There are some things that make each one of us proud that other people might not understand. Some wine merchants brag about the super-expensive “trophy” wines in their cellars. With me, I’m most proud of the values that I find for my customers every month. Sure, it’s easy to go for the “big bucks” wines, or the ones that some writer or critic has given a high score to: all you need to do is pick up the phone and place your order. That’s just not good enough for me. I have to find out for myself. I’ve always marched to my own drummer, and I’m proud to say that finding these wines that represent terrific value are what I enjoy doing the most. Ultimately, it comes down to taste… and to tasting.

Every month I taste more than 200 wines, searching out the real values for you, and one way I bring some of my favorites to you is in my Best Buys selection: four delicious wines that I can usually sell for less than $10 each that will taste like you paid more for them. Sometimes, one may be a wine that usually sells for 3, 4 or even 5 dollars more, but I’ve bought a big enough shipment to bring down the price. Sometime one may be the end of a vintage, drinking well, but that the wholesaler needed to move out to make room for an incoming shipment. Another may be a new find: a wine that I’ve just come across that is delicious and I can sell for a song! What remains constant is that every one of these Best Buys is a wine that I drink myself. The write-ups are my own, too. I tell you what I think of the wines, and what you can expect from them. No “wine speak”, just plain English. Terrific wines, great prices... and no attitude!

“Novellum” Chardonnay Take one sip of this this dry, delicious white and you’ll smack your lips with delight! Notes of honey and white peaches fill the nose and palate, and crisp, “green apple” acidity makes it a great wine to go almost any dish. It’s so refreshing and affordable it may become your “house wine”! – $9.95

Mozafresca, Valdeoras Bianco Very rich, heady aromas of dried figs, cherries, vanilla and a bit of coconut. Full flavored with layers of flavor which reveal something new with each sip. This is an enchanting wine that you just cannot put down, and is one of the finest values in white wine I’ve seen all year. – $9.95

Viña Sardasol, Tempranillo The wines from this modern (founded in 1956) winery have won more awards than the wines from any other winery in Navarra! Plenty of ripe, seductive fruit aromas on the nose. Smooth, silky and well balanced with plenty of flavor and excellent structure. Delicious! – $7.49

Quattro Mani, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Cherries, leather, peach juice, rosemary, licorice, wild herbs, beeswax: those are the aromas I found in my first glass of this delightful red! The flavors are lively with berry and cherry notes that dance on your palate. This is Italy in a glass! This is what Montepulciano is meant to taste like, and why you’ll find it poured in rustic tavernas, osterias and restaurants all over Italy! Perfect with almost any dish, and exceptional with roasts, steaks and mushrooms – $9.49

Buy Darrin’s Best Buys 4 Pack and Save 10% – $33.20