As one who likes to buy great wines at a great price these are the top 10 wines of the 2023 that cost less than $25.00 with tax. Cheers to the producers of these fine wines that taste 2 or 3 times the price.
Well not even close on the number one this year. Tied for my highest rated wines at any price.
- 2021 Result of a Crush Syrah The Unnamed Series – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (11/26/2023)
Day 1: Ok just got a case and everyone loved it so need to buy 2 more for friends and family. This is now slam dunk for wine of the year. This one is off the charts. Funk, dark berries, stone, rose petals, graphite, exotic spices, blueberries and black pepper. Super complex and super long finish. Might be the best value of the last decade for me including the legendary Mr. B. which I sold out! 97 points
Day 2: This seems like on of those mystery bottles where they put a top end Reynvaan in the bottle. It is that good. The others excellent but not to this level. Roasted meats, mild funk, exotic spices, graphite, blueberries, dark cherry, black pepper and stone. This tastes amazing. Long finish. 97 points
Recommendation: No brainer buy a case. (97 points) - 2017 Result of a Crush Syrah The Unnamed Series – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (6/20/2023)
Day 1: This is the best bottle of this vintage on pop and pour. Reynvaan wine plus 1. Roasted meats, savory spices, white pepper, green olives, minerals, raspberries, smoke and earth. This tastes like a $100 bottle of wine. As the leading expert in the world on these wines this is a legit: 96 points
Day 2: By far the best bottle of this wine to date. Day 2 is not as intense and concentrated but still offers and over delivers on the price. Roasted meats, green olives, stone, black pepper, red currants and smoke. Medium plus finish. I could drink this wine everyday and be satisfied. 95 points
Recommendation: Buy it! (96 points) - 2017 J. Christopher Pinot Noir Basalte – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains (7/21/2023)
Day 1: Maybe the most underrated Pinot on Cellar Tracker. The 87-point average is going way up. First of all love the Diam 5 cork. Funk, spice, strawberry, raspberries, smoke, minerals, forest floor and burnt toast. Complex overload here. This is for sure top 10 wines of the year material. Reminds me a lot of the 2007 White Rose from St. Innocent that my Minneapolis Crew made famous after the “critics” paned it. 94 points
Day 2: Funk, cherry, strawberry, minerals, earth, forest floor, mushrooms and burnt toast. Without a doubt the best Pinot for $25 I have tasted in over a decade. Should have bought more! 95 points
Recommendation: Find this and buy it if you like Burgundian Pinot Style without the $100 plus price.
Diam 5 closure. Everyone go to the Diam closures. (95 points) Thomas Liquors $25.56 - 2021 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (4/9/2023)
Natural cork. 13.9% alcohol
Day 1: Sauvignon Blanc shinning on this one. Floral, grapefruit, grass, minerals, spice and stone orchard fruit. Medium plus finish. Good acidity. Very nice wine and rivals the 2019. 93 points
Day 3: This was all about the SB on day 1 and 2 but now the Semillon shines. Cantaloupe, honey, apricots, grass, minerals, grapefruit and stone. Super complex wine that really should be aged. While it showed great on a pop and pour day 2 was not nearly as good but day 3 shows amazing long term potential. 94+ points
Recommendation: This might turn out to be better than 19 and 20. (94 points) Sunfish Cellar Still Available - 2021 Result of a Crush Christmas Cuvée – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (11/3/2023)
Day 1: Very nice and agree with Clark on the score. Floral, mild funk, red currants, spices, minerals and black pepper. Medium plus finish and complex wines for $25. Can’t beat it. 92 points
Day 2: These wines almost always improve with time. This is no exception. Game, funk, stones, minerals, black pepper, darker fruits and earth. Super complex wine and medium plus finish. $25.00 for the win! 93 points
Day 3: Beautiful on day 3 with black pepper, smoked meats, dark berries, smoke, gravel, earth, stone and floral notes. Long finish. 94 points
Recommendation: One of the better values in the wine world under $25 with shipping as part of the wine club. (94 points) $24.60 Result of a Crush - 2011 Clarendon Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Sandown – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon (2/7/2023)
Day 1: Again, another stellar bottle. Funk, blueberries, dark cherry, menthol, spice, floral and baking spices. Concentrated wine and long finish. Excellent. 93 points
Day 2: Funk in the house with blueberries, dark cherry, menthol, crush rock, spices, earth and pencil lead. This wine is amazing. I get why some don’t like it but they probably are not into the more funky wines and should probably stick to Napa 15% plus wines. This wine is amazing. 94 points
Day 3: Still amazing and so much for certain wines not good from an off vintage. This wine is a star. Funk, charcoal, spice, minerals, dark berries and menthol. Just a wonderful wine and for $30 one of the better deals in the last few years. Of course sold out via WTSO. 93 points
Recommendation: Buy a case immediately if ever seen on WTSO again. (94 points) - 2018 Result of a Crush Syrah The Unnamed Series – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (8/11/2023)
3 Result of a Crush Wines; 8/9/2023-8/12/2023: Day 1: Good to see others enjoying this wine. As the leading expert on these wines this is off the charts again. Black pepper, plum, dark cherry, spice, minerals and earth. Some bacon fat on the finish. This is more of an Aussie type wine which I also love as the 17 is more Northern Rhone like. This is an easy case purchase. 93 points
Day 2: Solid again. Menthol, black pepper, crushed rock, violets, dark cherry, plum and scorched earth. One of the better deals out there along of course with the 17 of this wine. 94 points
Recommendation: Might be sold out! (94 points) - 2015 Result of a Crush Red Wine – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (7/17/2023)
Day 1: Outstanding effort. One of the better under $25.00 wines on the market and tastes like the much more expensive Reynvaan wines. Minerals, funk, stone, green olives, roasted meats, spice and dark currants. This easily would be top 3 in a blind tasting with $100 Syrah’s. 94 points (94 points) - 2019 Result of a Crush The Unnamed Series Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon / Cabernet Franc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (5/27/2023)
Day 1: While WS gave this 94 points my reviews moved way more of this wine. A stunning Bordeaux Blend that offers the elegance of Bordeaux with the fruit of Washington. Minerals, dust, cherry, plum, baking chocolate and floral notes. Super complex wine for $25 and you will not find anything from Bordeaux at that price point this great. 93 points
Day 2: Maybe a tad bit less impressive as day 1 but solid. Minerals, cherry, scorched earth, plum, dark chocolate and tobacco. Very complex wine and tremendous value. 92 points
Day 3: This is even better on day 3 and really a long-term ager. Bordeaux like on day 3 and this is why you need to wait on certain wines. Cigar, plum, cherry, minerals, earth, dark chocolate and gravel. Medium plus finish and concentrated wine. A superstar. 94 points
Recommendation: Amazing!!! (94 points) - 2021 Tensley Syrah – USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (3/25/2023)
Another rockstar effort. Black pepper, blackberries, spices, tar, black licorice and floral notes. The best wine in the world for the money right now. $22 with tax from my St. Paul wine shop friends. 94 points
Day 2: Great. Not as good in the Syrah stem but in the Bordeaux stem much better. Menthol, black pepper, blueberries, spice, black licorice, tar and floral notes. While a touch not as good as day 1 nothing wrong with this wine. Got a kick out of someone saying these need 5 years of age as that is just plain silly. These are great out of the gate. 93 points
Recommendation: Buy! (94 points)
Honorable mention:
- 2019 Ramey Chardonnay Fort Ross – Seaview – USA, California, Sonoma County, Fort Ross – Seaview (12/26/2023)
Diam 10 Closure
Day 1: Shells, spice, pear, sour apple, apricots and minerals. Medium finish and nice acidity. Excellent. 93 points.
Day 2: Excellent again featuring minerals, shell, sour apples, apricots, dust and mild oak. Complex offering and with a friends discount under $30.00 which is an absolute steal. 93 points
Day 3: Holding strong. Shells, saline, sour apples, spice, dust, minerals, pear and mild oak. Medium finish and good acidity.
Recommendation: One of the better values in California in terms of Chardonnay. A top 10 under $30 this year. (93 points)
- 2020 Stéphane Usseglio Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Vin du Pape – En Memoire a Jean XXII – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2/15/2023)
WTSO Premium Wine Club French Wines; 2/15/2023-2/17/2023 (WTSO Zoom): WTSO Premium Wine Club: French Wines 2/16/2023
70% Grenache/20% Syrah & 10% Mourvèdre
15% Alcohol & Natural Cork
Day 1: Very nice with white pepper, raspberries, floral, earth, Garrigue and spices. Young but shows lots of potential. 92 points
Day 2: Young but shows long term promise. Black pepper, raspberries, cherry, rose petals, spices, stone and Garrigue. Medium plus finish and very concentrated. Good acidity. 92+ points
Day 3: This is really showing well young and my favorite wine of the tasting. Classic Garrigue, cracked pepper, raspberries, ripe strawberries, spice, floral and stone. 93 points
Recommendation: This is inbetween Classic CDP & Modern CPD without the heat that some offer. Very nice wine and will cellar for 10 plus years. (93 points)