On Wine: Our 20 Best Buys of 2005...So Far

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by Fred McMillin
for July 2005

Wine

Our 20 Best Buys of 2005...So Far

Prologue

Northern hemisphere money is being pumped into southern hemisphere viticulture, where wine quality is rising faster than costs. Hence, we expect our list to show plenty of...

Down Under Thunder

So here are the winners, the top Chardonnay bargain, the top Merlot, etc. The wine with the most bang for the buck is listed last. (Name of importer is shown in parentheses.)

All results are coded, so like you, I have no idea what we'll find.

Our Top Twenty Bargains

Rank		The Wine
20th		Viogner, Don Miguel Gason, Argentina, (Pasternak), 2003, $12
19th		Gentil, Hugel, Alsace, France, (Wildman), 2003, $11
18th		Rhone-Style Red, Cotes Du Consumnes, Charles Mitchell, Paso Robles, $9, (A 1997 from my cellar)
17th		Pinot Noir, Rincon Privado, Argentina, 1999, $10 (Gaucho)
16th		Pinot Grigio, Meridian, California, 2000, $11
15th		White Rhone, Cotes Du Rhone, Louis Bernard, France, 2001, $11, (Boisset)
14th		Rioja, Campo Viejo Crianza, (Allied Domecq), Spain, 1999, $10
13th		Tawny Port, Benjamin, Australia (Beringer Blass), Non-Vintage, $12
12th		Semillon, Jacob's Creek, Australia, (Pernod Ricard), 2003, $8
11th		Merlot, Barton & Guestier, Pays d'Oc, France, 2002, $7
10th		Shiraz-Cabernet Blend, Jacob's Creek, Australia, (Pernod Ricard), 2002, $8
9th		Vouvray Chenin Blanc, Georges Meugey, Loire, France (Boisset USA), 2003, $11
8th		Mourvedre, Chateau La Paws, San Francisco Bay, 2002, $11
7th		Chenin Blanc, Bogle, Clarksburg, 2003, $7
6th		White Dessert, Rudolf Muller Spatlese, Germany (Winesellers), 2002, $9
5th		Cabernet Sauvignon, Reynolds, Australia, (Trinchero), 2002, $8
4th		Barefoot Bubbly Chardonnay Champagne, California, Non-Vintage, $7
3rd		Chardonnay, Falling Star, Argentina, (Wildman), 2004, $5
2nd		Sauvignon Blanc, Crane Lake, California, 2003, $4
1st		Shiraz, Leaping Horse, Ironstone, Lodi, 2001, $5

Comments

Six from Europe, seven from California, and seven from the southern hemisphere, four Australian and three from Argentina.

Last year our list had only two from below the equator. Those investments are paying off!

And a Parting Chuckle

Sign on a wine delivery truck: The driver carries no cash. He is MARRIED!

About the Writer

Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents. For information about the wine courses he teaches every month at either San Francisco State University or San Francisco City College (Fort Mason Division), please fax him at (415) 567-4468.

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