We aren’t doing a "Best Wines of the Year" list. Let’s face it: many of these critics’ end-of-year wine lists are covert marketing exercises supporting wineries that pay to play. Or it’s a critic listing all the wines they loved throughout the year. There’s nothing wrong with such lists, but that’s not us. We don’t have sponsorship agendas. And what we love is of less importance than helping you find the best value wines of the styles you love.
As we come to the end of our first full year of The Wine Independent, for the last article of the year, we’re expanding on the list of top QPR (Quality/Price Ratio) wines of the year. This year, we’re featuring 50 of the best value wines reviewed this past year, broken down into five price categories: Under $25, $26-50, $51-100, $101-200, and $200-400.
Quality/price ratio (QPR) is a way of calculating value for money. Our formula uses 87 points as the lowest score for QPR consideration. For greater accuracy regarding the added value attached to quality, bonus points are added to wines scoring 90-95 points and higher bonuses to those scoring 96-100.
And the results can be assessed thus:
QPR 10 = The Bargain of a lifetime
QPR 9 = Outstanding value
QPR 8 = Excellent value
QPR 7 = Very good value
QPR 6 = Good value
QPR 5 = Above average value
QPR 4 = Fair market price
QPR 3 = The price is a little steep
QPR 2 = Expensive for what it is
QPR 1 = Forget it
Thus, the formula looks like this:
(Wine Score ÷ Retail Price in $USD) + Bonus = QPR Rating
For the QPR bonus calculation, add 0.5 bonus points to a score of 90 and then add an extra 0.5 to each score above 90 until 96 points. At 96 and above, scores receive an incremental 1-point bonus. So, the scoring bonuses are:
87-89: No Bonus
90: add 0.5
91: add 1
92: add 1.5
93: add 2
94: add 2.5
95: add 3
96: add 4
97: add 5
98: add 6
99: add 7
100: add 8
You may have noticed that this bonus allocation assumes that 100-point wines start at "Excellent value," regardless of price. Because this is true only up to a certain price, we filtered out 100-point wines reviewed on our website with an average global price on Wine-Searcher of over $400. Also, we only included current releases in bottles (no barrel samples), which are readily available to purchase.
This year, we reviewed over 5000 wines from 13 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, China, France, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Although most of our reviews this year were from Bordeaux, California, Italy, and Champagne, this QPR list represents the top 1% of bargains across this set of rigorously scrutinized fine wines from around the world.
The final list of this year’s top QPR wines was eye-opening even for me. Bordeaux is the unqualified winner at the "Under $25" end. In fact, the best value for quality wine across all price categories is available at an average global cost of $14 on Wine-Searcher. It’s the 2020 Château Marjosse Rouge.
I was blown away by the quality of Marjosse when tasting the 2020s earlier this year, and even more so when I saw the price. This compelled me to visit the estate to learn more about the terroir and gradual changes there since owner Pierre Lurton (also the director of Cheval Blanc and d’Yquem) started making wine from Marjosse in 1991. This is an impressively placed vineyard with carefully preserved old vines perched atop a limestone hill in the Entre-Deux-Mers. The full story behind the TWI Top QPR Wine of 2023 can be found here.
As far as collectables go, 2019 Canon, 2019 Montrose, and 2020 Figeac continue to offer fantastic value. Keen collectors will want to snap some (more) bottles up now, while the price is still a relative bargain, and avoid kicking themselves in ten years’ time.
Apart from Bordeaux, this list highlights the extraordinary quality of Chardonnays from Northern California (especially Sonoma Coast) and the value for money these offer. Italy continues to offer top-end bargains, as does Australia. Napa Valley has some under-the-radar Cabernet Sauvignon gems, including Salvestrin, Spottswoode, and Vangone Estate, that won’t break the bank. Two wines from California Central Coast made the TWI Overall Top 10 QPR Performing Wines of 2023 list: 2019 Saxum James Berry Vineyard Rocket Block and Andremily’s stunning 2020 Mourvedre.
We reviewed a lot of Champagnes last year, but none made our Top 50 QPR list, demonstrating how market demand has pushed prices up. However, for those curious about the top Champagne bargain we discovered (which is a very good buy for its quality level), here it is:
Jacquesson Cuvee 741 DT, Champagne – 97+ / $130 / QPR = 5.75
On behalf of everyone at The Wine Independent, I’d like to wish the wine-loving world a healthy, prosperous, and fun 2024. Happy wine hunting & Happy New Year!
TWI Overall Top 10 QPR Performing Wines of 2023
2020 Marjosse, Bordeaux Rouge– 94 / $14 / QPR 9.21
2019 Château Canon, Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux – 100 / $170 / QPR 8.59
2020 Andremily Mourvedre, Santa Barbara County, California – 100 / $170 / QPR 8.59
2019 Montrose, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux – 100 / $200 / QPR 8.5
2021 Aubert Larry Hyde & Sons Chardonnay, Los Carneros, Napa Valley – 100 / $240 / QPR 8.42
2019 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Napa Valley – 100 / $255 / QPR 8.39
2019 Saxum James Berry Vineyard Rocket Block, Paso Robles, California – 100 / $272 / QPR 8.38
2021 Aubert Lauren Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, California – 100 / $269 / QPR 8.37
2021 Giaconda Chardonnay, Beechworth, Australia – 100 / $278 / QPR 8.36
2020 Figeac, Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux – 100 / $289 / QPR 8.35
TWI Top QPR Performing Wines of 2023 by Price Category
Under $25
2020 Marjosse, Bordeaux Rouge – 94 / $14 / QPR 9.21
2021 Marjosse Blanc, Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux 91 / $13 / QPR 8
2019 Fourcas-Hosten, Listrac-Moulis, Bordeaux - 93 / $19 / QPR 6.89
2020 Fontenil, Fronsac, Bordeaux – 95 / $25 / QPR 6.8
2020 Château Alcee, Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux – 93 / $20 / QPR 6.65
2020 Marsau, Francs-Cotes de Bordeaux – 94 / $23 / QPR 6.59
2020 Les Trois Croix, Fronsac, Bordeaux – 94 / $24 / QPR 6.41
2020 Les Gravieres, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux – 94 / $25 / QPR 6.26
2020 Montlandrie, Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux – 93 / $25 / QPR 5.72
2020 Grand Village, Bordeaux Superieur 93 / $25 / QPR 5.72
$26-50
2020 Laroque, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux – 97 / $39 / QPR 7.48
2021 Casanova di Neri Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy – 94 / $27 / QPR 5.98
2020 Clos Lunelles, Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux – 94 / $27 / QPR 5.98
2020 Villemaurine, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux – 96 / $49 / QPR 5.96
2020 Poesia, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux – 95 / $33 / QPR 5.88
2021 Podere Grattamacco Bolgheri Rosso, Tuscany, Italy – 94 / $29 / QPR 5.74
2021 Materra Chardonnay, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley – 94 / $30 / QPR 5.63
2020 Grand Corbin-Despagne, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux – 95 / $37 / QPR 5.57
2021 Orma Passi di Orma, Bolgheri, Italy – 94 / $32 / QPR 5.44
2020 Grand Village Blanc, Bordeaux – 94 / $33 / QPR 5.35
$51-100
2021 DuMOL Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay, Los Carneros, Napa Valley - 99 / $83 / QPR 8.19
2020 Larcis Ducasse, Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux – 99 / $100 / QPR 7.99
2020 La Gaffeliere, Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux – 98 / $91 / QPR 7.08
2021 Flowers Camp Meeting Ridge Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, California – 98 / $95 / QPR 7.03
2020 Suduiraut, Sauternes, Bordeaux – 97 / $70 / QPR 6.39
2022 Penfolds Reserve Bin 22A Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, Australia – 97 / $80 / QPR 6.21
2021 Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia – 96 / $58 / QPR 5.66
2020 Phelan Segur, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux – 96 / $60 / QPR 5.6
2020 Doisy Daene, Barsac, Bordeaux – 96 / $62 / QPR 5.55
2021 CARO, Mendoza, Argentina – 96 / $62 / QPR 5.55
$101-200
2019 Château Canon, Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux - 100 / $170 / QPR 8.59
2020 Andremily Mourvedre, Santa Barbara County, California – 100 / $170 / QPR 8.59
2019 Montrose, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux - 100 / $200 / QPR 8.5
2021 DuMOL Pinot Noir Finn, Sonoma Coast, California – 99 / $130 / QPR 7.76
2019 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac, Bordeaux - 99 / $137 / QPR 7.72
2020 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux - 99 / $159 / QPR 7.62
2020 Belair-Monange, Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux - 99 / $176 / QPR 7.56
2019 Salvestrin "Three D" Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Napa Valley – 99 / $198 / QPR 7.5
2019 Pichon Baron, Pauillac, Bordeaux - 99 / $200 / QPR 7.50
2020 Léoville Barton, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux – 98 / $109 / QPR 6.90
$201-400
2021 Aubert Larry Hyde & Sons Chardonnay, Los Carneros, Napa Valley – 100 / $240 / QPR 8.42
2019 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Napa Valley – 100 / $255 / QPR 8.39
2019 Saxum James Berry Vineyard Rocket Block, Paso Robles, California – 100 / $272 / QPR 8.38
2021 Aubert Lauren Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, California – 100 / $269 / QPR 8.37
2021 Giaconda Chardonnay, Beechworth, Australia – 100 / $278 / QPR 8.36
2020 Figeac, Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux – 100 / $289 / QPR 8.35
2020 Trotanoy, Pomerol, Bordeaux – 100 / $369 / QPR 8.27
2020 Vieux Chateau Certan, Pomerol, Bordeaux – 100 / $400 / QPR 8.25
2019 Vangone Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 99 / $201 / QPR 7.49
2021 Bibi Graetz Colore, Toscana, Italy – 99 / $204 / QPR 7.49
All these wines are linked to comprehensive tasting notes, which include important details describing the styles of the wines including body level, alcohol level, and major grape variety. These components can all be filtered on our website, putting you in the driving seat so that you can find the styles you love.
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Article and reviews by Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Photography by Johan Berglund
