Top 20 Wines of 2011

Another year gone and hundreds upon hundreds of wine bottles that I got to taste or drink. I am a lucky man with some serious wine people as friends. I don't think I can ever repay them back for there huge amounts of generosity and knowledge except in the only way I know how. By continuing to open and share my own bottles of wine whenever I can. We can sit there together going over the wines one by one. Trying to get an understanding of sense and place for each wine. Giving up our personal opinions of them and in the end, deciding whether it is a wine that you will never forget or just another bottle filled with grape juice. In the past 7 years, I believe my best knowledge of this fruit has come. All thanks to a group of individuals with the same kind of passion I have for it.

This year I believe that was a bit more guilty of choosing my top 20 wines from my own collection and not from my friends and family. Were they just better than everything else I had the chance to taste? Not at all! But this year is different then in years past. With a connection that I can only explain at the end. So lets get started~~~ Enjoy~

#20
2009 Altovinum Evodia Old Vine Garnacha Calatayud

One of my very best finds. Simple and to the point. Garnacha at a price of $9.99 from 100 year old vines. Strawberry, raspberry and blackberry all integrated perfectly. Not a big fruit bomb like most new world Grenache tends to be. This wino needs bottles at this price or he would be penniless.

#19
2008 Flor de Pingus Ribera del Duero

My other favorite wine grape from Spain, Tempranillo. Only problem is that this wine cost a bit more than $9.99 per. Thank you wine buddies for your serious generosity. I didn't guess right when this wine was brown bagged. Simple Tempranillo just taste "SIMPLE". I must of not noticed the spices, cocoa powder and cherry notes or the finish that just would not end. Oh but what a happy camper I was.

#18
2008 Zotovich Estate Pinot Noir

Now we fly back home to California. The only place that I really enjoyed Pinot for the longest time. I am still waiting to build the cash flow for Burgundy. So you take a short 3 hour drive from my place to Central Coast, namely Lompoc's "WINE GHETTO" and you see pinot after pinot after pinot. Some are good, and some are just not right. Zotovich use to only supply fruit but now they bottle wine. At $38.00 per, it is one of cheaper producers in the Ghetto. I mean everybody else is in the $40.00 to $55.00 dollar range these days. The Zotovich estate has that balance of Cola and Forest Floor that I love so much from Santa Rita Hills AVA. Beautiful acidity with a clean finish. I did buy a few bottles to squirrel away for a few year. We shall see how they develop.

#17
1995 Vieux Telegraphe - Chateauneuf du Pape

It is time to fly across the pond to my favorite land of them all FRANCE! Those popes in France were having a good time 700 hundred years ago. Makes me wanna party with them! I will stick to the wine, because this Chateauneuf rocks! Deep with color and structure. Black cherry and plums on the nose and a mouth feel to make you believe that this wine is still young at heart. It is probably still 10 years away from full maturity. How lucky I am to taste it now.

#16
2010 Jalama Clementina La Presa

An interesting blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling makes my cut at #16. It made for a perfect wine pairing with crab & Lobster one day. Tropical fruit aromas followed by good minerality and acidity. Oh! and a great price point to boot, $26.00. This was one of my wife's favorite wines of the year. Gotta give her some props you know~ :-)

#15
2000 Vina Ardanza - Rioja

I am very proud to say that I owned this wine from the day of it's release. I am also very proud that I did'nt jump the gun and drink them all way to early. This wine delivered a bouquet of cedar, leather and some forest floor. The wine was definitely ready to drink. Poured for my wine group, it could of used some food. Ropa Vieja sounds about right. I will dig in the back of my cellar, because I still have one left. I better get cooking.

#14
2007 Mad Hatter

From the age and grace of Spain to the rock stars of California. Yeah! we are all "Star Fuckers" once in awhile. When you have Dave Abreu in the vineyard, Andy Erickson making the wine and Michel Rolland consulting. Your credit card just instantly flies out of your wallet without you even knowing it. Did I buy this wine because of the star power? Actually, it is fruit from one of my favorite areas, Howell Mountain. It is planted to five Bordeaux grapes and it did exhibit vanilla and dried cherry characteristics. Tannins were soft and in check. Some hints of graphite, sage on the palate made me keep coming back. Who wouldn't wanna say hello to there favorite star if they walked by you once.~

#13
2004 Pago de los Capellanes - Crianza

Another wine that I am very proud to say I owned since its release date. I do love, love Tempranillo, but add a splash of Cabernet and we are in heaven. This wine was very clean and well balanced between fruit and oak. The fruit is ripe black berries and pepper with hints of leather and licorice. I continue to buy and buy this wine for its perfection in the glass and on the wallet.

#12
2003 Blankiet Estate Cabernet

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a huge gigantic monster. Oh no! The Robert Parker effect is starting to show. Why the heck did I love tasting this wine so much. Perhaps it was the notes of coffee, graphite, blackberry, blueberry, cassis, etc, etc, etc!~ The wine went on and on and had beautiful minerality with super tight tannins. Something tells me that this was a wine to age another 10 to 20 years. Perhaps someday I will buy a couple of bottles.

#11
2005 Marc Bredif Vouvray

Chenin Blanc really? You have to really love France to understand that they are the kings and queens of wine making. I just don't believe the US or anywhere else can get some of the unusual grape varietals correct. This wine was sweet but laced with acidity and bite that I have never experienced before. Citrus peel with hints of tropical fruit. The texture is rich and silky at the same time. A very very refreshing, tart and clean wine. What more can you ask for?

#10
2008 Spottswoode Fieldbook

My favorite Cabernet on earth now making a Paso Robles Syrah/Grenache blend. Sounds strange, but I can't say no to such a great family project. I have almost tasted every vintage of Spottswoode's estate Cabernet. I will keep that tradition going with there Field Book blend as well. This wine being a blend of 95% Syrah with 5% Grenache exhibits a traditional dark Paso Robles color. Just enough deep rich fruit and pepper to keep me coming back to the glass. I have always said that it's the Rhone blends that I love from Paso Robles. So why wouldn't my favorite Cabernet producer from Napa get in on the action.

#9
2005 Chateau D'Aiguilhe - Bordeaux

Bordeaux doesn't always have to be expensive just made well. Add the company of good friends and a perfect dinner, price doesn't matter anymore. I always try to remember those good meals with friends and family so that I can repay them back someday with my own wine. This bordeaux is 80% Merlot & 20% Cabernet Franc. Beautiful notes of cassis, charcoal, and espresso came out of the glass. It is full bodied, layered, and super concentrated. The wine went perfect with my Lamb Sausage. A meal to remember with good friends. Is there nothing better in this world??

#8
2005 Saxum Heart Stone

Oh me - Oh my! A GSM monster blend from Paso Robles! I told you! That Robert Parker Effect is taking over me and my head. Damn that S.O.B.! How could you get away from the HUGE amounts of bacon fat and liquid smoke that this wine turns out. So compelling and complex at the same time. I wanted more! Oh well another rejection letter from Saxum came in the mail. "Sorry sir, you will not be getting any wine this year". Boy, do they know how to tease you or what??

#7
2007 Puligny-Montrachet Etienne Sauzet

Some good friends treat you and your wife to dinner so you wanna pay them back with something special of your own. White Burgundy will do just fine. How about a wine with solid purity of fruit and elegant oak length. Something this wino just can't seem to get when drinking California chardonnay. There are some beautiful green fruit characteristics on this wine. It does have a reserved finish which I loved very much. I hope my friends enjoyed it as much as I did.

#6
2007 John Anthony Cabernet Sauvignon

Way way back in time, I started buying this wineries 2004 and 2005 vintage wines. I skipped on the 2006, but came right back to something comfortable and delicious in 2007. We got 2 chances to taste this wine from a brown bag in 2011. I brought the wine first and gave it a monster score. When someone else brought it several months later, she didn't fair as well. You see!! this is what "brown bagging" wines does to you. Either way both times the wine was over 90 points, so who really cares. This wine has a pleasant nose of blackberries, allspice and dark chocolate. A perfectly priced lush, jammy wine with nice tannins and a complex finish. Need I say more???

#5
2007 Collina Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon

Your wine friends are so generous. What a special birthday gift this was! Despite this wines youth. Huge amounts to ripe berries and mocha come right at your nose and palate. This wine is elegant yet refined. Perhaps that has something to do with the pedigree. What an honor it was to try it.

#4
1994 Chateau Monbousquet Bordeaux

You buy wine and you collect wines. As you will see at the end you are really buying memories. The 1994 Monbousquet I was saving for another occasion. A very important one. That is okay though, there will be other 94's coming along in 4 years. This was a wine that was ready to drink NOW! It did get beat up a bit at this tasting being that there were some far more superior Bordeaux's in the line up. But if you don't know me by now as a guy that collects memories. I guess you just don't really know me. On the nose this wine was classic french. Earth and lead pencil. The wine was tight with not a whole lot of fruit coming thru. Simple yet exactly what I needed on that day. Any and all wino's should buy wine for that perfect moment in time. This was one of them for me.

#3
1999 Stags Leap Petite Syrah

There is nothing petite about this wine. Heck, when I first tasted it from the brown bag, I was convinced it was a 2008 Syrah. Nope! 9 years older and the wrong varietal. I don't mind being wrong on this occasion. I mean how often do you get a chance to taste a wine that is inky, dark and delicious. Yeah did I mention it was a 1999. I really can't mention that enough. There was still so much complex berry and oak from the very first sip. I truly believe that no one would of guessed this wines correct age. I DARE YOU!! Either way, what a wonderful wine to taste from a good friends personal collection.

#2
1998 Hermitage La Chapelle

From an old California Petite Syrah to an old French Syrah. This deep purple wine exhibited black cherry, blackberry, leather, smoke and truffle aromas. Perfect delicate tannins with outstanding length on the finish. I kept wanting to taste and taste this wine. What a treat from a great wine friend that I have gotten to know. He really does know how to bring out the right wine for the right occasion!

and the number 1 wine of the year is????
If you really do know me!
You really know just how special saving and drinking certain bottles of wine is!

August 29th 1990

12:17pm

The birth of your first child? I still remember the nurse telling me to put on the scrubs, that my wife was 10 centimeters and ready to deliver. I sat there for a minute wondering what kind of father I was going to be. If I would raise my children with good morals and values. I was only 22 years old on that day. A young man still planning his future. I walked into the delivery room not knowing the answer to that question yet. My wife the warrior laid on the delivery table. I call her that because in no way would I ever want to change places with her. As young as we were, we planned the birth of our first child. Married just over 2 years, we both wanted to start a family early on. My parents waited till there mid thirties to even get married. My mom was 39 years old when she gave birth to me. I suppose that I wanted to be different from my parents. That I wanted to have a relationship that would last 50, 60 or even 70 years. My parents would never get that chance getting married as old as they did.

My mom was so happy on that day, for she was an employee of the hospital that delivered my child. A housekeeper for 17 years. She knew everybody in that building and they knew her as the Grandmother to be. She was working that day and swept and swept that same hallway just outside the delivery room over and over waiting for the news.

When the birth came my child was put on Angie's belly turned away from me. We never found out what the sex of the child was during the pregnancy. I so wanted to reach over and turn him or her towards me just to see if it was a boy or girl. I stopped myself though! Then, 30 seconds later I was cutting the umbilical cord to my daughter Jacqueline Lucia Rodriguez. Angie and I were truly blessed. Jackie was born 1 month early at 12:17pm weighing 5 pounds 7 ounces. She was so little!

I lost sight of my mother as I walked out of the delivery room. She still had a job to do. It didn't take long to have someone call her back to the maternity ward.

I hugged her and cried! She thought something went wrong, but they were tears of joy. A tiny but healthy baby girl. My mom always wanted me to be a girl! So I gave her the next best thing, a granddaughter that she could spoil! And that she did for 12 years till her passing.

Hearing your child say her first word. Dada of course! Seeing your child take there first step. Having them draw there first picture for you. Priceless moments in the raising of a child. But when things go wrong, no parenting book can prepare you enough. My daughter was struck by a car at the age of 9. She had to be airlifted to Children's Hospital in Los Angeles because they thought she might lose her arm. You are helpless! With nothing to do but pray for the best. I held her in my arms as hard as I could whispering in her ear that everything was going to be okay. You are numb with pain and worry. Something no parent should ever go through. I am not a very religious man, but I believe someone was looking after her that day. Doubt creeps into your head as to what kind of parent you are for your children when things like that happen. Then they grow up with beautiful smiles, hearts of gold and good strong morals. Your job is complete. ~~~~~~

August 29th 2011
12:17 pm

So my number 1 wine of the year is not one but 2 wines.
1990 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon
and
1990 Chateau Chasse-Spleen Bordeaux

In the dinning area of my home sits a shelf that holds several dusty, empty wine bottles. Why do I keep them? For the memories that they have given me. Every so often they get dusted off. This allows me to reminisce about that moment when I drank it and what that moment meant to me personally. There are wines on the that shelf that fill me with sad emotions and ones to remember joyful, historic moments in my and my families lives. Now on that shelf sit 2 more bottles to honor the birth of my first child and to celebrate her 21st birthday. This is why I collect wines!

My brother gifted me the bottle of 1990 Spottswoode back in 1996. His idea! Pop it open to celebrate my daughters 21st birthday in the year 2011. How quickly he forgot that I even still had that bottle. He thought we drank it way back when. This wine still had lots of life! It was a bit funky on the nose when first we opened it, but that blew off over the first half hour. Hints of chocolate were still there with cedar and dark fruit on the nose as the wine evolved. I waited for 15 years, and I got exactly what I wanted. A moment to remember what it was like to become a father 21 years earlier. This is my #1 wine of the year~ My daughter thought it was pretty darn good too! :-)

The 1990 Chateau Chasse-Spleen, I purchased in 2000. I have always had a fondness for Bordeaux. I also have a fondness for a little friendly USA vs. FRANCE competition. Add into the mix the fact that both wines are from my daughters birth year just makes it more exciting. On this day, it was not to be for FRANCE~ This wine, although still showing some forms of structure and intensity, started to putter out after an hour of being opened. Then again I want to never forget this wine memory, so she will sit on my wine shelf right along side her counterpart.

So we come to the end~~ What a year! As I mentioned at the beginning, this list was a little heavy handed in my favor. I only hope my personal wines that I got to share with my fellow wine geeks brought as much joy to them as theirs did to me!! It truly was one of those kinda years.

A year that I will never forget!

CHEERS~