Our October wines range from $7 – yes, $7 – to $24 from across the globe

For October, we sipped 12 wines ranging from a very low $7 to $24. Here are the flavor profiles of the wines, which come from seven countries.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – For October, we went ‘round the world, sipping 12 wines ranging from a very low $7 to $24. They come from seven countries. Our monthly reviews focus on wines under $25. All should be available on local store shelves. We’ll list flavors we detected, and then our favorite at the end.

Four Vines

Four Vines Naked Chardonnay

Four Vines, California, Central Coast; Chardonnay, 2020, $10.99

With pear, some candied-apple notes and stone-fruit flavors, this clean-tasting wine went well with grilled chicken. The tiny acid zing helps it with food. A very fruit-forward sipper, great value.

Avalon

Avalon Cab

Avalon Winery, Lodi, California; 2019, $10.99

Blueberry is predominant in this wine that leans a tad sweet for our tastes. A bit of strawberry and some spice also come out. “It’s good for what it is,” a tasting pal says about this party wine / training-wheels Cab. Limited tannins.

Lucy Rose

Lucy Rose

Pisoni Family Vineyards, Monterey County, California; 2020, $19.99

Made from Pinot Noir, this dry, hearty rose has clean strawberry flavors and some cranberry notes along with a bit of candied cherry preceding a creamy finish. Delicious, fair price.

Rocim Amphora

Herdade do Rocim Amphora

Herdade do Rocim, Portugal, Vinho Tinto, 2019, $18

The dominant grape in this blend caught our eye because you don’t see it that often – Moreto. The blend - 50% Moreto, 30% Tinta Grossa, 15% Trincadeira, 5% Aragonez – yields a light- to medium bodied dry food-friendly wine, with restrained fruit. Don’t expect a jammy bomb here. The Alentejo region is a bit under the radar but has more than 250 indigenous grape varieties. Says winetraveler.com: “Portugal has the highest density of native grapes per square mile of any country in the world.”

Abbazia di Novacella Schiava

Abbazia di Novacella Schiava

Abbazia di Novacella, Alto Adige, Italy; 2020, $18

Not your run-of-the-mill varietal. This wine has clean red-fruit notes: Strawberry, red cherry, raspberry. It’s low in tannins but does have a nice dryness on the tail end (wine notes accurately bill this one as having “mild acidity on the palate; soft tones of bitter almonds in the finish.”) Very sippable, very food-friendly. From northern Italy.

Pure Bright

Pure Bright

Casella Family Brands / Yellow Tail Wine, Australia, 2020, $7

That price is not missing a digit. This low-calorie (85 per serving), low alcohol (9.6%) wine is surprisingly flavorful, with notes of butterscotch, lemon and candied apple. Nominal finish but no off flavors. Extremely light bodied, not complex, but better than we expected. Drink as stand-alone or with simple greens salad.

Cameron Hughes

Cameron Hughes Lot 735

Cameron Hughes Wines, Santa Barbara County, California; 2018, $16.

We’ve been impressed with Cameron Hughes wines for a nice quality-to-price ratio, but this one strikes us as more of a crowd pleaser. “Simple, but not bad simple” is how one tasting pal put it. Not cloying, not very tannic. Fruit is there; blueberry comes out. Not mind blowing. “A good wedding wine or bunco-night wine,” another pal deemed it. Note: Online only seller.

Bistro Rue la Fayette

Bistro Rue La Fayette

Barton & Guestier, France, Pinot Noir, 2020, $12

Fresh and maraschino cherry with some baking spices. Subtle, light tannins come out on the back end. Pretty hearty Pinot, definitely not a thin, pedestrian version of the varietal, which you might expect at this price point. Phenomenal value.

Maquis

Maquis Cabernet Franc

Vina Maquis, Colchagua Valley, Chile; Cabernet Franc, $24

This is a favorite varietal, and one I love to try from different regions. New York’s Finger Lakes regions has some good ones, as does California. This Chilean one is rich and earthy and opened up a bit with some air. (A few days later it was still great.) Notes of dried cherries, blackberries, some currant and Craisin all come out.

Faustino VII

Faustino VII

Bodegas Faustino, Spain, Viura, 2018, $10

Little funk blew off in this wine, which tastes much older than it is. Macerated flavors emerge with notes of orange and orange blossom, a slight bit of lemon and some apple on the finish. Say the folks at Wine Folly: “The most important white grape of Rioja where wines evolve over 10 or more years. In Catalonia, Viura is called Macabeo and is the primary blending grape in Cava sparkling wines.”

Bread & Butter

Bread & Butter

Bread and Butter, Napa, California; Cabernet Sauvignon, $15.99

Red licorice, red raspberry and blueberry come through in this fruit-forward wine that has a little bit of mocha, especially on the finish. Not much in the way of tannins. California Cabs have a (deservedly) wide price range, and this is definitely on the lower end of that scale.

Steele

Steele Pinot Blanc

Shannon Family of Wines, California, 2018, $20

Peach and apricot on the palate with butterscotch on the finish. Equally tasty as a stand-alone and with a dish of chicken, couscous and asparagus - the latter notoriously tough to pair a wine with. Rich tasting and could be mistaken for a well done Chardonnay. Wine Folly notes this grape is a genetic mutation of Pinot Noir and is often found in northern Italy and Germany.

Favorites: Bistro Rue La Fayette

Wine on film: The 2012 documentary “Somm” takes viewers through the process of aspiring sommeliers. It’s available to rent or buy online.

Like wine? Option for buying wine vary. Online retailers offer chances to choose what you want, curate cases and find discounts.

Here’s a selection to consider:

brightcellars.com: Monthly club matches you with wines after you take a “palate quiz.”

cellarswineclub.com: Club allows you to choose the number of bottles you want.

splashwines.com: Choose a curated case or build your own.

winc.com: Four wines tailored to your tastes are shipped monthly. Has review component.

wine.com: Large online seller often offers new-customer discounts.

wineawesomeness.com: Three- and six-bottle curated shipments.

wineenthusiast.com: All-encompassing site for wine accoutrements - racks, glasses, openers, storage, gifts, more.

wineonsale.com: Allows you to select by varietal or region.

zachys.com: Includes a variety of ways to search/shop, plus has info on auctions.

2021 monthly wine reviews

Wines $9 to $20 to sip in September as summer wanes

Wine rankings: We rate 30 single-, double-serve wines in cans, bottles - August

Wines for July: 10 wines worth trying, priced $10 to $20

21 wines to sip in June, all under $25

14 wines to consider sipping for May, under $25

Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris guide - April

10 wines under $25 to consider in March

8 wines – all blends $20 and under to sip on a chilly February night

12 wines, 12 varietals under $25 to toast 2021 – January

I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. On the air: Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 8:05 a.m. Fridays for “Beer with Bona and Much, Much More” with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler.

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