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.
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.
Dark inky purple color. The nose is rather closed but shows some wild dark fruit and mineral. This red wine blend of 45 % Carbenet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc has notes of dusty blackberry, dried anise, and pepper. Not bad but slightly flat. I was expecting more from this producer. R3 is blended from selected lots from Klipsun, Sheridan, Champoux, Ciel de Cheval, Dineen and Meek vineyards all from the Columbia Valley AVA.
Aromas of white pepper and black fruit fill the glass. Flavors of wild blackberry, currant, licorice, and blueberry lead the way in this fruit forward wine. Plenty of spice and lingering tannins on the finish. Well structured and, despite the fact that it clocks in at 15.2% alcohol, it’s easy to drink. The Prisoner is 50% Zinfandel, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Syrah, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Charbono, 1% Grenache all sourced from the Napa Valley.
Dense ruby/purple color on this blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. The nose is rather closed but gives hints of red fruits, wet rocks and white pepper. Across the palate there is a good mix of fruit and minerality with notes of raspberry, black cherry the previously mentioned pepperand anise. It’s light but not “lightweight”. Perfect for summer supper. The fruit comes from old vines Grenache and Syrah from the appellation Costieres de Nimes which is located in the southern Rhone.
This wine is a very dark hue of purple. Sweet black fruit and caramel aromas fill the glass. Plenty of black currant, blackberry and vanilla balanced nicely with a mineral edge and spicebox across the palate. The tannins are well integrated and linger well past the long finish. A lot going on but all in it’s place. The grapes for this vintage were sourced from throughout the Russian River Valley which explains it’s even composition. Another excellent wine from a very consistent producer of premium California style Syrah.
