Fifteen California Wines for Under $25

Consumers trying to find wine values have perhaps one of the more difficult paths to success in California than in any other wine region in the world. Prices for most of the finest cabernet sauvignons, chardonnays, and pinot noirs are well north of $20 to $25, which is the break point for what I consider value vs. expensive wines. In addition, areas such as Napa and Sonoma, the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco, and even farther south, Santa Barbara, are glamour regions, and their wines fetch very high prices.

Nevertheless, California bargains still can be found, and here are some that are just too good to pass up.

87 points
2006 Beringer Chardonnay Napa

Beringer's 2006 Chardonnay Napa is a heck of a bargain. Crisp and lean, with copious amounts of lemon oil, guava, and nectarine aromas, it is a medium-weight, dry, refreshing white to enjoy over the next one to three years. $16

87 points
2006 Pavilion Winery Pinot Noir

A wonderful discovery, Pavilion appears to be making some terrific wines at incredibly low price points. It is hard to find a pinot noir equaling the quality of the 2006 from Pavilion for under $30 a bottle. Blended with 13% zinfandel from Edna Valley, the wine has briery, berry fruit, and forest floor-like characteristics that are offered in a medium-bodied, silky style to enjoy over the next one to two years. $15

87 points
2007 Round Hill Chardonnay Oak Free

The 2007 Chardonnay Oak Free, a tank-fermented and -aged offering, displays crisp orange and lemon blossom characteristics, medium body, good fruit and purity, and surprising character. It is remarkably low-priced for a wine this good. Drink it over the next 12 months. $11

88 points
2006 Beckmen Vineyards Cuvée Le Bec

An excellent source of high-quality as well as value-priced Rhône Rangers, Beckmen produces one of the wine world's finest bargains, the Cuvée Le Bec, a blend of Rhône varietals. The 2006 consists of 50% grenache, 28% syrah, and the rest mourvèdre and counoise. It is medium-bodied and soft with plenty of pepper, sweet cherry, herb, and spice characteristics. An ideal bistro red, it is a delicious, personality-filled, bargain-priced effort to enjoy over the next one to two years. $18

88 points
2007 Grayson Cellars Chardonnay

The 9,000-case cuvée of 2007 Chardonnay from Grayson Cellars exhibits elegant pear and lemon blossom characteristics, medium body, good acidity, a hint of wood, and an attractive finish. Drink it over the next several years. $10

88 points
2005 Summers Cabernet Sauvignon Adrianna's Cuvée

Finding a good 100% Napa cabernet sauvignon for under $50 a bottle is no easy task. Finding an excellent one is almost impossible. But that is exactly what the elegant, tasty, black currant, cedar, licorice, and spice box-scented 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Adrianna's Cuvée delivers. Classic cabernet aromas are followed by a medium- to full-bodied wine with loads of fruit, soft tannin, and a long finish. It should drink well for five to eight years. $22

89 points
2006 Cartlidge & Browne Sauvignon Blanc Dancing Crow

One of the premium purveyors of value-priced California wines (believe me, there are not many that offer high quality at low prices), Cartlidge & Browne continues to provide rewarding and surprisingly tasty drinking. Their brilliant 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Dancing Crow is a medium-bodied white loaded with melony fruit notes, crisp acidity, freshness, and a true sauvignon character. Drink it over the next year. $12

89 points
2006 Château St. Jean Fumé Blanc (Sonoma)

Readers looking for fabulous values in dry, aromatic, crisp, fruit-dominated whites with personality and soul should check out the wines from Château St. Jean. A killer value, the 2006 Fumé Blanc exhibits beautiful melony, honeysuckle, and orange-zest aromas offered in a crisp, dry, light- to medium-bodied, tasty personality. Enjoy it over the next 12 to 18 months. $13