41 St.-Urbans-Hof
Riesling QbA Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 2004 91 / $11 • Germany
The grapes for this estate Riesling are sourced from about 37 acres of vineyards around this family-owned winery in Leiwen and from the Wiltingen Schlangengraben in the Saar. These vineyards are flat and easy to manage, therefore reducing costs and resulting in a great German value. Good growing conditions resulted in an elegant wine backed by plenty of zip. 15,000 cases made.
42 Altos Las Hormigas
Malbec Mendoza Viña Hormigas Reserva 2002 92 / $24 • Argentina
Since their first vintage in 1997, winemakers Alberto Antonini and Attilio Pagli, two of four Italian partners who run this winery, have produced some of the best and best-priced reds from Mendoza. The reserva is the top of their line and the 2002 culminates a string of impressive showings. This muscular, ultraripe Malbec shows levels of complexity not achieved in previous vintages. 4,000 cases made.
43 Finca Luzón
Jumilla Altos de Luzón 2003 93 / $16 • Spain
This well-priced red from Spain‘s up-and-coming Jumilla region blends 50 percent Monastrell (Mourvèdre) from 51-year-old vines with 25 percent each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel, followed by malolactic fermentation in new French and American oak; the exuberant fruit flavors are nicely integrated with the toasty oak note. 1,500 cases made.
44 Novy
Syrah Sonoma County 2003 92 / $19 • California
Adam and Dianna Lee oversee a remarkable lineup of wines: 24 different Pinot Noirs from California and Oregon under the Siduri label and a handful of stellar Syrahs from Novy, which they make with their extended family. The blend here includes grapes purchased from Bennett Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley. 1,116 cases made.
45 Wilson
Riesling Clare Valley Polish Hill River 2003 92 / $19 • Australia
Australia produces an ocean of Chardonnay, but its Rieslings deserve attention as well. The epicenter for Riesling quality is Clare Valley, two hours‘ drive north of Adelaide. The Wilson family has been making wine in Clare for more than three decades. Their 12 acres of Riesling grow in the hills near the north end of the valley at Polish Hill River, where soils of red clay and plenty of shale create a lively, distinctive wine. 2,000 cases made.
46 Truchard
Chardonnay Napa Valley Carneros 2003 93 / $28 • California
Tony and Jo Ann Truchard own 270 acres of vineyards in Carneros, where they grow 10 different grape varieties. They sell most of their grapes, reserving 20 percent for their own wines, which can rank among California‘s best. This year their Chardonnay rises to the top. Sedimentary soils and cooler temperatures make the Carneros region ideal for growing Chardonnay. 1,059 cases made.
47 Goldeneye
Pinot Noir Anderson Valley Migration 2003 92 / $28 • California
Goldeneye is the Pinot Noir estate of Napa Valley‘s Duckhorn Vineyards, best known for its Merlot. For cool climate-loving Pinot, Duckhorn draws on vineyards in Mendocino County‘s Anderson Valley. Winemaker Zach Rasmuson blends grapes from four estate sites and two additional growers to make this well-priced red. 3,061 cases made.
48 Ehlers Estate
Merlot Napa Valley 2002 92 / $27 • California
Ehlers Estate is a not-for-profit winery; its proceeds benefit the research goals of the Leducq Foundation, one of the world‘s largest medical research trusts committed to cardiovascular research. The 39-acre vineyard estate was originally founded in 1886, and this Merlot is made from grapes grown biodynamically. 2,050 cases made.
49 Stefano Farina
Barolo 2001 92 / $28 • Piedmont
Value-priced Barolo is a rare commodity these days, with most of these powerful Nebbiolo-based reds sporting price tags of $60 or more. Based in Como, near the Italian-Swiss border, Stefano Farina Vintners has made wine in Piedmont since the late 1960s, using grapes from their own estates in the region, supplemented with fruit bought from local growers. 3,000 cases made.
50 Sea Smoke
Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Botella 2003 93 / $30 • California
The Sea Smoke vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara County is young, but already has an impressive track record for quality. This 100-acre property was planted in 1999, and is divided into 24 blocks planted to 16 assorted Pinot Noir clones rooted in six distinct soils. 1,000 cases made.
51 Argyle
Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2002 91 / $13 • Oregon
Cofounded by Brian Croser of Australia‘s Petaluma Winery and Texan Rollin Soles in 1987 to make sparkling wine, Argyle has evolved into one of Oregon‘s savviest operations, and it delivers some of the state‘s best table wines. Soles blends three different vineyards in the Eola and Dundee hills to make this suave white. 8,512 cases made.
52 Allan Scott
Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2005 91 / $13 • New Zealand
Allan Scott has been working in the vineyards of the broad Wairau River valley in Marlborough since 1973. In the ‘80s, he was the top viticulturist for Corbans. He and his wife Catherine opened their own winery in 1990, focusing on Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling. Their son Josh Scott and Jeremy McKenzie are the winemakers. 20,000 cases made.
53 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2003 93 / $45 • Rhône
Brothers Frédéric and Daniel Brunier source the grapes for their benchmark Rhône red from the celebrated La Crau vineyard block, which excels during hot and dry growing seasons such as 2003. This is a blend of 65 percent Grenache, 15 percent Mourvèdre and 15 percent Syrah. Fermentation is done in stainless steel and wooden tanks; the first year of aging is in cement tanks and the second year is spent in large oak casks. 17,000 cases made.
54 Paul Hobbs
Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2003 93 / $40 • California
Paul Hobbs is well-known for his single-vineyard bottlings of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a bit different; it blends grapes from four different vineyard sites, although the majority of the fruit comes from the estate vineyard, called Lindsay. Hobbs is one of the most talented winemakers in California, and this bottling is among his most affordable. 1,754 cases made.
55 Quinta de Roriz
Douro Prazo 2003 91 / $13 • Portugal
Winemakers Charles Symington and Pedro Correia blend Tinta Roriz (40 percent), Touriga Franca (30 percent), Tinta Barroca (20 percent) and Touriga Nacional (10 percent) for this affordable introduction to the dry reds from the Portuguese region famed for its Port wines. The grapes are primarily sourced from younger vines, and the wine was aged for nine months in 2-year-old French oak casks. 2,000 cases imported.
56 Babich
Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2005 90 / $13 • New Zealand
Josip Babich was one of the fathers of the Kiwi wine industry, planting his first vines in 1916. His three children, Joe, Peter and Maureen, control the company now, and several grandchildren are involved. Winemaker Adam Hazeldine used two Marlborough vineyards, one in Awatere Valley and the other in Waihopai Valley, to make this Sauvignon Blanc. 85,000 cases made.
57 Château Maris
Syrah Minervois La Livinière La Touge 2002 91 / $14 • Languedoc
Partners Robert Eden and Kevin Parker join other top producers in France in their adherence to biodynamic farming at this 110-acre estate. The results include the La Touge Syrah, which hails from one of the top districts in the Languedoc region of the south of France. Sixteen months in oak help to soften the edges of this intense and powerful red. 4,200 cases made.
58 Greg Norman Estates
Shiraz Limestone Coast 2002 90 / $16 • Australia
Famed golfer Greg Norman launched this wine brand in 1999 and has enjoyed great success; the wines are made by his partner, Foster‘s Wine Estates. The Limestone Coast is an up-and-coming region that includes Coonawarra, Wrattonbully and Padthaway. The vines are planted on gentle limestone rises, and the wines are lively and elegant. 45,000 cases imported.
59 Duval-Leroy
Brut Champagne NV 91 / $30 • Champagne
Duval-Leroy, with 145 years of winemaking history under its belt, is managed today by Carol Duval-Leroy. This brut, from winemaker Hervé Jestin, is a blend of 80 percent Pinot Noir and 20 percent Chardonnay hailing from many different crus, including Vertus, Rilly, Bouzy, Ay and Chouilly. Fermentation is done in stainless steel tanks, and the wine is aged for three years on the lees in caves located in Chalon. 35,000 cases made.
60 Damilano
Barolo 2001 92 / $33 • Piedmont
The grapes for Damilano‘s Barolo come from rented or supervised vineyards in various areas of Barolo country. In 2001, as in most vintages, the quality of this Barolo matches that of the estate‘s two single-vineyard Barolos, Liste and Cannubi, which come from the family-owned 11 acres of Nebbiolo vines in the Cannubi, Liste and Fossati vineyards, all in the commune of Barolo. 4,100 cases made.
61 La Chablisienne
Chablis Mont de Milieu 2002 93 / $32 • Burgundy
La Chablisienne is a cooperative of 300 growers that was established in 1923. Their continuing attention to improving their winemaking facilities and techniques has kept quality consistent, while prices remain reasonable. This bottling is from the south-facing Mont de Milieu, which is one of Chablis‘ better-known premier cru vineyards. 3,000 cases made.
62 Viña Montes
Syrah Colchagua Valley Alpha Apalta Vineyard 2003 91 / $23 • Chile
With the 2003, cutting-edge Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes has made a Syrah that is more stylish and fruit-driven than in previous vintages. The grapes are harvested from a low-yielding hillside vineyard in the Apalta Valley. Montes also added 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon to this wine, which added complexity and structure, and then aged it in French oak for a year. 18,000 cases made.
63 Forefathers
Shiraz McLaren Vale 2003 91 / $23 • Australia
A New Zealander living in Sonoma, Nick Goldschmidt is executive winemaker for Allied Domecq (recently acquired by Pernod-Ricard and Fortune Brands). On the side, he‘s started the Forefathers label, making small-production wines from top New World vineyards in California, New Zealand and Australia. The fruit for this dense, peppery Shiraz comes from a site on Copper Mine Road in McLaren Vale, south of Adelaide. 3,343 cases made.
64 Simi
Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley Landslide 2001 92 / $33 • California
This is only the second release of this vineyard-designated Cabernet from Simi‘s 170-acre vineyard in Alexander Valley. The site comprises numerous soil types and microclimates created by an ancient volcanic landslide from nearby Mount St. Helena. Winemaker Steve Reeder blended Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec for the cuvée. 7,175 cases made.
65 Álvaro Palacios
Priorat Les Terrasses 2003 92 / $30 • Spain
The name Les Terrasses refers to the extremely steep, hillside vineyards that are the source of the Carineña (60 percent), Garnacha (30 percent) and other red grapes blended in this harmonious red. Palacios, one of Spain‘s most prominent winemakers, feels that Priorat‘s challenge is to maintain freshness and build complexity while avoiding overripeness; to achieve this in the heat wave of 2003, he sent crews through the vineyards to remove raisined bunches. 2,500 cases imported.
66 Bodega Catena Zapata
Malbec Mendoza Alta 2002 93 / $45 • Argentina
The Catena family is among Argentina‘s winemaking icons and has been in the Mendoza region for more than a century. Malbec grapes from the 60-year-old Angelica Vineyard (named for owner Nicolás Catena‘s mother) are used to make this deft red. Aging for 18 months in mostly new (70 percent) French oak adds a plush texture and a lingering smoky note. 4,000 cases made.
67 Thierry Germain
Saumur-Champigny Domaine des Roches Neuves 2004 91 / $16 • Loire
Thierry Germain, 38, bought Domaine des Roches Neuves when he was 24 and has been making terroir-driven wines in the appellation of Saumur-Champigny since 1991. Although his family has its roots in winemaking in Bordeaux, Germain struck out on his own in the Loire Valley. The results of his biodynamic methods include this firm and spicy Cabernet Franc-based red. No oak here; this wine is fermented and aged solely in stainless steel. 5,000 cases made.
68 Alain Graillot
Crozes-Hermitage 2003 92 / $30 • Rhône
Beginning a new life as a winemaker in 1985 after a career in marketing and sales, Alain Graillot is bringing prestige back to a region that had been overshadowed by its big brother, Hermitage. The Syrah grapes for this wine are handpicked from 25-year-old vines and are not destemmed. The wine was aged for one year in vats and oak barrels before bottling. Graillot‘s racy red exhibits the power and length of the vintage. 3,500 cases made.
69 Fairview
Goats do Roam In Villages Red Coastal Region 2003 90 / $13 • South Africa
The name of this Shiraz (74 percent) and Pinotage blend alludes humorously to the herd of goats that resides on the Fairview estate, a reliable source of values from South Africa. Owner Charles Back co-ferments Shiraz and Pinotage before aging the wine for a year in a mixture of French and American oak, of which about 10 percent is new. 12,000 cases made.
70 Alta Vista
Malbec Mendoza Grande Reserve Terroir Selection 2003 91 / $19 • Argentina
The 2003 vintage marks the first time Alta Vista has blended all four of its vineyards-Albavene, Serenade, Temis and Alizarine-to create one wine. Using multiple vineyards is a common tactic to offset the vagaries resulting from localized hailstorms, which are common in Mendoza. Didier DeBono made this structured ‘03, which features layers of blackberry and black currant fruit flavors. 1,500 cases imported.
71 Bodegas Emilio Moro
Ribera del Duero 2003 92 / $32 • Spain
Bodegas Emilio Moro is a 173-acre, family-owned estate in Spain‘s Ribera del Duero, where the Moros have been making wine for more than 120 years. Several south-facing vineyards contributed to the 2003, with Tinto Fino grapevines ranging in age from 16 to 31 years. The wine was aged for a year in an equal mix of French and American oak, about 50 percent new. 1,000 cases imported.
72 Cantina Terlano
Pinot Bianco Alto Adige Classico Terlaner 2003 91 / $18 • Alto Adige
Cooperative wineries abound in Italy‘s northeastern region of Alto Adige, and Cantina Terlano, in operation since 1893, is one of the best. This Pinot Bianco is sourced from the co-op‘s 100-or-so associated growers in the Terlano area, just north of Bolzano. Like all the wines in the value-priced classico range, it‘s made entirely in stainless steel. 6,000 cases made.
73 Quinta de Ventozelo
Douro Reserva 2000 90 / $14 • Portugal
After years of anonymity, this large Douro estate was acquired in 1999 by the Spanish shellfish company Proinsa, and since then has bottled table wines and Ports under the domaine name. This reserva is a blend of Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga National, Tinta Barocca and Tinto C茫o. It is aged 12 months in new American oak and spends a minimum of six months in bottle before release. 7,000 cases made.
74 Livio Felluga
Colli Orientali del Friuli Terre Alte 2002 92 / $35 • Friuli
This is the top white produced on the Felluga family‘s 395-acre estate in northeast Italy. The quality has improved considerably recently thanks to the collaboration of top consulting enologist Stefano Chioccioli. It‘s a blend of 40 percent Sauvignon Blanc, 30 percent Pinot Bianco, both aged in stainless steel tanks, and 30 percent oak-aged Tocai Friulano. 6,000 cases made.
75 Argyle
Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Reserve 2002 91 / $28 • Oregon
The 2002 vintage is Oregon‘s best in memory and provided several top-notch Pinot Noir bottlings. For this reserve, Argyle winemaker Rollin Soles used fruit from three different vineyards in the Dundee and Eola hills, aged the wine in French oak for just over a year and bottled it unfiltered. 6,360cases made.
76 Turnbull
Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2002 91 / $40 • California
In the realm of Napa Cabernet, this wine provides an impressive quality-to-price ratio. It is made from 100 percent estate-grown grapes from five different vineyard sites. A mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot, the wine was fermented in stainless steel then aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, 32 percent new. 10,049 cases made.
77 Sebastiani
Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2002 90 / $17 • California
This is the value of the year in California Cabernet. Grapes from seven different vineyards in Sonoma and Alexander valleys went into this wine, including Sebastiani‘s renowned Cherryblock vineyard. Winemaker Mark Lyon opted for a short fermentation (in stainless steel tanks) to minimize tannin extraction. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Barbera and Zinfandel were added to the final blend. 52,000 cases made.
78 Seghesio
Zinfandel Sonoma County Sonoma 2003 90 / $18 • California
Seghesio makes a handful of highly recommended Zinfandels each year, and 2003 was no exception. Winemaker Ted Seghesio says that the weather in 2003 was unpredictable, with an April so cold the vines hardly grew and a May so hot you could see the vine-growth every day. With meticulous farming, Seghesio was able to overcome the vagaries of weather to bring out the best from the finicky Zinfandel grape. 52,000 cases made.
79 Evans & Tate
Chardonnay Margaret River 2004 90 / $16 • Australia
This rapidly expanding winery has been working to improve its Chardonnay. This vintage tastes and feels like a junior version of Australia‘s iconic Leeuwin Chardonnay, made just down the road. Blended from several different vineyards on gravelly loam, this bottling benefited from cool sea breezes in the generally hot, dry summer of 2004. 18,000 cases made.
80 Allegrini
Verona Palazzo della Torre 2001 90 / $18• Veneto
This blend of Corvina and Rondinella with a dash of Sangiovese is made by one of the Veneto‘s best-known family wineries. Palazzo della Torre is the product of an unusual method of vinification: After the harvest, 70 percent of the crop is vinified immediately; 30 percent is partially dried for three months, then crushed, blended with the larger lot, and fermented. 22,500 cases made.
81 Paul Autard
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2003 92 / $35 • Rhône
Jean-Paul Autard is fast becoming one of the best-known winemakers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. His ‘03 is a blend of 60 percent Grenache and 30 percent Syrah, with some Mourvèdre and Counoise. In 2000, Autard replaced his old foudres with small barriques to help preserve more fruit detail. This traditional-style Châteauneuf-du-Pape sees only about 5 percent new oak. 4,000 cases made.
82 Bonneau du Martray
Corton-Charlemagne 2002 94 / $100 • Burgundy
The family of winemaker Jean-Charles Le Bault de la Morinière has owned vines in the grand cru vineyard of Corton-Charlemagne since the 1820s. Today, their 27 acres are made up of 10- to 70-year-old vines in a west-facing plot. This exposure provides long periods of sunlight each day but avoids overheating of the vines, creating what Le Bault de la Morinière calls, "a wine of light, rather than heat." 4,000 cases made.
83 Perrin & Fils
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards 2003 91 / $30 • Rhône
Younger vines from the Perrin‘s Château de Beaucastel estate contribute grapes to this juicy red, with additional fruit coming from a leased 17-acre vineyard located in the commune of Orange. The wine blends 70 percent Grenache with equal parts of Syrah and Mourvèdre. Family members Jean-Pierre, François and Pierre recently created the Les Sinards in homage to their grandfather, Pierre Perrin. 6,700 cases made.
84 Amisfield
Pinot Noir Central Otago 2003 91 / $30 • New Zealand
The chilly, picturesque New Zealand region of Central Otago is the world‘s southernmost wine region, where Pinot Noir vineyards are quickly replacing flocks of Merino sheep on the hillsides. Cofounded by the former CEO of Levi Strauss, Amisfield has vineyard soils full of schist. The 2003 vintage got off to a late start due to a cool spring, but summer was warm, creating a lithe wine. 2,100 cases imported.
85 Bodegas Terrazas de los Andes
Malbec Mendoza Reserva 2003 90 / $15 • Argentina
Terraced vineyards in Vistalba, just south of the city of Mendoza, are the source of this rich Malbec. The ungrafted vines were planted in 1929 and produce yields very low for the area. This Reserva was aged for 14 months in oak barrels, of which a third were new. Winemaker Roberto de la Muta has been in charge since the winery‘s debut vintage in 1997. 32,000 cases made.
86 Marchesi de‘ Frescobaldi
Chianti Rufina Castello di Nipozzano Riserva 2002 90 / $21 • Tuscany
The 2002 vintage for Tuscany was one of the worst in a long time due to a wet and cool summer, yet Florentine vintner Frescobaldi managed to make an impressive Chianti Rufina Riserva at its Nipozzano estate. It was all due to the declassification of top wines Chianti Rufina Montesodi and super Tuscan Mormoreto; nearly all the grapes meant for these wines went into the riserva. 72,500 cases made.
87 Marquis Philips
Cabernet Sauvignon South Eastern Australia 2003 90 / $18 • Australia
Sparky and Sarah Marquis, among Australia‘s most in-demand consulting winemakers, partnered with American importer Dan Philips a few years ago to create this brand, which is geared entirely for export to the United States. The wine is immensely appealing-soft, supple and ripe in flavor. 6,000 cases imported.
88 Bodegas Monasterio
Ribera del Duero Hacienda Monasterio Crianza 2001 92 / $39 • Spain
This elegant and polished blend comprising 70 percent Tempranillo (with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec) was made by Denmark-born Peter Sisseck, famed winemaker of Pingus, one of Spain‘s most respected and expensive reds. The grapes were handpicked from estate vineyards, and the wine was aged in small French barrels. 15,000 cases made.
89 Château de Lancyre
Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St.-Loup Vieilles Vignes 2001 90 / $18 • Languedoc
In the 50 years that Bernard Durand has been at Lancyre, the winery‘s vineyard holdings have increased from 30 to 180 acres, making it one of the larger estates in the Languedoc. Durand and his nephew Regis Valentin made this two-thirds Syrah, one-third Grenache blend from a top cru in the area, Pic St.-Loup, which provided a long growing season in 2001. 5,500 cases made.
90 Gunderloch
Riesling Spätlese Rheinhessen Nackenheim Rothenberg 2003 92 / $35 • Germany
Winemaker Fritz Hasselbach and his wife, Agnes, have been running this estate for 25 years, although the winery has been in Agnes‘ family since its inception in 1890. Gunderloch owns 23 acres in the steep, hillside vineyard of Rothenberg, one of the top sites in the Rheinhessen region. Rothenberg‘s soils comprise red slate, which shows in the minerality of this wine. 500 cases imported.
91 Mount Langi Ghiran
Shiraz Victoria Billi Billi 2002 90 / $15 • Australia
Mount Langi Ghiran is located in the Grampians, a mountainous region west of Melbourne that enjoys cooler nights than most other winegrowing areas in Australia. This is the winery‘s value bottling, which winemaker Trevor Mast makes from purchased grapes. The cool 2002 vintage amplified the crisp, peppery character in the fruit. 2,000 cases imported.
92 Luce della Vite
Toscana Lucente 2003 90 / $25 • Tuscany
Lucente is the second wine of Luce, the Frescobaldi/Michael Mondavi estate based in Montalcino in Tuscany. But the quality gap is closing, thanks to the increased role of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, which has grown from 5 percent in 2001 to 15 percent in the 2003. The other varieties in the blend are Merlot (45 percent) and Sangiovese (40 percent). 11,300 cases made.
93 Lagar de Fornelos
Albariño Rias Baixas Lagar de Cervera 2004 90 / $19 • Spain
This rich white is an excellent example from the Albariño grape, from the Rias Baixas region in northwestern Spain. The fruit comes from 170 acres of estate-owned vines in the O Rosal area, with additional grapes purchased from vineyards in nearby Val do Salnes. The winery was established in 1982, but since 1988 it has been under the ownership of Bodegas La Rioja Alta in Rioja. 29,000 cases made.
94 Morgan
Chardonnay Monterey 2003 90 / $20 • California
Six vineyards were tapped for this wine, with the majority of the grapes coming from proprietor Dan Lee‘s Double L Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Lee purchased the 65-acre property in 1996 and it ranks among the coolest vineyard locales in California, though it benefits from one of the longest growing seasons. Strong Salinas Valley winds concentrate the flavors by encouraging thickening of the grape skins. 10,300 cases made.
95 Barnard Griffin
Merlot Columbia Valley 2003 90 / $19 • Washington
Winemaker Rob Griffin and his wife, Deborah Barnard, have operated their winery since 1983. Washington‘s 2003 growing season was hot, spawning very ripe Merlot in the eastern half of the state. Griffin chose fruit from five different vineyards scattered throughout Columbia Valley, blended, and aged the wine in both French and American oak. 5,600 cases produced.
96 Château Lagrézette
Cahors 2001 90 / $25 • Southwest France
Owner and former Cartier chairman Alain Dominique Perrin has overseen some of the appellation‘s best wines with the help of consultant Michel Rolland. The 2001 blends a large amount of Malbec (80 percent) with Merlot (17 percent) and Tannat (3 percent). Malolactic fermentation for each component took place in new oak and was followed by 18 months of barrel aging before the final blend was assembled in 2003. 9,410 cases made.
97 Spadina
Nero d‘Avola Sicilia Una Rosa 2002 90 / $16 • Sicily
William Grant & Sons struck a deal with Sicilian cooperative winery S.I.V. Spa to create the Spadina label for two U.S.-exclusive Nero d‘Avolas. Una Rosa is the more selective of the two, and is made and aged in oak for six months in the winery in the region of Trapani, under the supervision of the project‘s enologist, Alberto Antonini. 1,500 cases made.
98 Perrin & Fils
Vacqueyras Les Christins 2003 91 / $19 • Rhône
In 1997, Jean-Pierre and François Perrin of Beaucastel fame created Perrin & Fils to help accomplish the family mission of finding the best terroir in the Southern Rhône Allegrinine Valley and creating single-vineyard wines from those sites. This offering, a blend of 80 percent Grenache and 20 percent Syrah, shows off the fruit-depth and density of the vintage. The Les Christins vineyard is located on a stony terrace that gives the wine a strong underlying minerality. 300 cases imported.
99 Cortes de Címa
Touriga Nacional Alentejo 2002 91 / $20 • Portugal
American Carrie Jorgensen went to Portugal in 1988, a century after her great-grandfather had immigrated from that counry to the United States. She and her Danish husband, Hans Jorgensen, established a winery that today encompasses more than 200 acres. All the grapes for this 100 percent Touriga Nacional bottling are sourced from estate vineyards, and the wine was aged for nine months in new French oak. 12,062 cases made.
100 Vincent Girardin
Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2002 92 / $47 • Burgundy
Elegance is the key word when describing the wines of Vincent Girardin, and this village-level red is a prime example. It was made from grapes harvested from 60-year-old vines and was aged 14 months in oak casks, of which 30 percent were new. It was neither fined nor filtered before bottling. 400 cases imported.
