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@konstantinbaum_mw

Check out my website:
https://www.cellarclass.com/
https://www.konstantinbaum.com/
https://baumselection.com/

I have used the following glass in this video:
SPIEGELAU Hi-Lite Universal Glass – Get it here: https://www.spiegelau.com/en/shop/hi-lite/universal-glass-1750161?mtm_campaign=2025_cont_ec_baum20&mtm_source=ig&mtm_medium=afp&mtm_content=workshop&mtm_group=bgw&mtm_placement=link

I have tasted the following wines in this Video:
2023 Michele Chiarlo Le Orme, Barbera d’Asti Superiore DOCG, Italy
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/michel+chiarlo+le+orme+superior+docg+barbera+d+asti+piemonte+italy/2023?referring_site=KSB

2022 Chateau Labegorce, Margaux, France
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/garzon+rsrv+tannat+maldonado+uruguay/2023?referring_site=KSB

2023 Bodega Garzon Reserva Tannat, Maldonado, Uruguay
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/garzon+rsrv+tannat+maldonado+uruguay/2023?referring_site=KSB

2023 Wente Vineyards Morning Fog Chardonnay, Livermore Valley, USA
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/wente+morning+fog+chard+livermore+valley+st+francisco+bay+central+coast+california+usa/2023?referring_site=KSB

2022 La Crema Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Oregon, USA
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/la+crema+pinot+noir+willamette+valley+oregon+usa/2022?referring_site=KSB

2022 Tenuta di Arceno Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/tenute+di+arceno+docg+chianti+cls+tuscany+italy/2022?referring_site=KSB

2021 Bodegas Muga Reserva – Crianza, Rioja DOCa, Spain
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/muga+rsrv+crianza+doca+rioja+alta+spain/2021?referring_site=KSB

I use this wine key: Forge de Laguiole Ebony

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.

My name is Konstantin Baum. I am a Master of Wine, and today I want to focus on a trend in the wine world that is especially relevant right now.
I’m not entirely sure whether this will be fun — but I’m happy to take one for the team. At the very least, this tasting shouldn’t give me a headache. So, let’s get started.
I might open some of the most expensive wines in the world on a regular basis.
However, most of the wines I drink are way more affordable.
Never in the history of wine has there been more exciting and affordable wine available, but you have to seek them out.
That’s why I appreciate Wine Spectator’s efforts to shine a light on the Value Wines of the year list.
But did the select great wines AND are they actually good values? Let’s find out!
Wine Spectator claims on their website that: “There is no formula for identifying great value when it comes to wine.” I would say there is: Points divided by price.
If a wine costs 30 Dollars and scores 95 points, it scores a high score of 3.17, which means that it delivers more value than a bottle costing 100 Dollars, which scores 97 points, as it only gets a 1.03
Anyways, their value wine list is in its fifth edition, and their editors selected the top values of 2025-
All of the wines on the list are 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.
As it is often the case with Wine Spectators list it is dominated by red wines from well-established regions, and the US is overrepresented.
In the top 10, there are 8 reds and 4 wines are from the US, even though white wines and unknow regions and wine making countries often represent better value.
Let’s dive into the wines to find out what Wine Spectator got right and what they got wrong.

6 Comments

  1. That was almost a very short video knocking the wines from the table in the first 25 seconds lmao.

  2. I was just commenting this morning how the Finger Lakes still has a great cost vs quality ratio. Wineries like Boundary Breaks (I saw your comment on Instagram about their Cab Franc – when is the FLX video coming out?), Ravines, Sheldrake Point, Dr. Konstantin Frank, Weiss, and so many more produce excellent wines in the 20 – 40 USD range.

  3. Young man, you really should design an algorithm for a wine’s value, incorporating subjective taste: cost: grape: country etc.

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