Top 10 wines of the week
Five Pinots head the Top 10 list this week. Two are from the Sonoma Coast, two from the Russian River, and the Santa Barbara interloper is from, not surprisingly, Bien Nacido. Twin Napa Cabernets follow up, from Diamond Mountain and Oakville. A single Chardonnay drops in all the way from Napa-Carneros, while both Syrah representatives are up from Santa Barbara County. As usual, you’ll find my scores and complete reviews in upcoming issues of Wine Enthusiast.
Keller Estate 2007 Precioso Pinot Noir. Only 96 cases of this rich, balanced and ageworthy Pinot from the Sonoma Coast appellation were produced. Alcohol is 14.1%, $75
Diamond Creek 2007 Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon. From the estate vineyard on Diamond Mountain. Firm in tannins, will age for many years. 675 cases, 14.1%, $175
Fog Crest 2008 Estate Bottled Pinot Noir. This acidic and fruity wine gets better as it breathes in the glass. A Russian River charmer. 75 cases, 14.5%, $45
Freestone 2008 Quarter Moon Vineyard Pinot Noir. Put this Sonoma Coast beauty in the cellar. It’s young and fresh now. 120 cases, 13.5%, $100
Clos Pegase 2007 Hommage Mitsuko’s Vineyard Chardonnay. From the Carneros estate comes this vibrantly crisp, rich Chardonnay, still gaining traction at the age of three-plus years. 792 cases, 14.5%, $40
La Fenêtre 2008 Alisos Vineyard Syrah. One of the more sumptuous and appealing Syrahs out of Santa Barbara, and will take a little bottle age. 132 cases, 13.9, $36
Regale 2008 O’Neel Vineyard Pinot Noir. Shows real Russian River, cool-climate delicacy of structure, but dazzes with richness. 387 cases, 14%, $48
Michael James 2008 White Hawk Vineyard Syrah. From a top Santa Barbara vineyard comes this fruity, spicy Syrah. 60 cases, 14.5%, $38
Foggy Bridge 2008 Bien Nacido Vineyards Pinot Noir. Shows lots of those dusty Asian spices that Santa Maria Pinot is known for. Rich and harmonious. 552 cases, 14.5%, $38
Kirkland Signature 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. Classic Oakville Cab, rich, dry and tannic. And look at that price. 1,400 cases, 14.1%, $19
It’s amazing how good of a value, relatively speaking, Syrah from Los Alamos and Santa Maria (well, Bien Nacido) is. Last weekend I tasted a few Syrahs from White Hawk and Bien Nacido. Can’t help but to think that maybe 30 years from now these will be something like Grand Cru vineyards and way more expensive. Guess I should enjoy it while it’s still a good value! It’s like all the best qualities of Cab and Pinot are harmoniously crammed into one wine, for half the price of either.
One of these days I would enjoy a bottle of one of these wines..
Costco to the rescue!