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20 under US$20

johnapril

Distinguished Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2004
Messages
5,600
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Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Marlborough, New Zealand
$16
Wine Spectator 90 points
Bright, lively and ripe, with a nice apricot richness to the tangy lime and mineral flavors, lingering effectively, like biting into a ripe green apple.

Babich Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Marlborough, New Zealand
$15
Wine Spectator 90 points - Top 100 Wines of 2005
Fresh and lively, appealing for its zingy grapefruit flavor, hinting at peach and lime as the finish keeps zipping along.

Chateau Souverain Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Alexander Valley, California
$16
Wine Spectator 90 points
Tight and concentrated. Slowly unfolds to reveal a melody of rich grass, lemon-lime, fig and floral character, with a citrus tanginess lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2006.

Talbott Logan Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard 2003 Monterey, California
$18
Wine Spectator 90 Points
Logan is a second label to Talbott Vineyards in Monterey County, showcasing distinct blocks of Talbott's Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. This wine is 100% barrel-fermented in French oak, which contributes to a rich texture and smoky nuances. Bold and fleshy, it finishes with complex, tropical fruit flavors.

Beaulieu Vineyard Chardonnay 2004 Carneros, California
$18
Wine Enthusiast 91 Points
I love this Chard for its bright, brisk acidity that fires up the palate, only to reward it with ripe, delicious flavors of Key lime pie, kiwi and pineapple. Oak adds notes of buttered toast and vanilla. The result is rich, refined and complex, a Chardonnay to linger over.

Murphy Goode Chardonnay 2002 Sonoma County, California
$16
Wine Enthusiast 90 Points
Dry, this is a wine of great structure and balance. The flavors veer toward lime custard, mangoes, apricots, vanilla and slate, with a gentle overlay of toasty oak. It's quite a sophisticated Chardonnay, and a great value.

Bonterra Merlot 2002 Mendocino County, California
$16
Wine Enthusiast 90 points
Rich and deep are the words that come to mind for this intensely flavorful Merlot. It's as full-bodied as a Cab, with the prettiest cherry and chocolate flavors and a smooth finish that turns blueberry.

Hogue Genesis Merlot 2002 Columbia, Washington
$18
Wine Spectator 90 Points
Firm, with a supple core of currant and blueberry fruit that lingers attractively on the fine-grained finish that lasts beautifully. Needs time to soften. Best from 2007 through 2012.

Chateau St. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Indian Wells Vineyard
$18
Wine Advocate 91 Points - Wall Street Journal Best Domestic Cabernet Under $20
Candied blackberries, waxy dark cherries, spices, tar, and licorice make up the mouth-watering aromatics. This outstanding wine is sultry, decadent, and intense. Its suave personality slathers the palate with lush, broad waves of black fruits and tar. It may not be complex but boy what pleasure it delivers! Drink this terrific value over the next 5 years.

Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley, California
$18
Wine Enthusiast 91 points -Editors Choice
This beautiful wine is the quintessential Alexander Valley Cabernet. It's soft and melted in texture, a gentle but complex wine with enormously rich blackberry, cassis and oak flavors. And this is a great price for the quality. Geyser Peak is at the top of their game.

Finca Sophenia Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Tupungato, Argentina
$17
Wine Enthusiast 90 points
If you like a dark, saturated wine with a ton of ripeness and richness, then this is it. The color is opaque, the bouquet full of rubber, blackberry and chocolate. It's intense stuff, with black cherry and cassis flavors preceding a finish dense with bitter notes, licorice and vanilla. Solid to the core.

Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz 2003 South Australia
$13
Wine Spectator 91 points
Thick, with a layer of black pepper over a mouthfilling gob of black cherry and licorice that cries out for grilled red meat. Drinkable now, better with some age. Best from 2008 through 2013.

Tintara Shiraz 2003 McLaren Vale, Australia
$18
Wine Spectator 90 Points
Plump, generous and beautifully supple, glowing with plum, blueberry and sweet spice aromas and flavors, with a touch of earth on the ever-so-slightly gamy finish. Spicy oak frames the long aftertaste. Best from 2007 through 2015.

Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend 2004 South East Australia
$18
Wine Advocate 91 Points
The dense ruby/purple-hued 2004 Sarah's Blend is composed of 62% Shiraz and the rest equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It offers abundant black cherry and cassis fruit in its smoky, earthy bouquet along with hints of licorice, dried herbs, and chocolate. Full-bodied, opulent, fruity, and long with surprising complexity as well as depth, it should be drunk over the next 3-4 years.

Water Wheel Memsie Cabernet-Shiraz-Malbec 2004 Bendigo, South Australia
$15
Wine Spectator 90 points
Smooth and generous, a lively style with juicy plum and blackberry aromas, lingering on the refined finish. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Drink now through 2010.

Chakana Reserve Malbec 2004 Mendoza, Argentina
$17
Wine Enthusiast 90 point
Attractive lavender and violet notes accent typical black-fruit aromas, and the result is a mix of syrup and fresh summer plums. The palate is exceedingly ripe as it bursts with blackberry flavors and a heavy underblast of chocolate. Tight on the finish, but only at first. Soon it expands to reveal toasty, burly flavors and tannins. Delicious and sporty.

Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2004 California
$18
Wine Enthusiast 90 Points
From vineyards in Lodi and Contra Costa County, an enormously enjoyable Zin that shows its hot climate origins, but maintains balance and integrity. The cassis, cherry, chocolate and oatmeal-raisin cookie flavors finish in a swirl of acidity and dusty tannins.

Rancho Zabaco Heritage Vines Zinfandel 2003 Sonoma, California
$16
Wine Enthusiast 90 points
Pop a steak on the grill and enjoy this robust wine. A blend of Dry Creek, Russian River, Alexander Valley and Knights Valley fruit, with a little Paso Robles thrown in for good measure, it's classic Zin, dry, fruity and peppery. Those cherry-berry flavors will sing against the charbroiled smoky richness of beef.

Di Majo Norante Sangiovese 2004 Umbria, Italy
$11
Wine Advocate 90 Points
One of the world's best values in Sangiovese is the 2004 Sangiovese IGT. Aged six months in large foudres, it offers up aromas of strawberries, black cherries, damp earth, spice box, and fruit cake. This expressive, medium-bodied, fleshy Italian red is meant to be drunk over the next 1-2 years. Drink now through 2007.

Falesco Vitiano Cabernet Merlot Sangiovese2004 Umbria, Italy
$12
Wine Spectator 90 Points
A wine with lovely balance and clean plum, berry and chocolate character, medium body and polished tannins. The perfect house wine--a great value. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2010.
 

Fuuma

Franchouillard Modasse
Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Messages
26,940
Reaction score
14,529
Originally Posted by johnapril
Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Marlborough, New Zealand
$16
Wine Spectator 90 points
Bright, lively and ripe, with a nice apricot richness to the tangy lime and mineral flavors, lingering effectively, like biting into a ripe green apple.

Babich Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Marlborough, New Zealand
$15
Wine Spectator 90 points - Top 100 Wines of 2005
Fresh and lively, appealing for its zingy grapefruit flavor, hinting at peach and lime as the finish keeps zipping along.

Chateau Souverain Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Alexander Valley, California
$16
Wine Spectator 90 points
Tight and concentrated. Slowly unfolds to reveal a melody of rich grass, lemon-lime, fig and floral character, with a citrus tanginess lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2006.

Talbott Logan Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard 2003 Monterey, California
$18
Wine Spectator 90 Points
Logan is a second label to Talbott Vineyards in Monterey County, showcasing distinct blocks of Talbott's Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. This wine is 100% barrel-fermented in French oak, which contributes to a rich texture and smoky nuances. Bold and fleshy, it finishes with complex, tropical fruit flavors.

Beaulieu Vineyard Chardonnay 2004 Carneros, California
$18
Wine Enthusiast 91 Points
I love this Chard for its bright, brisk acidity that fires up the palate, only to reward it with ripe, delicious flavors of Key lime pie, kiwi and pineapple. Oak adds notes of buttered toast and vanilla. The result is rich, refined and complex, a Chardonnay to linger over.

Murphy Goode Chardonnay 2002 Sonoma County, California
$16
Wine Enthusiast 90 Points
Dry, this is a wine of great structure and balance. The flavors veer toward lime custard, mangoes, apricots, vanilla and slate, with a gentle overlay of toasty oak. It's quite a sophisticated Chardonnay, and a great value.

Bonterra Merlot 2002 Mendocino County, California
$16
Wine Enthusiast 90 points
Rich and deep are the words that come to mind for this intensely flavorful Merlot. It's as full-bodied as a Cab, with the prettiest cherry and chocolate flavors and a smooth finish that turns blueberry.

Hogue Genesis Merlot 2002 Columbia, Washington
$18
Wine Spectator 90 Points
Firm, with a supple core of currant and blueberry fruit that lingers attractively on the fine-grained finish that lasts beautifully. Needs time to soften. Best from 2007 through 2012.

Chateau St. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Indian Wells Vineyard
$18
Wine Advocate 91 Points - Wall Street Journal Best Domestic Cabernet Under $20
Candied blackberries, waxy dark cherries, spices, tar, and licorice make up the mouth-watering aromatics. This outstanding wine is sultry, decadent, and intense. Its suave personality slathers the palate with lush, broad waves of black fruits and tar. It may not be complex but boy what pleasure it delivers! Drink this terrific value over the next 5 years.

Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley, California
$18
Wine Enthusiast 91 points -Editors Choice
This beautiful wine is the quintessential Alexander Valley Cabernet. It's soft and melted in texture, a gentle but complex wine with enormously rich blackberry, cassis and oak flavors. And this is a great price for the quality. Geyser Peak is at the top of their game.

Finca Sophenia Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Tupungato, Argentina
$17
Wine Enthusiast 90 points
If you like a dark, saturated wine with a ton of ripeness and richness, then this is it. The color is opaque, the bouquet full of rubber, blackberry and chocolate. It's intense stuff, with black cherry and cassis flavors preceding a finish dense with bitter notes, licorice and vanilla. Solid to the core.

Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz 2003 South Australia
$13
Wine Spectator 91 points
Thick, with a layer of black pepper over a mouthfilling gob of black cherry and licorice that cries out for grilled red meat. Drinkable now, better with some age. Best from 2008 through 2013.

Tintara Shiraz 2003 McLaren Vale, Australia
$18
Wine Spectator 90 Points
Plump, generous and beautifully supple, glowing with plum, blueberry and sweet spice aromas and flavors, with a touch of earth on the ever-so-slightly gamy finish. Spicy oak frames the long aftertaste. Best from 2007 through 2015.

Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend 2004 South East Australia
$18
Wine Advocate 91 Points
The dense ruby/purple-hued 2004 Sarah's Blend is composed of 62% Shiraz and the rest equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It offers abundant black cherry and cassis fruit in its smoky, earthy bouquet along with hints of licorice, dried herbs, and chocolate. Full-bodied, opulent, fruity, and long with surprising complexity as well as depth, it should be drunk over the next 3-4 years.

Water Wheel Memsie Cabernet-Shiraz-Malbec 2004 Bendigo, South Australia
$15
Wine Spectator 90 points
Smooth and generous, a lively style with juicy plum and blackberry aromas, lingering on the refined finish. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Drink now through 2010.

Chakana Reserve Malbec 2004 Mendoza, Argentina
$17
Wine Enthusiast 90 point
Attractive lavender and violet notes accent typical black-fruit aromas, and the result is a mix of syrup and fresh summer plums. The palate is exceedingly ripe as it bursts with blackberry flavors and a heavy underblast of chocolate. Tight on the finish, but only at first. Soon it expands to reveal toasty, burly flavors and tannins. Delicious and sporty.

Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2004 California
$18
Wine Enthusiast 90 Points
From vineyards in Lodi and Contra Costa County, an enormously enjoyable Zin that shows its hot climate origins, but maintains balance and integrity. The cassis, cherry, chocolate and oatmeal-raisin cookie flavors finish in a swirl of acidity and dusty tannins.

Rancho Zabaco Heritage Vines Zinfandel 2003 Sonoma, California
$16
Wine Enthusiast 90 points
Pop a steak on the grill and enjoy this robust wine. A blend of Dry Creek, Russian River, Alexander Valley and Knights Valley fruit, with a little Paso Robles thrown in for good measure, it's classic Zin, dry, fruity and peppery. Those cherry-berry flavors will sing against the charbroiled smoky richness of beef.

Di Majo Norante Sangiovese 2004 Umbria, Italy
$11
Wine Advocate 90 Points
One of the world's best values in Sangiovese is the 2004 Sangiovese IGT. Aged six months in large foudres, it offers up aromas of strawberries, black cherries, damp earth, spice box, and fruit cake. This expressive, medium-bodied, fleshy Italian red is meant to be drunk over the next 1-2 years. Drink now through 2007.

Falesco Vitiano Cabernet Merlot Sangiovese2004 Umbria, Italy
$12
Wine Spectator 90 Points
A wine with lovely balance and clean plum, berry and chocolate character, medium body and polished tannins. The perfect house wine--a great value. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2010.


Nice post, Australian shiraz tend to have a pretty high price to enjoyment received ratio and I see they're well represented here.
 

drizzt3117

Stylish Dinosaur
Joined
Aug 26, 2004
Messages
13,040
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14
My all time value favorite is Penfolds Bin 389. For $20 you get a very nice cabernet shiraz that is ageable, and 5 years in the cellar gets you complexity that would cost you $50 from Napa or $100 from France.

Some others that are sometimes available in that price range are from Chile, including potentially Don Melchor.

I'm also very fond of the Neal Family Zinfandel in the $20 price range, from Napa/Sonoma grapes. It's an awesome zin that's ready to drink with enormous flavor/complexity.
 

johnapril

Distinguished Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2004
Messages
5,600
Reaction score
11
Originally Posted by drizzt3117
My all time value favorite is Penfolds Bin 389. For $20 you get a very nice cabernet shiraz that is ageable, and 5 years in the cellar gets you complexity that would cost you $50 from Napa or $100 from France.

Some others that are sometimes available in that price range are from Chile, including potentially Don Melchor.

I'm also very fond of the Neal Family Zinfandel in the $20 price range, from Napa/Sonoma grapes. It's an awesome zin that's ready to drink with enormous flavor/complexity.


Penfolds 389. Thanks, man. I'll try it.
 

modsquad

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2004
Messages
297
Reaction score
0
Hey Drizz,

I have a Penfolds Bin 389 of 1998 vintage with the words "Drink Me In 2007" scrawled on the label because I wrote them there five years ago. Next New Years Eve I open the bottle. Of course, it hasn't exactly been in the cellar. On the counter is more like it, or in the cabinet next to the olive oil, but we'll see.
 

drizzt3117

Stylish Dinosaur
Joined
Aug 26, 2004
Messages
13,040
Reaction score
14
I imagine it should be pretty decent, even with the accelerated aging from the higher temperature it should be very nicely ripened. I heard that Penfolds broke out similar variants that were 20+ years old and they were marvelous at some dinner in Sydney, but that was just something I read on erp.
 

Mr. Checks

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2006
Messages
1,253
Reaction score
2
I tell my friends that they can always rely on Hogue and Chateau St Michelle for high-value wines. To tell the truth, although I love a splurge every now and then, I've become lazy and rely on these two brands.

Also like Waterbrook
 

carlhuber

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2006
Messages
132
Reaction score
0
Mark West, a Californian winemaker,
has a great little pinot noir for between $10 and $15....
Surprisingly good for such an affordable wine. My new favorite.
 

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