QPR 2000

As another year reaches its end, amid the special excitement that accompanies the calendar "rolling over" to the Year 2000, it's time to review all the wines I've tasted during the past 12 months, seeking to pick out those that struck me as the year's best wines of exceptional value or "quality-price ratio," known as "QPR" for short.

This year I've decided to break out my favorites in a couple of different ways. First, in honor of our long tradition of focusing on wines of exceptional quality for affordable prices, the list below features the 25 best wines of the year that I was able to buy for less than US$10. In a time when wine prices seem to be rising even faster than most other consumer goods, it's reassuring to know that a good single-digit bottle of wine is still a possibility!

Then, in a separate list, I've enumerated my 25 best wines of 1999 in terms of sheer drinking pleasure, regardless of price.

For more details on specific wines, every entry is hotlinked to my original reviews.

Gazela non-vintage Vinho Verde ($4.99)

Viña Borgia 1998 Campo de Borja ($4.99)

Zaca Mesa 1997 Santa Barbara County "Z" Gris ($5.99)

Dominio de Eguren 1997 Protocolo (Spain) Red Table Wine ($5.99)

San Francisco de Mostaxal 1995 Cachapoal Valley (Chile) "Vino de Eyzaguirre" Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon ($6.99)

Wyndham Estate 1996 Bin 555 South Eastern Australia Shiraz ($7.99)

Berger 1997 Kremstal (Austria) Grüner Veltliner ($7.99/1 liter)

Castelvero 1996 Barbera d'Asti ($7.99)

D'Arenberg 1996 Red Ochre McLaren Vale (Australia) Red Wine ($7.99)

Laurel Glen 1997 REDS California Table Wine ($7.99)

Casa Castillo 1998 Jumilla Monastrell ($7.99)

Chateau Pitray 1996 Cotes de Castillon ($8.99)

Les Hauts de Chambert 1996 Cahors ($8.99)

Cline 1997 California Zinfandel ($8.99)

Valle dell'Asso 1997 Galatina Rosso ($8.99)

Bearitage non-vintage California Red Table Wine ($8.99)

Luis Felipe Edwards 1996 Colchagua (Chile) Cabernet Sauvignon ($8.99)

Il Poggio 1997 Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore ($8.99)

Melini 1996 Borghi d'Elsa Chianti ($9.49)

Ca' del Solo 1997 Malvasia Bianca Monterey White Wine ($9.49)

Tomassi 1995 Valpolicella Vigneto del Campo Rafael ($9.99)

Carmen 1996 Rapel Valley (Chile) Reserve Merlot ($9.99)

Beni di Batasiolo 1996 Barbera d'Alba ($9.99)

Domaine de l'Ecu 1998 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie ($9.99)

Hop Kiln 1996 "Marty Griffin's Big Red" California Dry Table Wine ($9.99)

A word about availability: I purchased all these wines at retail stores in and around Louisville, Ky. I have no way of knowing their availability in other parts of the world or from online merchants; but in seeking any wine of interest, I always recommend starting with a good wine shop in your own community. Don't be shy about asking the management for help. A friendly and knowledgeable wine merchant can be your best friend in your effort to find wines of interest.