Yummy Cheapies!

Here's a few wines I like that all cost under $10! (well mostly).

Cono Sur Viognier, Chile, $9.95

87+
Probably the best valued white at LCBO. We drank this with a pile of Indian food and it was fantastic. I bought a whole bunch more to have at the ready. Much more flavor than similarly priced Rieslings or Chardonnays (to compare apples and oranges). Citrusy, (bitter apricots?) some nice spice and a slightly musky-sour thing (in a good way). Has some body to it and a good finish. Really good all-round white.

Bodegas Castano La Casona Old Vines Monastrell, Spain, $8.90

87
For the price: heck yeah.
This is made from monastrell or mourvedre as it's more commonly know.
Dark, dry, tannic, herbal with subdued fruit. Old world style for sure.
Not a sipping wine as such but goes great with bold food...spaghetti and spicy meat sauce in my case.
Degraded fairly quickly once opened. Open and drink in one night...leftovers did not fair well the next day. Drinkable but a sourness and acidity came to the fore.
If you're looking for something different at a steal of a price this is it.
I may stick a few in the cellar for a couple years just to see how it evolves.

Finca Flichman Misterio Malbec, Argentina, $7.95

 

86+
One of the best values at LCBO. Medium to full bodied with dense, spicy, fruits and plenty of oak and some smoky flavours. Nothing fancy here, no character to speak of. nothing to make you say "oh my!" but a good all-round red with acidity and tannins to cut through rich and spicy foods. We drank a bottle of this with beef fajitas and it was perfect...this wine will surely go well with any spicy beef dish and would also be great for a mixed meat bbq.

Hoya De Cadenas Reserva, Spain, $11.45

88
pretty good tempranillo for the price....a lighter style but still some concentration of flavour. good long finish, if a tad rustic.
i'd buy again.

So there you go...and if you try any of these and think I'm on crack...well at least it didn't cost you much to find that out.