Wines in the range of $10 to $11 that are worth checking out

I have sifted through more than 2,500 wine notes for your best buys of the year. These are chosen from wines on all shelves, not from Vintages releases that normally occupy this space. The quest was for big wines at a small price.

Our five top values under $10 are presented here with full reviews alongside bottle images of the winners. So get your refrigerator magnets ready.

And if you lose the list some time in January, just go to Google and type in two words: Stimmell Star. All my columns will come up first on your screen.

While my top five wines under $10 get top billing here, runners-up in the $10 to $11range are well worth a detour. Here is the next level of bargoon whites:

Beaulieu Vineyards Coastal 2013 Sauvignon Blanc $10.95 (California). Great party starter white. A profile of fruit salad, melon, pineapple and yellow apple with lemon-lime flavours. LCBO #295253 Rating: 89+

Villa Sandi Veneto 2013 Pinot Grigio $10.95 (Italy). Classic pure pear, lime and apple aromas arise, then Anjou pear, yellow apple and lime-squeezing flavours. A zingy best buy. LCBO #580324 Rating: 89+

Zuccardi Santa Julia 2013 Chardonnay $10.90 (Argentina). A bouquet of pears, roast apple and lime, with melon, vanilla and lime accenting the flavours, with a hint of cashews. LCBO #365221 Rating: 89+

J.P. Chenet 2012 Reserve Chardonnay $10.95 (France). Aromas of smoky golden apple and pear with flavours hinting of butterscotch, yellow apple, lime sorbet and lemongrass. LCBO #255885 Rating: 89+

For amazing reds, we need to climb just a bit in price tag.

In this category, South America won big:

Montes Reserva 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon $12.95 (Chile). Lots of plum, black cherry and mint aromas and smooth blackberry, cherry, vanilla and black plum flavours with mocha on the finish. LCBO #157883 Rating: 90

Trapiche 2013 Extravaganza Red $13.95 (Argentina). A blend of malbec, bonarda and Syrah grapes, this new red shows black cherry, plum, vanilla bean and chocolate in a delicious, mellow style. LCBO #380776 Rating: 90

I know the post-Christmas season brings a rush of crushing payments, so I hope my affordable thrills makes paying the bills a bit more endurable. Happy New Year! stimmell@sympatico.ca