There are several things I love about wine competitions. I love it when wines I've never tasted, or sometime never even heard of, win medals. Then it's a learning experience for me too.

    I also love it when value wines beat out the high priced big guns for the top awards. It doesn't happen that often, but when it does it's worth getting excited about.

    And when those value wines are ones that I've already rated highly both for quality and value, it's even more satisfying. I've been the champion of value-priced wines for more than 30 years, but there are folks who just don't believe a $10 or under wine can be that good. Gold medals are added validation for my bargain favorites.

    I'll repeat my phone and e-mail for those who need help tracking down winning wines: winetrader@aol.com or (800) 845-9463.

    The most frequently asked for phone number last week was for the $10 Texas Cabernet that won the Bandiera Best New World Cabernet Trophy. Escondido Valley Vineyards 1997 Cabernet is produced by Cordier Estate Wines at (915) 395-2417.

    There were five other gold medals for Cabernets priced up to $10: Forest Glen 1996 ($10); Hacienda 1996 ($7); J. Lohr 1996 "Central Coast" ($8.75); Silver Ridge 1996 ($10) and Stone Creek 1996 ($7). All have reasonably good national availability.

    There were six gold medal Cabernets in the $10.01 to $18 price range as well, with "Best of Price Class" honors going to: Wildhurst 1997 "Clear Lake" ($14).

    Other golds to: B.R. Cohn 1997 "San Luis Obispo/Sonoma" ($14); Charles Krug 1996 "Napa" ($16); Napa Ridge 1995 "Napa Reserve" ($15); Norman 1996 "Paso Robles Estate" ($17) and Solis 1996 "Santa Clara Estate" ($14).

    The count went up a bit at $18.01 to $28 with a total of seven golds weighing in. Best of Price Class was: Raymond 1996 "Napa Reserve" ($23).

    And the remaining six golds: Canoe Ridge 1996 "Columbia Valley-Washington" ($22); Concannon 1995 "Livermore Reserve" ($20); Justin 1996 "Paso Robles Estate" ($20); Meridian 1995 "Reserve" ($25); Sequoia Grove 1996 "Napa" ($25) and Van Asperen 1994 "Napa Reserve" ($28).

    And now for the big guns, the over $28 per bottle wines. Best of Price Class to Ernest and Julio Gallo Northern Sonoma Estate ($60). And if there's still any thoughts in your head that Gallo only makes jug wines, I highly recommend that you splurge on a bottle of this very big but very supple Cabernet.

    When one gets into this price range the wines should be special, and they are. A total of ten gold medals, and like top NFL teams, most of the silver and bronze medalists could have been gold on another day.

    Other gold winners were: Benziger 1996 "Rancho Salina Vineyard-Sonoma" ($30); Beringer 1994 "Napa Private Reserve" ($75); Cherryblock 1994 "Sonoma Estate" ($50) and Geyser Peak 1995 "Alexander Valley Reserve" ($29).

    And the balance of the super-premium Cabernet gold medalists include: Quail Ridge 1995 "Volker Eisele-Napa" ($40); Rodney Strong 1994 "North Sonoma Reserve" ($40); Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1996 ($32); Swanson 1996 Schmidt -Ranch-Napa" ($30 and V. Sattui 1995 "Napa Reserve" ($60).

    I made a typo on a vintage date last week. The winner of the Thornton Winery Trophy for Best New World Champagne went to Gloria Ferrer "Royal Cuvee Brut" ($20), but to the 1990, not the 1996 which won't be released for at least another four years.

    While we're on the subject of bubbly wine we may as well finish up the category.

    The only gold medal winner in the up to $10 category is that perennial winner, Ballatore Gran Spumante ($6), the bargain California wine that often outshines the sparkling Muscats from Italy's Asti region. It has a bit of sweetness and makes a great dessert champagne.

    In the $10.01 to $16 champagne price range, only two gold medalists, and both are from Korbel. Best of Price Class honors to Korbel 1996 "Natural" ($13). The other gold to Korbel's popular Chardonnay Champagne ($13).

    At $16.01 to $22, the aforementioned Gloria Ferrer was the champ, with additional golds to two sparklers from Windsor, 1996 "Sonoma" Brut Private Reserve ($20) and 1996 "Sonoma" Blanc de Noirs Private Reserve ($22).

    In the top price range above $22, a total of five golds, and two of them produced somewhere other than California. Best of Price Class was claimed by my personal favorite of this year's trophy finalists: S. Anderson 1994 "Napa" Blanc de Noirs ($25).

    S. Anderson also earned gold for 1994 "Napa" Brut ($26), as did Chateau Biltmore 1995 "North Carolina" Estate ($25); "J" 1994 "Sonoma" ($28) and Westport Rivers 1992 "South Eastern New England" Blanc de Blancs ($35). Westport Rivers is located in Massachusetts.

    Complete results are available via the official awards book. Send $6 to: New World Wine Winners, Box 1598, Carson City, NV 89702.

BEST BUY
WINE OF THE WEEK

    Monterra 1996 "Monterey" Merlot ($9 or less) A silver medal winner at the New World International, this is just what most folks are looking for in a Merlot. Soft and round and ready for immediate consumption. Pleasant, typical black cherry aromas and flavors complete the picture. A lovely starting place for people learning to like red wine. Widely available; possibly at your favorite supermarket. Rating: 87/93

MEAD ON WINE EXTRA

    Alfasi 1997 "Chile" Merlot ($7) Soft, user-friendly cherry and plum flavors that enter light and become more intense all the way to the finish. It's Kosher for those who care. Rating: 84/90

    Alfasi 1997 "Chile" Cabernet Sauvignon ($7) I find the Chilean Cabernets are generally more substantial and interesting than Chilean Merlots. This is one has rich boysenberry flavors. Fruit is the major statement. There is not a great deal of complexity, but it's a dandy food companion a solid "Best Buy." Also Kosher. Rating: 85/92

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Wines are scored using a unique 100 point system. First number rates quality; second number rates value.