Updated November 2014

Best Wines under $10 – drinking well on a tight budget

The wines below are budget priced, enjoyable, everyday drinking wines – not the cheap ‘industrial autoplonk’ you might expect for $10 – and the list is updated monthly.

You’ll find interesting bargains under $10 among Kemenys’ and Dan Murphy’s cleanskins (Devils Ridge & Taster’s Choice), at ALDI and at GLUG, David Farmer’s boutique outfit in the Barossa. The wines are listed by type with links to merchants with the best price.

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1. Best Whites Under $10

South Point Estate Central Victorian Sauvignon Blanc 2013 – $5 at ALDI Yes, just $5, and it’s as good as the cheaper Kiwi Savvies. Remarkable value.

McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Chardonnay 2013 – $8.50 at Dan M’s. McWilliams try hard to give this wine some attitude with careful blending and oak maturation. Don’t know how they do it for the money. The 2012 is as good as it gets, the 2013 needs a bit of time for the oak to settle down.

Montes Classic Series Chardonnay 2013 – $8.50 at Dan M’s. Riper and more forward than the 2012, touch up with some aromatic oak. Bit obvious but will please many people. From Chile.

Deen De Bortoli Vat 7 Chardonnay 2012 – $10 at Winestar. Pretty good value for money – good fruit, well-made, round with a crisp finish.

Marques De Tezona Macabeo 2013 – $9 at Bayfields. Made from the ubiquitous Macabeo and Sauvignon Blanc, this is always a crisp dry white that’s good value. CM at the Winefront says it’s a great seafood style and gives it 90 points. At $9, that makes it a serious bargain.

Houghton White Classic 2013 $8 at Kemenys. Fruit salad blend of Semillon, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, ‘bright and breezy’ (GTW).

Côté Mas Blanc Méditerrané 2012 – $9.50 at Dan M’s. Fruit salad mix of Chardonnay, Vermentino, Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache Blanc. A South of France spring day in a bottle. Vivacious, full of life, mouth-filling and utterly drinkable. Short on the finish but who cares?

Westend Estate Richland Pinot Grigio 2013 – $10 at OurCellar or $9 by the dozen from Outstanding Wines. 3 gold medals. Haven’t tried this but Westend is going from strength to strength and far beyond its humble Riverland origins.

Taster’s Choice Clare Valley Riesling 2013 – $7.60 at Dan M’s. A real surprise: typical Clare Riesling, fresh and crisp and impossible to beat at this price.

Edward Gleeson ‘Donnybrook’ Clare Valley Riesling 2013 – $7 at Glug. Selected by David Farmer, these wines are very good value for money.

Mount Eagle Eden Valley Riesling 2012 – $9 at GLUG Very classy Eden Valley Riesling. As good as some big labels we’ve tried at twice the price.

Devils Ridge Block 16 Polish Hill River Riesling 2014 – $10 at Kemenys. Good to see that Kemenys bought more of this cracker. Polish Hill finesse, classic Riesling, will improve for years. Made by the Wilsons, don’t know how Kemenys prized this out of them. Back up the ute.

Devil’s Lair Fifth Leg Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2013 – This is often on special – showing up at Dan M’s at Manly Vale for $60 a 6-pack right now. Clean, well-defined style, better than most of the cheap Kiwi savvies.

Hidden Label Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2013 – $10 at Kemenys. This is Deep Woods Ivory Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2013. Smooth commercial style, trophy and 2 golds.

Yalumba Y Series Pinot Grigio 2013 – $10 at Dan M’s. One of the best drinking whites under $10. Clean and well-made. Often on discount with the big chains.

Yalumba Y series Sauvignon Blanc 2013 – $9 at Dan M’s. No worse than the volume savvies from Marlborough, and good drinking in the short term.

Miamup Estate Chardonnay 2011 – $10 at Kemenys. A lovely full, round, flavoursome Chardy. White peaches and cream. Good mature drinking, can’t believe the price.

Devil’s Ridge Block 7 Margaret River Chardonnay 2012 –$10 at Kemenys. Fresh and crisp white with hints of citrus, melon and stone-fruit and melon. Oak plays a minor role

2. Best Reds Under $10

Angove Long Row Shiraz 2012 – $8 at OurCellar. Halliday called this ‘one of the great all-time bargains,’ and gave it 92 Points. Mike Bennie at the Winefront raved about and gave it 90. Be quick: the 2013 is out.

Arrogant Frog Croak Rotie Shiraz 2012 – $8.50 at Dan M’s. Fair chance that this is made by Aussies in the Languedoc region of France. Well-made, easy-drinking red with plenty of charm.

Marques De Tezona Tempranillo 2013 – $9 at Kemenys. ‘Love that it’s got a savoury edge and a bit of grunt, which is pretty rare at the pointy value end of red wine,’ says Gary at the Winefront. ‘Bang per buck is off the charts. 89 points.’ What more can we ask for?

Bengalee Barossa Valley (Greenock) Shiraz 2012 – $10 at GLUG. David Farmer raves about this wine from a good year and the right corner of the Barossa Valley.

Devil’s Ridge Block 10 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2011 – $10 at Kemenys. Rich, soft Barossa Shiraz with lovely sweet fruit and surprising polish. No one will complain about this at your next BBQ.

Devil’s Ridge Block 27 McLaren Vale Shiraz 2012 – $10 at Kemenys. We were bowled over by the quality and sheer appeal of this red. Choc-full of bright red fruits, lots of rich, soft flavour but not heavy.

Hidden Label Padthaway Shiraz 2012 – $10 at Kemenys. This is Mount Monster Shiraz, a lovely, cool Limestone Coast red. Hard to believe the value here.

Illuminati Riparosso Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2011 – $9.50 at Dan M’s. Farmer Bros discovered this little gem decades ago, and Dan Murphy has resurrected it. It’s a great little pizza/pasta red with a bit of Italian flair.

Cote Mas Rouge Intense 2012 – $9.50 at Dan M’s. Just as breezy and cheerful as its white sister, clean, well, made, perfect lunch/bistro wine. 88 points. BUY.

Goat Square Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2010 – $10 at GLUG . The classic GSM at a nice price. Another big, rich red from David Farmer

Langdorf Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2012 – $10 at GLUG. The 2010 vintage of this wine was a stunner, David says this one is another top drop.

McWilliams Hanwood Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – $8 at Kemenys. A wine of surprising elegance, good mouth-feel and length. Bargain.

Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 – $8.50 at Dan M’s A classy Cabernet with blackcurrant fruit, polish, depth of flavour and soft tannins. Bargain.

Montes Classic Series Merlot 2011 – $8.50 at Dan M’s. Another beauty from Chile. Interesting range of flavours, not just simple plum compote

Devil’s Ridge Block 4 Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2011 – $10 at Kemenys. Smooth, easy-drinking Cabernet Merlot at a bargain price. 2011 was a top vintage over west.

Yalumba Y Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 – $10 at Pulpitcellars. A stunning wine for the money, and a good deal for subscribers in South Australia, but the freight makes it a bit less so for the rest of us. $10.50 at Dan M’s.

Miamup Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 – $10 at Kemenys. Classic, elegant Cabernet style with hints of vanilla oak and cassis on the nose, and dark berries on the palate dancing on a cool line of fine acid. Some dusty notes on the long finish, wonderful line and length, a touch of unexpected class here. Bargain.

3. Best Sparkling Under $10

Azahara Chardonnay Pinot Noir Nv – $10 at Winestar. Much better than the label or the price suggest. Great crowd pleaser. Super value.

Lindemans Reserve Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2009 – $10 at Winestar. Another bubbly that is far better than you’d expect at this price.

4. Best Dessert Wines Under $10

Cleanskins Taster’s Choice Botrytis Semillon 375mL – $9 at Dan M’s. This was a pleasant surprise: a sticky with attitude, not just a sweet white. Nothing is overdone here, lovely drink.

Warburn Riverina Botrytis Semillon 2010 375ml – $9.50 at Dan M’s. Well-made dessert wine, not as rich as the de Bortoli Vat 8 but nice line and length