2009 Wine between $10 and $25

What’s always been different about Sin Zin is that it’s never been a novelty wine. Over the years, the elegant, rich flavor of this Alexander Valley Zinfandel has landed it on the wine lists of many restaurants...

Black currant, bilberry, violet and spice flavors align in this luscious red, which is well-balanced and integrated, with a lingering aftertaste of sweet fruit and spices. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Drink now through 2018. 54,000 cases made.?B.S.

Arnoux Père's "White Label" Vacqueyras "Seigneur de Lauris," a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, sees new oak, and offers excellent structure and aging potential.

The 2009 Chianti Classico, 100% Sangiovese, is a gorgeous, deep wine endowed with serious richness. Dark plums, black cherries, licorice, new leather and menthol are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass. A firm, structured finish rounds things out in style. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

Quite stylish, harmonious, and complex, with a generous finishing sheen of new oak that makes it taste considerably more expensive than its modest price would suggest.
-- Ben Giliberti

Throw this impressive, full-structured wine into a blind tasting of St.-Emilion Grand Cru, and don't be surprised if it beats out one or more of the big boys. It tastes considerably more expensive than its modest price would suggest. To the massive 2005 Côte Montpezat, which was one of our favorite petit chateaux of that great year, the 2009 adds an element of fruity succulence, which is the hallmark of the remarkable 2009 vintage. Deep ruby in color, with dark, roasted fruit, shaved cedar, and new oak prominent on the nose and on the palate, this concentrated wine begs for further cellaring, but is quite delicious now (decant 45 to 90 min. in advance).