QPR 2002

As the first of another year rolls around, it's time again to review my top wine value picks of the year just past: The wines I tasted during 2002 that stood out for their combination of quality and value, an intangible factor that online wine enthusiasts often abbreviate as "Quality-Price Ratio" or, for short, "QPR."

This year, despite continuing publicity about rising prices in some of the most sought-after wine categories, I'm delighted to report that there was still plenty of good wine to be had for relatively affordable prices. Here, then, are my top 50 wines of value (under the $10 range) for 2003.

My selections, perhaps somewhat influenced by personal tastes, ended up top-heavy with red wines - 38 of them, plus 11 whites and one rosé - which is roughly similar to the proportions on last year's list.

The changes in geographic distribution since last year, however, are interesting, and may offer some insight into changing market trends for value wine. Fifteen of the year's top value wines were from Italy and 13 from France, reversing last year's order of finish that saw French wines lead the value derby.

In an even more noteworthy shift, six of the top-value wines of 2002 were from Argentina and three from Chile. No wines from South America made it onto my value list the previous year. The rest of the 2002 list broke out this way: four from the U.S. (three California, one New York); four from Spain; two from Australia; and one each from New Zealand, Austria and South Africa.

Here is the complete list, presented in ascending order of price. At the bottom of the page, you'll find the same wines sorted by country or region.

Santa Julia 2001 Torrontes ($5.99)
Aromatic and unusual scent, perfumed exotic flowers and spice with an overtone of spearmint. Fresh and slightly sweet.

Domaine de Bordeneuve 2000 Merlot Vin de Pays d'Oc ($6.99)
A crowd-pleaser, simple but fresh and abundantly fruity, nicely structured with soft balancing acidity.

Codirosso 2000 Chianti ($6.99)
Modest but appealing, simple and a bit soft, a pleasant quaff at a bargain-basement price.

Domaine du Pouy 2000 Vin de Pays des Côtes des Gascogne ($6.99)
Pleasant, forward pear and floral aromas. Crisp and fresh, a natural with food.

Vino de Eyzaguirre 1999 San Francisco de Mostaxal Colchagua Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($6.99)
Fresh and surprisingly well structured with acidity and light tannins, it could pass for a modest Bordeaux.

Santa Julia 2001 Mendoza Malbec ($6.99)
Fresh tart-cherry flavor is balanced by ample, sharp acidity, making it a natural with food.

Pergolas Crianza 1997 Valdepeñas Old Vines Tempranillo ($6.99)
Nothing too fancy here, but it's an appealing wine and offers a lot for a low-end price.

Casa Castillo 1999 Jumilla Monastrell ($7.99)
Earthy black fruit with pleasant nuances of toast and coffee. Good fruit, good structure, seems ageworthy - remarkable value.

Leasingham 2001 Bin 7 Clare Valley Riesling ($7.99)
Tasty lime scent with a whiff of bananas. Crisp and dry, tart, tangy citrus in a long, clean finish. Remarkable bargain.

Placido 1999 Chianti ($7.99)
Tart black fruit flavors are well structured with fresh acidity, making a good food wine and a fine value.

San Francisco de Mostaxal 1999 Vino de Eyzaguirre Colchagua Valley Merlot ($7.99)
Juicy and full, bright fruit and fresh acidity. Surprisingly balanced and interesting for a wine of this price.

Calina 2000 Reserve Carmenère ($7.99)
Fresh and clean, pleasant black-fruit flavors and snappy acidity. Surprising structure and balance for a wine at this price.

Borsao 2000 Campo de Borja ($7.99)
Ripe raspberries and fragrant black pepper; flavor follows through with a mouth full of ripe berry fruit. Soft and fruity flavor profile makes it a crowd-pleaser.

Château de Campuget 2000 Côstieres de Nïmes ($7.99)
Spicy red-fruit aroma pleasantly reminiscent of cherry cordial. Fresh and ripe, a hint of bitter tannins in the finish. Unusual complexity for a wine of this price.

Laurel Glen 2000 REDS California Red Table Wine ($7.99)
Forward blackberry and raspberry aromas; spicy berry flavors structured with crisp fresh-fruit acidity for balance. A good-value favorite.

Louis Téte 2000 "Le Pot" Beaujolais Villages ($7.99)
Full and grapey, fresh and bright, a characteristic Beaujolais "bowl of fruit."

Louis Jadot 2001 Beaujolais-Villages ($7.99)
Ripe and full, a beautiful expression of the Gamay grape. Particularly good value at this discounted price.

Di Majo Norante 2001 Terra Degli Osci Sangiovese ($7.99)
Caramel and brown sugar and mixed spice, pleasantly reminiscent of holiday fruitcake. Soft but sufficient acidity for balance. A simple, easy quaff.

Cline 2000 "Oakley" California Vin Rouge ($7.99)
A lot of flavor for a low-end priceSo fruity that it seems sweet at first, but finishes unsweet and appropriately tart.

Pierre Boniface 2000 Apremont Vin de Savoie ($8.99)
Apples and pears plus a hint of fresh green peas on the nose and palate. Crisply acidic, light in texture but full in flavor.

Altos Las Hormigas 2000 Mendoza Malbec ($8.99)
Black fruit, leather and a distinct "horsey" scent of the barnyard. Earthy, organic and complex, it's not for the faint of heart, but I like it.

Smoking Loon 1999 California Syrah ($8.99)
Warm and plummy, a whiff of black pepper and a hint of orange peel. Soft and simple and a bit sweet, it's an easy quaffing wine if not one for contemplation.

Càntele 1997 Salice Salentino Riserva ($8.99)
Big, forward fruit flavors, with acidity and tannins generating a bit of heat on the pleasantly bitter finish.

Domaine de la Brune 2001 Coteaux du Languedoc ($8.99)
This tasty value wine offers pleasant scents of black pepper and warm, plummy fruit with a hint of anise.

Ca' del Solo 2000 California Big House Red ($9.39)
Attractive scents of spicy black plums and aromatic vanilla. Ripe and full in flavor, black fruit and spice.

Boccadigabbia 1999 Rosso Piceno ($9.49)
Spicy black cherries and a hint of caramel, full and ripe, on the robust side, with tart acidity and firm but palatable tannins.

Librandi 1999 Cirò Rosso Classico ($9.49)
Ripe plummy fruit and distinct "barnyard" character, thoroughly enjoyable ... assuming you like reds in a "rustic" style.

San Fabiano 1999 Chianti ($9.49)
Classic Chianti aromas of fresh black fruit, spicy oak and a hint of burnt sugar. Black cherries and a citric tang provide good balance on the palate.

Francesco Boschis 1999 "Pianezzo" Dolcetto di Dogliani ($9.99)
Heady floral and earthy scents with pleasant "barnyard" notes. Black fruit and lemony acidity with a whiff of something intriguingly akin to blue-veined cheese.

Allegrini 1999 Valpolicella Classico ($9.99)
First-rate Valpolicella, with full black-cherry aromas and hints of spice. Fresh, tart cherry flavors and crisp acidity make it a natural at the table.

Mas de Gourgonnier 1999 Les Baux de Provence ($9.99)
Earthy black fruit with distinct but muted "barnyard" notes. Ripe and tart flavors, fragrant pepper and zippy acidity in a long finish.

Le Pigeoulet en Provence 2000 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse ($9.99)
Plums, pepper and spice mingle in a balanced and quaffable wine, with appropriately acidic structure to make it an excellent food match.

Alamos 2000 Mendoza Bonarda ($9.99)
Ripe and juicy, warm and plummy; full and soft and slightly sweet, a very accessible wine and a good match with roast beef.

Penfolds 2001 Koonunga Hill South Eastern Australia Chardonnay ($9.99)
Pineapple and a discreet whiff of butter on the nose and palate. Round and relatively rich, fruit and oak both make contributions in balance.

Chateau La Roque 2001 Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint Loup Rosé ($9.99)
Pleasant but subtle, herbs of ProvenceFlavor laced with white pepper and a pleasant light bitterness in the finish.

Fairview 2001 Goats Do Roam Red Table Wine ($9.99)
Jammy fruit aromas with hints of spice and licorice. Full, plummy and ripe, tasty fruit and keen acidity, an interesting table wine of real value.

Freie Weingärtner 2000 Terrasson Thal Wachau Grüner Veltliner Federspiel ($9.99)
Characteristic "stoney" quality and crisp white fruit; citric tang and minerality persist in a long, clean finish.

Zenato 2001 Pinot Grigio delle Venezie ($9.99)
Pleasant melon and citrus scents, textbook Pinot Grigio. Crisp and appealing white-fruit framed by a refreshing acidic snap.

Tiefenbrunner 2001 Pinot Grigio delle Venezie ($9.99)
Appetizing grapefruit and attractive white flower notes; fresh, fruity and tartly cleansing.

E. Guigal 2000 Côtes-du-Rhône ($9.99)
Pleasant fresh-fruit aromas of berries and plums with fragrant black pepper. Ripe and full, not complex, but all its parts are in the right places; a fine food wine.

Falesco 2001 Vitiano Umbria ($9.99)
Simple but pleasant aromas, black fruit and sweet brown sugar. Tart and rather tannic. Despite its modest pretensions, this is a wine with good potential that does best with a little cellar time.

Monte Antico 2000 Toscano ($9.99)
Black-cherry aroma, characteristic of Sangiovese. Full and ripe, fruit and lemony acidity in balance. A fine food wine, as a Tuscan red ought to be.

Chateau Bonnet 2000 Bordeaux ($9.99)
Characteristic young-Bordeaux scents, aromatic cedar and disctinctive currant aromas. Good benchmark Bordeaux.

Graffigna 1999 Tulum Valley Malbec ($10.49)
Delicious ripe raspberries and spicy vanilla. Big berry fruit and lemon-squirt acidity in a flavor profile that reminds me of a fruity Zinfandel.

Botromagno 2001 Gravina ($10.49)
Aromatic scents of almonds and banana oil add exotic notes to fresh white fruit. Crisp and citric, palate-cleansing lemon-lime and a long, clean finish.

Terra Rosa 1999 Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon ($10.99)
Made from Argentine grapes by a U.S. producer. Appetizing scents of juicy currants and spice. Fresh and clean fruit with a grace note of oak. Balanced and well made.

Tresantos 2000 Tierra del Vino de Zamora ($10.99)
Warm and plummy fruit and a whiff of dark chocolate. Big, ripe and lingering, with black-cherry and chocolatey oak flavors that amplify the nose.

Zenato 1999 Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($10.99)
Dried-cherry aroma, typical of the region, gains interest from distinct notes of cinnamon and allspice. Ripe and spicy with crisp, fresh acidity in an appetizing flavor that's balanced and long.

Allan Scott 2001 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($10.99)
Delicious aromas, juicy lime and herbaceous green chile-pepper, clean and fresh. Tart and bright, snappy citrus with appetizing green chiles in the finish.

Salmon Run 2001 New York Johannisberg Riesling ($10.99)
Real Riesling character in a simple but balanced wine. Soft fresh-fruit sweetness well balanced with firm, crisp acidity in an appealing wine.

ARGENTINA: Alamos 2000 Mendoza Bonarda ($9.99), Altos Las Hormigas 2000 Mendoza Malbec ($8.99), Graffigna 1999 Tulum Valley Malbec ($10.49), Santa Julia 2001 Mendoza Malbec ($6.99), Santa Julia 2001 Torrontes ($5.99), Terra Rosa 1999 Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon ($10.99).

AUSTRALIA: Leasingham 2001 Bin 7 Clare Valley Riesling ($7.99), Penfolds 2001 Koonunga Hill South Eastern Australia Chardonnay ($9.99).

AUSTRIA: Freie Weingärtner 2000 Terrasson Thal Wachau Grüner Veltliner Federspiel ($9.99).

CHILE: Calina 2000 Reserve Carmenère ($7.99), San Francisco de Mostaxal 1999 Vino de Eyzaguirre Colchagua Valley Merlot ($7.99), Vino de Eyzaguirre 1999 San Francisco de Mostaxal Colchagua Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($6.99).

FRANCE: Château de Campuget 2000 Côstieres de Nïmes ($7.99), Chateau Bonnet 2000 Bordeaux ($9.99), Chateau La Roque 2001 Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint Loup Rosé ($9.99), Domaine de Bordeneuve 2000 Merlot Vin de Pays d'Oc ($6.99), Domaine de la Brune 2001 Coteaux du Languedoc ($8.99), Domaine du Pouy 2000 Vin de Pays des Côtes des Gascogne ($6.99), E. Guigal 2000 Côtes-du-Rhône ($9.99), Le Pigeoulet en Provence 2000 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse ($9.99), Louis Jadot 2001 Beaujolais-Villages ($7.99), Louis Téte 2000 "Le Pot" Beaujolais Villages ($7.99), Mas de Gourgonnier 1999 Les Baux de Provence ($9.99), Pierre Boniface 2000 Apremont Vin de Savoie ($8.99).

ITALY: Allegrini 1999 Valpolicella Classico ($9.99), Boccadigabbia 1999 Rosso Piceno ($9.49), Botromagno 2001 Gravina ($10.49), Càntele 1997 Salice Salentino Riserva ($8.99), Codirosso 2000 Chianti ($6.99), Di Majo Norante 2001 Terra Degli Osci Sangiovese ($7.99), Falesco 2001 Vitiano Umbria ($9.99), Francesco Boschis 1999 "Pianezzo" Dolcetto di Dogliani ($9.99), Librandi 1999 Cirò Rosso Classico ($9.49), Monte Antico 2000 Toscano ($9.99), Placido 1999 Chianti ($7.99), San Fabiano 1999 Chianti ($9.49), Tiefenbrunner 2001 Pinot Grigio delle Venezie ($9.99), Zenato 1999 Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($10.99), Zenato 2001 Pinot Grigio delle Venezie ($9.99).

NEW ZEALAND: Allan Scott 2001 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($10.99).

SOUTH AFRICA: Fairview 2001 Goats Do Roam Red Table Wine ($9.99).

SPAIN: Borsao 2000 Campo de Borja ($7.99), Casa Castillo 1999 Jumilla Monastrell ($7.99), Pergolas Crianza 1997 Valdepeñas Old Vines Tempranillo ($6.99), Tresantos 2000 Tierra del Vino de Zamora ($10.99).

U.S. (CALIFORNIA): Ca' del Solo 2000 California Big House Red ($9.39), Cline 2000 "Oakley" California Vin Rouge ($7.99), Laurel Glen 2000 REDS California Red Table Wine ($7.99), Smoking Loon 1999 California Syrah ($8.99).

U.S. (NEW YORK) Salmon Run 2001 New York Johannisberg Riesling ($10.99).

I purchased all these wines at retail wine shops in and around Louisville, Ky., and the prices listed are the actual retail price I paid; pricing may vary in other parts of the world.

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 any wine of interest or, failing that, to find a good similar alternative.