Yearly recap and wine resolutions thread

[TheEngineer]

DA, I'll give this a go.

1. Favorite wine of the year?
I've not tried Bucko's 1996 Krug but the NV krug was pretty impressive for me. It had an intensity that I was not prepared for in a champagne and if I had to pick a memorable bottle for the year, then that would have been it. $150 a bottle.

2. What special bottle was finally opened this year?
With so many friends in the Boston area having left year, it was the year of no real special bottles opened. I felt really bad too about this as I didn't have any for me. There were two semi-special bottle that I brought with me to two occasions, one was a 1970 L'Arrosee that I brought to a business meeting and another was a bottle of 1966 Ch. Trimoulet that I brought to a friend's wedding.

3. Your favorite "value" or "house" wine this year?
Without a doubt, 2005 Bodegas Vinos Pinol Ludovicus for $8.00. In a close second (and second because there is no supply at the price that I saw at the winery), Domaine Sigalas in Santorini and their Santorini Whites at the equivalent of $6.00. WS had this in their top 100 for close to the US release price of $16.

4. Your "wine discovery" of the year?
There were so many this year as I went all over the place to try wines. I think that it would be a tie between the Loire Valley wines (as big as it is)...for areas like Chinon Anjou Saumur and their Cab Francs, Savennieres and Vouvray for their Chenin Blanc and the likes of Baumard (Quarts de Chaume as well)and Coulee de Serrant, etc,. But the second area that really blew me away this year was BC's Okanagan wineries. Their wines were really good this time, some much better than their established counterparts in the Niagara region. They are not world class yet but in the few years, the jump made in quality has been very noticeable.

5. Wine-related resolutions for 2008?
Hehehe....easy, drink more, buy more carefully and learn to enjoy a few more locations.