It’s the end of another crazy year. Again it was very different than a normal year, as the large wine tastings and festivals were cancelled, and instead of sampling 600-800 wines, our field of view was once again smaller. This year it was more in the neighborhood of 200-300. Some make a more memorable impression, and from those we present our 20 top wines from the past year.
As always this is based solely on our opinions, and we only have a staff of two. Value is the primary driver here, but having said that there are always wines that are simply too sublime not to include, even though they might strain the budget a bit. Our self-imposed limit is $100, however this list is comfortably in the affordable category and tremendous value bottles abound. You’ll find two for under $10, and many under $20.
Here are the wines. If you click on a highlighted wine’s name you’ll go to the detailed review.
1. 2018 Atlas Peak AVA Cabernet Sauvignon – the Atlas Peak label is now with Quintessential
Wines, and Bob Pepi is making the wines. They have a Napa Valley Cabernet which is beautiful, classic and has Napa floor fruit and finish. This wine is from Atlas Peak however, and is the absolute perfect picture of a Napa mountain wine. Dark purple red in color, it is complex with blackberry, blueberry, caramel, herbs and some briar. It’s the edge and energy that really sets it apart though, and this wine is just getting started. Great balance, fresh acid, a core of pure fruit and medium+ tannins round out a fabulous wine that will age effortlessly for the next decade+. Aged for 30 months in French oak. SRP of $79.99 and worth every penny (and more actually). This is spectacular.
2. 2017 Lucas & Lewellen Valley View Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – this juice is a dark purple red, and opaque. The nose rips out of the glass, and brings plum, currant, spice, oak, herbs,
caramel some savory and a touch of orange peel. This is seriously complex. On the palate there is more berry than plum. It comes across as a pure, core of vibrant fruit that races through the middle of this wine from start to finish. Spice wraps around fruit. It is medium to full bodied, with medium tannins and a long finish. That fruit powers through to the very end. Focused, precise and still smooth, this is a rare value, as it is a world class wine that can hold its own against pretty much anything, from any price point. Everything came together perfectly in this bottle. 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah, co-fermented. Grapes from the Valley View Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley. $34.99
3. 2017 Foppiano Russian River Valley Petite Sirah – Petite Sirah can be big and brooding, but
winemaker Nova Perrill strives to keep this signature wine of Foppiano elegant. He succeeds in a big way, crafting a wine with tons of blackberry and blueberry fruit along with tobacco and coffee cream. This is long and refined, but still has that richness you expect in Petite Sirah. Add in great balance and a long finish and you have a quality wine for a value price. $24.99
4. 2020 Quinta do Ameal Loureiro – from the Vinho Verde region of Portugal, this wine is light straw in color, with a nose of grapefruit and lemon. It is bright, but it also has nice texture from extended contact with the lees. It seems like a bigger wine than it is at 11.5% alcohol. This was one of my favorite white wines of the year, and at $18 it is an exceptional value.
5. 2016 Attilio Ghisolfi Barolo Bricco Visette – from the great 2016 vintage,
this is a wine of impressive depth. Vibrant red in color, it sports a nose of classic tar and roses. There’s a little savory quality and some herbs. It is full bodied and precise. Tannins are stiff and this needs to be decanted now, but can age for 25 years. It will be great. $89.99 SRP
6. 2019 Vintage Longbottom “H” Syrah – medium dark red, this juice has cherry notes, with vanilla and floral as well. There’s something herbal in the background. Smooth and fresh, the palate has red plum, berry and herbs. It’s medium+ in body. That core of fruit is what really comes through. Medium tannins lead to a smooth and enjoyable wine with a long finish. $29.99
7. 2018 Gran Famiglia Bianchi Malbec – made in the newer Enzo Bianchi winery in the Uco
Valley, in the Mendoza region of Argentina, this is a crazy value wine. Big at 14.8% alcohol, it’s still balanced and edgy. Fruit carries through from beginning to end, and the finish is very long. It’s still a baby and will age for many, many years. At an SRP of $29.99 it is a screaming value buy, and should cost at least twice that amount based on quality.
8. 2017 Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon – This vintage is a dark ruby color. It sports a nose of berry fruit, oak (subtle and well integrated), some herbal and spice notes, a hint of smoke and a touch of cherry. Throw in a little orange peel. This is really complex. Full bodied on the palate, the tannins are medium+. The wine has a nice energy and balance, and finishes extremely long. This received high scores from many critics, and it is well deserved. Need a bit of a sale price to get it under $100, which we did.
9. 2018 Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon – the wine is dark ruby in color, with a nose of
black cherry, ripe berries, some savory notes, a touch of green pepper and lots of vanilla. This is full bodied and smooth, with good length. For under $10 this wine represents excellent value, as well as a consistent go to bottle for an everyday Cabernet.
10. NV Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée – Bruno Paillard delivers Grand Cru quality for far less money with this Première Cuvée. Light golden color, it has a super fine bubble structure and a nose of apple, pear, peach and a hint of toast. The palate is clean and crisp, with nice texture and some white floral notes. Complex and delicious, this is a steal at $60.
11. 2019 Indaba Mosaic – the Indaba is a consistent value wine, year after year. 
The care and attention this South African red blend gets is more what you would expect in a classified Bordeaux. This version has 78% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance coming from Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It’s juicy, with gobs of fruit and lots of complexity. Unbelievable value under $10.
12. NV Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé Brut – always a great value, this is especially true with this year’s version. Medium salmon color, fine bubble structure and elegant red fruit create a delicious wine. Raspberry and strawberry are front and center. It is an unbelievable value at $13.
13. 2020 River Road Un-Oaked Chardonnay – light straw in color, this has a
vibrant nose of peach and pear, and it is off dry. You also get a hint of citrus. It’s clean and delicious and also a great deal at an SRP of $14.99. We sum this one up with “yummy!”.
14. 2018 Petrolo Torrione – the wine is a dark ruby in color. The nose is rich, and full of berries including blackberry and currant. There are floral notes, a touch of tobacco and some spice. On the palate it is also rich, with medium tannins and lots of fruit throughout. The balance is wonderful, with fresh acid and an edge to the wine that keeps it fresh. It finishes very long. Made from Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with the Sangiovese making up the bulk of the blend. As such it is a classic Super Tuscan, and a good one. $25-$30.
15. 2020 Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé – from the Pfalz region of Germany, this wine is a true Rosé,
made from a brief maceration before pressing of the Pinot Noir grapes. These Pinot Noir vineyards are specifically grown to produce the Rosé, it is not a second wine or a siphon off from Pinot destined to make red wine. Bright berry fruit and a beautifully clean, but still complex, profile mark an excellent wine. $14.99
16. 2018 Benza Vineyards Pinot Gris – from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, this was made from a north facing block of vines, and as such kept its acidity while ripening. The result is a light straw colored wine with a nose of apple, pear, floral notes and a whisper of sweetness. This has good body and texture, is smooth and filled with apple and citrus flavors. I really liked this wine. It has class. $24
17. 2018 Buena Vista “Chateau Buena Vista” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – from the
historic Buena Vista Winery, this juice is a classic Napa Cabernet with a core of berry fruit, lots of complex nuances, a great balance and a long finish. They make several different series of wines at Buena Vista, and this is from their “Chateau” line. Some are quite expensive, but here you get the Napa experience for under $40.
18. 2019 Shannon Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon – a dark red wine, this has a nose of berries, with some smoke and mint. It is full bodied, and the mid palate is rich with fruit. It stays that way through the finish, and that finish is pretty long. Tannins are medium and the overall wine is smooth throughout. Since it is pretty consistent year to year, you can consider this a go to wine when you want a good bottle without spending a lot. We found it for under $10, but $12 is a more realistic target.
19. 2018 Chloe Merlot San Lucas Vineyards – the grapes for this come from the San Lucas
Vineyard in Monterey County. The wine is a medium dark, ruby color. The nose has red plum, herbs, tobacco notes as well as some berry fruit hiding underneath. This is a complex nose, and it carries to the palate. The juice is full bodied, and the finish is long and satisfying. Mild tannins make for a smooth sipper. This is good. Very good. $13
20. 2017 Herdade de São Miguel Colheita Seleccionada Red – dark ruby red in color, this wine needs some time to open. But once it does it is pretty amazing with berries, oak, menthol, herbs and tobacco. It is rich and integrated. Full bodied, it also has excellent balance with medium tannins. Needs to be decanted. Crazy value at $15.
There you have twenty great value wines, all of which are well worth trying. There are, of course, many more that could have been included. That’s the best part about the wine world, it is broad and complex, and worth a lifetime of exploration.
We’ll mention one more wine before wrapping up, although it does not come in at our $100 per bottle limit, That is the 2018 Pascual Toso “Magdalena Toso”. This red blend, with Malbec being the primary grape, is just amazing. If you’re looking for something for a truly special occasion then this is your wine.
We’re looking forward to hopefully seeing the world return to a more normal state, and getting to the wine tastings and festivals that have been put on hold. We’ll toast to that.
A votre santé!
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