WOTY 2008

These are my "Wine's of the Year" for 2008.

97 Points -
Penfolds Bin 7 Cabernet Shiraz 1967

96 Points -
Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon 1996
Fritz Haag Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese Riesling Gold Capsule 1983
Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling Vendanges Tardives 1990
Lindemans Vintage Port Bin 3642 Classic Release 1967

95 points -
Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1962
Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill Champagne 1996
S.A.Prum Wehlener-Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese 1976 Gold Capsule
Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 1980
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2005 (Subsequent to the first bottle the wine has shut down)
Louis Roederer Vintage Brut 1996

94 points -
Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet Sauvignon 1991
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese Riesling 1983 (white capsule)
Morris Very Old Liquer Muscat
Kooyong Estate Chardonnay 2005 (mind-blowing for the price - $35)
Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 1989
Paul Jaboulet Hermitage “La Chapelle” 1983

93 points -
Mount Mary Chardonnay 2000
Ch. Leoville Las Cases 1978
Petaluma Hanlin's Hill Riesling 2002
Maximin Gruhauser Abtsberg Riesling Spatlese 1998
Chateau Figeac 1982
Mount Mary Chardonnay 2004
Furst von Metternichscher Schloss Johannisberger Riesling Auslese 1971 (Blue Capsule)
Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 1984
Cape Mentelle Chardonnay 2006
Louis Carillon Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru “Les Combettes” 2000
Christophe Vaudoisey Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chenes" 1993
S.A. Prum M-S-R Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 1983
Bonneau du Mattray Corton Grand Cru Corton Charlemagne 1989
Louis Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Perrieres” 1997
Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon 1983
Tyrrell’s Hunter Valley Vat 1 Semillon 1999
Seabrook Special Bottling Vintage Port 1971
Peter Lehmann The Mentor 1992 (a revelation)
Georges Mugneret Gevrey-Chambertin Grand Cru Ruchottes-Chambertin 1996
Orlando St. Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1988 (another surprise packet)
Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling 2005
Laurent-Perrier Vintage Brut 1996 (averaged over three bottles)

Well I won't quote points (nor tell you what I think of points for fear of insulting you) but I will note the best wines I've tasted this year, in no particular order.

1997 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve

1998 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve

2001 Pavie Macquin

1990, 1994, 1996 Dominus

1985, 1988 Sassicaia

1995 Domaine Santa Duc les Hautes Garrigues

1978 Prunotto Riserva Barolo

1989 Pio Cesare Barolo

1987 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon

1996 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc

1991 Grange Hermitage

1990 Calon Segur

1995 Cappellano Otin Fioria Franco Barolo

1998 Groffier Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

1990 Ch. Montrose

2003 Pontet Canet

1995 Les Cailloux Cuvee Centenaire

1996 Huet Vouvray Sec Le Mont

1970 Moulin Touchais

1994 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet

1996 E&E Blackpepper Shiraz

1988, 1998 Ornellaia

1999 Araujo Eisele Vd. Cabernet

2005 Dom. de Comtes de Lafon Volnay

1985 Dom. de Comtes de Lafon Volnay-Santenots du Milieu

1990 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Gold Label Chianti Classico

1999 Dom. Weinbach Schlossberg Grand Cru Schlossberg Cuvée Sainte Catherine " L'Inédit

1989 Vietti Brunate Barolo

1989 Hugel Gewurztraminer Selection des Grains Nobles

1998 Angelus

1998 Pavie

1993 Dom. Comtes Lafon Meursault Perrieres

1918 Ch. Calon Segur

1945 Ch. Rayne Vigneau

1970 Taylors Port

1979, 1983 Ch. Margaux

1977 Dow’s Port

1990 Tignanello

1995 Bouchard Pere Montrachet

1990 Dom. Pegau Cuvee Laurence

1982 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle

It wasn't a bad year at all, in retrospect.

What, best wine I drank in 2008?

Undoubtedly 1961 Palmer

Runners up:
1983 Palmer
1990 Leoville Poyferre

Well I won't quote points (nor tell you what I think of points for fear of insulting you) but I will note the best wines I've tasted this year, in no particular order.

Great list there, Bill. Thanks for posting.

And never worry about insulting me, I'm a used car salesman - people insult my intelligence pretty much every day of the year - they think they're allowed to because they're "the customer" or one of my superiors. And I'm so used to being rejected, I often revert to a most apt phrase to stifle the pain of dealing with buffoons - "to avoid failure let's both quit now".

Merry Christmas!

[David M. Bueker]

One wine: 1998 DRC Richebourg

And never worry about insulting me, I'm a used car salesman

Naw, nothing really about you, I just either start laughing or roll my eyes when people reduce the experience of tasting and enjoying a wine over a period of time as it opens up in the glass to a two digit number.

Are you SURE that those 94 pointers were obviously superior to those nasty 93 pointers.....

Not an exhaustive list, but memorable wines included the following:

Champagne
1989 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne
1985 Pol Roger Winston Churchill

White
2000 Raveneau "Les Blanchots"
1999 HBB
1999 Pernot Batard

Bordeaux
1964 Pape Clement
1990 VCC
1979 DDC
1986 Rausan Segla
1970 LMHB
1989 Trotanoy
1983 Palmer
1990 Poyferre

Other red
1998 Dujac Clos de la Roche
1998 Verset Cornas
1981 Lopez de Heredia   Bosconia GR
1974 Robert Mondavi Reserve
1990 Hudelot-Noellat Clos de Vougeot
1982 Ratti "Marcenasco "
2000 Drouhin Griottes

Sure there must have been some great dessert wines, but not popping into head

Not an exhaustive list, but memorable wines included the following:

1974 Robert Mondavi Reserve

Dale, this classic wine showed poorly when I last tasted it in Feb. Very tired - in fact more tired than the regular Mondavi 1990 I opened awhile back (very nice, BTW). Do you think this was just bottle variation? I take it that your bottle showed well or it wouldn't have made your list.

I also had a bottle last year that was tired. My blind note from this June:
Wine #3
Ripe cassis and black plum fruit, mint and eucalyptus notes. A little
smoke and tobacco. Tannins seem to have integrated. Very nice
Guesses were centered on CalCab.
#3 1974 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve A-
(snip) on the other hand I liked this '74
Mondavi much better than a bottle a year or two ago.

Isn't bottle variation a pain?

I love it when I see someone saying authoritatively that a certain wine is dead based on a single tasting, especially if it is an older wine. Especially if said wine is really very good and everyone else decides to unload it based on the bad note....

With 30 plus year old bottles, there are so many variables - the difference of oxygen egress from corks, travel/shipping conditions (even 1 owner bottles had to travel originally!), subsequent storage, etc. So I've had 1961 Pape Clement that ranged from close to dead to really nice. It's always good to have data points, but one is just that- a point.

[James Roscoe]

I don't keep lists or notes, but the 1976 Lafite and the 1925 Sauternes from MoCool were most memorable. More importantly, I got to meet some of the best people on this board. That was even better than the wine. I hope the new year brings even more friends and old friends back. Great poll David. Happy New Year! I hope you can make it to NiagaraCool in June!

Dale-
It's nice to remember how many great bottles we've shared this year. On the other hand I can't believe how much of the good stuff you've been saving for when I'm not around!

wine of the year for me was the 2005 Le Gay that I tried recently that was haunting....almost strange to say that about an 05 bordeaux until you try it.

My wine of the year with friends was 6 bottles of a cheap $17 La Spinetta Moscato d'asti that we shared with 8 people in the middle of summer. All 6 bottles were finished as part of a 2 hour conversation that lasted late into the night around some comical nonsensical things that happen int he office, in the malls, etc,..... I miss those times with good friends....

In rank order, those at the top of my drinking list in 2008:

2003 Marcassin Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)
1982 Château Cheval Blanc (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru)
1994 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain)
1992 Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville)
1998 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2005 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2005 Saxum Syrah Booker Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)

Very lucky in 2008. Had two wines that were not only WOTY but quite possibly the best wines I've ever had.


G. H. von Mumm, Rheingau, Johannisberger Mittelholle Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2005


Chateau Filhot Creme de Tete 1990

Although not strictly speaking the 'very best' wine I had in 2008, by far the most memorable wine I've ever had, and likely to remain so for a long while: Chateau Coutet, Haut-Barsac 1928. Although the wine itself gets a 'mere' rating of Extraordinary (93 - 95) from me, the experience of drinking it I rate Perfection (99 - 100). All other wines I've tasted are merely ordinary beside it. And a wine I am confident will see its 100th year with pleasures to spare. It gets my top billing for the year.

The other wines that would make my list for the year (listed in ascending order by tasting date within each rating category):

Outstanding (95 - 97):
Ramos Pinto, Quinta de Ervamoira Port, Oporto 2004
--It should be noted that this wine was Incredible (97 - 99) on my first tasting, from a bottle that had more breathing time (24 hours), and that this second bottle (which breathed for only 12 hours) certainly had similar potential.

Extraordinary / Outstanding (94 - 96):
Canonica a Cerreto, Sandiavola, Toscana 2003

Extraordinary (93 - 95):
Portal, Vintage Port, Oporto 2003
Molly Dooker, Goosebumps, Sparkling Shiraz, South Australia 2006
Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2003
Ramos Pinto, Lagrima, Oporto NV
Paul Hobbs, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2005
Beringer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Private Reserve, Napa Valley 1997

Exceptional (90 - 93), with the potential to be Extraordinary in time:
Chateau Coutet, Barsac 1997
Chateau La Louviere, Pessac-Leognan 2005

So, the round up: 3 Ports, 3 California Cabernets, 2 Sauternes, 1 red Bordeaux, 1 Super-Tuscan, and one [Sparkling] Australian Shiraz. What should you make of that? Simply the wines that I was fortunate to have come my way this past year. Worth noting that 3 of the 11 came from this past Friday (the 26th). And if I had made this list in November (which surely nobody would be foolish enough to presume to do . . . . oh, wait), 4 out of the 11 would not be there. The year ain't over 'till it's over!

This must be easier if you assign points and can do quick calculations/searches in a spreadsheet.

Personally I have no idea what my WOTY was for 2008, although I had some tasty wines.

I'll think about it.

My own list (with no apologies, with points, can be found at viewtopic.php?f=29&t=21062

Best
Rogov

[Jenise]

I neither score wines nor keep lists, but thinking back over the year these wines stand out:

01 Rieussec
05 Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir
05 Craggy Range "Te Muna" Pinot Noir
95 Angelus
96 Lynch Bages
66 Pichon Lalande
92 Quilceda Creek Cab
89 Woodward Canyon Dedication Series
04 Roessler Alder Springs Chardonnay
90 Michel Niellon Chevalier Montrachet
86 Chave Hermitage
90 Pegau Cuvee Lawrence
82 Cos d'Estournel
75 Torres Gran Corona
90 Tignanello
91 Grange Hermitage
98 Groffier Bonnes Mares
00 Drouhin Montrachet Laguiche

Standouts for me over the past year:

1994 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese (probably the best wine I've had so far in my life)
2001 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese
2006 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese
2007 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs
2006 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese
2005 Kongsgaard Hudson Vyd Syrah
2001 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese
2006 Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Auslese
1982 Chateau Calon Segur
1975 Ridge Petite Sirah York Creek
2005 Alban Mourvedre Forsythe
1998 Masseto
2002 Penfolds Grange
1998 Gangloff Cote Rotie La Sereine Noir
2005 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese "Rotlay"
2000 FX Pichler Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd
2005 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese
1985 Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde
1998 Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis
1998 Wynn's Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon

.

Not an exhaustive list, but memorable wines included the following:

1974 Robert Mondavi Reserve

Dale, this classic wine showed poorly when I last tasted it in Feb. Very tired - in fact more tired than the regular Mondavi 1990 I opened awhile back (very nice, BTW). Do you think this was just bottle variation? I take it that your bottle showed well or it wouldn't have made your list.

Doesn't quite count as 2008 [by just an hour or two], but I had the 1978 RM Reserve, from magnum, late in the evening on Dec 31, 2007, and it was only just beginning to show any secondary notes.

Don't know about 750s, but in magnum, that 1978 is gonna last another 30 or 40 years - no prob.

As usual we are heavy on TJs (own no stock!).

Wines of the Year ’08:

2000 Easton, Shenandoah Valley CA, Cabernet Sauvignon

2000 Tobin James, Ranchita Canyon Vineyard, Petite Sirah

2002 Tobin James, Silver Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Tobin James, James Gang Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah

2003 Fox Run, Finger Lakes, Cabernet Franc

2003 Tobin James, French Camp, Zinfandel

2004 Tobin James, James Gang Reserve, Primitivo

2004 Tobin James, Fatboy, Zinfandel

2006 Hermann J. Wiemer, Semi-dry, Finger Lakes, Riesling

2006 Masciarelli, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (Best Buy)