Six wines in, four out, and an analysis of what happened with cheap wine in 2010. That's the result of the 2011 $10 Wine Hall of Fame. For all of the great wine I found last year -- from Sicily, from Oregon, and even from France -- this year's Hall was a bit of a disappointment. Click the previous link to see which wines made it, or go to the upper left hand corner of the page.
No new California wines made the Hall. For the most part, the California wines I tasted (save for the old dependables like Bogle and Toad Hollow) were boring and unimpressive. California can make much better cheap wine (and it has), and I hope 2011 will show a return to form.
The ground rules for this, the fifth annual, Hall of Fame: The wines have to cost $10 or less (Dallas prices, though I will make an exception if prices seem to be higher here) and be generally available. That means no wines like Trader Joe's Two Buck Chuck, which are only sold at one retailer. The final decisions are my own, and take into account what I think wine should be: varietally correct, balanced, and interesting enough to buy again.
I do take suggestions and input from dozens of people -- blog visitors and wine drinkers, people I know in the wine business, and other wine writers. Thank you for your help.
Finally, two wines that almost made it:
• Barefoot merlot. I spent a lot of time on this one, and was encouraged by several people to add it, but finally decided not to. The Barefoot wines are professionally made, but I don't think they're as interesting as the wines I selected.
• Rene Barbier Mediterranean White: I love this wine, which is simple and pleasant and almost relaxing. But as much as I like it, it is, like the Barefoot, too simple. There's not just enough going on.
Another inexpensive favorite
http://www.lavieilleferme.com/rouge.php?langue=en
Barefoot always surprises me, it is never as poorly made as I fear it may be, and it is available just about anywhere.
Rene Barbier, only on hot summer days.
Posted by: brian burns | January 03, 2011 at 01:25 PM
Thanks again for another wonderful Hall of Fame. Now off to look for some of these surely terrific foreign vinos.
Posted by: Jeff | January 03, 2011 at 05:05 PM
Thanks Jeff, for all the work you put into the list! It's a shame the industry doesn't produce more noteworthy $10 reds................
Posted by: JW | January 03, 2011 at 08:06 PM
It's funny you mention red wine, JW. I actually did some serious agonizing about the lack of red wines in the Hall this year. But I couldn't bring myself to add something red just to add another one.
Posted by: Jeff Siegel | January 04, 2011 at 09:32 AM
Have you tried the Feudo Arancio nero d'avola? Might be the best $7 wine I've had in a long time.
Posted by: Patrick | January 05, 2011 at 08:04 AM
Check out the link in the Hall under the Notorious, Patrick, and you'll find the Feudo. Sicilian wine was one of the great cheap finds in 2010.
Posted by: Jeff Siegel | January 05, 2011 at 08:10 AM
I can't find the Feudo there, but I take your word for it. I actually like the Feudo better than the Morgante. Just started with Sicilian wines a few weeks ago, so haven't tried any of the others as yet.
Posted by: Patrick | January 05, 2011 at 08:54 PM