ALAN’S TOP TWENTY….

UNDER TWENTY….

AND THEN SOME!!!!!.

1. Altos Las Hormigas: 2007 100% Malbec 14.6% alc.. Mendoza,Argentina $9.99.

This is the brain child of 4 renowned Italian winemakers; look for the Dr. Pepper on the nose!

There are 100's of Argentinian Malbec's flooding the market. Most are very good and all under

$20. This is one of my favorites

2. The Magnificent Wine Co. House Wine: 2006 Blend = Cabernet 73%, Merlot 10%, Syrah 8%,

Sangiovese 5%, Malbec and Cabernet Franc 2% each. i.e. Everything but the kitchen sink!

13.9% alc. Columbia Valley, Washington $10.99

3. Frontier Red: Fess Parker Winery: 2006 15.5% alc. Santa Barbara, Ca $10.99

Another kitchen sink entry and my favorite all time tailgating wine!

Blend= Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Mouvedre, Cinsault and Carignane; don't ask me what

% it is -- a family secret. This is an amazing wine for the price. Plenty of bang-for-the-buck!!

It comes with a spectacular finish too.

4. Colosi Rosso: 2006 IGT Sicily 100% Nero D'Avola 12.5% alc. $10.99

This nice Italian is spicy and herb on the nose with a very earthy flavor. Great with pasta or

pizza.

5. Lady Bug Red Old Vines: 2007 Lolonis Winery, Redwood Valley, Ca. 14.5% alc. $11.99

Another blend= Zinfandel Cabernet, Merlot and Carignane; great high powered red with lots

of juicy flavors and a good finish.

6. Angus the Bull: 2005 Australia 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 14.5% alc. $12.99

These grapes are all hand-picked from Victoria and S. Australia creating yet another powerhouse Aussie Red, nice blend, wonderful finish!

7. Les Traverses de Fontanes: 2006 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 13.5% alc. Languedoc, France

Textbook Cab aromas and flavors, great value $12.99

8. El Coto Crianza: 2004 100% Tempranillo, 13.0% alc. Rioja, Spain $12.99

Crianza means "young and fresh". This could be your everyday drinking red wine, soft tannins

with a smooth finish!

9. Altos De La Hoya Finca Hoya De Santa Ana: 2006 14.0% alc. Jumilla, Spain $12.99

Blend= 92% Monastrell (here's an obscure grape variety for you; only in Spain) 8%

Garnacha (Grenache to the French); excellent aromas of exotic spices and pepper-great berry

flavors; a great Spanish treat; worth exploring all Spanish wines. There are some great values!

10. Porcupine Ridge: 2007 100% Syrah South Africa 14.5% alc. $12.99

Marc Kent one of SA's leading wine makers; this can rival any high $$$ Northern Rhone wine. It has

great lively and intense flavors; you won't be disappointed.

11. Vajra Langhe Rosso: 2007 Piedmont, Italy 13.0% alc. $12.99

Blend= Nebbiolo, Fresia, Barbera, Dolcetto; this wine has "soul and personality" much like the

folks of Northern Italy. Aromas of cherries and plums, earthy complexity with a touch of acid.

Good even if there is any leftover (I doubt it) the 2nd day.

12. Kanonkop Kadette: 2007 14.0% alc. South Africa $14.99

This is a traditional Bordeaux blend of Cab. Merlot, Cab. Franc, and Petit Verdot. Funky, earthy

nose with dark berry flavors.

13. Lavradores de Feitoria Tres Bages; 2005 13.5% alc. Doura Valley, Portugal $14.99

Another Bordeaux blend but from Portugal; this tastes like dark cherry jam and if you close

your eyes, you might think that it is an expensive Bordeaux. All the grapes are sourced from 15

different estates.

14. Tres Picos: 2007 Borsao, Spain 15.0% alc. 100% Garnacha $14.99

This is the polar opposite of the great Rioja Tempranillo; very earthy flavors that grow on you.

15. Ancient Vines Zinfandel: 2007 Cline Vineyards Sonoma, Ca. 14.5% alc. $14.99

100% Zinfandel; anything that Cline touches is excellent!! These old vines make for a rare

taste treat; flavors of dark berries and toasted caramel with great spicy oak character.

My mouth is just watering at the description. I may have to take a break and go get a bottle!

There Mouvedre is outstanding as well.

16. Vinum Cellars Pets: 2007 Clarksburg, Ca 100% Petite Sirah, 14.0% alc. $14.99

There is nothing "petite" about this wine; big bold flavors that linger in the mouth long after

you've had a sip.

17. Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Creek: 2004 Victoria, Australia 13.5% alc. $14.99

100% Shiraz; comes with raspberry, mocha, vanilla aromas; ripe flavors and soft tannins.

Make this a fabulous wine with great power and balance.

18. Domaine Calvet-Thunevin;Cuvee Constance: 2004 Vins de Pays Des Cotes

Catalanes, France 50-50 split between Grenache and Carignan; 15.0% alc. $15.99

This wine should come with a warning APHRODESIAC! Yes this has caused some women

to have a sexual reaction to this wine; the wine maker Jean Luc has attested to this on his

blog; very well balanced with tar and roasted meat on the nose. Can go with most anything

from Roast Lamb to Chocolate.

19. 7 Deadly Zins: 2007 Grafton, Ca 14.5% alc. 100% Zinfandel $17.99

Zinfandel has always been uniquely California. You cannot go wrong with any Zin

under $20. This is just a prime example; all are loaded with spicy flavors and have incredible

power finishes that make them contagious. I can never drink just one glass.

20. Yering Station: 2006 Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia 100% Pinot Noir 13.5% alc. $17.99

First established in 1838 and reverted to a dairy farm before coming back to wine. This is an

unbelievable Pinot for the money. Hint of dark chocolate nose, bright juicy finish.

It is hard to stop at 20. I could go on for another dozen, but I will save that for another installment.

I will give you a bonus of 4 wines that I have to have in my cellar and then, in all fairness, I will give you 4 of my favorite whites under $20.

1. Saintsbury Garnet: 2004 Caneros Pinot Noir 13.5% alc. Napa Valley, Ca $17.95

(The price may have gone up since last I bought.) This is one of my everyday wines.

Napa has come a long way with its Pinot's and this is a good example; lush fruit with a

ever-so smooth finish!

2. Sonoma Zinfandel: 2004 Seghesio Family Vineyard 15.2% alc. $14.95

This grand old family was the first to make Zin in Sonoma. The 100 year old vines show

amazing power yet are well balanced despite high alc.. Content has some age in French Oak

to add to that long ,seductive, silky finish.

3. Tait The Ball Buster: 2004 15,0% alc. Barossa Valley, Australia $15.95

This is a crowd please, a blend= Shiraz 60%,Merlot 20%,Cabernet Sauvignon 20%

I love blends. They add great complexity to a wine and this is no exception. This wine

is not for the faint hearted and has overwhelming power.

4. Negre 2004 Scala Dei: Priorat, Spain 14.5 alc. 100% Grenache $10.00

Translates:"stairway to heaven" just as powerful as the Zepellin song; actually named for the

terraced steep slopes where the vines reside. The vineyard has operated since the 12th Century.

It is best to decant before serving. In fact, any wine over14% alc. can benefit from decanting. It just

opens up the wine and will take your taste buds to new heights. This is a rich dense pleasure

velvety on the tongue with a generous finish. I don't expect this wine to stay at this price, so

buy it soon if you can find it. The Priorat is a relatively new Spanish Appelation and the wine

makers there are known for using innovative techniques.

WHITES:

1. Domaine De La Pepiese Muscadet Sevre et Maine: 2007 Loire Valley, France $10.99

12.0% alc. Marc Ollivier is a great wine maker who makes this ripe and racy wine.

Lime, green apple, peach and pear flavors with a hint of minerality make for a truly dry wine

2. Dr.L: Middle Mosel,Germany 100% Riesling 8.5% alc.. $11.99

Balanced with refreshing acidity; peach apricot flavors don't laugh at the alc. content. This

is DELICIOUS; great with spicy foods.

3. Rustenberg Chardonay: 2006 14.0% alc. Stellenbosch, South Africa $17.99

This vineyard goes back to 1682. Yes they were growing grapes then. Remember that South

Africa is not the desert. It's not far from Antarctica, so very cool and conducive to growing

Chardonay grapes. This is better than many $$$ Ca and Burgundy wines.

4. Huguet De Can Feixes: 2007 Pendes, Spain 12.0% alc. $14.99

In my quest to find the unusual grape variety, here is one for you; Parellada 90%, Macabeo

8%, Chardonay 2%. This vineyard is located some1,400 ft above sea level. The wine has peach

and melon flavors, with a hint of minerality and a spicy finish; for a different and refreshing

change, try this white.

Note: If you cannot find the vintage listed don't worry. These wines are consistently good year in and year out. The prices may change slightly from store to store, but remember that you can get case discounts of up to 20% in most places.