This list is for those of you who know my passion for finding wines that are a good value and excellent quality, or as many wine writers and critics put it QPR... Excellent Quality to Price Ratio. I am keeping it to forty wines because I think that 100 is just too exhaustive. ( Is that redundant?) I will start with number forty and work my way to number one. I have tasted many wines in 2009 and have also missed many. I am sure that there is a plethora of wines out there that I did not meet that deserve to be on the list and I am sorry I missed them. Perhaps next year.

I will also make sure that the wines you read about here are available for purchase. I was extremely disappointed in the Wine Spectator’s choice for the number one wine of 2009 simply because the winery has been out of it for at least 3-4 months. I can’t get my hands on any and neither can anyone else. Why put a wine on the list that no one can get? I guess we will just have to take their word for it and believe that the Columbia Crest 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is worthy of being #1. Columbia Crest is a great producer and this will help their reputation, but #1? If you are one of the lucky ones to have tried this, please drop me an e-mail and give me your thoughts. I would love to share them with my readers. The wines that I am about to list should be easy to get your hands on and if your store does not carry them they should be able to order them for you. Blah, blah, blah. Enough chatter, now lets get to the list...

　

#40

Non-vintage The Purple Wine Company Blue Jean Red... $6.99

I think this is crazy good for only seven bucks. Fairly good weight for a wine of this price with nice cherry and dark fruit tones, soft yet structured tannins and a nice somewhat short finish. You cannot expect too much more for this price point. A real crowd pleaser.

#39

2008 le Ja Ja De Jau Sauvignon Blanc ... $7.99

I find a lot of sauvignon blanc boring. They are simply wet and have alcohol. I love Sancerre and New Zealand sauv. blancs because many of them show sharp acidity and a lot of personality. It is refreshing to find a sauvignon blanc for under nine bucks that shows some zippy flavors, good acidity and personality. This sauv. blanc has a load of flavor with excellent acidity that drives the flavors through the palate and finish. A remarkable wine for eight bucks.

#38

2008 Folie a Deux Manage a Trois ... $10.99

This blend of zinfandel, merlot and cabernet sauvignon is one of the most popular wines in any store. Very soft yet rich displaying notes of raspberries and plum that are intense enough to let you know you got your monies worth. A very smooth and pleasing wine.

#37

2007 Hacienca Dl Plata Malbec ... $9.99

This is a pretty good little malbec for only ten bucks. I have found a lot of good ones in this price range but only a couple have stood out head and shoulders above the others. This one displays some nice dark fruit notes with the chalky tannins that make malbecs stand out. Not a huge wine but nice and balanced with a smooth and pleasant finish. One of the best in this price range.

#36

2008 Paso a Paso Verdejo ... $9.99

If you haven’t tried a verdejo yet this would be the place to start. Golden in color with honey, lemon and grapefruit on the nose. Nice minerality on the palate with notes of honied lemon and roasted nuts. Good acid with nice notes of mango and banana on the back end and a nice lasting finish. A very balanced and well made white.

#35

Non-Vintage Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava ... $7.99

As far as bubbles go, I do not believe you will find a better value. I am a big fan of the Cristalinos but this one shows a little more weight and nuttiness then the aforementioned bubbles. Good bubbles, not small but certainly not too large. The are persistent and the wine has excellent flavor. Not bad for only eight bucks.

#34

2007 Vartanyan Carousel Red ... $11.99

I just discovered this small winery up in Bellingham Washington, and I have to tell you they are producing some outstanding wines. This little gem shows some nice smokey plum on the nose with red currants and sweet cherry tones on the palate accented by notes of black pepper. The fruit is fresh, not ripe yet smooth with hints of blackberries and cherry on the back end. This wine is very well made, and if you met the wine maker you would know as I do that there is a lot of price in this wine.

#33

2008 Oisley & Thesee Sauvignon Blanc Touraine ... $7.99

This is ahead of the Ja Ja for only one reason... the minerality. I love tasting the terroir in my wines and this has it. That is what makes chardonnay from Chablis so interesting, the flinty aspect of the wine which only comes from the place it is produced. This sauvignon blanc shows a lot of character. Good minerality, balance of acid and fruit making it a nice match with shellfish, but also is full enough to compliment fowl.

#32

Marietta Old Vine Red Lot # 50 ... $13.99

Not very complex but very pleasing on the palate. Sweet tannins that are soft yet structured. Dark fruits including plum, boysenberry and black currant notes. The flavors maintain a full body throughout the palate with a persistent finish. This is a "Be Careful" wine. You have to be careful or you will drink way too much!

#31

2008 Monte Oton Garnacha ... $7.99

A grenache that shows all the characteristics of a twenty dollar bottle for only eight bucks, are you kidding? Yes, this does all that. Dark fruit notes with an excellent spicy finish. Tannins are smooth and structured. This is an outstanding wine and would be higher in the list if it showed just a little more complexity.

#30

2007 The Crusher Viognier ... $12.99

This varietal is starting to catch on fire, and this is one that you can try for a reasonable price that is an excellent representation of what you are in for. Rich papaya, apricots and honey on the nose. Very round and viscous on the palate displaying notes of kiwi, peach, melon and white flowers. This wine flirts with famous Condrieu.

#29

2006 Coyote Canyon Tres Cruces Horse Heaven Hills ... $17.99'

Mike Andrews has a tremendous talent as a wine maker and this is the first of three of his wines that make it in my top wines for 2009. Very reasonably priced, this blend shows a tremendous balance of fruit and acidity. Slightly herbaceous on the nose with hints of oak and brambleberry. Sweet tannins on the palate very silky with notes of dark plums, pomegranate and dark cherries. The finish leaves you thinking about what flavors you just experienced.

#28

2008 San Juan Vineyards Madeleine Angevine Estate Grown ... $11.99

This wine is going to be offered at this price for at least the next six months, and it is well worth it. Nice bright acidity with notes of grapefruit, gooseberry and fresh cut herbs. This wine is absolutely made for shellfish and is delicious enough to enjoy solo like I did while I was cooking a fabulous chicken dish. The only problem is that there was none left to enjoy with the chicken... Bummer.

#27

2007 Cline Cellars California Syrah ... $9.99

Very rich and silky with notes of plum and anise. No smoke on this syrah, but the flavors are intense enough to make you forget that it is a syrah that you are drinking. This is a HUGE bang for the buck and even though syrah is losing it’s appeal for now, I believe this one will hold it’s own.

#26

2008 Isabel Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough New Zealand ... $9.99

I do not know how long this price will hold up, but if you can get your hands on it, it is worth the effort. This baby is loaded with gooseberry. In fact, it is like dipping a spoon into a jar of gooseberry jam without the extreme sweetness. Very smooth with excellent weight. The finish is quite pleasant and leaves gooseberry all over the palate. A must try!

#25

2006 Montoya Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ... $15.99

It is very difficult to get any good cab from Napa Valley for under twenty bucks, but here it is! Eucalyptus and dark fruits on the nose. The wine fills the palate with dark fruits, not super rich but well structured. A very smooth and pleasing finish that is decently long with a slight tannic grip on the finish. If you are looking for a well built cab for under eighteen bucks, this would be my choice.

#24

2007 Stephen Vincent Crimson ... $9.99

Do you want a wine that is perfect with grilled meats? This is hands down the perfect choice in my humble opinion. A blend of cab and syrah this wine has intense black currants and cassis notes with huge doses of black pepper and spice. It is a perfect compliment to foods and many have told me that they love it all by itself. The tannin structure is firm yet very approachable so this makes perfect sense.

#23

Lucien Albrecht Cremant Brut Rose Non-vintage (Organically Farmed) ... $19.99

A beautiful little rose from NE France. Wonderful nose of watermelon and cherries. Excellent small bubbles with notes of red delicious apples, watermelon and cherries. This is one of the best values you will find in rose out of France. If you haven’t tried rose bubbles yet, I believe that now is the time!

#22

2007 Red Rock Winery Merlot... $10.99

For eleven bucks you will be hard pressed to find a better bottle of merlot. Soft tannins excellent fruit without being over-the-top. Serious cherry and boysenberry notes with hints of dusty cedar notes on the back edge. The finish is pretty serious for a wine of thisprice. The only slight flaw I could detect and it is up for debate is a slight candied edge on the back end just before the finish. Some will like this and some might find it only slightly off putting. It is hardly detectable and does not take away from this wine as an incredible value.

#21

2005 Terra Blanca Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Washington ... $14.99

Caramel, green bell peppers and currants on the nose. Tart red currants hit you right up front but immediately turns into much deeper tones of black currants, black licorice and hits of black pepper and spice. Nice toasty notes on the back end with an intensity of fruit that lingers for some time. This wine has excellent balance and excellent acidity. It will only get better over the next five years.

#20

2008 Montoya Pinot Noir, Monterey California... #13.99

I dare anyone to find a Pinot of this caliber for under twenty bucks. Very well made and a pleasant surprise. Not as Burgundian as past vintages but very elegant . Ripe strawberry notes dominate on smooth tannins with good acid that is not over-bearing. This pinot is a perfect match for ham or salmon and is easy on the pocket book.

#19

2003 Foris Fly-Over Red, Rogue Valley Oregon ... $9.99

I am a little nervous about putting this on my list because supplies are starting to run a little thin. If I were you I would run out and get a few bottles of this gem because the next vintage is ‘07. This blend of cab, merlot and cab franc shows loads of blueberries and plum on structured but smooth tannins. This wine has some weight yet is easy to drink. Be careful, because of the age this wine has a little sentiment on the bottom of the bottle. A steal at this price.

#18

Argiolas Costamolino Vermentino Sardinia, Italy ... $13.99

Zippy and zesty on the palate with loads of tropical fruit notes that never become heavy. Very refreshing and versatile this wine is a great match with everything from seafood to meals with white sauce to Asian foods and sushi. If you want to stretch out your palate horizons, this would be a good place to start.

#17

2007 Acacia Red Blend ... $10.99

A blend of syrah, grenache, mouvedre, cinsault and viognier this Rhone style blend out of California is incredible in it’s depth and structure. Some smoky plum notes come through framed by silky rich tannins. Notes of red raspberry from the grenache along with a nice spiciness from the mouvedre make this wine not only easy to drink but complex and able to age over the next couple of years. A real sleeper at a great price.

#16

2007 Henry’s Drive Pillar Box Red, Padthaway South Australia ... $10.99

This wine has a wild nose of mixed fruits and mint. Meaty on the palate with spice box, blueberries, dark raspberries and cassis. This wine appears to be hedonistic but holds itself back giving you a rich fantastic red that is not over-the-top. A killer red for only eleven bucks.

#15

2007 LES CRAPONS RASTEAU COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES... $14.99

There is a host of great wines coming out of Southern Rhone from the 2007 vintage. Robert Parker Jr. said in the Wine Advocate that the 2007 vintage out of this region is the best he has seen in his thirty + year career. This Cotes Du Rhone Villages is a testament to this assessment. This wine shows a load of fruit yet it is restrained enough not to be a fruit bomb. Intense blackberry and plum notes come through on the front of the palate and expand nicely through the mid with nice hits of black pepper and some old world notes that remind you that you are drinking a wine from France. The tannins are rich and smooth and extend into a long and pleasing finish. At fifteen bucks this wine is a steal and will age nicely over the next five to seven years. However, I believe that you will enjoy this wine immensely as it is now.

#14

Chateau de Vaugelas Le Prieure Corbieres, France ... $11.99

A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan. A pleasing nose of smoked bacon cured with brown sugar and hints of brambleberries. On the palate it showed nice spice, dark berries and anise backed by balanced acidity and structured tannins. The finish was smooth and earthy. This is everything I look for in a well made wine from southern France.

#13

2006 Mount Baker Vineyards Proprietor’s Limited Release Tempranillo ... $14.99

Believe it or not, you can get your hands on this wine right now for only $9.99 and that is the best deal I can find in wine right now and I will tell you why. This wine shows incredible complexity with toasty cassis and boysenberry tones on structured earthy tannins. This baby is very drinkable now but will rest for a couple of years only to get better.

#12

2004 Coyote Canyon Sangiovese ... $17.99

This is an absolute gem for a mere fourteen bucks. I am a big fan of this winery and you will be too once you get your hands on a few of their wines. This sangiovese is very intriguing and complex. A wonderful nose of blueberries and anise this wine fills your palate with flavors of raspberries and blueberries stirred with black licorice. The fruit is driven by a nice balance of acidity that makes the flavors expand and intensify into a long and pleasing finish. This wine has a lot of life left in it and can be enjoyed over the next 3 to 5 years. If you haven't tried a sangiovese from Washington State, this would be an excellent place to start. Coyote Canyon is situated in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA and many award winning wines have sourced their fruit from Mike Andrew's vineyards.

#11

2007 Lander-Jenkins Spirit Hawk Chardonnay ... $11.99

Every once in awhile I crave a huge creamy buttery chardonnay. Most times one needs to spend over twenty bucks to get one of this quality. Huge in the mouth this chard is borderline hedonistic. Butter, creme brulee, pineapple, and toast dominate the palate followed by a finish that is quite persistent. This wine is not over-the-top, is well balanced but very rich without being over oaked. This is crazy good for only twelve bucks.

#10

2007 Charles & Charles Red, Columbia Valley Washington ... $10.99

It’s not very often I get stumped when I Goggle a wine. I was amazed that I could not find out anything about this wine. When it was presented to me I was told that Charles Smith was one of the Charles but for the life of me I cannot remember who the other Charles is. While writing this review, it was too late to call the sales rep to ask, so I will just have to say that one of the wine makers behind this label is the cult wine dude... Charles Smith of K Vintners and Charles Smith Wines. This particular wine is 50% Syrah and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. If I were to try this bottle in a blind format I would be hard-pressed to guess that there was syrah in it. This is an incredibly delicious red, with rich fruit. Dark fruit on sweet tannins with an excellent balance of acidity that drives the fruit flavors through the mid-palate into an excellent and lingering finish. I am sure that if I really sucked the air through this wine and gave it some intensive thought I would detect some Syrah notes but at first taste I did not get any smoke or bacon fat flavors, mostly boysenberry and plum notes with hints of anise and mocha. This wine stands out as a wine that would go for, let’s say fifteen bucks or more. At twelve dollars it is a steal. A perfect solo, it also is structured enough to match up with grilled meats or a bowl of hearty stew. I love this wine despite the very ugly label, a perfect example of the saying, "Do not judge a book by it’s cover."

#9

2008 Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc Marlbough New Zealand ... $9.99

The Wine Spectator gave this wine a "90" and I give it a "92". Crazy good for a sauvignon blanc and a redunculous price. This sauv blanc shows excellent razor sharp acidity that makes the kiwi, lime and lemon tones race around your mouth like a carnival ride. I tried this once after it had been open for three days and it was still very respectable. Imagine a white wine with racy fruit and a lingering finish that will almost outshine any meal for only ten bucks. Get real, and get your hands on as much as you can.

#8

2006 Mont Baker Vineyards Cabernet Franc ... $16.99

I am a firm believer that cab franc is one of the best marriages with oak. It picks up wonderful toasty vanilla and mocha tones. If you don’t believe me, you have to try this effort from Mount Baker Vineyards. Very elegant and well made, thisis super smooth yet very serious in structure. Dusty dark fruit on the nose followed by notes of brambleberry, vanilla and mocha on sturdy tannins that arevery approachable. This wine is very memorable especially for under twenty bucks. Tuck a few away, because this baby will only get better.

#7

2008 Goulart Clasico Malbec ... $9.99

Malbec has to be one of the hottest categories in wine right now... this is no secret! It amazes me how many good wines are coming out of Argentina at ridiculously low prices. There are several dozen great malbecs out there for around ten bucks that would make anyone feel they made an excellent choice. When I first tasted Goulart Clasico Malbec (The 2007 version) it had been opened for three days. I was blown away. The wine was concentrated with excellent dark fruit, solid yet silky tannins and a finish that lingered amazingly long for a wine of this price. Opened three days, ten bucks... are you serious? Now comes the 2008 vintage... What can you expect?

This winery has a nice story behind it. In 1915 Marshall Goulart planted two vineyards, one malbec and one cabernet sauvignon in what is now the Lujan de Coyo appellation. Marshall's interests were more towards his countrymen and he became a famous figure in Brazil for his role in Brazil's Constitutional Revolution. Later his granddaughter Erika ran across some old land titles and discovered the property her grandfather owned in Argentina. In 1988, in honor of her family heritage she brought the vineyards back to life....excellent old vine fruit. What we now have is superb quality fruit being translated into top notch wines.

Back to the 2008... In my humble opinion, it blows the 2007 out of the water (Maybe a touch of hyperbole) Wow! This wine exhibits the same excellent dark fruit qualities with a slightly spicy edge to it. The mid-palate explodes in your mouth with vibrant acidity driving the fruit flavors to a crescendo that carries into a finish that hangs on and on. This rivals some twenty dollar malbecs that I have tasted. I do not want to waste a ton of superlatives... Bottom line, this is great juice, you will love it, and I would suggest that you get your hands on as much of the 2008 as you can.

#6

2007 Klinkerbrick Zinfandel, Lodi California ... $17.99

This is one of the most elegant and powerful zins you will find for under twenty bucks. Give it some time to breath and it displays dark ripe raspberries on the palate with good doses ofblack pepper and hints of anise that linger on the palate way beyond what you might expect. There are a lot of zins of this caliber out there for over twenty-five bucks. Don’t waste a cent, just find the Klinkerbrick.

#5

2006 San Juan Vineyards Syrah ... $18.99

Amazing but true, the local winery in the San Juan Islands is producing some serious juice. This is thanks to the tireless efforts of winery owner Yvonne Swanberg and her gifted winemaker, Chris Primus. This syrah has everything you look for in a well built wine. Smoke and bacon fat with notes of plum and blueberry framed by good acid and well structured tannins. This wine will only get better with two to three years of age on it. This is a serious wine and reminds me of some of the French reds from Cotes-du-Rhone... No Kidding.

#4

2008 Damilano Barbera D’ Asti ... $14.99

Are you serious? A wine from northern Italy of this caliber for less then thirty bucks? Here it is and ready to pluck off the shelf. Fairly ripe for a wine from this region but don’t worry, ithas the guts you are used to from a wine made from the barbera grape. Round in the mouth with notes of cassis, pluand dark berries that are enveloped by leathery tannins that are firm yet approachable. This wine could use a little time in bottle, but if you are impatient, drinking it now will be quite enjoyable. I would pay twenty plus bucks for this and not feellike I am being ripped off.

#3

2006 Powers Reserve Syrah, Cougar Vineyards Wahluke Slopes ... $19.99

I love the reserve line from Powers Winery. This syrah is quite a mouthful for just under twenty bucks. ( I know I am pushingthe envelope here). An intense nose of smoky blackberries and dark plums. On the palate it hits you with seriously intense fruit of blackberries, candied cherries and black pepper and black licorice notes on the back end that coat your palate and hang out for some time. One of my first choices for top syrah out of Washington State would be Ex Umbris from Owen Roe Winery but it happens to be well over twenty bucks. For under twenty, this would be my first choice.

#2

2007 Morgues Du Gres Galets Rouge Costieres De mimes Rouge .... $14.99

Robert Parker Jr. calls the 2007 vintage in Southern Rhone the vintage of his lifetime. This peaked my attention. If you recall, Parker was a huge fan of the '82 Bordeaux vintage. There were many critics who disagreed with him. It turned out that the '82 vintage became a highly sought after Bordeaux putting Parker on the map. He has proved over time that his palate and judgment is quite accurate. This is not to say that you have to agree with all of his scores. Many times I find that a wine that he gave a huge score to is quite average. So before you go out and invest in a wine, like a doctor I suggest that you get a second or third opinion, especially if it is an expensive wine. I recently tried this wine while I was watching the second game of the Lakers Houston series in the playoffs. I was disgusted with the play of both teams as they showed very poor sportsmanship. My mood was sour but not this wine. It was exceptional! At first it was a little closed, but as it opened up it became a wine to put away or enjoy immensely now. A very beefy, smokey nose with hints of flowers and pepper. Very full in the palate with dark berries, olives, lavender and some charcoal tones. Good acidity and freshness with a hint of mint on the backside from beginning to end. The wine coats the palate with a finish that lingers long after the last swallow.

# 1

2007 Coyote Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills ... $17.99

If you are not in the Coyote Canyon Wine Club, I would encourage you to become a member a.s.a.p. so that you can get your hands on some of this cab before it is all gone. Mike Andrews has hit a home run with this baby using fruit from his stellar vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. A very classic cab that is silky and seductive. On the nose you get soft cedar, black raspberry and anise notes with maybe slight whiffs of blueberry. When it hits your palate you know right away that you are in for a treat! Round yet structured in the mouth with black fruit, dark cherries, raspberry, blueberries and hints of anise that expand in the mid-palate and melt seamlessly into a silky smooth long, long finish with hints of old world leather on the back end. This wine is like a favorite song that you love to hear over and over again and you play the lyrics in your mind as the day goes on. You will remember this one and you will get excited when you are getting ready to uncork yet another bottle. The price on this wine is ridunculous considering the quality of the juice, so snap up as much as you can in October before it is all gone.

　

Well, there it is. The best forty I have tasted under twenty this year. I hope that all of you have a great New Year and may all of you have a happy and successful 2010! Stan