Wine Spectator Top 100 Published

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.

Check it out for yourself.