Fifth Top Twelve

Intro by Shane

Here’s our fifth top twelve list. A quick review of the rules that we follow: we choose 4 wines in the under $15 category, 4 in the $15 - $30 category and four in the over $30 category. Also, a winery can only appear once on the list.

Usually, I’m the one that culls through our notes and compiles the top twelve lists. I pick around 8 wines that we both agree belong on the list. Then, I usually add a few that impressed Jen but didn’t impress me and vice versa. The Bordeaux and Champagnes are usually Jen’s picks, and the Ports and Rieslings are usually my picks. However, we usually at least respect each other’s choices. This is the first time one of us has included a wine that the other person really disliked. I insisted that the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc make the list while Jen thought it was more of a candidate for a bottom twelve list. The Cloudy Bay S.B. has an extremely distinctive flavor so it will tend to polarize opinions: you’ll either love it or hate it, but you should definitely try it.

$4.99, 2005 Concha y Toro, "Xplorador" Chardonnay
Tropical Chardonnay, 4/27/06

$11.99 Alexander Valley Temptation Zin, California
Zinfandel Festival, 2/7/06

$11.99, 2004 Pinot Noir, Clos du Bois, Sonoma County
House Pinot, 2/23/06

$14.99, Chateau St. Michelle, 2002 Indian Wells Merlot
Jen’s Birthday, 3/15/06

$16.00, Sanchez Romate, "Iberia" Cream Sherry Reservas Especiales
Cream of the Crop, 2/7/06

$16.99, 2004 Domaine de la Maurelle, Gigondas
Great Gigondas, 3/1/06

$22.99, 2004 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Sailing on a Cloudy Bay

$28, 2003 Winninger Rottgen Alte Reben, Reinhard Knebel, Spatlese, Mosel
Bursting with Tropical Flavors, 4/17/06

$33, 1997 Felsina Vin Santo
Savvy Cellars, 3/7/06

$49.99, 2003 Roar Pinot Noir, Gary’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
Terroar!!!!!, 4/21/06

$70, 2002 Louis Martini Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Trip, 4/28/06

$89.00, 1996 Fleur du Champagne, Perrier Jouet, Epernay, France
Jen’s Birthday, 3/15/06