This blog is based on the Spirits of New Mexico radio show that aired on December 18, 2021. We do on-air tasting of one or two wines to illustrate what is available in a particular wine region, or as a contrast of what influence a wine region has on a grape or blend. We also contrast wine styles as in the current blog. We use suitable glasses for the type of wine and do a double-decant of red wines to insure they have opened sufficiently for accurate judging.
Well I can’t believe I forgot to post this ahead of the end-of-year show! It must have been the holidays. Anyway, that’s my excuse.
Top wines are usually a second segment we comment on, but this time we are making it our main topic. Many wine lovers will be looking at these lists to decide what wines to serve for the holidays including Christmas parties, Christmas dinner and family get together events.
Wine Enthusiasts
Wine Enthusiasts leads the way with 5 top lists, although only 50 top beers. So do you want the best wines or the best buys? The price differential can be steep.
- Top 100 Best Buys 2021
- Top 100 Best Wines 2021
- Top 100 Best Cellar Selections 2021: Do you have the patience to wait?
- Top 100 Best Spirits of 2021
- Top 50 Best Beers of 2021
The two wine lists here are actually quite reasonable. The average rating is 93.55 and average cost is $36.67 for the top wines. Heck even I can afford that.
- Chateau Siran 2018 Margaux: $38 (95 points)
- Bucci 2019 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore: $26 (95 points)
- Iron Horse 2017 Wedding Cuvee Estate Sparkling Green Valley $48 (97 points)
- Eyrie Vineyards 2019 Estate Pinot Gris Dundee Hills $21(93 points)
- G D Vajra 2017 Ravera Barolo $90 (97 points)
- Turnbull 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa valley $50 (95 points)
- Coliosorbo 2016 Brunello di Montalcino $55 (96 points)
- Chambers Rosewood Vineyards NV Muscat Rutherglen $16/375ml (93 points)
- Diora 2019 La Splendeur du Soleil Chardonnay, Monterey $20 (93 points)
- Dom de la Janesse 2019 Chaupin (CdP) $88 (98 points)
Coming in at number 14 was Ramey Rochioli Vineyard Chardonnay RRV $70 (100 points)
Here is the top best buys:
- Ch Ste Michelle 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $15 (91 points)
- Four Vines 2019 Naked Chardonnay, Central Coast $11 (91 points)
- D’Arenberg Stump Jump GSM, McLaren Vale $13 (91 points)
- Sogrape 2019 Silk & Spice Red Blend, Portugal $13 (91 points)
- Raimun Prum 2019 Solitar Riesling Troken, Mosel $14 (92 points)
- Bogle 2019 Pinot Noir Ca. $11 (91 points)
- Inkarri 2019 Estate Malbec, Lujan de Cuyo $15 (92 points)
- L’Ecole #41 2019 Semillon, Columbia Valley $15 (92 points)
- Gnarly Head 2019 Merlot, Central Coast $12 (92 points)
- Cigar Box 2019 Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley $12 (90 points)
Wine Enthusiasts best buy Demographics:
Argentina 4, Australia 4, Austria 1, Chile 4, France 13, Germany 5, Greece 2, Hungary 1, Italy 11, New Zealand 2, Portugal 7, Slovenia 1, Spain 5, US 38 (Ca-24, NY-2, Or-4, Wa-7, other 1)
Wine Enthusiasts most exciting Demographics:
Argentina 3, Armenia 1, Australia 5, Austria 2, Chile 3, France 15, Germany 3, Greece 1, Italy 18, New Zealand 2, Portugal 6, S. Africa 2, Spain 4, Switzerland 1, Uruguay 1, US 33 (Ca-21, NY-2, Or-5, Wa-5)
Wine Spectator
On the other hand as Fay Wary once said, things are a bit pricier at Wine Spectator for their top choices.
- Dominus Estate 2018 Napa Valley $269 (97 points)
- Chateau Pichon 2018 Longueville lalande Pauillac $198 (98 points)
- Heitz 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Martha’s Vineyard $250 (95 points)
- Merum Priorati 2018 Priorat Desti $49 (95 points)
- La Chiuse 2016 Brunello di Montalcino $99 (98 points)
- Luis Latour 2018 Corton-Charlemagne $200 (95 points)
Considering the top 6 wines, the average price is $177.50, although the average rating is higher at 96.33. Still that’s a high price to pay for less than 3 extra points. Can your budget sustain it? These are some of the most prized wines in the world, however, and in such small quantities with everyone wanted them that prices would be high.
What we are tasting: Ch Ste. Michelle 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 13.5% ABV, $9.97 at Total Wine
This was not the wine I was looking for, but all the other ones I put in my list were sold out. Besides it was the number 1 wine on Wine Enthusiasts Best Buy list so I had to check it out, right?
I have been a huge fan of this winery for many years and they deserve all the accolades they have received, but I was really hoping for the Eroica Riesling (#42), my first choice for an under $30 Riesling.
All the same it’s hard to find a better bargain than the entry-level wines of Chateau Ste Michelle. Most white, Rose and red wines at the winery are well rated. Then there are the Cold Creek Vineyard and Horse Heaven Hills releases. A few years ago I shared a magnum of H3 Cabernet Sauvignon and never saw one go faster.
The winery has over 100 wines, I actually lost count. They cover Yakima Valley, Wahluke Slope, Canoe Ridge, Indian Wells, Rattlesnake Hills and many reserve bottling. And those Eroica Rieslings partnered with Germany’s Dr. Loosen, oh boy!
- Total acidity: 56 g/100ml
- PH: 3.86
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- Grapes: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 2% Merlot, 1% each (Malbec, Petit Verdot, Grenache, Cabernet Franc)
- Aged 12 months in 25% new French oak, 8% new American oak, 67% neutral oak
If this suggests a lot of work on the blend you’d be right. I lot of care went into the wine. Close to a classic Bordeaux blend except for the Syrah and Grenache.
My co-host for this show was Walter Blood, a very good friend and very knowledgeable on wines. He also possesses an excellent wine cellar and has been collecting, enjoying and sharing wines for many years. I asked him to bring a white wine and did he deliver!
What we are tasting; Clendenen Family 2017 Chardonnay, Bien Nacido, 13.5% ABV, $50
This wine is still available and makes it up to the top of the charts for me.
From Clendenen website: A knockout – rich, creamy, balanced. For this limited edition Chard, the finest lots of Bien Nacido fruit were barrel fermented in super expensive, custom-made Francois Freres barrels. The style is more complex and intense than our ABC (Au Bon Climat) counterpart. Scored 95 points Antonio Galloni’s Vinous; 93 points Jeb Dunnuck.
Santa Maria Valley AVA
The oldest producing wine area in Santa Barbara County with over 7,500 acres including Bien Nacido Vineyard, Byron Vineyards and Colson Canyon. This cool-climate region specializes in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Pinot Blanc. The often foggy and windswept Santa Maria Valley is the northern most appellation in Santa Barbara County. This AVA enjoys extremely complex soil conditions and diverse microclimates. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are two varieties which especially benefit from the ocean’s influence and are this AVA’s flagship wines.
The Bien Nacido is the largest continuous vineyard in California, traverse oriented with a super long growing season. Great Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, in particular, come from this site. I had the privilege to meet Jim there and Louisa Sawyer Lindquist of Verdad who along with her husband Bob Lindquist shared winemaking facilities with Jim. Jim sadly passed away this year, but his legacy lives on in wines like this that so reveal his magic touch with Chardonnay.
Analysis
Walter, Eddy and I really enjoyed the Chardonnay. So well balanced with rich fruit, crisp and complex. Any of the Clendenen wines are well-worth seeking out. The Chardonnay in particular has been my first choice for a California Chardonnay in over thirty years. The Cabernet Sauvignon was excellent for the price. Washington State has been producing excellent Cabs, Merlot and Syrah for many years now and still below the price point one would expect for that level of quality.
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