Best Reviewed
Best wine under $12
- Best bargain red wine Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha 2005 *Est. $11
- Best bargain white wine Aveleda Vinho Verde Quinta da Aveleda *Est. $6
- Top budget red, suitable for aging Yellow Tail The Reserve Shiraz 2005 *Est. $11
- Best "box" white wine Dtour 2004 Macon-Villages *Est. $40
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Best bargain white wine
- Ready to drink now
- Inexpensive enough to serve at large gatherings
- Widely available
- High in acidity and lightly effervescent, so it's refreshing on a hot day
- May or may not be vintage-dated, depending on the bottle
- Too light to stand up to rich foods
- Fairly straightforward
We found reviews of this wine in Wine Spectator and "The Wine Trials." The editors of the "Trials" book conducted blind tastings of more than 500 wines, making this the largest comparative review we found. We wish that the Wine Spectator had included more detailed tasting notes.
Critics agree that this gently effervescent Portuguese white wine is an excellent value and a perfect choice for hot summer days. Its high acidity makes it refreshing, and a bit of spiciness tempers the melon, green apple and peach flavors. This is a fairly straightforward, light wine, so reviews say it's best served with light fish preparations, including sushi and salads. If you're looking for a more complex wine, reviews point to Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (*est. $11), which is said to have more minerals, tropical fruits and spice.
Our Sources
1. The Wine TrialsDetails/Subscribe
"The Wine Trials" is based on blind tastings of 540 wines. Editors call this wine "one of the great steals of this book." "Citrus flavors dominate," they write, "with a hint of spiciness underneath."
Review: 100 Everyday Wines Under $15 that Beat $50 to $150 Wines in Brown-Bag Blind Tastings, Robin Goldstein and Alexis Herschkowitsch, May 1, 2008
2. Wine SpectatorDetails/Subscribe
Kim Marcus calls this wine "bright and zesty" and recommends drinking it immediately.
Review: Daily Wine Picks: Aveleda Vinho Verde Quinta da Aveleda 2006, Kim Marcus, Nov. 12, 2007
David Critchell calls this wine "the perfect companion to those long, languorous summer days."
Review: Top Ten Whites for Under $10, David Critchell, June 18, 2008
4. Corkd.com
Eight reviewers give this wine an average of 88.9 points out of 100. Several reviewers say it's perfect for summer nights, even though it isn't as complex as more expensive wines.
Review: Aveleda Vinho Verde White, Contributors to Corkd.com
