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 2008 so mostly 2005 vintage with a few from 2004 and 2006. My top twenty wines will be a little different than 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 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 or Screaming Eagle. I haven’t tasted these wines so I can’t very well offer an opinion except that they are overpriced no mater how 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).
My Wine of the Year for 2008
1. 2005 Concha y Toro Puente Alto Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon
My original review:
“The color is a very deep purple that fades a little toward the rim. Because this wine is so young the nose is a bit closed right now but it does give some hints of black fruit and spice box. The flavors are a harmonious mix of currant, tobacco, and plumb. The finish is tannic now and full of cedar but will soften over time. Overall this wine is very complex, very well put together and may be the best Don Melchor ever. It needs additional bottle time so resist the temptation and lay this one down for at least a year. Exceptional!”
Still a hold at this point but it will be worth the wait. Will start to come into it’s own in 2009.The Merus ran a very close second but this wine was unique in that it showed slightly more finesse and complexity.
This wine is so consistently awesome. I love the Chilean terroir it expresses and the price tag on the wine has remained in check too, which is really cool too.