Sunday, February 24, 2013

TOP 20 WINES OF 2012

Top 20 Wines of 2012
Cheers! To 2012!  What a year.  I am glad it’s behind me.  It has been a roller coaster of a year with emotional Highs & Lows.  From my beloved pet passing away in March.  To the last of my children graduating from High School and off to College.  To my wife’s second Cancer scare.  A glass of wine makes all the bad things in your life seem distant and all the good things in your life seem that much more important! I had a glass of wine when my dog passed away.  I shared a glass of wine with my son when he graduated.  My wife and I had a glass of wine when her oncologist told her that she needed surgery and we shared a special bottle of Champagne when it was all behind us.  Another year Gone!
Here are my Top 20 Wines of the 2012~
~ENJOY~

#20
1990 Chateau L’Arrosee Bordeaux
We started the year off exactly where we ended 2011, sharing a bottle of 1990 Bordeaux.  I will always cherish birth year wines.  They are just one of the many reasons I drink wine.  This Bordeaux delivered soft tannins and earth notes with the typical cigar box and lead pencil included.  A very intense nose of red fruit, and cherries.  Pleasant mouth feel, and medium bodied.  The wine was starting to show its age, but still in prime drinking form.

#19
2003 Cayuse Flying Pig
 From an elegant Bordeaux, to a MONSTER Bordeaux blend. I am getting soft in my older age.  Perhaps that Robert Parker effect is starting to kick in.  This wine was beautiful though.  More Cigar Box, and Menthol. Bordeaux in style I guess.  This wine was very layered & super rich on the palate.   I tasted this wine late into a big wine event, but I kept wanting to go back to it.  My first taste of a Cayuse wine.  Many thanx Mr. Stanton~

#18
2003 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf Du Pape
Okay, I am back in my comfort zone.  France! I don’t have as much experience with CDP’s as I do with Bordeaux.  That is changing as the years go by.  Probably because all of my close friends are just now starting to bring out there Chateauneuf’s.  Many thanx close friends! This wine was “Pruney” at the start, but that quickly blew off to evolve into a powerful, full bodied wine.  Huge pepper, huge plum with smooth tannins.  Tasted from a brown bag, I guessed the age of this wine to be a 2008.  Pleasantly surprised on how young it still tasted.  I only wish that I would of bought more Pape wines in my lifetime.  I guess that is what wine auctions are for.

#17
2003 Pago de Los Cappelanes Crianza
Consistently one of my all time favorites Spanish wines.  Consistently have bought several vintages of this wine.  All 3 wines, Joven, Crianza and Reserva from the 2003 vintage I have owned and or drank.  It is both a sad and happy day when you drink your last bottle of wine from a certain vintage. You can only hope that someday another bottle will cross your path at a tasting or restaurant.  The 2003 Crianza ­has plenty of dark red fruit with layered floral components on the nose.  Huge mouth feel, with plenty of acidity.  Everything that I LOVE from a Spanish wine.  I guess that is why a few others have made my list~

#16
2008 Alban Syrah Patrina
Back to monster land we go!  DAMN you Robert Parker! Alban wines I have only gotten into in the last 2 years.  They are huge and need lots & lots of time in the bottle.  Again, because of the generosity of my fellow wine friends have I gotten that chance to try them!  This was an intense wine.  All the California syrah characteristics were there.  Deep rich color, animal fat, blackberry, and pepper.  The tannins were almost too soft for a 2008.  The wine has weight yet stays fresh on the palate due to its good acidity.  I am looking forward to tasting more of these wines in the near future~

#15
2006 Saxum Broken Stones  
Battle of the Monsters!  Godzilla vs King Kong.  First Alban now Saxum? It was soooo tasty though. I just couldn’t resist.  I also couldn’t resist buying a few of these wines this year.  I hope that it is worth it down the road.  Spicy & complex this wine was! I wish there was more of it to go around.  I guess I will have to wait till I pop my own perhaps later this year. 

#14
1998 Leda ViƱas Viejas
Okay back to reality!  The old Country, Spain!  Year after year, Spanish wines will always make my list.  If you don’t know me by now, I love to cook!  I must thank Grandmother for that. I also love to entertain.  Having friends over is always part of the fun.  Digging through my cellar, I always try to pull the right bottle for the right moment.  On this day 4 of my dearest friends came over and I thought of my son!  He was about to graduate from High School in a few weeks, so why not pull a bottle of wine from the year that he actually starting going to school.  This wine showed great balance.  Dark fruit, candied cherry, cedar, spice and integrated oak.  What more can a man ask for when he is entertaining his friends. 

#13
1996 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon
Once again! I am truly blessed to have the friends that I have.  They know exactly what I like.  “Spottswoode”  My favorite California Cabernet!  How could I say no!  Hanging out with some great friends and eating Lamb Chops with that bottle of Spottswoode~  Oh Yeah!  The wine showed impressive body, with layers of spice, cocoa, pepper, and hints of mineral, graphite and earth.  Structure was excellent, with all components in balance.  What more can I ask for from my favorite Cali Cab.  Many thanx, Mr. & Mrs Branham!

#12
2004 Turnbull Napa Valley Cabernet
Another beautiful example of Napa Valley fruit! Another great wine brought by one of my fellow Padres Panel members.  Mountains of chocolate & cedar with beautiful tannins.  I guessed this wine to be much younger than 2004.  It was a pleasure to drink!

#11
2009 M Etain Cabernet
Did someone mention monster chocolate?  I think I got just that when I popped my bottle of M Etain for my 44th birthday bash.  This was the first time that a Scarecrow wine crossed my lips.  I got every pennies worth.  Almost black in color, but with a super smooth mouthfeel.  The tannins are already very integrated even though it is so young.  I can only hope that my backup bottle develops that much more over the next decade.  I plan to be patient~

#10
1999 Ridge Monte Bello
Down the home stretch and I am back in my comfort zone.  One night I entertained myself by logging onto a live chat forum with Paul Draper who is the owner of Ridge Wines.  Paul is a legend in his craft.  Someday I hope that I can shake his hand and thank him personally for all the beautiful wine that has crossed my lips coming from his winery.  First thing I stated to the person running the chat forum was that I have never ever had a bad bottle of Monte Bello.  I have been very blessed and lucky to have tried several vintages of Monte Bello.  The oldest being a 1982 vintage about 10 years ago.  I own a few bottles of early 90s Monte Bello’s.  They age so gracefully that time can only do them good. When this bottle appeared at a wine party I quickly bolted to make sure that I had a chance to taste it.  I was not disappointed!  Silky on the palate, with sweet black fruit, plums, and cocoa.   The fruit is still primary with the hints of oak in the background.   Keep making one of the best wines ever Mr. Draper!  I will keep bolting to taste or buy them.

#9
2009 Ridge Estate Monte Bello
Estate Monte Bello???  Yes another winery decided to make a second label from existing estate grapes.  I am sure you have heard that before.  Only problem with this is its Monte Bello and it was really really tasty!  I guess if anybody was going to produce a second label there resume should start with the name Paul Draper. The man can do no wrong.  This was my best buy of the year.  Purchased early on in the year and tasted blind for my Padres Panel group.  No one was disappointed in this wine for less than half the price of regular Monte Bello! My only problem was that I didn’t buy more than one and after tasting it, I couldn’t find anybody carrying it.  Most places sold out very quickly. A bit more fruit forward than big brother.  That will always be the case with a young wine.  My thought is that this wine would probably develop quite well for many years.  I will continue to kick myself over and over for not buying more.  Oh well there is always the 2010 vintage.  Where do I buy it???

#8
2008 Roland Lavantureux Chablis
The only white wine to make my list this year.  Sorry!  I find it soooo hard to choose bitchen white wines over red ones.  Trust me, there were some tasty ones consumed.  This one stuck out as the very best, not to mention that it is Chardonnay!  Not typically my grape of choice.  Minerals galore on this wine.  High levels of acidity with oak waaaaay in the background.  I only wish that all Chardonnay could taste like this.  To me France makes the best white wines in the world.  I am a fan~

#7
2009 Herman Story Casual Encounters
I fell in love with this winery to the point that I bought some this year.  I am getting soft!  Yes, I have stated that several times now. I flip flop from the wonderful old world style of France & Spain to the over the top opulence of Paso Robles.  Why? Why?  Perhaps I am still a California boy at heart with dreams that someday California will become the greatest wine producing place on earth.  Nah~  Never gonna happen!  Lets just agree to disagree~  Drink French Cotes Du Rhones when the time is right or drink Paso Robles GSM big bombers when there is a need.  Herman Story has just grown on me!  How can a wine with 15% plus alcohol hide the fact so well.  Pure fruit expressions with density and power. The wine is very focused in the mouth, where the balance and texture were perfect. The finish was long, complex and exciting with loads of raspberry, blackberry, spiced meat, baking spice, and earth. Look out France California GSM’s are coming ~

#6
2007 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet
Every day that I continue to consume wine another friend will show generosity beyond my ability to pay back.  I show up at a friends house another friend happens to be there.  He happens to pop open a beautiful magnum of Pride Cabernet.  We talk for awhile about our favorites.  We sip and taste the wine.  Everything is integrated and balanced. The color is dark magenta. The nose is plum, blueberry pie, violets, and vanilla. The Bottle disappears for awhile!  We talk some more about other favorites and other wines we may get a chance to share someday.  The Bottle reappears! He offers me the very last pour.  I gladly decline and say “Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to taste this beautiful wine.  That last pour is yours”.  In my mind, I would of done the very same thing, gladly given up my last pour from my own bottle of wine.  This is the sign of a true wine lover!  You the man Tony~

#5
2001 Gloria de Ostatu Rioja
The greatest contribution I made all year.  A bottle of Spanish Rioja?  Yes I did bring it to our first Wednesday Wellness Charity Wine Tasting, but the real contribution was knowing that our Wednesday group raised over $1600.00 for the Wounded Warrior Project. www.woundedwarriorproject.org Forget talking about how good the wines were at this event.  Yes!  They were that good!  Having some of our members organize this tasting with such a great turnout makes it all worth while.  I look forward to doing it all over again next year.  Cheers to you~ Ken Rushworth – Thad Brennan – Dave Buckley

#4
2004 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape
Arrive at the Wounded Warrior Charity Wine Tasting Event!  Pop Open 2004 Chateau de Beaucastel CDP.  Taste the Wine!  Tight!  Closed Up!  Wait another Half Hour and revisit Wine! Tight! Still Closed Up!  Come back and taste the wine one last time. 3 hours later!  Wine is starting to show hints of its full range, with licorice, graphite and mocha.  I didn’t get any more of that Beaucastel, but oh how it lingers in my mind just how good Chateauneuf Du Pape’s age and last forever~

#3
2005 Muga Reserva Rioja
My favorite varietal of all time is still Cabernet!  Yes I do love Bordeaux which can consist of several different varietals, but my second favorite Single Varietal is Tempranillo.  Spanish Tempranillo.  I love you California, but please stop screwing up this beautiful wine grape.  I beg you. This was just another Tuesday brown bag/Padres Panel event.  Tasted this beautiful offering from one of my fellow group members.  Quickly answered! Tempranillo from Spain.  Probably 05-06 or 07! It is light yet elegant with the natural acid of a well made Tempranillo!  The only thing that was missing was the Cuban Roast Pork with Yuca Mash!  If only my grandmother were still alive to cook that meal for me.  The fun I would have with all of the different Tempranillo wines that I have in my own collection.

#2
Bollinger Champagne NV Special Cuvee
Cancer reared its ugly head again in 2012.  After a 5 year absent from my wife’s life again she required surgery to freeze cancer cells in the most sensitive of places.  In February of 2007 she had a full hysterectomy and still carries the battle scars to prove it.  5 years of testing every 3 months and she was clean and cancer free.  5 months later Cancer once again appeared.  My wife and I have always thought that laughter is the best medicine for major events that happen in our lives.  6 years ago we went out for wine the same night she found out that she had cancer.  We laughed about it while we drank.  Unfortunately stress and fear are very real, and the day she had surgery we cried and worried.  I cannot live without my partner.  I would trade places with her in a second if I could.  Moving forward to 2012 we are 5 years older and the worry & fear are very real.  Yet we still laughed thanx in part to social media which played a huge role in the healing process.  So many well wishes from so many friends! The laughter of the “POP” youTube video that so many friends helped me send to her.
The taste of a great Champagne! It was the first time my wife and I had ever tried Bollinger.  In late December, after the surgery was behind us that bottle of Champagne helped us celebrate life for one more day!

AND THE #1 WINE OF THE YEAR IS???

1996 CARDINALE
Lets face it!  I am an emotional guy when it comes to drinking special bottles of wine.  Like last years #1 wine.   It had an emotional connection with me because of the fact that it was my Daughters 21st Birthday.  No other wine had a chance.  In 2012, I would of gladly chosen The Bollinger as the greatest emotional connection I had to a bottle of wine all year. It was just that, but I can’t stress enough the generosity of all my friends every year.  Year in year out you continue to overwhelm me.  So when my best friend whom I have known for almost 40 years popped open 1996 Cardinale prior to my birthday.  I knew we were in for a special night.  Perhaps it’s the fact that it was just me and him.  That means more wine for us.  Yeah sometimes it is okay to be a hog.  We sat at the dining room table talking about life – family and wine. There it is again.  That emotional connection!  I will never forget it. Perfect timing! Only problem was that this wine truly was the greatest bottle that I drank all year.  It was far more superior to me than any other bottle I tasted all year.  Dark purple color. A nose of chocolate and caramel.  Loads of dark berries, yet very elegant and extremely balanced. Still plenty of life left too as the tannin structure was one word “perfect”.  Then again this was my friends one an only bottle of 1996 Cardinale and he shared it with me and me only.  I truly am one lucky wine lover~!
Thanx J Brother

Another Great Wine Year in the Books~

Thank you again; Jr. Duarte - Jon Jilg - Ken Rushworth - Dick Stanton - Thad Brennan – Dave Buckley - Greg Lee - Brad Barker - John Walker - Tony Hawk - Thomas & Janet Dugan - Ernie & Lisa Ceja - Randy & Celeste Branam and the rest of my Wednesday Wellness Group!

~~CHEERS~~