As we draw to the end of the year it’s time to start thinking about the best wines of the year. The wines are those that have been released in calendar year 2009 so mostly 2006 vintage with a few from 2005 and 2007. My top twenty wines will be a little different from most for a few reasons. First, the list will be dominated by red wines because that is what I prefer. I am sure there are many, many great white wines that should be on someones top list but I wouldn’t know because I don’t taste many if any of them. Second, the list will contain many new world wines. I don’t buy very many old world wines. The style I prefer is more new world so that is what I taste. Finally the wines on the list are wines that I have purchased with my hard-earned dollars or something that I have tasted at a wine event either as a guest or a paid attendee. I am not on lists like Colgin, Screaming Eagle and Schrader. I haven’t tasted these wines so I can’t very well offer an opinion except that they are overpriced no mater how well they are made or good they taste. I am your typical wine enthusiast who has a wine budget. No one is sending me wine to taste for free (one can dream however).
Wines 4-2 and the Wine of the Year
4. 2007 Two Hands Shiraz Gnarly Dudes – Huge wine. Currant, smoke and spice
3. 2006 Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon - Dark toasted oak and blackberry aromas lead the way. Black currant, smokey tobacco, tar hints, fig and dark chocolate add to the complexity. The finish has a very earthy note and is lingering. A nice balance of fruit and minerality.
2. 2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - Beautiful ruby red color. The nose shows oaky-woody spice notes as well as red red raspberry flavors. The mouth feel is in a sense lush which adds to the complexity because I found the fruit notes crisp and bright. Red, cherry, raspberry and spice hang on through the long finish that adds a hint of mineralitiy.
Wine Of The Year
2006 Delectus Cuvee Julia - Very dark purple all the way to the rim. The aromas are a wonderful mix of black currant, cherry and vanilla. Across the palate the fruit really shines with black cherry, plumb stew, and blackberry. There is a lot going on but everything in its place and working very well together. Simply outstanding.
red berry flavors and a touch of spice. The finish is short and the tannins are still heavy on the end. The Botella vineyard has rich, well-drained clay loam soil. The site features southern exposure and the cool microclimate of the Santa Ynez River canyon which is in the Santa Rite Hills AVA.
The nose has glass filling notes of wild berry, spice and oak. Across the palate currant dominates the profile with shadings of vanilla, plum and an ending mineral edge. The tannins arestill a little aggressive but may soften with more bottle time. This producers is very consistent and is one of the better “value” Napa Cabernet Sauvignons today. I say ”value” because it’s rare to find a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon of this quality for $55. Excellent.
b stew. A nice balanceof mineralityand black fruit on the palate. The tannins are present on the long finish but not in the way. Classic Italian Super Tucsan blend. 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 10% Sangiovese.
Beautiful currant and plumb notes on the nose. The currant and plumb hang on throuhg the palatte with some spice and cherry notes on top. The finish is long and balanced with the oaky note hanging on till the end. This red wine blend consists of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Petit Verdot and 12% Merlot. The fruit for tis wine was sourced from vineyards in Oakville, Yountville, St. Helena, and Coombsville and aged in 100% French Oak. Excellent.
The nose had very floral notes with violets showing most prominently. The mouth feel was balanced with ripe red fruit, cedar and a hint of currant in the mix. The finish was medium length and had a hit of the hefty tannins at the end but these should lay down some with additional bottle time. Very good and very interesting. The grapes for this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon come from the S & J Vineyard which is east of the Vaca Mountain range in Napa’s Capell Valley.
