Blogiversary - Two Top Twelve Lists

Our first blog entry was posted on February 1, 2005 which means that we have been blogging wine reviews for an entire year. To celebrate our blogiversary, Jen and I each compiled a top twelve list chosen from all the wines that we have blogged. Our bottom twelve list is soon to follow.

Shane’s Top Twelve

I decided to stick with our quarterly top twelve format and pick 4 wines from each price category (under $15, $15 - $30, and over $30). If I ignored price, probably at least 9 of my picks would fall into the $30 and above price range. Many inexpensive wines are good but few rise to the level of greatness. I also stuck with our rule of only allowing one wine from each winery. Without that rule, Nickel and Nickel and Tablas Creek would each have several entries on this list.

The first two on the list don’t have much complexity but they are easy drinkers and great deals for the price. I especially liked the concentrated flavor of the Charamba. The Bollig Lehnert and the Finca Sobreno both show moderate complexity and are stunning values for this price range. In the next price range, the T-Vine had an incredibly concentrated flavor palate and the Fonseca LBV simply had all the classic port flavors. The Cote de Tablas, with its complexity and concentration, is one of my favorite wines, and the Chateau Montelena is the best Chardonnay I have ever tasted. My four picks in the over $30 category are all complex, extremely well-structured and truly unique.

$3.52, (2 for 1 sale) Concha y Toro Xplorador Cabernet Sauvignon
Tannin Management - October 25, 2005

$7.99, 2002 Charamba, Douro, Portugal
Ay, Charamba!, 12/22/05

$14.99, Bollig-Lennert, Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling-Spatlese
Our First Foray into German Rieslings – 5/12/05

$14.99, 2000 Finca Sobreno, Seleccion Especial
Estupendo Vino - November 8, 2005

$19.99, Fonseca 1999 LBV
The Prototypical, Non-Vintage Port - January 9, 2006

$23.00, 2002 Cotes de Tablas, Tablas Creek
Wine and the Bard – 6/30/05

$27.99, 2002 T-Vine Merlot
Another Birthday Dinner, July 28, 2005

$29.99, 2003 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
Another Napa Trip, 11/22/05

$42.99, Sanchez Romate Pedro Ximenez “Cardenal Cisneros” Sherry
Why you should try Sherry – 4/27/05

$55.00, Weingut Grans-Kassian, 1997 Piersporter Goldtropfchen, Riesling Auslese,
Two Rieslings - September 16, 2005

$118.95, 1996 Dom Perignon
A Belated New Year’s Celebration, January 4, 2006

$80/375 ml, 2000 Dolce
Tasting Trip No. 3.0 (with some engaging news) – 4/21/05

Jen’s Top Twelve

I decided to compile my Top 12 sans rules. We all know what that means (hint: they are all expensive). Here goes:

$29.99, 2003 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
Another Napa Trip, 11/22/05

$34.99, 1994 Baron de Pichon-Longueville Bordeaux, Pauillac
Gravel, Leather and Chocolate – It Must be a Bordeaux! – August 16, 2005

$42.99, Sanchez Romate Pedro Ximenez “Cardenal Cisneros” Sherry
Why you should try Sherry – 4/27/05

$45.00, 2002 Newton Chardonnay
Structural Perfection - October 11, 2005

$46.00, 2003 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir, Southing, Santa Rita Hills
Up in Smoke - October 19, 2005

$49.95, 1998 Chateau Cantelauze, Pomerol, Bordeaux
A Pomerol Powerhouse - August 31, 2005

$50.00, 2000 Cyrus
Four Wineries and a Detour/Tasting Trip no. 5.0, September 20, 2005

$55.00, Weingut Grans-Kassian, 1997 Piersporter Goldtropfchen, Riesling Auslese,
Two Rieslings - September 16, 2005

$118.95, 1996 Dom Perignon
A Belated New Year’s Celebration, January 4, 2006

$125, Krug Grande Cuvee,
Are You Krug Worthy – July 6, 2005

$139.99, 1986 Cos d'Estournel, Bordeaux, St. Estephe
A Grand Crus Celebration, 12/12/05

$80/375 ml, 2000 Dolce
Tasting Trip No. 3.0 (with some engaging news) – 4/21/05