Top Ten Wines of 2006

[Innkeeper]

This list will surely pale before others, but what the hay:

1996 Stags’ Leap Winery, Napa Valley, Petite Syrah

2001 Tobin James, Silver Reserve, Syrah

2000 Tobin James, Silver Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon

1998 Easton, Shenandoah Valley, Zinfandel

2001 Tobin James, Commemorative, Zinfandel

1998 Chateau Puy-Blanquet, Saint Emilion

1998 Tobin James, Ranchita Caynon Vineyard, Paso Robles, Petite Sirah

2001 Tobin James, Silver Reserve, Rofosco

1999 Galante, Rancho Galante, Carmel Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon

2000 Tobin James, Silver Reserve, Merlot

[wondersofwine]

Here's what I posted on WLDG forum:

I can't decide on the best wines of the year but here are some that are new discoveries (to me) or that I have especially enjoyed:

New to me:

Philippe Melka Metisse (2000?) a red blend Napa
Ferrari-Carano Tresor another red blend from Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, CA
Schlumberger Gewurztraminer, Alsace
Calera Pinot Noir, Mt. Harlan, Napa Valley, CA (tasted just last Saturday)
Elyse Chenin Blanc (Mendocino County I believe)
Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
1998 Baroja Gran Reserva Rioja, Spain

older discoveries I enjoyed during the year
1999 Eric Ross Occidental Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel (Sonoma)
2003 Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel, Napa Valley
1999 Jayer-Gilles Cote de Nuits-Villages (Burgundy, France)


whites:
2000 Domaine Vincent Girardin Savigny Les Beaune "Les Vermots Dessus" (white Burgundy)
1999 Fichet Meursault "Les Gruyaches" (another white Bugundy)
2002 J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese (Mosel wine, Germany)
2002 Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Riesling Auslese (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer)
1999 Kurt Darting Durkheimer Hochbenn Muskateller Eiswein (Pfalz, Germany)

fortified:
Cockburn Porto Special Reserve
Graham's 1998 Malvedos Vintage Porto

[dananne]

In no particular order, here are our top 10 of the past year -- not wines tasted, but bottles enjoyed.

2002 and 2004 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

2004 Beaux Freres Belles Soeurs Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

2002 Kosta Browne Kanzler Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

2004 Sea Smoke Southling Pinot Noir

2004 Loring Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir

2000 Domaine Senecheaux Chateauneuf-du-Pape

2004 Dobbes Grande Assemblage Pinot Noir (Oregon)

2003 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Red Mountain (WA)

2002 Domaine Tollot-Beaut Chorey Cote de Beaune (Burg)

Honorable mention a few values of the year -- NV Bookwalter Lot 18 (WA), Las Rocas de San Alejandro Vinas Viejas (the '01 and '03), and Queen of Hearts Pinot Noir (Cali -- '02 and either the '03 or '04, but we've yet to try an off one).

Yes, the above list is very Pinot-centric, but we love our Pinot!

[Innkeeper]

Dan you may be PNcentric but we're TJcentric!

[Kcwhippet]

I CAN NOT do this. Since we do a bottle most nights with dinner, we've probably had at least 150 different wines this year, maybe more. I'll have to think about this and get back to you.

[VouvrayHead]

my humble list in no particular order.

2001 Alain Jaume CdP

2000 Condado de Haza Reserva (Ribiera del Duero)

1999 Patrick Javillon Meursault

1997 Geyser Peak Reserve Cab (Alex. Valley)

2000 Michel Perraud Cornas cuvee "Sarah"

N/V Rare Wine Co. Madeira Boston Bual Special Reserve

1997 Chappoutier Hermitage "La Sizerrane"

2003 Kaiken "Ultra Malbec"

n/v Egly-Ouriet Brut Rose Grand Cru

2004 Servin Chablis Premiere cuvee Les Pargues

my bargains of the year:
2003 Ch. Haut Caillou Canon Fronsac Bordeaux ($12)
n/v Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace ($14)
2004 Altas Cumbres Viognier ($10)
2002 Terre Rouge Les Cotes de L'Ouest Syrah ($14)
2002? Carson Peak Cab ($11)

[This message has been edited by VouvrayHead (edited 12-14-2006).]

[winoweenie]

My list would only go back to Dec 2. The memory is the 3rd thing to go. WW [img]http://wines.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

[VouvrayHead]

since Dec. 2 you've probably had 10 wines better than my list, so we ought to see it!

[brappy]

Too tough to answer!

[winoweenie]

See last 10 Posts. WW

[oostexan]

In no particular order:

2004 Amon Ra Godolphin
2002 David Arthur Cabernet and Meritaggio
1998 Beaucastel CDP
2003 Bernard Faurie Hermitage
2002 Provenance Mt Veeder Merlot
2004 Parsonage Petit Applique
1999 Pine Ridge Stags Leap Cabernet
2002 Shafer Relentless
2002 Flora Springs Trilogy
2003 JC Cellars Rockpile Road Haley's Syrah
2003 Novy Rosella's Vineyard Syrah
2002 Pax Kobler Family Syrah
2004 Elyse Korte Ranch Zin

Best Buys
2003 Novy Sonoma Syrah
2003 Paul Jaboulet Crozes Hermitage Thalabert
2003 Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zin
2004 Unti Sangiovese
2002 Flora Springs Napa Cab

Oh well, looks like I threw a couple extras in there...how do you stop at only 10?

[This message has been edited by oostexan (edited 12-13-2006).]

[wondersofwine]

I like Rosenblum's Rockpile Zin too. I may have one left to drink up sometime this winter.

[TheEngineer]

I've been travelling too much this year to really get deeper into my stockpile but the expense account allows me to open up a few things and when I'm at home, I try to open up a few. As such this year, my list is weak...but I get to live vicariously through your lists!! Well here it goes.

1970 Château L’Arrosee
1990 Chateau Baron de Pichon Longueville
1997 Harlan Estate
2000 G. Roumier Morey Saint Denis Clos de la Bussiere
2000 Chateau Pontet Canet
2000 Azelia Barolo San Rocco
2000 Bodegas y Vinedos Alion
2001 Jackson Triggs Proprietor's Reserve Late Harvest Vidal
2001 Torre Muga Reserva
2002 Cardinal, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

[oostexan]

Engrr, that is an interesting list dude. I like it. You reminded me that I have a 98 Torre Muga Reserva that I need to cork.

WOW, a year in the bottle have helped that Rosenblum Rockpile come together nicely. Very good juice and was priced well when I bought it.

[dananne]

My '98 Torre Muga will keep its cork until after 2008, at the earliest. Just my .02. Heck, I'm still working on the plain, ole Muga Rioja Reservas from '97 [img]http://wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

[TheEngineer]

Oostexan, I thought so too, this year got a chance to try more newer world style wines and liked many of them (so the education continues....nice!)

Also been travelling too much so did not really get a chance to taste as much as I would have liked.

Favorite wine this year?? tough but most likely the 1990 Pichon Longueville followed closely by the 1997 Harlan...talk about diverse styles...

[Scoop]

Couldn't resist joining the fun, as it's been a good year for tasting some great, diverse juice. Also (for shame), I never posted anything from my Sonoma/Dry Creek trip in August, where I tasted some gems. Herewith, an eclectic, impressionistic Top Ten, some from technical tastings, some from dinners, in no certain order (except the first):

1982 Lynch-Bages (sublime, hedonistic)
1995 A. Rafanelli Terrace Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley (aromatherapy)
2005 Ponzi Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
2004 Caldaro "Vial" Pinot Bianco Alto Adige
2004 Thierry Puzelat Pinot d'Aunis Touraine
2003 Descendientes de J. Palacios Corullon "Las Lamas" Bierzo
2001 Alvaro Palacios "Finca Dofi" Priorat
2005 Michel-Schlumberger Pinot Blanc Dry Creek Valley (a lovely surprise)
2004 Dry Creek Vineyard Estate Fume Blanc DCV3 Dry Creek Valley
2004 La Tunella Verduzzo Colli Orientali del Friuli (obscure Vin Santo-like dessert -- delicious!)

There were, of course, many other worthy wines, and if I think too long, I'll probably change the above! Ponzi's entire line, for example, is just superb. So, I'll stop here.

Merry winter solstice,

Scoop

[wondersofwine]

Glad you found the Ponzi wines to your liking. Thanks for adding your list. Cheers!