Wine & Spirits - Summer 2023 - 49

36
PLAYERS
WITH THE
MOST HITS
UNDER
$25
S
o what if your home team is stuck in
the basement of their division-
you've just moved to a new town with
a club at the top of the standings. They've hit
for so many extra bases in the last week that
it's time for something with bubbles-and
not a beer. Grab an All-Star sparkler for $25
or less, right in keeping with the mood of the
game, as are so many of the Value All-Stars in
the lineup this year. These 36 wineries have
earned the most recommendations in our
tastings for aff ordable, refreshing, delicious
wines. Here's why.
Reported by Alissa Bica, Patrick J. Comiskey,
Joshua Greene, Stephanie Johnson, Susannah
Smith and Corey Warren.
➤Santa Julia
MENDOZA
WINEMAKER:
Rubén Ruff o
FOUNDED: 1990
ANNUAL PRODUCTION:
200,000 cases
VINEYARD ACRES
OWNED: 2,842 in
total; 964 organic
FARMING
CERTIFICATIONS:
Letis (Organic), Veg
Argentina, Fair for
Life (Fair Trade)
VALUE HITS: 5
AVG SCORE: 88.8
AVG PRICE: $16.20
TOP SCORE: 91
Winesellers, Niles, IL
Santa Julia's a
dynasty team with
a conscience-
over 75 percent of
their 2,000 acres
of vineyards are
➤Zuccardi
UCO VALLEY,
MENDOZA
WINEMAKER:
Laura Principiano
VITICULTURIST:
Sebastián Zuccardi
FOUNDED: 2000
ANNUAL PRODUCTION:
75,000 cases
VINEYARD ACRES
OWNED: 700
VALUE HITS: 5
AVG SCORE: 91
AVG PRICE: $22.60
TOP SCORE: 93
Winesellers, Niles, IL
Sebastián Zuccardi's
winery speaks to his
intent-the building
itself is cement, not
to mention many of
the vats. He prefers
certifi ed organic,
while the winery is
certifi ed " Fair for
Life, " a program
managed by
Ecocert focusing on
responsible supply
chains. You may fi nd
some of their wines
in cans or kegs, but
look especially for
their 2022 Mendoza
Natural Malbec from
bottle-as it's fresh
and vibrant with
violet fl orals and
raspberry fruit.
the transparency
of neutral oak and
cement, blending
the " Q " range from
selected vineyards
around the region.
His wines off er a
chance to taste the
competitive spirit
that led him higher
and higher into
the Uco Valley in
pursuit of purity and
freshness, qualities
which the 2021 Valle
de Uco Q Malbec
shows in its holistic
elegance and wildblueberry
pop.
➤Concha
y Toro
Winemaker:
Marcio Ramírez,
for Terrunyo
FOUNDED: 1883
ANNUAL PRODUCTION:
5,432 (Terrunyo)
VINEYARD ACRES
OWNED: 2,947
VALUE HITS: 4
AVG SCORE: 90.64
AVG PRICE: $25
TOP SCORE: 94
Viña Concha y Toro
USA, Hopland, CA
The power hitter of
Chile, Concha y Toro
built its reputation
on the home-fi eld
advantage of their
long Pacifi c coast:
Andean snow melt
feeding a fruitgrower's
paradise.
They launched a
range of site-specifi c
Terrunyo wines in
2000, now made by
Marcio Ramírez, who
scored 94 points for
the stealthy blackcurrant
energy of
his 2020 Pirque
Terrunyo Cabernet
Sauvignon-at $25,
that's 43 percent
below the median
price for Maipo
cabernets. Sell off a
few cards from your
Topps collection to
buy a case.
➤Undurraga
Winemaker:
Rafael Urrejola
FOUNDED: 1885
VINEYARD ACRES
OWNED: 2,471 acres
VALUE HITS: 4
AVG SCORE: 91
AVG PRICE: $22.50
TOP SCORE: 94
Soilair Selections, NY
This was a sleepy
19th-century bodega
in the fl ats of Isla del
Maipo when José
Yuraszeck and the
Picciotto family took
it over in 2006. Their
top draſt choice was
Rafael Urrejola, who
helped them scout
vineyards far afi eld
in Chile. Urrejola's
Terroir Hunter wines
have put Undurraga
into Chile's major
leagues. It's farcoast
sauvignon
blanc that scored for
Urrejola this year-
the T.H. from Limarí's
Talinay Vineyard, a
block of pure white
chalk, is as fl inty and
elegant as the kind
of Pouilly-Fumé that
would cost you twice
as much.
➤Domaine
Maire & Fils
JURA
WINEMAKER:
Jacques Hauller
FOUNDED: 1632
ANNUAL PRODUCTION:
120,000 cases
VINEYARD ACRES
OWNED: 578
FARMING CERTIFICATION:
HVE (2020)
VALUE HITS: 4
AVG SCORE: 89.5
AVG PRICE: $22.25
TOP SCORE: 92
Boisset Collection,
St. Helena, CA
Even as the legendary
names in the
Jura follow the
pricing arc of
Burgundy just to the
west, there remain
incredible values
in the area, like the
SUMMER 2023
WINE & SPIR IT S
49
Wine & Spirits - Summer 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wine & Spirits - Summer 2023
