Recently in wine Category

A selection of the top 100 wines from the Wine Spectator.

Malbec

• Bodega Colome Estate Malbec 2006
• Francois Pelissie Croix du Mayne Cahors 2005
• Achaval Ferrer Finca Mirador Malbec 2006
• Altocedro Malbec La Consulta Reserva 2006
• Luca Malbec 2007

Shiraz/syrah

• Mollydooker Carnival of Love 2007
• Elderton Ode To Lorraine 2005
• August Clape Cornas 2005
• Neyers Syrah Sonoma Coast Old Lakeville Road 2006
• Gemtree Vineyards Uncut Shiraz 2006
• Two Hands Angel's Share Shiraz 2007

How do you find out which year is best for a particular region? I've found that California wines from 2002 and 2004 are really great, but I have no information or insight into other regions.

For example, Lori and I recently opened an Australian table wine that turned out to be quite good. It was Black Swan Shiraz 2006. I'd be interested in knowing if there was a really good year for this wine.

Also, on election night, we had a South African wine, Excelsior Cabernet-Sauvignon 2006. Also unknown to me what would be a great year for this.

BTW, both of these wines are about $6-7 per bottle, making them great choices for regular drinking.

Update 2008-11-06: My sister-in-law suggested the Wine Spectator daily picks, and each of the wines I mentioned, albeit in a different year, has been featured in Wine Spectator as an Under $15 Daily Pick:

• BLACK SWAN Shiraz-Cabernet

  South Eastern Australia 2005 (85 points, $8)

• EXCELSIOR Cabernet Sauvignon

  Robertson 2002 (87 points, $8)

Lori and I were just in California and visited wineries on the Central Coast. Here are some wineries we visited and wines we bought.

Paso Robles

• Turley

  We liked the Juvenile and bought a bottle for a party we were going to. It blew us away. It was much better than when we sampled it.

  • Juvenile 2006
  • Old Vines 2006
• Terry Hoage

  Terry Hoage was my favorite vineyard and I ended up buying 6 bottles there.

  • "Skins" Grenache 2006
  • "The 46" Grenache-Syrah 2006
  • "The Hedge" Syrah 2006
• L'Aventure
• Jada

  Jada was Lori's favorite vineyard and my second favorite. Their specialty is a Rhone Valley wine: lots of syrah, mourvedre, and grenache. The Hell's Kitchen is fabulous.

  • Jersey Girl 2005
  • Hell's Kitchen 2006
• Denner
  Mourvedre 2006
• Linne Calodo

San Luis Obispo

• Saucelito Canyon Vineyard
  Zinfandel 2006, Arroyo Grande Valley
• Piedra Creek

  The Piedra Creek visit comes with a story. We had not intended to go there, but started to take recommendations from other vineyards, based on the description we provided of what we liked. The people at Saucelito Canyon recommended we call Piedra Creek for a tasting. We drove over and sat on their house's back porch where Margaret poured us samples. The atmosphere was very personal and pleasant. The owners have been making wine for 25 years and been married for 56, if I recall.

  The Zin Santo is very sweet -- more of a dessert wine because of an accident in the sugar level. Highly recommended.

  • San Floriano 2006
  • Zin Santo 2005
• Domain Albert
  Margarita Vineyards Syrah 2006

If you are visiting San Luis Obispo, you have to eat at Novo Restaurant. The food and wines are spectacular. The outdoor patio is set under broad trees on a deck beside a creek.

Update 2008-11-07: almost forgot a special purchase we made. We bought a case of Panza claret 2004 (sold out) from Quixote Winery in Napa.