A week of 90+ pointers

Unfortunately... telling my my wife Sarah, "This got 91 points from Wine Spectator.. and was a Top 100", results in a response so blaise that I don't get any response most of the time. But her response is justified. Here are the wines we had that I can remember in the last 10-14 days (back in Nov):

1. Fox Gordon 2004 Shiraz Eight Uncles (WS 91, $16). Bought this 3 years ago. Intense juicy berry (raspberry, blackberry) with some dust and a touch of earthiness. Medium to full body. Drinking well now. A lot like the Jim Barry 2005 Shiraz Lodge Hill, but a touch bigger. My score: 90.
2. Monte Antico 2006 Toscana (WS 90, $8 Costco). One of the wines I bought over a case of recently. My score: 89 (the most disappointing bottle out of 4)
3. Beringer 2007 Chardonnay Sbragia (WS 92, $6 special closeout sale). Lived up to the WS review and a typical Beringer Chardonnay. Very ripe almost tropical fruit, tons of smoky oak almost bordering on bitter, thick and rich. This got better after being open for a few days as the bitter smokiness faded and the richer, spicy elements came out. My score: 89-92.
4. Columbia Crest 2007 Cabernet Horse Heaven Hills (WS 90, $11). I bought two cases of this. Possible wine of the year for me. My score: 90-91.
5. Provenance 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Rotherford (WS 91, $15, Top 100). Nice sour citrusy flavors with a hint of sweetness and guava. Lively acidity. My score: 90-91.
   
6. Yalumba 2008 Viognier Eden Ranch (WS 92, $14, Top 100). After warming up and given some air, rich tropical fruit with some floral elements. My score: 90-91.
7. Norton 2006 Malbec Reserva (WS 90, $10 Costco). Not nearly as comlex as I expected. Straightforward pure berry and grape flavors with a hint of mineral in the finish. Once I knew what to expect, it grew on me. Was still good two days later. My score: 89-90.
   
8. Yellow Tail 2005 Shiraz Reserve (WS 90, Top 100). Medium bodied with pure blueberry and blackberry. Touch of spice, oak and mineral in the evolving finish that goes down nicely. My score: 90.
9. Le Vieille Ferme 2007 Cote du Ventoux (WS 87, $9 magnum). I bought this to cook coq au vin, but being a magnum there was a lot left over so I had it while cooking. I expected more tartness but it was a remarkably "bland" wine, with smooth fresh cherry and red berry in a silky finish. Touch of minerality. Next thing I knew I was downing this like water. Do magnums always taste better? Really very nice. My score: 89.
10. Roederer Estate NV Anderson Valley Brut (WS 91, $18 - 2.50 Costco). Nice sparkler with crisp apple. Balanced. Not too "sour". I am not a big fan of sparklers but this was nice. My score: 89.
11. Thorn Clarke 2005 Shiraz Shotfire (WS 91). Dno't really remember this so it wasn't that special.
    

Two case worthy buys and possible wines of the year

I just bought 15 bottles of one and two cases of the other. Both are medim bodied, a bit complex with a sweet but not overly ripe or overpowering fruit. Both have wonderful balance. And both are (were) under $11. And I bought over a case of each.

First, the Columbia Crest 2007 Cabernet Horse Heaven Hills (WS 90, $11). A higher-class wine with elegant currant and purple berry. So smooth with a hint of sweet spice. I bought a case unseen and then tried it and bought another case. It tastes like a higher end cabernet. Drinkable now, despite WS saying wait until 2011. 30,000 cases. [Update: I've two more bottles and everybody who tastes this agrees this is super nice. My score: 90-92 very consistently across all bottles, which is astonishing.]

Monte Antico 2006 Toscana (WS 90, $8 at Costco, $10 list). Smooth red berry, cherry and strawberry, with spice, vanilla, a wisp of dusty earth and more on the elegant finish. Not at all earthy. Could almost be an alluring Pinot, it is that light. Goes well on its own and with food. Just lovely. 80,000 cases. [Update: I've had 4 bottles now. It varies from nice red cherry and berry (first opened) to gaining some earthy notes (after some breathing, sometimes) to having a sublime vanilla, sweet brown spice, oak note (2 of the 4 bottles). It remains medium light in body with nice balance and acidity. My score: 89-93.

Costco and the Wine Spectator 2009 Top 100

The WS published their Top 100 wines on Monday for those who have online membership. There was a pronounced emphasis on value in part due to the economic downturn, which affected pricing as well as purchasing power. As usual, I had managed to obtain a decent number wines on the list.

Today 11/17, I went to my local N Calif Costco today, and found the following wines on the Top 100 list.

• Catena 2007 Malbec Mendoza (WS 91, $17): Consistely at 90 or 91 points over the past 3 years, this is the first Catena I've ever bought.
• Neyers 2007 Chardonnay Carneros (WS 93, $23): A very ripe, heavy, smoky, oaky, on occasion bitter wine. Didn't care for one bottle and loved the other. You'll likely feel the same.
• Provenance 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford (WS 91, $15). A 91 pointer from Napa... I had to try this. Didn't know it was a Top 100.
• Juan Gil 2006 Monastrell Jumilla (WS 90, $11.89). I've liked 2 of the 3 bottles I've tried. Like a lovely ripe grenache when it works.
  
• Tohu 2007 Pinot Noir Marlborough (WS 91, $18). Intense but not heavy red cherry, with rose petals and some spice. Balanced. Some acidity. Typical of a fine New Zealand Pinot.
• Monte Antico 2006 Sangiovese blend Toscana (WS 90, $8). I bought a bottle and fortunately tried it this past weekend. Medium light bodied with red fruit with a beguilingly smooth and gently complex finish of spice, vanilla and chocolate. The second great bargain I've found in the last 2 weeks. Wow.
• Lehmann 2006 Shiraz Barossa (WS 91, $13). Decent ripe shiraz, but a bit hit or miss on the 2 bottles I've tried. (Much better than the green flavored 2005 which also strangely got a WS 91).
• Yalumba 2008 Viognier (WS 92, $13.50 sold out last week). The 2007 also made the Top 100 last year, but the year is even bigger and richer. A very nice wine.
  

I bought all of these wines except the Lehmann and the Yalumba, including more than a case of the Monte Antico, which was going fast.

A couple of other value buys with the ongoing wine coupons are

• Norton 2006 Malbec Reserve (WS 90, $12 - 2 = $10). Couldn't resist with the coupon. The Norton Malbecs have not done much for me but at $10 who can resist?
• Roederer NV Brut Anderson Valley (WS 91, $18 - $2 = $16). What a buy on a sparkling wine. The 2009 WS tasting notes are intruiging "A rich version, loaded with spicy cinnamon notes. Bold apple aromas, with a whiff of yeast, lead to complex, layered pear, crème brûlée and baked apple flavors that linger. Drink now. 80,000 cases made." With that production, it should not be hard too hard fine.