5 Great Wines under $15

You don't have to spend a lot of money to get great wine. Here are just a few of the excellent values available at Kats Wine & Spirits.

1. LOS CARDOS Cabernet Sauvignon $10.98

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Alto Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo – Mendoza – Argentina (1000 mts above the sea level).

Winemaker’s comments: This wine of great varietal character stands out for its richness and aromatic freshness. This style is the result of both controlled production in the vineyard and also a careful vinification with a short maceration post-fermentation. On the nose, this wine presents notable aromas of black currant, cherry, spices and toasted oak. On the palate the wine is concentrated and delightful, fresh with elegant tannins and smoothness, granting a long and harmonious finish.

2. LOS CARDOS Malbec $10.98

Variety: 100% Malbec

Region: Alto Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo – Mendoza – Argentina (1000 mts above the sea level).

Winemaker’s comments: This wine of great varietal character stands out for its elegance and complex aromatic expression, reflecting the typical characteristics of an Argentine Malbec wine. On the nose it opens with notes of red berries and plum, intermixed with agreeable notes of spice, black pepper, mint and graphite. On the palate the wine is soft and fresh, full-bodied and very delightful, which reflects the slow maturity of the grapes and a careful management of the winemaking process.

3. CARTLIDGE & BROWNE PINOT NOIR $13.98

Medium-full garnet in color, the wine leaps from the glass with loads of baked chery/berry fruit character, along with anise, spice cake, and the 'beety' notes so appreciated in Pinot Noir. Showing lots of vigor and sweet juicy fruit on the palate, the wine's muscle is matched by a supple texture and velvety tannins that give it great accessibility. Enjoy it with grilled meats and poultry, salmon and light pastas.

4. Crios de Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $14.93
90 Points, Robert Parker Jr.'s "The Wine Advocate" (December 2007)

Region: Mendoza – Argentina

Tasting Notes/Food Pairing Suggestions
Intense, dark ruby color with enticing aromas of ripe, black plums and black currants. The richly textured plum and currant flavors are joined by accents of dark chocolate and some vanilla-scented oak. The ripe, vibrant tannins give the wine beautiful structure and an amazingly long finish. This is a big wine for just a little money. Drink it now or over the next few years to enjoy the fruit flavors at their best. It will pair well with traditional Cabernet-friendly foods like grilled or roasted meats.

5. Crios de Susana Balbo Malbec 2006 $14.93
90 Points, Robert Parker Jr.'s "The Wine Advocate" (December 2007)

Region: Mendoza – Argentina

Tasting Notes/Food Pairing Suggestions
The wine has a beautiful reddish/purple color as most good Malbecs do. The aromas are a mix of fresh crushed cherries and toasty/smoky oak—just enough to frame the exuberant fruit. On the palate, the flavors of cherries and spice are obvious, and the jammy fruit quality just keeps coming on strong, with hints of spice lurking in the background. This is a wine that you’ll want to buy by the case because it can be consumed at almost any occasion, whether at a fancy dinner party, or just curled up on the couch in front of a movie.