Last week, The Wine Spectator posted their Top 10 wines of the year announcing a couple each day. While this might make for some extra page views, I tuned it out until the end of the week when all 10 were reveled. Why? Because I probably won’t get the chance to taste many of these wines. Like Alder blogged recently, I have a price limit for wines I buy which runs to about $60 or so. Six of the top 10 are over this limit and I expect the after-market for all these wines will increase well above their release prices.
What I wait for is the Top 100 list which came out yesterday. Here there are many wines in the $25 and less “Winecast sweet spot” that I will be looking for to try.
The picks’s that make sense for Thanksgiving are:
- The Hess Collection, Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2004 ($20, 93, #36)
- Matua, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, Paretai Estate Series 2005 ($17, 93, #37)
- Kim Crawford, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2006 ($17, 92, #40)
- Yangarra Estate, Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre, McLaren Vale Cadenzia 2004 ($25, 93, #43)
- Zind-Humbrecht, Gewurtztraminer, Alsace 2004 ($19, 92, #52)
- Chateau Ste. Michelle, Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Canoe Ridge Estate 2004 ($20, 92, #62)
- Greg Norman Estates, Cabernet-Merlot, Limestone Coast 2003 ($15, 91, #65)
- Alois Lageder, Pinot Bianco, Alto Adige 2005 ($12, 90, #66)
- Bodegas Borsao, Garnacha, Campo de Borja, “Tres Picos” 2004 ($12, 90, #67)
- Sbragia Family, Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley, Home Ranch 2004 ($25, 92, #72)
- Jean-Louis Chave Selection, Cotes du Rhone, Mon Coeur 2004 ($20, 91, #74)
- Elk Cove, Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2005 ($18, 90, #77)
- Johannishof, Riesling, Kabinett, Rheingau, Johannisberg Vineyard 2004 ($17, 93, #79)
- Benton-Lane, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2004 ($22, 90, #79)
- Brundlmayer, Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal Kamptaler Terrassen 2004 ($21, 91, #94)
So there you have 15 wines perfect for the Thanksgiving table. Although it’s a bit heavy on the white side, I think there is a nice selection here with many of them in wide distribution.
My only gripe is that no Zinfandel made the Top 100; a huge oversight in my book.
I can not believe that no Zinfandel made the list as well. Thank you Robert Parker for remembering this big, bold, tasty, beautiful wine. And thank you Winecast for pointing this out!