Wine Spectator.
We recieved the Top 100 issue in the mail about a week ago. Usually I glance at the Wine Spectator when it comes and ad it to the pile of magazines I'm not interested in. Other people in this household always flip to the back to see which of our neighbors got reviewed and what their scores were.
I could give a flying fuck. EXCEPT: it's powerful to get reviewed by the big guys, like WS. Even if your review is somewhat poor--people read this rag and remember names (like i said, even if it's bad). So if one of our neighbors gets reviewed and it's pleasant to good, I'm happy for them.
I'm not a fan of Robert Parker, but at least with his Wine Advocate, you kind of know what you're getting. If you like big, punch you in the face with a tad of sugar, red wines you'll like his reviews because you think similarly. Also, even though I think a lot of the wine snob revolution came from him, he's also done a lot to educate common folks on wine, in general. It's just too bad that he became a figure that could make or break a winery; one person shouldn't be able to do that.
Wine Enthusiast reads like, oh, I dunno, the Cosmo of the wine world. Kind of glitzy, airheady--and already covered.
Then there's Wine Specatator. More reviewers, which would lead one to think that they'd be more objective, no? It's curious then that wineries that advertise with them often, recieve high scores, often.
Their Top 100 list is always a befuddlement to me as well. They claim that it has to do with over all consistancy from the wineries. And that they try to get new things on there.
But, yet again, wines that scored a measly 90 (still a good store) get on the list while wines that scored 95, did not. If it's the consistancy game, that's fine to a certain extent. Some vintages really are superior--for whatever reason, maybe they ahd a visiting winemaker?--shouldn't those wines be on the top 100 list for the year it was reviewed?
2008's Top wine is Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta Colchagua Valley 2005. This wine retails from $65-$80, however now that it's the top wine, expect those prices to go up.
I applaud WS for choosing a wine that's boarderline affordable for the general public. However, I've had this wine. They gave it a 96, the wine below it they gave a 97. See the my problem? Also? It's not THAT good.
It's good. But it's not great. Did they put this at the top of the list to, finally, put a Chilean wine at the top? Or, could it be, that I see Casa Lapostolle ads in WS very, very often?
Conspiracy therories, I know. But it's true.
Meanwhile, I don't disagree with a lot of their choices for the top 100. And I myself have not had all of these; nonetheless I'll weed out some of my favorites. However, once this list comes out, good luck in finding any of these wines in the store. Even the no. 100 wine. It's ridiculious the power this list has.
That said, I'm doing a riesling class next week and ordered wine number 56, unaware it'd be chosen as a top wine. Thank god, I already have it in my hands.
no. 11 Chateau Clerc Milon (France-Pauillac) 2005 $57 -- this was one of our favorites when the 05 bordeaux's came out. And while not cheap, deffiantly cheaper than others in the same league.
no. 22 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva (Italy) 2005 $63 -- I'm a big fan of the Avignonesi line in general. This I have indeed purchased when the occassion has called for it, knowning it'd be worth the 60 some odd dollars.
no. 25 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills (WA State) 2005 $58 -- Andrew Will's wines for me come and go. Some years they're outstanding, other years they're okay. I'd be more okay with this if they didn't tend to always float around the $50 price mark. However, their cab-based cab blend is always great. Plus, I have to promote it as it's the vineyard that my parent's planted.
no. 34 Condado De Haza Ribera del Duero Crianza (Spain) 2005 -- $34 Like chocolate in your mouth. Seriously good stuff. I believe that they're oraganic, if not biodynamic farm. I could be wrong, though, and i'm not doing any research to double check this.
no. 39 Perrin & Fils Gigondas la Gille 2005 (France--Rhone) $27 -- love this wine. Syrah based, chewy cherry notes with an almost meaty quality. Very good value for something special.
no. 48 DeLille Doyenne Aix Red Columbia Valley (WA State) $37 --very lovely red blend with beautiful red fruit notes.
no. 54 Robert Eymael (Monchof) Riesling Kabinett 2007 (Mosel Urzig Wurzgarten Germany) -- $22 I like Riesling. And I really dig this one. Beautiful apricot aromas with a clean slate finish.
no. 55 Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley (Australia) 2007 $19 -- I think yalumba was listed on my bargin deals for the holidays. I'm sure I didn't include this one because it's more expensive, but it is really beautiful. Yalumba is also the oldest family owned winery in Australia.
no. 56 St-Urbans-Hof Riesling QbA Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 2007 (germany)-- $15 I remember first tasting this wine like it was yesterday. Not the 07 vintage, but I believe it was the 05. The distributor brought it in, had me taste it and went on and on about how it was very good. I nodded my head in agreement and then stated "It's quite spectacular, really, but we have too many high-end rieslings as is". He then said "you can retail it for $13". My jaw dropped and I bought five cases. It was a hand-sale item for sure, but once I sold a bottle, we had return customers. I'm glad to see them getting some recognition. And, yes, this is the wine i chose for my riesling class.
no. 72 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Alsace 2006 (France) --$24 if you can find this, well done. A coulple of years ago various wine writers were giving this riesling high reviews. I went in search of it (again not same vintage) and finally found some. At that time it was only $14 (see what happens with good reviews). Once I tasted this ultra-dry, beautifully fragrant wine I knew what all the hub-bub was about. If you can't find it, but want to try a dry riesling from alsace (which you should want to try), look for Trimbach.
no. 77 Duval-Leroy Brut Champagne NV (France) -- $38 We sold this for $30. Again, it was one of those moments where I tasted something good, but shook my head no since at the time it was unfamilar to most of us tasting it AND we had enough high-end champagnes (meaning over $50). When I was told we could sale this for $30, even $28, we put it on the shelf. Really outstanding--way better than any of the big guys (Moet, Vueve, etc)
no. 100 Konzelmann Vidal Niagara Peninsual Ice Wine 2005 (canada) -- $55 This should be way higher up on their list, but obviously I have issues with the entire list. Really great ice wine and a quarter of the price that german ice wines tend to cost (and better!). They're also smart--they bottle in liquor airplane bottle size--we sold those for about $11 and it was perfect for one or two people to share with a bit of dessert of some sort.
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