Top Twelve

Shane's Notes

Here’s our sixth 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.

In the beginning, our top twelve lists were dominated by American wines. Our tastes have become much more diverse and only three American wines made this list. Six of the wines are French and France is rapidly catching America for the most appearances on our top twelve lists (26 American and 21 French). The two Viognier on the list show Jen’s increasing fascination with this varietal, and the New Zealand SB reflects my admiration for the pungent, Marlborough SB’s. I had practically given up on SB’s until I found the Marlboroughs. I usually find room for a German Riesling (probably my favorite type of wine) on the list, and Jen usually places a Pinot (probably her favorite varietal) on the list. The unoaked Chardonnay was a revelation to us. If you are used to buttery, vanilla Chardonnays, you simply have to try an unoaked version for the contrast.

$10.99, Chateau de Pizay, Morgan (Crus Beaujolais)
Raspberry, Violets and Blueberry, 6/27/06

$9.99. 2005 Coteaux du Languedoc Viognier, Laurent Miguel “Nord Sud”
A Languedoc Viognier, 7/6/06

$9.99, 2004 Four Vines Naked Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County
Oak vs. No Oak, July 18, 2006

$9.99, Monkey Bay, 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
The Monkey is Less Funky, 7/21/06

$25, 2005 Preston Viognier
Sonoma Trip, 7/28/06

$25, 2005 Reinhard & Beate Knebel Winninger Rottgen Spatlese
Another Dee Vine Tasting, 6/2/06

$29.99, 1996 Pagodes de Cos d’Estournel, St. Estephe
Barbecue and Bordeaux, 7/13/06

$29.99, Castelmau de Suduiraut, 2001 Sauternes
Apple and Butterscotch, 7/3/06

$60, Williams Selyem 2004 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Floral and Smoky, June 9, 2006

$43, 1998 Chablis Valmur, Albert Pic, Grand Cru
Chablis, 6/22/06
$87 (restaurant price, $40 in a store), 2001 E. Guigal Chateauneuf du Pape
Marriage Celebration, 6/21/06

$24.50/glass (restaurant price, $120 in a store), Sandemans’ 40 year tawny
Marriage Celebration, 6/21/06