Prologue
America loves an underdog.
The Rest of the Story
Talk about underdogs. In a large, blind tasting we paired
a group of less expensive wines with bottles costing exactly
twice as much...a $10 Merlot versus a $20 Merlot, etc. Here
are the underdogs that came closest to scoring as well as
their pricier partners.
The Scoring
If the expensive bottle received 100 votes, and the underdog
60 votes, then the underdog came within 100 minus 60 = 40%
of the top or better bottle.
How Close To The Top:
- 41% from the top Chardonnay by Oceana (Boisset), '97,
$10
- 31% from the top Sparkler by Mawby (Michigan), NV, $17
- 22% from the top Merlot by Jekel, Arroyo Seco, '94,
$22 (pictured)
- 15% from the top Pinot Noir by Rosemount, Australia,
'97, $10
- 7% from the top Viognier by R.H. Phillips, Dunnigan
Hills, '97, $12
- 2% from the top Cabernet Sauvignon by Rutherford Ranch,
'93, $11
Underdogs that actually whipped the expensive entry:
- 6% higher Chardonnay by Bonterra (Fetzer), '97, $11
- Our Top Underdog: 20% higher than the expensive bottle
(we don't name the losers), Sauvignon Blanc by Kenwood,
Sonoma County, '97, $10
Note:
For much more about our Top Underdog,
see the forthcoming April 12, 1999 WineDay article
that says "No Deadwood at Kenwood."
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