Wine Spectator announced today its much-anticipated list of the Top 100 Wines of 2008. According to WS, they reviewed more than 19,500 wines from around the world in blind tastings. More than 5,300 of them earned outstanding ratings (90 points or higher on the WS 100-point scale). They then narrowed the list down based on four criteria: quality (represented by score); value (reflected by release price); availability (measured by case production or cases imported); and an X-factor they call excitement. The final selections, however, reflect WS “editors’ judgment and passion about the wines they tasted.” As perhaps expected, several 2005 Bordeaux (the vintage of the century) made their way onto the list, including 3 of the top 10 and 4 of the top 11 wines. Lets hope for WS’s sake that no fake wines made the list. Click here if you’re not sure what I’m getting at.

The Top Values ($20 and under) in the Top 100 after the jump…

I immediately pored through the list for the $20 and under wines and found 19 wines priced at $20 or less.

Best $20 and Under Value Wines from the Top 100:

Château Puygueraud Côtes de Francs 2005 — Rank #32/100, WS Score 92, Price $18

Winzer Krems Gruner Veltliner Qualitatswein Trocken Kremstal Edition Chremisa 2006 — Rank #33/100, WS Score 93, Price $18

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2008 – Rank #40/100, WS Score 91, Price $19

Leasingham Riesling Clare Valley Magnus 2007 – Rank #44/100, WS Score 91, Price $12

Fattoria di Felsina Chianti Classico Berardenga 2006 – Rank #51/100, WS Score 90, Price $17

Bodegas LAN Rioja Reserva 2004 – Rank #52/100, WS Score 90, Price $17

Francois Pelissie Cahors Croix du Mayne 2005 – Rank #53/100, WS Score 90, Price $18

Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley 2007 – Rank #55/100, WS Score 91, Price $19

St.-Urbans-Hof Riesling QbA Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 2007 – Rank #56/100, WS Score 90, Price $15 **We featured this wine back on November 13th as a Recession Wine of the Day. Click here for the review.

Sogrape Dao Callabriga 2005 – Rank #57/100, WS Score 90, Price $16

Louis Latour Marsannay 2005 – Rank #58/100, WS Score 90, Price $20

Terredora Falanghina Irpinia 2007 – Rank #59/100, WS Score 90, Price $18

La Sauvageonne Coteaux du Languedoc  Les Ruffes 2006 – Rank #60/100, WS Score 91, Price $16

Attems Pinot Grigio Collio 2007 – Rank #70/100, WS Score 90, Price $19

Bodegas Sierra Catanbria Rioja Crianza 2004 – Rank #71/100, WS Score 90, Price $20

Suavia Soave Classico 2007 – Rank #75/100, WS Score 90, Price $19

Domaine de Nizas Coteaux du Languedoc 2004 – Rank #78/100, WS Score 90, Price $17

Adegas Morgadio Albarino rRas Baixas Legado del Conde 2007 – Rank #86/100, WS Score 90, Price $16

Stadt Krems Gruner Veltliner Qualitatswein Trocken Kremstal Sandgrube  – Rank #89/100, WS Score 90, Price $18

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