Outstanding Wines for $15 or less
The hunt for quality wine is made more challenging when price is taken into account, but finding value adds to every wine lover‘s pleasure, no matter what the budget may be. To assist you in this search, we have highlighted more than 50 wines that offer great value from among the wines tasted by our editors in 2005. Eleven of these wines impressed us so strongly that we included them in the Top 100; they are indicated in bold type.
Score Wine Release Price Cases Made
93 Buehler Zinfandel Napa Valley 2003 $15 1,200
92 Château Cabezac Minervois Cuvée Arthur 2002 $12 2,083
92 Evans & Tate Chardonnay Margaret River 2003 $15 9,000
91 Argyle Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2002 $13 8,512
91 Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc Sonoma County 2004 $15 30,000
91 Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County 2004 $13 78,000
91 Ledgewood Creek Sauvignon Blanc Suisun Valley 2004 $10 250
91 Château Maris Minervois 2003 $10 5,000
91 Château Maris Syrah Minervois La Livinière La Touge 2002 $14 4,200
91 Palliser Sauvignon Blanc Martinborough Pencarrow 2004 $14 *400
91 Hnos. Sánchez Romate Pedro Ximénez Jerez $15 1,500
Cardenal Cisneros NV
91 Quinta de Roriz Douro Prazo 2003 $13 *2,000
91 Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough $12 *5,000
Vicar‘s Choice 2004
91 Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2005 $13 20,000
91 St.-Urbans-Hof Riesling QbA Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 2004 $11 15,000
90 Bodegas Agnusdei Albariño Rias Baixas $13 1,680
Campus Stella 2003
90 Allandale Sémillon Hunter Valley 2002 $15 800
90 Paul Autard Côtes du Rhône 2003 $14 5,000
90 Babich Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2005 $13 85,000
90 Adega Cooperativa de Borba Touriga Nacional $10 1,200
Alentejo 2002
90 Chateau Souverain Sauvignon Blanc Alexander Valley 2004 9,468
90 Clos de los Siete Mendoza 2003 $15 10,000
90 Crossroads Chardonnay Hawkes Bay $14 1,000
Destination Series 2003
90 Fairview Goats do Roam In Villages $13 12,000
Red Coastal Region 2003
90 Gordon Brothers Merlot Columbia Valley 2002 $15 2,561
90 Bodegas Hidalgo Manzanilla Jerez La Gitana NV $11/500ml 3,000*
90 Jardin Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch 2004 $13 5,500
90 Lake Chalice Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2005 $14 16,500
90 Leacock‘s Madeira Rainwater Medium Dry NV $13 NA
90 Leasingham Riesling Clare Valley Bin 7 2004 $15 *950
90 Long Flat Riesling Eden Valley 2004 $13 1,500
90 Lunelli Chardonnay Trentino Villa Gentilotti 2000 $15 12,500
90 Massolino Chardonnay Langhe 2002 $14 300
90 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz Victoria Billi Billi 2002 $15 *2,000
90 Marc Ollivier Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie $13 *550
Domaine de la Pépière Clos des Briords 2003
90 Château d‘Oupia Minervois 2003 $12 3,000
90 Domaine Pélaquié Côtes du Rhône-Villages Laudun 2003 $15 800
90 Château de Perron Madiran 2001 $10 *1,300
90 Pettavel Shiraz Victoria Boolaroo 2003 $14 *1,000
90 Rocky Gully Riesling Frankland River Dry 2004 $13 *750
90 Hnos. Sánchez Romate Cream Jerez Iberia NV $15 1,500
90 Selaks Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough $15 *8,000
Premium Selection 2005
90 Stonehaven Riesling South Australia $9 3,000
Winemaker‘s Selection 2004
90 Bodegas Terrazas de los Andes Cabernet Sauvignon $15 26,000
Mendoza Reserva 2003
90 Bodegas Terrazas de los Andes Malbec $15 32,000
Mendoza Reserva 2003
90 Three Rivers Gewürztraminer Walla Walla Valley $12/375ml 536 Late Harvest Biscuit Ridge Vineyard 2003
90 Tohu Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2004 $15 35,000
90 Quinta de Ventozelo Douro Reserva 2000 $14 7,000
90 Villa Maria Chardonnay Marlborough Private Bin 2003 $13 *2,000
90 Vinum Petite Sirah Clarksburg Pets Wilson Vineyards 2003 $13 5,950
90 Water Wheel Memsie Bendigo 2004 $14 10,000
* Indicates cases imported ; N/A means not available
