The 15 best value-for-money wines

The physicochemical quality evaluates the alcoholic strength of the wine, its sugar content, the acidity or the level of sulfites.

Meanwhile, the sensory quality , more subjective, evaluates the perceptions and sensations coming from the raw material and the production process.

As a result, two key questions often arise:

1. How do I know that a wine is good value for money?
2. What are the best quality-price wines?

That is why we wanted to collect the best quality-price wines by categories so that you can get it right when you have to choose.

Red wines

1. Payment of the Oak Chaplains 2018

It is a Ribera de Duero dependent only on Tempranillo type grapes.

After passing through the winery, where its density, temperature and the evolution of the yeasts are controlled, it spends 150 days in French oak barrels .

It is usually in the top positions of the best-selling wines in Spain and one of the best quality-price red wines.

A selection of 22 types of French oak according to its origin (Alier, Nevers, Center), dried in the open air and toasted, help to age this splendid wine.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2018.
• Aroma: Intense aroma of blue flowers and black fruits, with touches of wood.
• Flavor: With a lot of structure and polished tannins, with notable acidity and a long finish on the palate.
• Alcohol: 13.5% vol.
• Temperature: 15ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: red meat and lamb, in stews, acorn-fed ham and semi-cured cheeses.
• Grape type: Tempranillo.

2. Borders of Remelluri San Vicente 2015

Lindes de Remelluri comes from Riojan vineyards, in San Vicente.

The location of this vineyard and its proximity to the Ebro and the Cantabrian Sea, causes a late ripening to the grapes that compose it and diminishes the importance of the mineral printing that contains other similar wines.

Due to the weather conditions of the growing year, the grapes did not reach full maturity, which gives the Lindes de Remelluri San Vicente  a very good balance between ripening and acidity .

Its fermentation was carried out with yeasts typical of the area and later aged for 12 months in French oak barrels to, finally, spend 2 years in the bottle and achieve the ideal point to enjoy it.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2015.
• Aroma: Load of red fruits, covered with cold spices, balsamic of undergrowth and a touch of smoke.
• Flavor: Powerful structure with refined and soft details, which gives the wine a very interesting balance.
• Alcohol: 13.5% vol.
• Temperature: 16ºC.
• Side Tip: Grilled beef, cheeses, Italian pasta with tomato sauce, stew of lamb, pork or beef.
• Grape type: Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha.

3. Saffron Oak Cellar 2018

Based on native grapes from the Levante area, in Valencia, such as Garnacha Tintorera, Monastrell and Mandó, it is characterized by having been fermented in buried clay vats for 6 months.

This wine stands out, visually, for its bright red color from the fermentation process, which is produced with 30% of whole clusters present in its development.

This procedure makes it be called the “most original wine of the cellar” Celler del Roure.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2018.
• Aroma: Powerful aroma of red fruit, very clean and concise.
• Flavor: Very silky and fresh, with great acidity.
• Alcohol: 12.5% ​​vol.
• Temperature: 16-18ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: Ideal for any type of rice, be it risotto, paella, black rice or even dry rice.
• Grape type: Garnacha Tintorera, Mandó and Monastrell.

4. Izadi Crianza 2016

Wine cataloged for being the best Spanish crianza in relation to value for money for less than 10 euros by the Penín Guide 2019.

Without a doubt, it is the flagship wine of Bodegas Izadi and is made with Tempranillo grapes from vineyards that are approximately 45 years old.

Fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for 16 months in French oak barrels , one 80% and American in 20% and of different ages use up to 4 years.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2016
• Aroma: Powerful and balanced scent between liquorice, red fruits and cedar.
• Flavor: Balanced and elegant, with floral and fruity notes.
• Alcohol: 14.0% vol.
• Temperature: 16ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: Ideal pairing with red meats and white meats, with roasts, stews, poultry, Serrano ham, cheeses and other delicatessens.
• Grape type: Tempranillo.

5. Luis Cañas Crianza 2016

This aging is made with Tempranillo and Graciano obtained from 35-year-old vineyards.

It is aged in 60% French and 40% American oak barrels for 12 months and aged in the bottle (Bordeaux) for approximately 9 months.

The vintage of that year gave the wine a great concentration of matter , due to a significant drought during the summer in that area, giving it the characteristic of excellent use since its youth.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2016.
• Aroma: Intense aroma of red fruits, with sweet notes of vanilla and cinnamon and touches of wood.
• Flavor: Dense than light, full-bodied and with a persistent finish, with soft tannins and fruity character.
• Alcohol: 14.0% vol.
• Temperature: 14-16 ° C.
• Suggestion to accompany: Derived from red meats such as beef, pork, bull, lamb, as well as vegetables, stews, dishes with curries and spices.
• Grape type: Tempranillo and Graciano.

White wines

1. José Pariente Fermentado Barrica 2018

A white wine with the Rueda Monovarietal Denomination of Origin Verdejo , coming from a very pronounced continental climate that makes it a very powerful wine and very lively on the palate.

It is fermented in new French oak barrels that are a maximum of one year old and then a batonnage work is carried out for an approximate duration of 210 days.

It ends its production in stainless steel tanks for 5 months, before going through its production processes : clarification, stabilization and bottling.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2018.
• Aroma: The spicy and fruity aroma stands out, with a slight touch of wood.
• Flavor: Powerful and alive. Great balance between fruit and wood. Long step.
• Alcohol: 13.5% vol.
• Temperature: 8-10 ° C.
• Suggestion to accompany: Ideal to accompany with fish and shellfish with an intense flavor, as well as appetizers of foie gras and Iberian ham.
• Grape type: Verdejo.

2. Quintana 2018

Quintaluna is fundamentally characterized by its cultivation process.

Specifically, by using 60% grapes from vines over 100 years old , while 40% are fed on grapes from young vines, which have an organic certificate and low yield.

For its part, the selection in the vineyard is done manually, destemming is carried out and it is pressed very gently.

Subsequently, it is fermented in stainless steel tanks together with native yeasts for two months and ends up aging in the same tanks, on its lees, for 9 months.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2018
• Aroma: Clean nose, which shies away from tropical fruits and embraces white flowers, stone fruits and citrus. It does not have much power, to be able to highlight the small nuances.
• Flavor: Fresh but persistent, excellent acidity that mixes with the sweet flavors of stone fruits.
• Alcohol: 13% vol.
• Temperature: 9ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: Soft cheeses, seafood, rice such as paella and Asian dishes. Likewise, the potato omelette makes it the perfect combination to drink with this wine.
• Grape type: Verdejo.

3. CVNE Monopole Clásico 2016

The elaboration of this wine is based on the manual harvesting of the grapes, followed by a soft pressing and a settling carried out in concrete tanks.

After this phase, the fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks and the aging in barrels of different volumes for 8 months, with constant tastings to control its aroma, flavor and texture.

It is characterized by a slight hint of chamomile . It is bottled in a bottle that imitates the 1979 Monopole bottle, to achieve the most elaborate similarity with its predecessor.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2016.
• Aroma: Very intense aroma of chamomile, currant and chamomile flowers. Notes of almonds and minerals.
• Flavor: The salty touch stands out and the finish with elegant acidity that gives us freshness.
• Alcohol: 13.2% vol.
• Temperature: 9ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: This wine has the particularity of a varied pairing thanks to its correspondence with salads, meats, fish, even rice dishes and sausages such as Iberian ham, Serrano ham and others.
• Grape type: Viura.

4. Marqués de Murrieta Chaplaincy 2015

It has the designation of “reserve” for having been a year and a half in new French oak barrels and a year in the bottle. It has been made with grapes from a centenary vineyard of the Marqués de Murrieta winery.

After the aging process, the must is fermented in stainless steel tanks at 10ºC.

This wine , for this year 2020, according to the British critic Tim Atkin, is among the 3 best wines of La Rioja .

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2015.
• Aroma: Very expressive aromas of ripe white fruit and different stone fruits. Notes of chamomile, dried flowers and touches of toasted wood.
• Flavor: Intense and fatty, strong entry and woody flavors.
• Alcohol: 13.6% vol.
• Temperature: 13ºC – 14ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: Perfect pairing especially with baked white fish, bouillabaisse, cod, as well as grilled seafood, fish rice and derivatives. It is also complemented with white meats such as duck and turkey.
• Grape type: Viura.

5. Albamar 2018

Coming from the Salnés area, with the Rías Baixas Designation of Origin, it has a fairly traditional process .

Albamar 2018 is first harvested, then the grapes are pressed and left to rest. After that, the settling process begins. Fermentation takes place in a fudre, one part and in stainless steel another, where it is left to rest for 5 months.

It stands out for its volume, due to the warmth of the vintage . In addition to our recommendation, The Wine Advocate publication rates it among the best wines in the area .

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2018.
• Aroma: Floral notes. It imposes its citrus smell.
• Flavor: Saline and mineral touches, with great acidity and permanence in the mouth.
• Alcohol: 12.6% vol.
• Temperature: 8ºC – 10ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: The characteristics of the wine offers to accompany grilled fish, grilled fish and seafood, ceviche, even soupy rice and sushi to enhance each other.
• Grape type: Albariño.

Rosé wines

1. Impromptu Rosado, 2019

Impromptu Rosado is one of the most awarded wines in Spain in recent years.

In the Verama Awards 2019, it was listed as the second best Spanish rosé wine and according to the Wine Up 2018 Guide, it was the best rosé in Spain in 2018 .

Despite its pale salmon pink color, it has a red wine body , which is due to a rather special maceration that the grapes undergo for approximately 2 hours in stainless steel tanks at temperatures close to 0ºC.

A wine with Denomination of Origin Valencia , 100% Pinot Noir aging, which is one of the most valued grape varieties internationally, for its delicacy and elegance.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2018.
• Aroma: Subtle aroma, predominantly floral. Herbaceous background with notes of vanilla.
• Flavor: Intense, great acidity and lactic aftertaste with a slight hint of red fruits.
• Alcohol: 13.5% vol.
• Temperature: 6ºC – 8ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: This wine makes a perfect harmony with pasta, soft cheeses, rice, fruit salad, and Asian food.
• Grape Type: Pinot Noir.

2. Plan of the Angels 2018

Its predecessor, from the 2015 vintage, was listed as one of the 10 best rosé wines in the world by The Global Rosé Masters, from Drink Business.

Made 100% with Garnacha, this wine from Priorat, in Tarragona, is made from a mixture of grapes from young and old vineyards , which by altitude and type of soil, seek to avoid over-ripening.

Its pale color does not really represent the strength it has in both the mouth and the nose .

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2018.
• Aroma: High intensity of red fruits and anise, subtle citrus tones that provide freshness.
• Flavor: It has an impact at first, due to its freshness and flavor of red fruits and hints of anise. It has an enveloping and refreshing finish.
• Alcohol: 13.5% vol.
• Temperature: 10ºC – 12ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: It offers the variety of being accompanied from vegetables, salads, fish and seafood, to pasta and white meats.
• Grape type: Garnacha.

3. At Roca Rosat Brut reserve 2017

It is a sparkling wine , from a blend of Monastrell (40%) and Macabeo (60%).

These grapes come from thirty-year-old vineyards grown through concepts belonging to organic farming.

After the traditional process of cultivation, fermentation and aging, the broth spends a 15-month season in the bottle , for which it receives the denomination of “ reserve ”.

With Denomination of Origin Penedès, this wine comes from the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, being one of its maximum wine-producing representatives.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2017.
• Aroma: The strawberry and strawberry aroma dominates, accompanied by apple and a light touch of pastry. Subtle, but with intensity.
• Flavor: Good attack on the palate, honeyed texture, with a great aftertaste, being very fresh and with great acidity. Fruity flavor, with very good integration of carbonic.
• Alcohol: 12.5% ​​vol.
• Temperature: 7ºC – 9ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: Ideal to enjoy by the glass at any time of the day with appetizers. It becomes irresistible when accompanied with fruit desserts, even rice and fish.
• Grape type: Macabeo and Garnacha Tintorera.

4. Marqués del Riscal Viñas Viejas Rosado 2018

It is curious to rest for four months with Sauvignon Blanc lees, to enhance its floral aroma.

This wine captures the purest essence of its product.

The Garnachas grapes, 75% and the Tempranillo, the remaining 25%, contribute to its production together with grapes extracted from vineyards over 80 years old , without grafting and from the highest lands of the Duero River.

With less than 5,000 units produced, the Marqués del Riscal Viñas Viejas Rosado 2018 , through processes belonging to the 70s and 80s, has sought to revise its winemaking tradition, although giving rise to a clearly avant-garde wine.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2018.
• Aroma: Surprising with its intense aroma of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and cherries, which is accompanied by hints of wild flowers.
• Flavor: Fresh and balanced, with acid notes at the end and a fruity and floral background.
• Alcohol: 14% vol.
• Temperature: 9ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: Its flavor makes it the perfect ally of fish, seafood, rice and pasta.
• Grape type: Garnacha and Tempranillo.

5. Forum Rosado 2018

It has been made using Tempranillo and Syrah grapes obtained from the vineyards of the “Heredad de Urueña” winery in the province of Valladolid. These vineyards are protected by the Protected Geographical Indication , the PGI.

The wine , for its part, has been aged in French oak and American oak vats and fermented at temperatures close to 10ºC.

Through this process, the winery has won awards such as the Great Gold Medal of the Brussels World Wine Competition in 2017.

Technical characteristics:

• Year: 2018.
• Aroma: Notes of red fruits, such as raspberry, cherry and strawberry, with hints of English caramel. Very expressive.
• Flavor: Fresh, broad and unctuous. Balance between acidity and freshness provided by fruity notes.
• Alcohol: 14.5% vol.
• Temperature: 8ºC – 10ºC.
• Suggestion to accompany: Perfect pairing with white meats, roasted vegetables, stewed meats, cured cheeses and grilled red meats.
• Grape type: Tempranillo and Syrah.

Wines from other countries with a good value for money

Portugal

• Porta 6 2017, Lisbon. A red wine with complex aromas, fresh with a smooth finish.
• Esporão Reserva 2016. A wine from Alentejo with a beautiful straw yellow color with greenish and crystalline tints. Yellow fruits such as grapefruit and orange predominate.
• Cadão 2018, Douro. Red wine that perceives fruity aromas, with an elegant touch. It has a citrine color with greenish hues.
• Altano 2016, Dow’s Port (Douro). It is a red that at first glance is ruby ​​red in color but with a dry entry flavor with a touch of vanilla.
• Herdade do Sobroso Anas 201, Alentejo. You can perceive freshness and citrus flavors, thanks to its wide range of white fruits.

France

• Sénéchaux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, 2015. A Rhone wine with powerful characteristics that highlight its aroma and intense color.
• L’Ostal Cazes Grand Vin Minervois La Livinière, 2015, Languedoc Roussillon. This is the perfect wine for cold winter nights due to its mixture and predominance of spice.
• Gérard Bertrand Cigalus Rouge, 2015. It is a cuvée that extracts the pleasure, sweetness and smoothness of red fruits.
• Château Phélan Ségur Saint-Estèphe Cru Bourgeois, 2015. Noted for its good concentration of fruit, rough but balanced.
• Julien Brocard La Boissonneuse Chablis, 2017. It is a wine that reveals intense aromas with subtle touches.

Italy

• Gran Sasso pecorino Terre di Chieti 2006, Abruzzo. A white wine based on a selection of pecorino that provides a beautiful yellow color and great flavor.
• Canaletto Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2005. Robust red wine that provides a fantastic flavor full of plums and fruits.
• Bellavista Franciacorta Cuvée. It presents a complexity of aromas highlighted by its color of yellow apples and jasmine green.
• Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Tenuta San Guido, 2000. One of the best wines in the world, privileging its ripe and juicy red and black fruits, and its fine and silky grain.
• Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico, 2004. Very aromatic red wine, where notes of plum, cherry and caramel stand out.

Argentina

• Escorihuela Gascón Small Productions Cabernet Franc. Very powerful and intense, with hints of vanilla and chocolate.
• El Enemigo, Malbec, 2014. Persistent although not very deep, with hints of red fruit.
• Luigi Bosca Malbec, 2012. One of the best sellers in Argentina. Compact and intense, like a good red wine.
• Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita, 2013. Intense red, according to its aroma and strong flavor of red fruits.
• Nicola Catena Bonarda, 2013. Very complex, with flavors of red fruits and green spices.

Chile

• Chadwick Vineyard, 2014 (Cabernet Sauvignon). Red wine classified as one of the best wines in the world.
• Concha y Toro Carmín de Peumo Carmenère, 2009. Young, with aromas of red fruits. Red wine.
• Snowdrift Herú, 2015 (Pinot Noir). The ideal wine to accompany fish and game meat. Red wine.
• Amayna Chardonnay, 2015 (Chardonnay). Its oak aging and fruity touches stand out. White wine.
• Santa Ema Gran Reserva 2017 (Merlot). Red wine with notes of chocolate and vanilla. Ideal to pair with pasta and cheeses.

As lovers of good wines we enjoy being able to taste and smell the unique flavor of unique wines. The wine market is immense and new specialties and vintages are emerging every time in all countries.

For a long time, price has not been at odds with quality and you can taste great wines at modest prices.

We encourage you to take advantage of a special occasion to give away or share some of the best quality-price wines that we have suggested, yes, always in moderation and knowing how to test the unique touch of each bottle.