(6) Wines that cost under $10

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: bold
• Look for at: wine.com

Marrietta’s non-vintage Old Vine Red is a very popular party wine. Made predominantly from Zinfandel, the Old Vine shows spicy red fruit, sweet oak, and a full bodied finish. The wine carries its 13.5% alcohol without too much trouble. Consider this wine for your next barbeque. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: bold
• Look for at: wine.com

Made from approximately 90% Cabernet and 10% Carmenère, this red from Chile is a full bodied wine, and with 14.5% alcohol, this wine is not for the faint of heart. The nose shows smoke, tobacco, aged fruit, and damp earth nestled in plenty of tannin. For the money, this is a good Wednesday night Cabernet. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

Les Charmes from Cav de Lugny is the best selling white Burgundy in the US. Produce from a single vineyard of old vines, this Macon is a little richer and rounded in the mouth than most. Showing green apple, a little mineral, and a touch of parmesan cheese, this is a great wine for a simple meal or for simply drinking. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

Since 1912 the Osborn family has been making wine in McLaren Vale, Australia. Their 2006 Stump Jump white is made from 63% Riesling, 16% Sauvignon Blanc, 13% Roussane, and 8% Marsanne. The Riesling and the Sauv Blanc provide the acid and green apples while the Marsanne brings floral and honey notes to this easy drinking wine. I suggest grilled seafood along side grilled veggies and the Stump Jump for a great summer evening meal. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

I had this wine while watching Hamlet 2 (starring the fantastic British comedian Steve Coogan) last night at the Alamo Drafthouse South in Austin. I don’t know the vintage, but this wine was the oakiest, weirdest, grossest wine I can remember having in recent history. Do not buy it. Do not drink it. Trust me. This is the first 0-star review this site has given.

Hamlet 2, however, comes highly recommended by me, as are some of Coogan’s other works, such as I’m Alan Partridge and Tristram Shandy (so long as you can handle irreverent comedies). That’s right, you just read a love-fest for Steve Coogan thinly veiled as a wine review. Bully for you. ($8)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

Like the 2006 Roogle Red (a delicious three-grape blend of Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon), the 2006 Roogle Shiraz was rated 90 points by Parker and only cost me $10. This wine is from South Eastern Australia, and like most Shiraz from the area, it is inky, concentrated, and powerful. Kept in seasoned French and American oak for 12 months, the Roogle Shiraz is medium-full bodied, with less tannins and acid than the Roogle Red. Aromas of blueberry, blackberry, and a touch of chocolate make this a great cocktail and contemplation wine. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

I picked this wine up today from the store because I saw it was rated 90 points by Mr. Robert Parker, and why would anyone pass up a 90-pt Parker $10 wine — whether you like his taste or not. And I have to say, I liked this wine very much. The South Eastern Australian 2006 Roogle Red is 50% Shiraz, 30% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and it is aged in seasoned French and American oak for 12 months. Roogle Red is medium-full bodied, with dark but not super-ripe fruit, and healthy tannins and acid. This wine is from R Wines (of Dan Philips and Chris Ringland), which includes labels such as 3 Rings, Roogle, Evil, and Bitch. Buy this wine if you see it, or maybe pick up a half-case. ($9-10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

This is my favorite wine that I can get for $7 in multiple places around town. Made with 85% Castelao, 7.5% Tempranillo, and 7.5% Syrah, it is a great table and food wine with enough acid to pair with many types of dishes. Red fruit prevails in the nose and mouth. This wine is simple, but pleasant and drinkable, especially for the money. ($7-8)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

This big rosé from the Carinena region of Spain is no wimp. Composed of 50% Cabernet and 50% Tempranillo, this rosé has muscle. The must was allowed 12 hours of contact time with the skin before it was drawn off, giving the wine a deep strawberry color. The nose shows rich strawberries with floral overtones. In the mouth, the wine is full, with plenty of structure and a long finish. Parker gave this wine a 90, which I think is a bit high, but this is a great value nonetheless. I would pair this Rosé with pork or even a grilled hamburger. ($7.5-10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

This Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is 89% Cab and 11% Merlot. Aged in French rather than American oak, this wine makes a nice choice for a cheap California Cabernet if you’re not that into oak. On the nose, there is plum and red fruit, mostly cherries, which follows through to the mouth. Pleasantly tannic with a bit of acid, this wine can be enjoyed alone or with a hearty dish. ($10)