Courtesy of Riboli Estates Group
Wine Deals
by Winebounty Team| Jan 04, 2023

Before 2022 gets too far behind, we wanted to highlight the “Best Buys” from some of the major Top 100 Wine Lists of 2022.  Retailers are preparing to get “out with the old and in with the new”, so it might be a good time to shop around.

We’ve included the Top 10 wines ($40 and below) from each list. If you see fewer than ten wines, it means we listed all wines within that price range.

In total, there are 50 “Best Buy” wines listed below and the breakdown by country is as follows:

Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of wines making up the USA are from California and the vast majority of those wines are from the Central Coast. I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again, there is A LOT of value in the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties! Indeed, within this price range, California Central Coast wines claimed the Top 2 spots in Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Best Buys list, the Top 3 spots in Wine Enthusiasts Top 100 Wines lists, and the only non-French wine listed on Jeb Dunnuck’s Top 100 Wines list. Happy Hunting! Oh, and if you’re still trying to figure out how wine ratings work for each critic, don’t forget to check out our handy Wine Rating Encyclopedia.

Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Best Buys of 2022

  • (#1) Highlands 41 2020 Black Granite Red (Paso Robles) 91 pts. / $15
  • (#2) Harken 2020 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay (California) 90 pts. / $15
  • (#3) Jean-Luc Colombo 2021 Cape Bleue Rosé (Mediterranée, France) 90 pts. / $15
  • (#4) Geyser Peak 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (California) 90 pts. / $14
  • (#5) Rack & Riddle NV Brut Sparkling (California) 92 pts. / $15
  • (#6) CVNE 2021 Rosado (Rioja, Spain) 90 pts. / $15
  • (#7) Colomé 2021 Torrontés (Salta, Argentina) 90 pts. / $12
  • (#8) Yalumba 2021 The Y Series Viognier (South Australia) 91 pts. / $15
  • (#9) Biutiful NV Brut Nature Sparkling (Cava, Spain) 90 pts. / $15
  • (#10) OZV 2020 Old Vine Estate Grown Zinfandel (Lodi, California) 92 pts. / $15

James Suckling’s Top 100 Value Wines of 2022

  • (#1) 2021 Kunstler Hochheimer Holle Riesling GG (Rheingau, Germany) 99 pts. / $17
  • (#2) 2019 K Vintners Motor City Kitty Syrah (Washington) 98 pts. / $36
  • (#3) 2020 Les Heritiers Saint-Genys Morgon En Ruyere (Beaujolais, France) 98 pts. / $24
  • (#4) 2019 Manincor Mason Pinot Nero Alto Adige (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy) 98 pts. / $28
  • (#5) 2020 El Enemigo Chardonnay (Mendoza, Argentina) 96 pts. / $34
  • (#6) 2022 Pewsey Vale Riesling (Eden Valley, Australia) 96 pts. / $18
  • (#7) 2021 Tesch Karthäuser Riesling Trocken (Brown Label) (Nahe, Germany) 97 pts. / $20
  • (#8) 2020 Mission Estate Syrah Hawkes Bay (Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand) 94 pts. / $18
  • (#9) 2021 Emmerich Knoll Riesling Loibenberg Smaragd (Wachau, Austria) 99 pts. / $40
  • (#10) 2021 Stonecroft Syrah Hawkes Bay (Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand) 95 pts. / $20

Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wines of 2022 (Top 10 Wines Listed Under $40)

  • (#6) Williams Selyem 2020 Pinot Noir (San Benito, California) 96 pts. / $39
  • (#16) Holus Bolus 2020 Presqu’ile Vineyard Syrah (Santa Maria Valley, California) 96 pts. / $40
  • (#20) Stolpman 2021 G-S-M (Ballard Canyon, California) 94 pts. / $40
  • (#26) Kumeu River 2020 Coddington Chardonnay (Kumeu, New Zealand) 96 pts. / $35
  • (#27) Ana Diogo-Draper 2020 Tempranillo (Amador County, California) 93 pts. / $27
  • (#31) Miguel Torres 2019 Familia Torres Secret Del Priorat Red (Priorat, Spain) 92 pts. / $30
  • (#33) Matthews 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington) 94 pts. / $34
  • (#34) Quinta do Portal 2014 Late Bottled Vintage (Port, Portugal) 91 pts. / $32
  • (#35) Dr. Konstantin Frank 2017 Blanc de Noirs Sparkling (Finger Lakes, New York) 91 pts. / $40
  • (#37) Quinta das Bandeiras 2019 Passagem by La Rosa Reserva Red (Douro, Portugal) 92 pts. / $21

Jeb Dunnuck’s Top 100 Wines of 2022 (Top Wines Listed Under $40)

  • (#3) 2019 Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas La Louisiane (France) 97 pts. / $36
  • (#13) 2017 Domaine Du Grapillon D’Or Gigondas Excellence (France) 94 pts. / $40
  • (#61) 2020 Beckmen Vineyards Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard (Ballard Canyon, California) 92 pts. / $36
  • (#62) 2019 Domaine Brusset Gigondas Les Hauts De Montmirail (France) 96 pts. / $40
  • (#74) 2017 2020 Domaine Durieu Chateauneuf Du Pape Lucile Avril (France) 96 pts. / $40
  • (#84) 2020 Roger Sabon Chateauneuf Du Pape Prestige (France) 95 pts. / $40

Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2020 (Top Wines Listed Under $40)

  • (#13) 2021 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough (New Zealand) 94 pts. / $23
  • (#15) 2020 Drouhin Roserock Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills (Oregon) 94 pts. / $38
  • (#17) 2020 Bodegas Caro Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Amancaya (Argentina) 93 pts. / $23
  • (#18) 2021 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Yarra Valley (Australia) 94 pts. / $40
  • (#21) 2019 Viña Montes Syrah Colchagua Valley Alpha (Chile) 93 pts. / $20
  • (#22) 2018 Capraia Chianti Classico Riserva (Italy) 94 pts. / $27
  • (#23) 2019 Finca Decero Malbec Agrelo Remolinos Vineyard (Argentina) 92 pts. / $22
  • (#24) 2020 San Felice Chianti Classico (Italy) 92 pts. / $20
  • (#26) 2020 First Drop Shiraz Barossa Mother’s Milk (Australia) 92 pts. / $20
  • (#27) 2021 McBride Sisters Collection Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough (New Zealand) 91 pts. / $17

Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Cellar Selections 0f 2022 (Top Wines Listed Under $40)

  • (#20) Pieropan 2019 Calvarino (Soave Classico, Italy) 95 pts. / $40
  • (#77) Frankland Estate 2018 Isolation Ridge Dry Riesling (Frankland River, Australia) 93 pts. / $38
  • (#90) Château Haut Selve 2019 Graves (France) 92 pts. / $28
  • (#99) Château Beauséjour 2019 Cuvée Spéciale (Puisseguin Saint-Émilion, France) 91 pts. / $36

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