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Tasting Wine Spectators Top 10 Values
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I use this wine key: Forge de Laguiole Ebony
I have used the following glass in this video: Spiegelau Definition Universal Glass
I have tasted the following wines in this Video:
2022 La Rioja Alta S.A. Vina Alberdi Crianza, Rioja DOCa, Spain
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/la+s+a+vina+alberdi+crianza+doca+rioja+alta+spain/2022/germany?referring_site=KSB
2022 Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/terrazas+de+los+andes+rsrv+malbec+mendoza+argentina/2022/germany?referring_site=KSB
2023 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Martinborough, New Zealand
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/craggy+range+te+muna+rd+sauv+blanc+martinborough+new+zealand/2023/germany?referring_site=KSB
2021 Marchesi Antinori Villa Antinori Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/marchesi+antinori+villa+tuscany+igp+italy/2021/germany?referring_site=KSB
2019 Ruffino Riserva Ducale, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Italy
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/ruffino+rsrv+ducal+docg+chianti+cls+tuscany+italy/2019/germany?referring_site=KSB
2022 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel, Sonoma County, USA
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/seghesio+fmly+zinfandel+sonoma+county+north+coast+california+usa/2022/germany?referring_site=KSB
The 100 Point Scoring System (from www.robertparker.com):
96-100: An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase and consume.
90 – 95: An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.
80 – 89: A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with no noticeable flaws.
70 – 79: An average wine with little distinction except that it is soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.
60 – 69: A below-average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor or possibly dirty aromas or flavors.
50 – 59: A wine deemed to be unacceptable.
We all need wines that we can open on a weekday. Wines that are affordable but awesome, cheap but cheerful. However, discovering value wines is not that easy. Believe me, that is what I am trying to do most of the time for my retail business.
That is why I took note when I saw Wine Spectator’s new Top 10 Value wine list from their current issue. So let’s find out, whether there is real Value on that list! A few years ago, Wine Spectator introduced a new feature with their Top 10 Values List.
The list was introduced in 2021 and it offers a different selection of wines. Compared to their overall Top 10 List, which usually features pretty expensive wines. All of the Value wines have to be rated 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s 100-point scale, cost $40 or less, and were made in large enough quantities to be widely available.
Looking at the list, I find it a bit strange that 5 of the 10 are from the US. When it comes to value, countries like Portugal, Chile, and South Africa are usually great sources of value wines, and they do not feature at all.
When it comes to discovering value. I also recommend looking for less-known grape varieties, regions, and producers, as they usually trade for less but most if not all of the wines are made from the more popular grape varieties and are from famous regions and producers.
Some viewers might also argue that 40 USD is a lot of money, and I think that is true – but the list is mainly designed for a US-based audience, and wine in the US is more expensive than in many other countries.
Additionally, most of the wines on the list cost between 20 and 25 USD, which is a more affordable price bracket. In order to determine value, it is, however, important to see the price in the context of the quality of the wine, and in order to determine the quality, we will have to pop those corks!
30 Comments
Konstantine, you know why this Malbec is so nice? This Terrazas de los Andes is actually a part of giant of wine industry Moet&Chandon, and that explains a lot. Top company uses to do great wines 🙂
I tried their Torrontes and it was interesting.
26:30 – in the list definitely should be German Rieslings and Austrian Gruner Veltliners. Under 40$ there are 10000% great examples to taste
NZ Sav Blanc has never been about gooseberry and cat’s piss, but about passionfruit. It still is. Some winemakers try to introduce more complexity with variable results.
Clare and Eden Valley Riesling, Australia.
The 23 vintage was generally a difficult year in New Zealand, so the Craggy Range in your video was probably not a good example of the best of Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc.
Antinori, a long long tradition of advertising through Wine Spectator
To me the best value wines should cost no more than A$20.
It does not matter where these wines are from but they must taste great.
Incidentally, the best ones are from Italy within this price point.
Alberdi 18 >>>>> Alberdi 19, still, awesome wine for 14-15€ here
I searched for years to a find my particular taste for something special. I was addicted to the hint when coming across Caymus 2019. I do no possess the ability to describe it such as you would. I do not know what’s there. All I know is that I can honestly say I adore it. I co distantly seek to find those notes. Am I silly? Please, do tell. I respect your talent.
The last bottle of Vina Alberdi I had was so overoaked that it made the wine virtually undrinkable. Will give the wine one more chance since I have enjoyed prior vintages, but am a little scared given how much I hated that last bottle.
Wine Spectator should vary up their selections? How dare you!!!! 🤣
Ruffino, the official wine of "The Sopranos" and "Friends"…so, it's a true celebrity wine.
This list from Wine Espectator got me started into really obsessing about wine. The first "wine from a list" I was able to taste came from that list during the pandemic (Colossal Reserva, from Alentejo, a truly great value).
The thing you noticed in this video is what I came to notice in my wine drinking experience. I can easily get better values than the ones they choose to highlight in that list. But it has a use. I would never buy Terrazas de los Andes, based in its ugly packaging and name. Being highlighted in a list makes me pay attention to wines that I would not otherwise buy – for a silly reason, I know.
Nice tasting, as usual
I bought the zinfandel once.. and I had to deliver it back. It was like sucking on a burnt wooden stick. Have it gotten better with recent vintage? hmmm
Where is Chile?
Hi, it is great that you showcasing interesting wines on this channel. I really like your videos. Could you do a deep dive into Bordeaux wines esp. Pauillac?
I would definitely trust more a list made by you! Wine spectator latelly doesn't seem very impartial like some famous american critics. Cheers!
Great video as always! May I ask where you got the corkscrew from? Looks like it has a great sharp point on the screw
I had a lot of favorites in the $20- $60 range, mostly Zin and Malbec or just blends. I really like big bold flavors but a bit jammy. These ones come to to the top of my head; Earthquake, Klinker Brick, Sledgehammer, Tobin and James Fatboy. I really need to pick up some wine its actually been a couple years, I moved to Utah for work and I still have yet to go to one of the state stores.
White value: Albarino, Chenin Blanc; Red value: Portuguese, Spanish blends, Cote Du Rhone
Welp, RIP to Alberdi being affordable now that it's been put on this list.
Best Value and good Distribution:
E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone (7€ in france)
alma viva better than sassicaia
I still think that from champagne moet and shondon is always a good option
Your listing of the LRA says “crianza” not “Reserva”, FYI
I have the 2021 Seghesio in my cellar and I paid $19.00 a bottle. I tend to drink half a bottle and put the rest in a split and vaccuvin the bottle. I found that even refrigerated this wine fades badly even after 5 days. Not a good sign for me. I much prefer the Bedrock Old Vine Zin for a couple dollars more.
Great video, I’m a fan of Seghesio and was glad (sort of…) to see the recognized. BTW, Seghesio Zinfandels are generally available in supermarkets here for US$ 20 or less. I’m generally not a fan of lists like this, because they fetishized some wines and pass over dozens if not hundreds of equally worthy wines. It’s an act of commercial self interest on the part of the magazine, not a consumer friendly act.
A good mixed bag which I find inspirational as the wine styles are easy to source and work well with food, nice video 🍷
Within his conclusions I completely agree that white wines offer more complexity and general interest than comparably priced reds. In general, good white wines offer a better value, dollar for dollar (or euro for euro).
Spain and Portugal have amazing great values. From Spain I recommend Guelbenzu Lombana, from Ribeira del Queiles. And from Portugal anything from Esporão
People say how subjective wine tasting is, and it's true, but last weekend I had a fabulous pris fixe meal that included wine pairings, and while the restaurant was expensive, I felt like the wines probably weren't. Even so, they were impeccably balanced and paired perfectly with each course. Even more impressive on a budget! I felt like whoever selected those wines must know wine quite well and had an excellent palate. Wine tasting might be subjective, but I felt we were in attunement. I could have requested to photograph each bottle but instead I chose to enjoy the company I was with so I don't remember specific bottles.