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By Manos Angelakis
Best 50 Wines tasted in 2006.
During the year, we taste many wines. Some are good, some are poor, and many are indifferent. Let us not forget; these are my personal preferences and I wish to give you, the reader, a basis for experimentation and adventure.
The list is published yearly and is divided by country and as follows:
Red, dry, still wines.
Red, demi-sec & sparkling wines.
White, dry, still wines.
White, sweet, still wines.
White, demi-sec, sparkling wines.
White, sparkling wines.
Italy: Red, dry, still wines.
Tenuta Col d’ Orcia. 2001 “Nearco”. From Sant’Angelo in Colle. A blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah. Color: dense ruby with violet highlights. Aromas: plums, a hint of chocolate, cloves, vanilla and saddle leather. Palate: full body, with good fruit and well-structured tannins. Impressively elegant with multidimensional flavors and a long finish. Worth cellaring. Rated at LWM93 points.
Tenuta Uccelliera. 2002 Brunello di Montalcino , 100% Sangiovese. Color: deep ruby-red with garnet shades. Aromas: fruity, intensely aromatic with blackberry, cherry and cinnamon. Palate: Full body; structured tannins. Long finish. Ready to drink. Rated at LWM92 points.
Castello Banfi. 2001 Brunello di Montalcino. 100% Sangiovese. Color: dark ruby red. Aromas: forest berries, cloves and cigarbox. Rated at LWM93 points. Sumus 2001 from the same producer was outstanding but still “in diapers”. Deep garnet with spice and wild berries on the nose, complex tannins. Worth cellaring for a short time to improve the smoothness. Rated at LWM91 points.
Tenimenti Ruffino. 2000 Lodola Nuova, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Has massive black fruit, coffee, and new leather. It is ready to drink but will become more complex with age. The tannins are silky and the long finish is exceptionally smooth. Rated at LWM95 points.
Bertani 2000 Villa Arvedi, Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena. A blend of 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. A powerful purple-hued wine, made from hand-harvested, partially dried grapes to concentrate the color and aromas. Rich, smooth and wonderfully mouth filling with aromas of ripe cherries, cloves and mace. It has an alluring raisiny flavor; a meat-eater’s wine. Ready to drink now, could improve for the next 4 to 6 years. Rated at LWM93 points.
2001 Masi Campofiorin, Valpolicella Classico Superiore from the Veneto, another blend of Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, and Molinara. The wine is created by the “Ripasso” method, i.e. after the wine was fermented in the usual way, it's placed in casks containing the lees from a prior batch of an Amarone made from passito grapes. This process, which lasts from 2 to 3 weeks, adds a deeper red color, nice plum, cherry and tobacco aromatics, and velvety tannins, creating a round, rich, full-bodied wine that can be drunk within a year or two from bottling or be aged for an additional 10 to 12 years. Rated at LWM91 points.
2003 Vistorta, by Conte Brandolini d’ Adda. From Venezia Giulia. Smooth, elegant, medium-bodied wine, soft with smooth deep cherry fruit nose enlivened by hints of plums, cigarbox, and spices. Very long, luscious blackberry finish. Has garnered Tre Biccheri from Gambero Rosso. From the same producer an idiosyncratic wine also from Venezia Giulia’s Vistorta estate, Rated at LWM95 points.
Also from Conte Brandolini d’ Adda, Treanni, a blend of 3 vintages of 3 varietals (Cabernet Franc, Refosco and Merlot). Complex with the freshness of a young wine melded in the complexity and elegance of maturity. Needs a couple more years in bottle to really mellow. Rated at LWM91 points.
Italy: Red, demi-sec & dolce, sparkling wines.
Marchesi di Barolo. 2003 Gatij Brachetto d’ Acqui. A frizzante, frothy wine with only 6% alcohol. Color: brilliant ruby red. Aromas of roses, apricots, vanilla with a hint of cedar and jasmine. Palate: apricots, plums, dry cherries and boiled chestnuts. Lightly sweet, with a pleasant acidity. A wine to be drunk young; ready to drink now. Not available in the US. Rated at LWM92 points.
Banfi Vintners, 2006 Rosa Regale. A sparkling (spumante), frothy, sweet/sour Brachetto d’ Acqui. 7% alcohol. Color: Brilliant ruby red. Aromas of roses and raspberries with a hint of honeysuckle. Palate of fresh cherries, apricots and plums; a light, pleasant acidity enhances the flavor of chocolate, cocoa or coffee based desserts. A wine to be drunk young; ready to drink now. Rated at LWM91 points.
Italy: White, sweet, still wines.
Donnafugata. 2004 Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria. Color: light golden yellow. Aromas: honeysuckle, apricots, resins, and dried figs on the nose and palate. Medium acidity; exquisitely refreshing, with a long and complex finish. Rated at LWM92 points.
Italy: White, sparkling wines.
Maschio dei Cavalieri. 100% Prosecco di Valdobbadene. Color: brilliant straw. Persistent, tiny bead. Aromas: acacia, ripe citrus, almond blossoms nose. Palate: dry and well-balanced, melon, peach, and green apple. A fresh, frothy, summer wine. Rated at LWM91 points.
Chile: Red, dry, still wines.
Viña MontGras. 2004 Antu Ninquén Syrah. 88% Syrah; 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. Luscious wine created from grapes grown on Ninquén Mountain in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. A brooding, rich purple color. Nose: very spicy with black and white pepper, saddle leather, cigarbox and clove with hints of ripe black fruit and vanilla from the oak. Full-bodied, harmonious. Well structured mellow tannins. Intense fruit leading to a long finish. An excellent wine with heavier meats and game. Rated at LWM93 points
Montes 2004 Purple Angel. A blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot; 18 months in new French oak. Half of the Carmenère comes from La Finca de Apalta and half from El Arcángel de Marchigue Estate and that blend gives this wine the full body and spicy structure. This limited release, unfiltered wine is deep purple in color and combines dark and alluring aromas and flavors of blackberry and forest fruits. It is chewy with considerable ripe tannins. Rated at LWM95 points.
Montes Folly 2004. 100% hand-picked Syrah, grown on the hillsides of the Apalta Valley. Color: deep blood red with garnet highlights. Impressive concentration with a solid core of blackberry, cinnamon and chocolate with a hint of eucalyptus, espresso, and smoke. Palate: full fruitiness and a silky texture. Lingering notes of vanilla, chocolate, and seafoam. Slightly dusty tannins. Because this is a wine built to last, this vintage should not really be drunk for a few years. Rated at LWM95 points.
2004 Montes Alpha “M”. This is a gorgeous, racy wine, with a beautiful nose of black cherry, black tea, cassis, and espresso and toffee notes; a true Bordeaux-styled blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, from the upper slopes of the Apalta Estate, 11% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot. Aged for 18 months in French oak barriques, it has an intense dark ruby color. It is an elegant wine with well-defined character, and a long smoky finish marked by soft, silky, rounded tannins. Some bottle age will enhance the beauty already inside when the fruit expresses better on the mid-palate. Rated at LWM95 points.
Hacienda Araucano, 2003 Clos de Lolol. A 50/50 blend of the best hand picked Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère old vines in this Colchagua Valley estate. Very complex, bone-dry wine, deep ruby red in color with lighter ruby highlights. Aromas of red fruit, pepper, cigarbox, chocolate and a hint of menthol and eucalyptus. Ripe silky tannins. Palate of plum and dry cherries with nuances of toasty oak. Ready to drink now, but will gain further complexity with further cellaring. Long, elegant finish. Rated at LWM94 pints.
Casa Lapostolle, 2004 Clos Apalta. 84% Merlot/Carmenère, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon. A lovely, silky wine from old vines. Very impressive. Deep ruby red with garnet highlights and purple shadows. It is fresh, with nice acidity. Very complex nose. Intense fruit aromas of blueberries and concentrated black forest fruit; espresso and toffee notes. The palate exhibits plum and toasty oak with nuances of dry figs. Well integrated tannins. It has a long, polished finish. A truly exceptional wine that will gain more complexity as it ages. Rated at LWM95 points.
Viñedos Orgánicos Emiliana, 2003 G. 55% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenère, 15% Merlot. A very complex wine from young vines. Very young as was tasted, it needs age to develop and bloom. It has an intense ruby color with violet reflections. Nose of blackberries, raspberries and currants with a hint of toasted oak, cigarbox and eucalyptus. Intense fruity palate with elegant tannins and a long finish. Rated at LWM92 points.
Veramonte. 2004 Primus. A blend of 23% Carmenère, 47% Merlot, and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. A truly massive wine. The color was deep, dark opaque garnet with dark ruby highlights. The nose was redolent of exotic spices, red fruit, plum and hints of tobacco and mint. Massive palate, lush and velvety, spicy with blackberry, dry cherries and smooth powerful, slightly dusty, tannins. This is a wine that is really underpriced (MSRP $18). It will give great pleasure for many years to come. Rated at LWM94 points.
Viña Loma Larga. 2005 Cabernet Franc BI. A limited production stunner from Casablanca Valley. This is a full bodied, fat red; it can certainly use some more cellar time to mellow out, but it is already very enjoyable with black and red forest fruit, cedar, and saddle leather on the nose, and a palate of blackberries and blueberries, dried figs and a hint of eucalyptus and oak. A long, lingering finish. Rated at LWM91 points. Not available in the US.
Chile: White, dry, still wines.
Casa Lapostolle, 2006 Sauvignon Blanc; a fresh, fruity, highly aromatic blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon. The grapes came from the Las Kuras vineyard, further into the Rapel Valley. Bottled in August of 2006, it had all the charm and freshness of youth. Intense nose of tropical fruit, melon and peach. Light straw-colored body with very good acidity. Served chilled, it was a perfect companion to the appetizers with which it was paired. Rated at LWM91 points
Spain: Red, dry, still wines.
1981 Viña Bosconia Gran Reserva from R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia. A blend of mostly Tempranillo, with some Granacha, Mazuelo and Graciano to improve balance and add color. Despite the age this wine is still a baby. A very traditional Spanish Rioja, made to be cellared for a long time before it is ready to drink. It will remain at peak for an additional 10 to 15 years. The 1981 vintage was released in 2006, after 8 years in American oak and 16 years in bottle. Dark ruby color with red slightly brown highlights. Lightly herbal nose with sweet fruit. Chewy, savory, herby palate with a spicy finish. Rated at LWM94 points.
Marqués de Tomares 1995 Gran Reserva. Another classic Rioja. A limited edition numbered bottle. Ruby red with violet overtones and a fruity aroma, a mix of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Mazuelo. Fresh taste emphasizing black forest fruit, plums and red cherries with hints of vanilla. Great structure and complexity. Ready to drink now and will hold for another 8 to 12 years. A meat eater’s wine. Rated at LWM93 points.
2001 Remelluri Colleccion Jaime Rodriguez. 100% Tempranillo. Color: inky garnet. Aromas: red forest fruit, nutmeg, plums, and saddle leather. Palate: full body and a silky texture. Will age very gracefully. A bit pricey but well worth cellaring. Rated at LWM93 points.
Marqués de Riscal 2001 Reserva. One of the classics. Marques de Riscal has been around for ages and it is one of the best known Spanish wines. 90% Tempranillo with Graciano and Mazuelo. Two years in American oak and a further year in bottle before release. Nose of jammy blackberries and dark cherry, and hints of cigar box and mocha coffee. The palate shows sour cherry, a bit of licorice, cinnamon and black pepper on the finish. The tannins make themselves known, but stay nice and smooth. Very young, still in need of 7 to 10 more years in cellar. Rated at LWM93 points.
Bodegas Alzania, 2003 Alzania Selección Privada. A find from Navara. Founded in 1999 by a young couple of oenologists, José Manuel Echeverría and María Sáenz-Olazábal, the winery focuses on red wines made from very select grapes. This dark, rich wine has a complex taste, and incredible finish. The color is dark black cherry with high opacity. Elegant nose with an abundance of black fruit and herbaceous notes (freshly cut grass). In the mouth, it is fresh, balanced and long. Rated at LWM91 points.
Spain: White, dry, still wines.
2006 Sorte “O Soro” from Rafael Palacios S. L. One of the better Galician wines made from Godello, a very aromatic grape that is considered a main variety in the Valdeorras and Bierzo DOs. Fermented in large oak fondres, aged for 6 months in French oak. Pale straw colored with Grannie Smith apple, citrus, toasty oak, and a lovely minerality. A well-balanced wine with texture, nice body, and racy acidity. Rated at LWM90 points.
Viña Mein, Barrica 2004. Ribeiro DO. Blend of Treixadura, Albariño, Torrontes, and Aibilla. Color: light straw with greenish reflections. Aromas: pears and vanilla with hints of grapefruit, very reminiscent of a Vinho Verde. Palate: pronounced minerality, green apple, lime and very light toast. Rated at LWM91 points.
Germany: White, demi-sec, and sweet, still wines.
(Editor’s Note: Legendary wines from some of the best German wineries. If you like classic Riesling wines as we do, 2005 is the year and wines to get as the 2006 vintage, thought outstanding in the high-end noble wines, will be extremely pricey due to the practically miniscule final harvest.)
Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch – Erben Müller-Burggraef. 2005 Berncasteler Doctor Spätlese. Creamy and crisp, lightly sweet with medium-high acidity. Color: light gold. Beautiful aromas and flavors of pears, green apples and a hint of honeysuckle. Rated at LWM94 points. 2005 Berncasteler Doctor Auslese. Color: deep straw. Aromas: peaches, pears and litchi. Palate: sweet white peaches and ripe d’ Anjou pears with a hint of honey. Medium-high acidity creates a refreshing finish. This is another of this editor’s personal favorites, rated at LWM96 points. 2005 Berncasteler Doctor Trockenbeerenausleese. Deep gold color. Aromas of tropical fruit, ripe peaches, apricots and jasmine. Sweet palate with high acidity that creates a honeyed, long finish. Rated at LWM94 points.
Weingut S. A. Prüm. The entire noble wine line is worth purchasing and cellaring but the 2005 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Trockenbeerenauslese, is one of the best I tasted. Deep gold hued, with intense aromas of tropical fruit and honey and well-balanced acidity, a great wine from an outstanding vintage. Rated at LWM95 points.
Weingut Studert-Prüm, Wehlen. 2004 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese. A very good wine from a very good year. Still available, this is almost as good a wine as the 2005 but at a slightly better price. Rated at LWM91 points. The 2005 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, like all the other wines from the same vintage in the area is outstanding. Rated at LWM93 points. The 2005 Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett, from another prime vineyard, is less sweet, very aromatic and worth cellaring. Rated at LWM91 points.
Weingut Paul Anheuser. 2006 Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Spätlese. The first sample of the 2006 vintage, shows a lovely honeyed wine, full of tropical fruit, pears and litchi. The palate has a well balanced combination of sweetness and acidity. Long, rich finish. Rated at LWM90 points.
France: Red, dry, still wines.
1999 Domaine De La Romanee-Conti La Tâche, considered by most to be the ne plus ultra of the Burgundian winemaker’s art. A grand wine, seductive, redolent of ripe red berry fruit, violets, and wild strawberries, with hints of musk and cigarbox on the nose. Magnificently soft, with plum, hazelnuts, and a touch of caramel and espresso notes on the palate. Perfectly balanced with a very long finish. Rated at LWM100 points. Can’t get any better than that.
2001 Les Carmes Haut-Brion. A tiny jewel of a vineyard located in the suburbs of Pessac; it creates wonderful but understated wines. A dense ruby/purple body exhibits a nose of black currants, smoke, and cigarbox. Long, concentrated finish. The Grand Vin is a blend of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2001 vintage is still closed but given cellar time it will become one of the better wines of the first decade of the 21st century. Rated at LWM90 points.
1998 Château Duhart-Milon, Puillac, France. The “Domaines Barons de Rothschild” include not only the Premier Grand Cru Lafite Rothschild, their signature vineyard, but also the Duhart-Milon, the L’Evangile, and the Rieussec in Sauternes-Barsac. All make exceptional wines and I usually consider serving the Duhart-Milon when I indulge myself or reward myself with a red wine that is dense and rich, with fruitcake, blackcurrant, plum, and cedar on the nose, a full body and sweet, velvety tannins. The 1998 is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot. The price was very reasonable considering the quality. Rated at LWM92 points.
1996 Château Latour, Pauillac. An impeccable classic model of winemaking excellence. The Grand Vin of the estate is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Aromas of roasted nuts, blackberry, plum, and coffee with a hint of toast. Massive body with high concentration of tannins and a long finish. Rated at LWM90 points.
France: White, dry, still wines:
Château Lamargue, 2004 Costières de Nîmes. A light, soft, dry Rhône Valley white, a delightful blend of 50% Roussanne and 50% Grenache Blanc. Crisp and lightly aromatic with tropical fruit, vanilla, lemon jest and a hint of jasmine on the nose. Excellent with béchamel-coated seafood or fish dishes where the wine’s acidity cuts through the rather heavy sauce. Rated at LWM91 points.
Joseph Drouhin 2004 Clos des Mouches Blanc. When a white Burgundy is good, it is very good but very expensive (SRP $70). This is an exquisite example of the genre, elegantly rich with a bold structure. Outstanding minerality and well balanced crisp acidity makes it very food friendly. It comes from one of the premier cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune. Rated at LWM94 points.
France:White, sweet, still wines:
1982 Château Rieussec. This fabulous dessert treat had evolved into a rich colored wine, hued a burnished gold-orange, smooth and full of flavor. It had a fragrant nose of butter, marmalade and strawberries. A good level of botrytis gave us a powerful palate with fine acidity, full of pineapple and dried apricots. It had an intense, honeyed finish. We rated it at LWM97 points.
France: Champagnes.
Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne 1998. Color: pale straw. A creamy, elegant Champagne with subtle aromas and flavors of grapefruit, vanilla, toffee and a mouthwatering freshness, adding nutmeg and mace to a long finish. Rated at LWM92 points.
Nicolas Feuillatte 2000 Rosé Cuvée Palmes d’ Or. A premium brut rosé Champagne in a very distinctive bottle. Enchanting “eye of the partridge” color with coppery highlights. Expressive aromas of wild strawberries and cherries lead to sensuous, nicely balanced pure fruit with complex yeastiness, and full rounded flavors of pear, apples and candied orange peel that are rich and luscious. Rated at LWM92 points.
Israel: Sparkling wines.
1999 Yarden Blanc de Blancs. A lovely brut sparkler made from 100% Chardonnay grapes in the traditional champegnoise method from hand-harvested whole clusters. White flowers and citrus intermingle with toast and summer fruit on the nose. A flinty minerality makes this sparkling wine very appropriate for summer. It is well balanced, with the right amount of acidity. The long finish is distinguished by a very apparent lack of even hints of bitterness. We rate it at LWM92 points.
© April 2007 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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