and should go well with BBQs, pizzas, some Mexican food, spaghetti, etc.  Some Lodi Zins I've had have been too high in alcohol, but this one holds its alcohol very well. I'll definitely buy another bottle and add more tasting notes.  The 2010 is moderately recommended at this price but not the 2011.
Addendum 1/24/13: Tried a second bottle of the 2010.  Deep, dark ruby color. Got some dark cherry on the nose and palate this time along with the previous blackberry and also some spice on the palate.  Pleasant touch of rusticity. Finish is short.  I also tried the Gnarly Head 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel and did not like it. Lacking balance with too much jammyness overwhelming everything else. I tasted the 2010 and 2011 side by side for comparision, and the difference between them was remarkable.  The 2011 is not recommended. If you like super jammy Zins, though, you might like it. All Gnarly Head wines are worth trying to see if you like them.  They are often amazingly good bargains. I'll wait until the 2012 is released.

Green Fin 2011 Table Wine-$3.99 Trader Joe's. This is flabby, unbalanced, uninteresting and insipid, more like a cheap jug wine.  It is not really a desert wine but is not dry enough for a table wine unless it was balanced with more acid or carefully paired.  It is the sort of wine that a person who does not usually like wine might like. I poured most of it out.  This wine is produced by the same company that does Charles Shaw "Two Buck Chuck", but the Charles Shaw Chardonnay at half the price is better than this Green Fin. Definitely not recommended.

La Merika 2011 Pinot Noir. $9.99 at Cost Plus. Not bad. Light nose. Medium bodied with plenty of ripe fruit, mostly red cherry.  Somewhat fruit forward for a Pinot. Not very complex, but extremely easy to drink. Good ripe cherry finish of medium length. Should appeal to those who like a smooth, fruity, simple Pinot.  This Central Coast Pinot was rated at 98 and given double gold medals at the 2012 California State Fair International Wine Competition.  It is a good deal at the price, but not a 98 point wine. Worth trying if you like this style Pinot. Just don't expect it to be a complex, elegant 98 point Pinot.  I'm undecided if I'll ever try another bottle. Mild recommendation at this price.

Laurent Reverdy Sancerre 2011 Sauvignon Blanc-$12.99 at Trader Joe's. Bright acid with restrained fruit and little going on. Didn't seem to open up.  Less minerality that I expected. I won't buy any more. Drinkable, but not really recommended.

Mondavi 2011 Private Selection Pinot Noir-$6.65 Safeway-Not bad for the price but Castle Rock Mendocino Pinot Noir or Castle Rock Monterey Pinot Noir sell for the same price or less and are much better.  I won't try any more. Pass.

Nerelo Del Bastardo 2008-$8.99 Trader Joe's.  Italian table wine.  Cherry nose with cherry, blueberry and some earthiness on the palate. Medium bodied, soft and rather fruit forward.  Short, slightly bitter finish.  A simple wine probably worth the price, but I don't plan to buy any more. Pass.

Panilonco 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Chile-$4.99 Trader Joe's. This seems to be a regular stock item at TJs.  Not much varietal comes through, and it has very little finish, but it is a smooth, rather full bodied, drinkable wine for this price. I wouldn't buy another bottle, but it is very mildly recommended if you are looking for a Cab at under $5.

Pennywise 2011 Pinot Noir-8.99 Cost Plus. Pleasant and drinkable. Lighter style. Not bad for the money if you can get past the name. I recommend the Trader Joes 2011 Napa Valley PN below or either of the two Castle Rock (Mendocino or Monterey)  Pinot Noirs. Even the County Fair Pinot noir above is a better than this one, but the Pennywise is an okay Pinot for the price.  I tried a second bottle and liked it even less.  Pass.

Piper Sonoma, Sonoma Valley NV Brut-$11.99 widely available. My favorite budget sparkling wine, and I've tried many of them in the $10 to $20 range because I'm very fond of sparkling wine and can't always afford French Taittinger or Napa Valley Schramsberg.  (I'm not going to list all the ones I tried but didn't like.)  On the nose I get green apple and pleasant yeast, more aroma than most budget bubblies.  Palate-wise I get mostly citrus, dry and crisp, but not at all austere and very well-balanced, with more yeast and minerality than most inexpensive sparklers plus more delicate bubbles. This is a real class act in this price range, and I haven't found anything at this price that comes close. The Gloria Ferrer NV Sonoma Brut  is several dollars more and tastes sweeter and fruitier.  It use to be my favorite budget bubbly until I started drinking the Piper Sonoma and now it is hard to go back. I tried the Piper Sonoma Rose bubbly, too, but didn't care for it.  This Piper Sonoma NV Brut is 60% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier. If you find a sparkling wine for under $20 that you think is better, please email me.  Very highly recommended for the price! 

Pontificis GSM France-$5.99 Trader Joe's-50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre. Drinkable, simple, with adequate balance and fruit but not really recommendable even though I can't think of any other GSM at this price range that I'd recommend. Spend more and get the Delas St. Esprit 2010 Cote du Rhone Rouge at $10. It is much better and well worth the difference in price. Not recommended.

Seaglass 2011 Sauvignon Blanc-$9.99 Cost Plus. Pale straw color. Light melon nose. Pleasantly dry with good acid but not overly crisp. Melon with some grassiness on the palate rather than grapefruit or tropical fruit.  Light to medium body. Medium finish with some grassiness.  A decent California SB for the price.  I don't think I will try another bottle. Mild recommendation at this price if you don't mind the grassiness.

Stonehedge 2009 Sauvignon Blanc-$4.99 Trader Joe's-Fairly drinkable for an under $5 wine but not really recommendable. Pass.

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Carneros Pinot Noir-$12.99 Trader Joe's-Aroma of red, ripe cherries.  Medium bodied with lush mouthfeel of red cherry and some baking spices.  Extremely well balanced! Medium length finish.  This one tastes like a Pinot that should sell for at least three times the price.  (If I tasted this blind I would think it was one of the better Pinots in the $30 to $40 range.) I like it much better than the decent Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir (see below) or the very pleasant TJ's  Reserve 2011 Napa Valley Pinot Noir. It is also a finer wine than any of the Castle Rock Pinots but then most of them sell for almost half the price and are still great buys. This is a fantastic buy!  The best under $20 Pinot I've encountered and a complete winner!!  Very highly recommended!!!  Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with others that sound the same.

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir-$12.99 at Trader Joe's.  Decent nose of cherry and vanilla. Somewhat tart red cherry on the palate with medium body. Not much finish.  A fairly good Pinot for the price. (Inexpensive Pinots are usually not very good.)  At under $20 it is worth trying.   Mildly recommended at this price.   Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with something that sounds similar.

Trader Joe's Reserve 2011 Napa Valley Pinot Noir- (ABJ Wines, Geyserville) $9.99 at Trader Joe's. Easy to drink and pleasant but somewhat simple and one-dimensional.  One cannot expect complexity, however, in a Pinot at this price level. Well worth it considering that it is a Pinot and under $10.  A great bargain.  My neighbor is a Pinot devote and loves it for the price.  You might too.  I've tried several bottles and they have been consistently enjoyable, especially since I know how much I paid. Highly recommended at this price.  Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with something that sounds similar

Our favorite budget wines for the years are listed here:
Budget Wine Favorites in 2012
Budget Wine Favorites in 2013

Previous Budget Wine Reviews may be viewed here:
Budget Wine Review 1
Budget Wine Review 2 Alsatian Gewurtztraminers
Budget Wine Review 3
Budget Wine Review 4
Budget Wine Review 5 Pinot Noirs
Budget Wine Review 6
Budget Wine Review 7 Pinot Noirs
Budget Wine Review 8 New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs