For the past few years I’ve been making my top 10 lists of the wines I’ve tried during that particular year. On the one hand it’s an exercise of self discovery and medium for comparison over the years and perhaps see if a wine repeats over multiple years. On the other hand…it’s just an opportunity to create content and talk about what I’ve been drinking. The process to choose the wines? My notes over the year. Memory only takes you so far.
So I divided the list in two groups. The reason for this is that there are ‘accessible wines’ and then there are ‘lucky to have tried wines’. It seems unfair for me to rate in a one size fit all of ten wines a light a young light body wine with a heavy duty Bordeaux. So the more the merrier.
So I will list them first then I will talk about a few of them in more detail based on the memory they left.
My Top 10 Wines from 2017:
A. Recent Wines
- Viex Vielette Pomerol 2010
- Chambolle Mussigny Les Fusselottes 2009
- Alidis Reserva 2006
- Urban Riesling Mosel 2011
- Wild Ridge Pinot Noir 2012
- Valadorna Toscana 2008
- Jonathan Edwards Gewürztraminer 2012
- Migration Chardonnay 2012
- Beaune Du Chateau Premier Cru 2012
- Krug Cuvee Rose NV
B. Older Wines
- Comtes de Champagne Taittinger 2002
- La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 1981
- Arzuaga Crianza 1995
- Del Dotto Tuscan Reserve 1998
- Amados Rotilan Torra Priorat 1996
- Joseph Phelps Insignia 1983
- Penfolds Grange 2005
- Chateau Gruaud Larose 1985
- Chateau Cheval Blanc 1986
- Chateau LaTour Figeae Grand Cru 1978
So let me talk a little bit about a few of these wines and the memories attached to them. You would think I would talk about the major leaguers but they really need no presentation. You either have them and know they are great or dream about them and expect only great things. They are on the list for a reason after all. But I much rather share the ones that have curious anecdotes. After all, that’s all we have left once the wine is gone.
The Wild Ridge Pinot Noir 2012 I’ve had many times before. But sometimes the setting helps. This one I had back in late August, 2017 at The House in San Juan in a presentation with MS and CWE Michael Jordan* (no basketball jokes please). He was presenting a series of Pinot Noir from the Jackson Family brand and this one was above the others. This was my second time interacting with Mr. Jordan but I will talk about that in another blog post. Out of the eight wines, this one stood up against most of the others and had a great nose of red berries with a medium body and well compiled tanins. Just a nice wine all around. Another thing that made it memorable was knowing that they will stop making it because another brand under Jackson Family wants their grapes. So if you, like me, like this wine, I’d recommend hoarding.
The Jonathan Edwards Gewürztraminer 2012 I seriously enjoy. I’ve had other years, plus I’m a big fan of this ‘spicy’ grape I just can’t get enough of it.
This Connecticut (yes, you read that right) wine is one of my little secrets. I got the bottle on my way to a New England wedding for a friend and I’m so sorry I didn’t knew about them while I lived up there. They only made 310 cases of this year (and I’m all out) and I’m worried they aren’t making it anymore because their website doesn’t have it advertised in their store. I had this wine at an event of unbeknownst wines from either unusual grapes or locations (I’ll be writing about that soon). I specifically remember that no one guessed it was a gewürstraminer except a member of the group who was the widow of my old man’s wine teacher who happened to also loved this grape. That was a pretty cool moment.
The Comtes de Champagne Taittinger 2002 was a great spokesperson for a very good year in Champagne. This guy had a lot of awards, above 95 points across the board and it is not inexpensive. The force was strong with this wine and all the aromas I could describe are not just sticker approved marketing but they felt perfectly harmonious from the apple hints to the bread-like theme that I love in sparkling wines. We had this at my mother’s birthday at a fantastic italian restaurant in Puerto Rico called Seccarelli and it is very hard to forget because I was under the weather but I dug deep and made sure I enjoyed this bad boy because it would have been sinful-like . Also it was the same day I discovered the magic powers of Angostura (Thanks Marcos).
The Del Dotto Tuscan Reserve 1998 was so unexpected. I really thought I was drinking an italian wine. Never would have I ever thought it as 
Rutherford. I remember hearing we’ll be drinking something from the west side, then this was served and my thought was ‘Huh. Guess they meant west of San Marino”. Almost 20 years old and this heavy weight body perhaps on the beginning of it’s downhill walk of slumber but still packing a long finish and that vintage aroma comparable to that smell when you go to vintage record stores. Smells like a moment in time.
Finally the Chateau LaTour Figeac Grand Cru 1978 was part of a great evening. My anniversary dinner. I remember we went to En Boga to celebrate and brought a bottle of Champagne and this bordeaux. I had no serious expectations and I will admit it was probably a little bit past its prime but we are talking about a great year in St. Emilion so I figured what the hell. What should have been aromas of dark berries felt a tad distant, like listening to the radio at your mechanics waiting area but the speaker being outside where the cars are. Yet with all its imperfections, I really enjoyed it. I grew up drinking vintage french wine so even the ones that don’t dominate the reviews can be more fun than young inexpressive ones. Plus it was fun to be with my wife, having dinner and not worrying about changing diapers for one night.
So there you have it, my two lists and five light-hearted reviews of moments in time that were made even greater by some fermented grape juice and some nice cellaring.
Curious note: That video I posted of MS, CWE Michael Jordan is from my previous wine project Puerto Rico Wine News ,with my then partner interviewing him. Two great guys talking wine.
