From Bordeaux to Meritage

Jan 15, 2008 | WineBratSF (7) | Events, Guest Bloggers, Wine Industry | 0 comments

As I eagerly anticipate Winter Wineland in northern Sonoma, I stumbled across an article about the history of meritage. Since I remember a quandary at a recent wine gathering, I thought I'd note that the Meritage Association is celebrates its 20th anniversary this week.

For those of you who might think that meritage is a fancy French term, like MareAhTage, think again. It's really a made up name for a down home blend, a combination of the works "merit" and "heritage". It was coined in 1985, when the feds only allowed the name table wine to be used on more low brow blends containing less than 75% of a single varietal; read: MUTT. That's right kids, Carlo Rossi could NOT be more than 75% concord grapes!

Since we are legally prevented from borrowing any existing wine terms (yeah well there is a reason we aren't real popular with the French you see) like Champagne or Bordeaux, the wine industry in the upstart New World - basically anywhere but Italy and France folks - decided we needed our own label for these new mixtures we like to plunk down on Thursdays with our pizza.

I'm going to be on the hunt this weekend, so check back soon for a report on the joys of Sonoma County meritage!

Events, Guest Bloggers, Wine Industry

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Top Wines of 2007

Dec 19, 2007 | John (12) | Wine Industry | 0 comments

Whoa is the power of the Top 100 lists that sell wine and markup prices. In the lead is Wine Spectator with their "Top 100 Wines of 2007 (PDF)", which amid full pomp and circumstance revealed its list in November.

Spectator gets so much traction from their list that it was only a matter of time until other publications got in on the action. The San Francisco Chronicle has a Top 100 of 2007 (with no scores only tasting notes). Wine.com's Top 100 is based solely how many bottles were sold from their online store. Not to be outdone, Wine Enthusiast makes not only a Top 100, but a Top 100 best buys in a monster PDF that would be so much nicer as an normal web page.

Does Vinquire make a Top 100 list? Of Course! It's our Top Ranked page, which is constantly updated with your reviewed wines. But for this blog, we're ready to just summarize what the big wigs of the industry think. Reproduced here are some of these lists with direct links to find the best prices.

Happy Holidays!

Wine Spectator 2007 Top 100 (only first 20)

Rank	Score	Wine	Price
1	98	Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2005	$80
2	95	Ridge Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains Santa Cruz Mountain Estate, 2005	$35
3	95	Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2005	$49
4	95	Antinori Toscana Tignanello, 2004	$79
5	95	Two Hands Shiraz Barossa Valley Bella's Garden, 2005	$60
6	95	Château Léoville Las Cases St. Julien, 2004	$90
7	97	Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia, 2004	$150
8	95	Mollydooker Shiraz McLaren Vale Carnival of Love, 2006	$80
9	95	Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve, 2004	$80
10	99	Krug Brut Champagne, 1996	$250
11	95	Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga, 2004	$88
12	96	Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée, 2004	$70
13	100	Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva, 2001	$175
14	97	Joh. Jos. Prüm Riesling Auslese Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Wehlener Sonnenuhr, 2005	$45
15	95	Sbragia Family Chardonnay Napa Valley Gamble Ranch Vineyard, 2004	$40
16	93	Schild Shiraz Barossa, 2005	$25
17	93	Orin Swift The Prisoner Napa Valley, 2005	$35
18	96	Bodegas LAN Rioja Edición Limitada, 2004	$48
19	97	Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Kanzler Vineyard 2005	$62
20	94	Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, 2004	$52

Wine Spectator Top 100: Selections Under $20

Rank	Score	Wine	Price
29	92	Mount Eden Chardonnay Edna Valley Wolff Vineyard, 2004	$17
35	91	Chateau St. Jean Fumé Blanc Sonoma County, 2005	$13
36	91	Drylands Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, 2006	$15
37	92	Navarro Zinfandel Mendocino, 2004	$19
38	92	Quinta do Infantado Douro Reserva, 2003	$19
42	91	Freie Weingärtner Wachau Riesling Federspiel Trocken Wachau Terrassen Domäne Wachau, 2005	$14
48	91	Heath Wines Riesling Clare Valley Southern Sisters Reserve, 2006	$16
49	91	Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley Medalla Real Special Reserve, 2004	$19
54	91	Ataraxia Mountain Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape, 2006	$18
55	91	Casa di Terra Bolgheri Moreccio, 2005	$19
64	91	Quinta do Vale Meão Douro Meandro, 2005	$19
71	90	Columbia Crest Merlot Columbia Valley Grand Estates, 2004	$11
72	90	Yellow Tail Shiraz South Eastern Australia The Reserve, 2005	$11
73	90	Babich Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, 2006	$14
74	90	Fontanafredda Barbera Piemonte Briccotondo, 2006	$13
75	90	La Marca Extra Dry Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, NV	$12
84	90	d'Arenberg Viognier-Marsanne McLaren Vale The Hermit Crab, 2006	$16
85	90	Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Alsace Les Princes Abbés, 2005	$17
86	90	Emery Athiri Rhodes Rhodos, 2005	$11
89	90	Jean-Louis Chave Sélection Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur, 2005	$18
90	90	Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Campo de Borja Tres Picos, 2005	$12
92	90	Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch, 2006	$14
93	90	Domaine Sigalas Asirtiko-Athiri Santorini, 2005	$16
94	90	Bodegas Godeval Valdeorras Viña Godeval, 2006	$17

Wine Enthusiast 2007 Top 100 (only first 20)

Rank	Score	Wine	Price
1	96	Vinedos de Paganos El Puntido, 2004	$57
2	97	Lancaster Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, 2004	$65
3	95	Chateau St. Jean Reserve Chardonnay Sonoma County, 2004	$45
4	93	Glen Eldon Dry Bore Shiraz Barossa, 2004	$27
5	95	Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 1998	$70
6	95	Domaine des Baumard Clos du Papillon (Savennicres), 2005	$39
7	96	Hartford Court Land's Edge Vineyards Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast), 2005	$45
8	92	Viu Manent Single Vineyard San Carlos Estate Malbec (Colchagua Valley), 2005	$22
9	95	Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mountains), 2003	$38
10	93	Dr. Loosen Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese, 2005	$30
11	93	Fife L'Attitude 39 (Mendocino), 2004	$18
12	95	Robert Mondavi 2005 To Kalon Vineyard Reserve Fumé Blanc (Oakville), 2005	$35
13	93	Pirathon Shiraz (Barossa Valley), 2005	$30
14	94	DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc (Columbia Valley), 2005	$33
15	95	Ken Wright Abbott Claim Pinot Noir, 2005	$50
16	94	Melville Clone 76 Inox Chardonnay, 2005	$30
17	94	Descendientes de J. Palacios Villa de Corullon, 2004	$30
18	92	Domaine Famille Ligncres Aric, 2003	$20
19	93	Poet's Leap Riesling, 2005	$20
20	94	Joseph Swan Vineyards Lone Redwood Ranch Zinfandel, 2003	$25

Wine Enthusiast 2007 Top 100 Best Buys (only first 20)

Rank	Score	Wine	Price
1	91	Pascual Toso Maipú Vineyards Malbec, 2006	$12
2	91	Snoqualmie Winemaker's Select Riesling, 2006	$8
3	88	Dao Sul Berço do Infante, 2005	$7
4	88	Pepperwood Grove Chardonnay, 2005	$8
5	88	TerraNoble Vineyard Selection Carmencre, 2005	$8
6	88	Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc, 2005	$6
7	87	Vina Borgia Campo de Borja, 2005	$5
8	90	Winery of Good Hope Chenin Blanc (Helderberg),2006	$9
9	89	Conquista de Argentina Malbec, 2005	$9
10	87	Pine & Post Chardonnay, 2005	$6
11	89	Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Sauvignon (Central Coast), 2005	$10
12	90	Pedro Escudero Valdelainos Verdejo, 2006	$11
13	90	Montes Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005	$12
14	90	Barnard Griffin Fumé Blanc, 2005	$9
15	88	Sebeka Cape Blend Shiraz-Pinotage, 2006	$9
16	88	Covey Run Quail Series Chenin Blanc, 2005	$8
17	90	Chakana Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza) Argentina, 2005	$11
18	88	39° Sauvignon Blanc Lake County, 2006	$9
19	90	Taurino Riserva (Salice Salentino), 2001	$12
20	88	Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay, 2005	$9

Wine.com Top 100 (only first 20)

Rank	Wine
1	Hogue Genesis Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003
2	Sticks Chardonnay, 2004
3	Cristalino Brut Cava, NV
4	Big House Red, 2004
5	Veramonte Primus, 2004
6	Concannon Limited Release Petite Sirah, 2004
7	Root 1 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005
8	Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot, 2004
9	Hanna Sauvignon Blanc, 2006
10	Penley Estate Hyland Shiraz, 2004
11	Falesco Vitiano, 2004
12	Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, 2006
13	Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003
14	Smoking Loon Syrah, 2005
15	Terrazas Reserva Malbec, 2004
16	Falesco Sangiovese, 2005
17	Di Majo Norante Sangiovese, 2005
18	CARO Amancaya, 2005
19	Conundrum, 2005
20	Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2003