Reds Under $50

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The 2021 Dellamesola, from soils in Bramaterra, is a potent, young wine that needs time in the cellar. Dark cherry, plum, licorice, menthol and dried herbs are all dialed up. This is an especially potent style of Bramaterra, built on fruit intensity rather than nuance. The Dellamesola is mostly Nebbiolo with a bit of Croatina and Vespolina, aged 12 months in cask.Vinous Media | 93 VM

While understated and delicate in the glass, the 2021 Nero d’Avola Siccagno is impossible to ignore. Crushed blackberries, tangerine, lavender, chalk dust and sweet spice form its dazzling bouquet. It’s round, soft-textured, quite juicy in character and has depths of tart wild berry fruit. Sour citrus adds contrast and tension throughout. The 2021 finishes with staining length, leaving a lingering web of fine tannins and salted licorice. Just a baby today, I expect the 2021 to flesh out beautifully with a few years of cellaring.Vinous Media | 93+ VMA single-variety Nero d’Avola, Siccagno displays a dark ruby colour and opens up to deep aromas of crushed blackberries, chocolate-covered hazelnuts, leather, and a whiff of tar. The darkest wine in the range, firm acidity and slightly dusty tannins provide the backbone for layers of undergrowth-tinged black fruits, a lively progression with a medium to long finish lifted by anchovy-like salinity. Slightly more rustic than the Frappato-based wines, it will show best with some bottle ageing. Aged for 16 months in large oak casks.Decanter | 92 DEC

In the low-yielding 2021 vintage, Peju turned out a wonderfully vibrant, compact, and energetic Cabernet, which includes 5% Petit Verdot and was aged 18 months in 40% French and American oak. A solid wine, well-knit, with a firm baseline of taut, fine-grained tannins and loads of dark black and huckleberry fruits. All the elements are in harmony and it continues to be one of the best value Napa Cabernets on the market.Decanter | 93 DECAromas of ripe black and blue fruit with spicy undertones, hints of blue flowers and cocoa. Full-bodied, fruit-forward, creamy and layered with silky tannins on the sleek, even palate. Smooth and lingering. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 91 JSIn contrast to the tannic Cabernet Franc, Peju’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is more supple and approachable. Floral, mint, cassis and black cherry notes appear on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate even includes hints of mocha and dark chocolate. Soft, dusty tannins mark the finish, joined by hints of toasted coconut.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP

Lastly, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley has a slightly darker, more concentrated profile, giving up plenty of blackcurrants, scorched earth, and tobacco notes, with nicely integrated oak. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe, velvety tannins, this voluptuous yet still focused and nicely structured Cabernet will keep for a solid 10-12 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDRichly flavored and generous, this wine has a firm structure. Flavors of vanilla cream, blackberry, cassis, cedar and cracked pepper are carried by firm, fine-grained tannins and a long finish. The wine could benefit from decanting so hold until 2027. Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEDeep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Ride leaps with vivacious notes of crushed blackberries, juicy black plums, and Morello cherries, followed by hints of camphor and cast-iron pan. The full-bodied palate is refreshing and taut, with bags of crunchy black fruits and a long finish.The Wine Independent | 91 TWI

The 2021 Sideral is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Syrah, 9% Carménère, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc from Cachapoal Andes. 90% of it was aged for 16 months in barrels, a fifth of them new. A vivid purple hue. The aromas feature crystal clear blackberry and blackcurrant notes, mulberry, herbs and black tea over a bed of oak. In the mouth, the flavors are intense and juicy with grippy tannins before the languorous, fruity finish. This year’s more reductive style, thanks to the cold vintage, lays down an excellent marker for the future.Vinous Media | 95 VMVery fresh and fruit-expressive nose with a floral note and some herbs. Blue and red fruit. Pure and even on the palate with a medium to full body, showing excellent poise and balance. Fine-grained, structured tannins aplenty. Drink now or hold.James Suckling | 94 JSInspired by the night skies above Cachapoal Valley – in Latin sideralis means constellation – this is a nicely balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Carmenère, with dashes of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Lively, inviting aromas of spicy black berries and cherries. Vibrant red fruit attack gives way to a rich, concentrated palate with fine tannins, layered with plum, sour cherry, blackberries and dusty cassis notes on the finish. Will improve with age.Decanter | 93 DECThe nose displays notes of strawberry and vanilla cream. This blend is balanced and smooth on the palate, delivering a fair mix of red fruit and baking spices that linger through a delightful finish.Wine Enthusiast | 90 WE

The purity of fruit is impressive in this wine with currants, orange peel, peaches and lemon in the nose and on the palate. Full-bodied yet compressed and agile. Flavorful finish. Reserved now, but if you give it a year or two it will really deliver. Drink after 2026.James Suckling | 95 JSUltra fresh juicy cherries with more delicate aromas of violets and rose petals on the nose roll onto a palate rich with more cherries and berries balanced by earthy, astringent notes of soil, branches and roots and a finish of bitter cocoa and anise.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEThe 2021 Crognolo, 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot, is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It comes barreling out of the glass with notes of cherry compote, plum preserves, and unsmoked cigars, leading to touches of bay leaves and fragrant earth. The full-bodied palate is packed with savory accents to the black fruit flavors, supported by chewy tannins and refreshing acidity, finishing with great length.The Wine Independent | 93 TWIThe organic Tenuta Sette Ponti 2021 Crognolo is a mid-entry blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot that goes into oak for up to 14 months. Fruit is harvested from a historic clone of Sangiovese found on this estate. The wine shows dark concentration, certainly more than you’d expect from Sangiovese, with lots of cherry, spice and blue flower that ties directly into the Merlot. It offers a medium to full-bodied texture with fine, chalky tannins. This is a big release of 90,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThis young red reveals all its components in the right place, yet needs time to integrate. Offers cherry, violet, earth, iron and mint flavors that give way to serious tannins on the strapping finish. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2025 through 2036. 140,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WSDried herbs, dark chocolate, olive tapenade and fragrant sun-kissed black fruit on the nose. Deep and wide, this has a lovely expansion in the mouth, super succulent but also sharp, tangy and tight with a piercing acidity and quite a tense, tannic structure. Lean and direct, focused with purity to the expression. Feels well worked, ample and precise, just super tight with black pepper and a menthol hit on the finish that is both fresh and spiced. Feels very herbal with lots of garrigue characteristics. I like the expression. Ageing 12-14 months in small barrels and six months in bottle before release.Decanter | 91 DECThe 2021 Crognolo is a gorgeous entry-level offering from Sette Ponti. A burst of red/purplish fruit, blood orange, spice and rose petals races across the palate, lifted by bright acids that confer energy. All the elements are very nicely balanced. This is such an inviting wine.Vinous Media | 90 VMNo written review provided. | 90 W&S

This is the fourth vintage of Sandra Bravo’s brilliant old-vine Garnacha from Rivas de Tereso and it’s every bit as good as its predecessors. Aged in 300-litre clay amphoras, it’s wonderfully perfumed and intense, with engaging bramble and red cherry fruit sweetness, tannins and a long, energetic palate. 2023-32Tim Atkin | 96 TA

Juicy and engaging, with heavy mulled raspberry and blood orange flavors coursing through, carried by a bright mineral edge and a flurry of red tea and savory notes. The long, lingering finish has nice latent tension. Drink now through 2030. 2,600 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSWell balanced, tangy and lightly tannic, this lively wine will be versatile in food pairings. Its red cherry and dried cranberry notes are delicious and appetizing, while the influence of new French barrels stays nicely subtle.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEA fresh and crunchy pinot with lovely cherry, hibiscus and light orange peel character with hints of earth and cedar. Medium body. Fine tannins and a delicious finish. Delicate is the word. Drink now or hold.James Suckling | 92 JS

The 2021 Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard is a perfumed powerhouse! Opaque ruby-purple, it has a concentrated core of cassis with touches of tar, thyme, grilled meats, menthol and bitter chocolate. The full-bodied palate is ripe and concentrated with surprising freshness for its style. It has a pleasantly chalky frame and a very long finish replete with violet perfume. This hedonistic Syrah could use another 5+ years in bottle to unwind and will be long-lived in the cellar.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe 2021 Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard is one of the highlights among the 2021s I tasted from Joey Tensley. Vibrant and driving in feel, the Colson Syrah is endowed with tremendous character. Blue/purplish fruit, gravel, incense, menthol and lavender all take shape as the 2021 shows off its striking beauty. There is so much to look forward to.Vinous Media | 94-96 VMFrom a site located in the hills above Los Olivos, the 2021 Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard gives up a dense purple hue as well as notes of jammy blueberries, black cherry liqueur, candied violets, and black pepper. This is a concentrated, medium to full-bodied, powerful Syrah that has terrific tannins as well as good acidity.Jeb Dunnuck | 93-95+ JD

Rich cherries, cassis, fresh olives and dark spices. Svelte, fine tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate, showing lots of juicy berries and a linear, extensive finish. Excellent length, focus and structure here. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 94 JSThis is another robust wine from Tenuta Luce with immediate notes of maple syrup and brown sugar. Made with a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Sangiovese, the 2021 Lucente releases aromas of cherry cola, Tootsie Roll and toasted hazelnut. With 300,000 bottles made, you get a big and burley red wine.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RPA sweetly scented blend of wild blueberries and dusty sage gains complexity through cardamon and ground clove hints as the 2021 La Vite Lucente emerges from the glass. This is soothingly round and pure in style. A wave of ripe red and blue fruits easily wash across the palate, leaving a tactile mineral tinge and spice. Fine tannins frame the finish without slowing its momentum, and the 2021 tapers off long and staining with a steely minerality that lingers. The Lucente is a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese geared toward early consumption.Vinous Media | 90 VM

Fresh aromatics of red fruit, dusty currant, and petrichor with ripe raspberries and fresh mint. The palate is lively and elegant, with cut strawberries, wintergreen, and crushed stone. There is ample structure with lovely acidity, and for the price, this wine feels like you’re stealing.Decanter | 92 DECAromas of ripe plums and blackberries with sweet spices and cedar. Full-bodied with polished, chalky tannins and juicy dark berries in the middle. Round and compact with a chocolaty finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 92 JS

The appellation 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, and smaller portions of Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It’s another fabulous wine from this estate, offering pure cr me de cassis, classy oak, new leather, and graphite-driven aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, plush, integrated tannin, and the vintage’s fresher, focused style, it tastes like it costs three times the price. Drink bottles over the coming decades. Bravo.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDAromas of ripe blackcurrants, dried raspberries, spices, cedar and bark. Full-bodied with a mellow, fruit-forward character and creamy texture to the tannins. Delicious and smooth with a velvety finish. Better from 2026.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon deftly balances hints of vanilla and cedary oak against notes of ripe cherries and cassis. While not overly complex, it’s harmonious and supple, a medium to full-bodied wine that will complement a meal rather than overpower it, yet it still has ample concentration, richness and depth. Drink it over the next 10 - 15 years.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RP

The 2021 Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains) is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of the house style. Bright, lifted and wonderfully transparent, the 2021 is all class. Sweet spice and citrus accents complement a core of bright red-toned fruit. Whole cluster accents add layers of nuance. This is such a gorgeous Pinot.Vinous Media | 93 VM

The 2021 Barbera d’Asti La Crena is exceptional. Bright, red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. In recent times Vietti has focused more on freshness in their Barberas, and that is especially evident in La Crena—a wine that used to be very dark and heavy but is far from that today. Clean, mineral notes extend the vibrant finish. Give this a few years to develop the full range of its aromatic breadth. What a wine!Vinous Media | 96 VMAlthough best known for its Barolos, Vietti (now part of the US Krause Group) also releases a number of different Barberas. La Crena is from a 6ha site near the commune of Agliano Terme in the Nizza area. The vineyard, purchased in 1995, was planted in 1932. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel and the wine then spends 18 months in a combination of steel, large casks and barriques before bottling. Stephen Brook: Opulent nose, with dark fruits tempered with some stylish oak. Suave and juicy, fine texture, balanced by firm acidity, which gives some spice and flair to the finish. Vincenzo Arnese: Candied aromas of Morello cherry and wild strawberry, very expressive. Bold palate with robust tannins; time will smooth it, yet quite rich and pleasant. Sara Bachiorri: Cherry and juniper berry nose. Nice concentration, with intense Maraschino flavours and a touch of liquorice stick.Decanter | 95 DEC

The 2021 Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne marries the natural intensity of the year with the savory minerality typical of Asti. Dark cherry, grilled herbs, menthol, licorice and crushed rocks all race out of the glass. This is another stellar wine from Vietti.Vinous Media | 91 VMThis shows notes of chocolate and hazelnuts with ripe wild berries and sweet spice undertones. Medium- to full-bodied with dusty tannins and a bitter chocolate character. Tense with a fruity finish. Drink now.James Suckling | 91 JS

”This Garnacha is part of Zorzal’s series of terroir-focused wines. Coming from Fitero, a village at the base of the mountains in the south of Navarra that separate the region from La Rioja, the 40-year-old vines are grown at 520m on rocky soils on limestone and clay. The wine is defined by an elegant and precise structure but does not lack any intensity with blackberry fruit, black pepper and a little mint. With just enough tannic grip, it is profound yet full of energy and drive.Tim Atkin | 97 TAA longtime favorite of mine and still a bargain, the 2021 Malayeto is always one of the most elegant and finest wines from Zorzal. It comes from 2.39 hectares of vines that are now 43 years old, planted at 520 meters altitude on limestone-rich soils in the village of Fitero, on the same slope as their Corral de los Altos. It fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete and matured in 12 used 500-liter barrels and one 4,000-liter oak foudre for one year. It has 13.45% alcohol and is medium-bodied with great balance, finesse, freshness and acidity. It has good depth and a sense of good ripeness (riper than Corral de los Altos this year!). There is great consistency in this vineyard, and this wine is serious, precise and long. 13,300 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2023.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPMalayeto is Viña Zorzal’s single vineyard bottling of Garnacha, with these vines thirty-five years of age. The wine is fermented with native yeasts and raised for nine months in three hundred liter, used barrels, prior to racking into large foudres for a final two months of élevage. The 2021 Malayeto comes in at fourteen percent alcohol and delivers a lovely aromatic constellation of raspberries, fruitcake, pepper, chalky soil tones, garrigue, a nice touch of meatiness and a gentle topnote of distant bonfire. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and ripely tannic, with fine focus and grip, a good core of red fruit and soil, lovely balance and a long, youthfully complex finish. Unlike the regular bottle of Garnacha from Viña Zorzal, the Malayeto will need some time in the cellar to soften up its tannins a bit before it drinks with generosity. (Drink between 2031 - 2065)John Gilman | 91 JG

Dusty, floral and impossible to ignore, the 2021 Rosso di Montalcino lifts from the glass with a gorgeous bouquet of rose petals, dried cherries and autumnal spice. Silky yet pure and lifted, it flows across the palate with a tactile blend of red wild berries and minerals. The 2021 takes on a saline tinge while finishing long and staining, leaving a coating of fine tannins that promise many years of positive evolution. This is a massive success for the vintage.Vinous Media | 93 VMThese wines from Voliero are expressive of their southern locale. The 2021 Rosso Di Montalcino is fresh with sun-ripened herbs, tobacco, and perfectly ripe red plum, and on the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, with a core of fleshy fruit, ripe tannins, and a structured finish that never turns bitter. A lovely wine with a lot to offer, it will be great to drink over the next 5 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD