It is important to have an opinion on wine and many of my fellow wine educators get it wrong by saying we are "snob free." I have yet to see someone use this term that actually pours good wine. I would make more profit if I poured bad wines but that of course is not my style.
If you don't formulize an opinion on wine you will never become a better wine drinker and be stuck drinking mass produced wines like Two Buck Chuck, Menage a Trois, Cycles Gladitors and even worse over priced oak bombs like Silver Oak which are not cheap.
My 2 favorite wines this year are the 2007 St. Innocent White Rose Pinot Noir and the 2009 St. Urbans Hof Riesling for around $14 a bottle.
2007 St. Innocent Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (10/20/2010)St. Innocent Tasting: My current wine of the year and another great showing. Far superior to the 08 at this stage. Strawberry, floral, white pepper, wood and spice. Balanced and the tannins are not hard like the 08. Great bottle of wine. (95 points)
The crazy thing about the White Rose was it was as little as $25 at one of my favorite local wine shops and on-line it was $32 in which my Minneapolis Wine Club members were able to stock up on it prior to it being sold out.
2009 St. Urbans-Hof Riesling - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (12/15/2010)Really showing well today with peach, apricots, floral and pinneapple. Blind I might think this is a Kabinett or Spatlese. Wonderful wine and a great QPR. (91 points)
St. Urbans Hof is one of the best Riesling producers in Germany and not carried in enough wine shops around town. Try Sorella in Minneapolis as this QbA wine is outstanding and will turn you into a German Riesling fan for life.
What are your favorites?
Can't remember will start writing them down and post them on Cellar Tracker.
Cheers,
John Glas
Wineglas
John,
ReplyDeleteLove the list, many of my Top 10 would be same as yours. I have to mention a few others as well.
Top Wines of 2010, price not a factor:
2002 Barosssa Valley Vineyards E&E Black Pepper Shiraz (96pt)
2006 Usseglio Mon Aieul Chateauneuf du Pape 2006 (96pt)
2004 Clos des Pape (95)
2004 Pichon Lalande (95pt)
2007 St. Innocent White Rose pinot Noir (95pt)(WOTY based on Overall rating and QPR)
There were some other great vintage wines that are not readily available: '94 Pichon Lalande (94pt), '89 Ducru Beaucaillou (93+pt), '97 Chateau Montelena TheEstate Cab Sauv (95+pt)
Best Value Wines, that you might be able to really buy somewhere:
Louis Martini Sonoma Cty Cab Sauv (90pt) $9.99
Cameron Hughes Lot 200 Cab Sauv (91pt) cellar selection, great potential $22.80
2008 St. Innocent Temperance Hill Pinot Noir (92-94pt) $25+
2007 Patton Valley Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (91pt) $20+
2007 St. Innocent Zenith Pinot Noir (91pt) $20
Kevin
"Rocknroller"
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteFun list. It is great to see people create these lists every year and with Cellar Tracker it is fun to go back and check out the top wines of the year.
Cheers,
John