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Here are selected, value-oriented results from a large majority of the major California competitions of 2008, as compiled by California Grapevine — a respected wine journal. As usual, the wines have a “California” appellation if no other is specified.
Top-value red wines
Ballatore Rosso Spumante
Redwood Creek 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
J. Lohr 2007 Monterey “Wildflower” Valdiguie
Fetzer 2006 “Valley Oaks” Merlot
Fetzer 2006 “Valley Oaks” Shiraz
Cycles Gladiator 2006 Central Coast Syrah
Virgin Vines 2005 Shiraz
Top-value white wines
Tisdale n.v. Chardonnay
Barefoot n.v. Chardonnay
Virgin Vines 2006 Chardonnay
Sterling 2006 Central Coast Chardonnay
Barefoot Bubbly n.v. Chardonnay
Barefoot n.v. Pinto Grigio
Barefoot Bubbly n.v. Brut Cuvee
Barefoot Bubbly n.v. Extra Dry
Fetzer 2006 ‘Valley Oaks’ Pinot Grigio
Little Black Dress 2007 Pinot Grigio
Fetzer 2006 “Valley Oaks” Sauvignon Blanc
Bogle 2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Good-value red wines
Bonterra 2006 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
Cycles Gladiator 2006 Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
Bogle 2005 Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
Beringer 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Dancing Bull 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Hahn Estates 2006 Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
Bonterra 2006 Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon
Kendall-Jackson 2004 Meritage
Little Black Dress 2006 Merlot
Napa Ridge 2004 Napa Valley Merlot
Black Box 2006 Central Coast Shiraz
Korbel Brut Rose’
Good-value white wines
Bonterra 2006 Mendocino Chardonnay
Jekel 2006 Monterey Chardonnay
Kendall-Jackson 2006 Vintners Res. Chardonnay
Kendall-Jackson 2006 Vintners Res. Riesling
Korbel Blanc de Noirs
Korbel Russian River Natural
Korbel Brut
Korbel Sparking Chardonnay
Stay tuned for more top-scoring wines.
John Breitlow is a retired Winona State University speech professor who began learning about good wine in the 1950s while serving in Vienna, Austria, with U.S. armed forces.
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