how about a four bit ADC and a 4 to 16 demultiplex. set up your range to not use values B-F and you have ten led's plus one value for none of them being lit.
seems simpler than a microcontroller to me, but I prefer solder to software.
The LM3915 is a monolithic integrated circuit that senses analog voltage levels and drives ten LEDs, LCDs or vacuum fluorescent displays, providing a logarithmic 3 dB/step analog display. One pin changes the display from a bar graph to a moving dot display. LED current drive is regulated and programmable, eliminating the need for current limiting resistors. The whole display system can operate from a single supply as low as 3V or as high as 25V.