Top 5 Wines of 2008
2009 cometh, and that means it’s time to shoot through the graveyard of empty bottles pick out my favorites from this past year. The rules are the same as last year: these are my favorite five wines that I owned and drank in 2008. I’ve tasted lots more, but you know how things go when you’re out tasting wines. Everything tastes great. You’re out with your friends, tasting wines, taking pictures, having fun, buying bottles, and suddenly you’re passed out on a beach in Cancun with seven Pesos in your pocket. Happened to me every time I went out in Napa. Uncanny.
78 bottles were up for consideration this year, just a slight uptick from the 71 bottles we put down in 2007.
The wine names (in bold) are followed by the note I wrote after drinking (in italics) and finally any comment I had as I wrote this post (normal). Enjoy!
2003 Drinkward Peschon – Cabernet Sauvignon Entre Deux Meres (VC)
Alcohol up front the blew off after a few hours of sitting around. Gave way to licorice and cassis on the nose. On the palette you’re getting a big ol’ Napa Cab experience. Not a fruit bomb, but some big, lush, crushed red fruit. Yum. Finish thins out but then lingers in your mouth. Whole thing needs time. If you’re opening one now, be prepared to drink it over a few hours.
This was my only bottle of the 2003 vintage. I missed out on 2004 so all that remains of Drinkward is a lone bottle of 2005. Going to let that one sit for awhile.
2005 Kuentz-Bas – Blanc (VC)
Really nice. A little petrol smell. Clean taste with a little fruit and nice depth. Complex for a $14 white wine.
Great stuff for under $15 and I think it is still on the shelves of The Wine Market. If you like white wines and haven’t explored Alsace yet, give it a try. The Kuentz-Bas is a Kermit Lynch joint.
2005 Colin, Marc – St Aubin En Remilly 1er Cru (VC)
Really good. Lots of depth and character for a white wine. Better than I remember it last year.
Burgundy fans would probably take offense to me “lots of character for a white wine” note. Truth is, it’s hard to find complexity in any wine under $20. Marc Colin is a good go-to for a white Burg: $30 wines that drink really well.
1997 Camigliano – Brunello di Montalcino (VC)
Just fantastic. Took two hours in the decanter to warm up.
Back in February I called this wine absolutely awesome. Bought it in Montalcino on our honeymoon after drinking a bottle of it in our restaurant with dinner. I think we got it for 30 Euro which was a complete robbery, even given the current face-planting exchange rate, and I’m surprised we weren’t detained by the Italian authorities.
2001 Hudelot-Noellat, Alain – Clos de Vougeot (VC)
Great. Roasted oak. Dark fruit. Nice smoky character.
My first Grand Cru didn’t disappoint. Not much of a note given a wine of this stature, so… sorry about that. If you’re reading this blog then you probably know that this isn’t the place for long flowery notes. I am nothing if not brief.
Here is last year’s top wines list for historical sake.
