Annual Hijinks: Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2009 Guessing Game

October 16th, 2009

, ,

It’s nearly upon us…the countdown to the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of the Year. For the third year in a row, I’ll be hosting a contest in which you’ll submit your guesses for the top ten that the Spectator will crown with honors. The first year, I asked you to post your guesses in the comments. Last year, I had you email me with your guesses. This year, I think going back to the original format will be best.

So, start commenting away on what you think will be in the top ten, one entry per individual (but feel free to leave as many comments as you wish; after all, this is meant to be a dialogue). I used to give a six-pack of really low scoring wines as the prize. Now I’m going to let you choose your own (don’t worry, I still carry many low scoring wines…) with the $75 gift certificate to domaine547.com or domaineLA that you’ll earn.

FYI, I would put some money on the Red Car Heaven and Earth Pinot Noir being in the list somewhere, but not the top ten since it’s too small production (let’s say it’s top 50). I also think we’ll see some 2007 Chateauneufs, very few (if any) wines from Bordeaux in the top 10, and perhaps a surprise appearance from a 2008 German Riesling.

Now, guess away!

12 Responses to “Annual Hijinks: Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2009 Guessing Game”

  1. Gravatar Icon SO

    Cassanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova 2004
    Antinori Bolgheri Superiore Tenuta Guado al Tasso 2006
    Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Castello di Brolio 2006
    POGGIO IL CASTELLARE BDM WS96
    HALL Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Kathryn Hall 2006
    Fonseca Vintage Port 2003
    Chateau de Beaucastel CDP 2007
    Clos Des Papes CDP 2007
    Landmark Syrah Sonoma Valley Stell Plow 2006
    Croft Vintage Port 2003

  2. Gravatar Icon Robert Dwyer

    Great game! Love it.

    Here are some guesses (though I’m not sure that all of these are up for consideration this year vs. last vs. next):

    2007 Merry Edwards Sauv Blanc
    2005 Columbia Crest Reserve Cab
    2007 Paraiso Pinot Noir
    2006 Chappellet Signature Cab
    2006 Schrader T6 Cabernet
    2006 Villa Pillo Toscana Borgoforte

    I like the Kathryn Hall submission too, and agree with your take on the Red Car Pinot. Looking forward to seeing how this goes.

  3. Gravatar Icon RichardA

    2007 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
    2006 Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon
    Here is my list.

    2005 Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
    2006 Fontodi Flaccianello
    2005 Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco
    2007 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc
    2006 Barone Ricasoli Brolio
    2003 Croft Vintage Port
    2007 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau
    2006 Schrader Cellars T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

  4. Gravatar Icon Jeff

    Hell, these are all guesses, right? I mean, it could really be all 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape as far as everyone else is concerned. Funny there seems to be a lot of people thinking that 07 CDP is going to be the saving grace of the wine industry. Becuase I’m sure that there wasn’t any other good wine made in the last couple of years…haha. I already got my bottles of Telegraphe weeks ago (and Telegramme too, that’s one smoking wine)…

    2007 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau
    2007 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape
    2004 Collemattoni Brunello di Montalcino
    2005 Viña Quebrada de Macul “Domus Aurea” Cabernet Sauvignon
    2007 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port
    2007 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc
    2005 Renato Ratti “Rocche” Barolo
    2007 Guigal La Doriane Condrieu
    2007 J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese
    2006 K Syrah Walla Walla Valley Cougar Hills

  5. Gravatar Icon sara l

    what an awesome contest! wish i was a good guesser about these things.

  6. Gravatar Icon kevin keith

    Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau 2007
    Celler Mas Doix Priorat Salanques 2006
    La Massa Giorgio Primo 2007
    Owen Roe Syrah Lady Rosa 2007
    Red Car Pinot Noir Heaven & Earth La Boheme 2007
    Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
    Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
    Tardieu Laurent Gigondas V.V. 2007
    Chasseur Chardonnay Sangiocomo Green Acres Hill 2007
    Robert Biale Zinfandel Old Crane Ranch 2007

  7. Gravatar Icon Chris R

    I love this time of year. The anticipation is always greater than the outcome but that is what makes it fun. I’m hoping we are surprised like last year. I thought it was phenomenal that a wine from Chile (not Italy, France or California)took the top prize. Long overdue. Here’s hoping that its not another CDP that hasn’t been released yet (like Chateau Beaucastel) even though 2007 CDPs seem to be the headline.

    Kosta Browne Sonoma Pinot Noir 2007
    Fontodi Flaccianello 2006
    Ch De Beaucastel CDP 2007
    Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Kathryn Hall 2006
    Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco 2005
    Mondavi Reserve Cab 2006
    Vieux Telegraphe CDP 2007
    Leeuwin “Art Series” Chardonnay Margaret River 2005
    Columbia Crest Reserve Cab 2005
    Ch Ducru Beaucaillou 2006

    Sette Ponte Oreno 06, Concha Toro Don Melchor, Le Vieux Donjon CDP 07, Uccelliera Brunello Di Montalcino 2004 and the Merry Edwards SB are my honorable mentions. I’d love to see a Spanish wine or a Prum Riesling atop the list but year after year they get shut out.

  8. Gravatar Icon G C

    2007 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc R R Valley
    2006 Schrader Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Val T6 Kalon Vim
    2006 Jean-Louis Hermitage White
    2004 Penfolds Shiraz South Australia Grange
    2006 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Classico Brolio
    2007 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape
    2004 Marcassin Chardonay Sonoma Coast Z10 Tony Ranch
    2008 Madrigal Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
    2007 Red Car Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Heaven&Earth
    2007 Tardieu-Laurent Gigondas Vielles Vignes

    What a great idea, so happy to participate. So interesting to read how many people included the same
    wines on their lists. This must mean something, did this also happen for the past 2 years?

  9. Gravatar Icon Robert Dwyer

    I submitted 8 guesses before- here’s 2 more:

    2005 Chateau de Pibarnon Bandol
    2006 Fontodi Colli della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello

    Good luck to everyone!

  10. Gravatar Icon Trevor Loomis

    Here is my Kiwi slant on the top 100 wines of the year
    Vidal Hawkes Bay Syrah 2007
    Newton Forrest Gimblett Gravels Cornerstone 2006
    Wooing Tree Pinot Noir 2007
    The Doctors’ Riesling 2009
    No.1 Family Estate No.1
    Johanneshof Gewurztraminer 2009
    Summerhouse Sauvignon Blanc
    Clayridge Wild Ferment Rose 2009

  11. Gravatar Icon Hugh

    Wow. Way to go RichardA

  12. Gravatar Icon G C

    Almost “Nailed It” Richard, impressive list!

Leave a Reply

get your wine on

NV Barcino Cava: LA Times Wine of the Week!

Delicious and just in time for New Year’s Eve…this is the LA Times Wine of the Week, and we have plenty in stock. Order online, pick-up in-store!$14 a bottle!

2007 Scholium Project Naucratis Verdelho

Abe Schoener strikes again, this time with a great Verdelho at a slightly lower price-point than the Gemella. This is 100% tank-fermented and a very dry, mineral-laden wine. This is one of the reasons why Schoener is earning status as a winemaker as a cult winemaker. It delivers. $28 for Scholium goodness.

2007 Skylark Cellars Alondra Chardonnay

I admit, I really don’t dig Chardonnay, so you don’t see many around these parts. I do, however, love this one. Not surpisingly, it’s unoaked. $18 of un-oaked, un-malo’ed goodness!

Sign up for our awesome newsletter!



Email Marketing by VerticalResponse

freshly pressed

Where To Find domaineLA in La-La-Land:

The “about us” section below (in blue) is wrong. I need to amend it, and that involves some code and stuff that I don’t know how to do without the expertise of others currently unavailable. So, in the meantime, if you’re looking for domaineLA in the real world, rather than online, here’s where you can find the shop!

6801 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038


View Larger Map

Between Melrose and La Brea, at Mansfield. Parking lot with 11 spaces as well as ample street parking on Mansfield as well as Melrose.

Hours are 11AM to 8PM daily, except for Sundays when we open from noon to 5PM. We will close early on New Year’s Eve, at 6PM.

Phone is (323) 932-0280 should you want to call.

Again, sorry for any confusion but we are both ONLINE and BRICK AND MORTAR now, so you can order online, pick-up in-store, or continue to have your wine shipped to you just as before.

Happy new year to all and I look forward to sharing lots of great wine with you in 2010. Cheers!

wine jargon

Frizzante
From Wikipedia: Frizzante is an Italian wine term term for semi-sparkling wine (as opposed to Spumante, which is generally used for fully sparkling wines). Frizzante wines generally owe their bubbles to a partial secondary fermentation in tank. You might notice a light fizz or tingly sensation on the tongue with a Frizzante wine, compared to the more carbonated sensation that more fully sparkling wines yield.


Scorekage
Okay, so we made up this word yesterday after a great restaurant experience. We brought a bottle of wine with us, expecting to pay a corkage fee. But the restaurant either forgot to charge us the $15, or decided to be nice to us. We scored! Hence, “scorekage” has entered our lexicon. This can also refer to BYO friendly restaurants that don’t charge for corkage under any circumstances.


Frizzante


March 29th, 2008

Scorekage


March 23rd, 2008

Rioja


March 3rd, 2008

grapewise

DomaineLA Store Contact Info
If you’re looking for our brick and mortar shop, here’s where it can be found:

6801 Melrose Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90038

(323) 932-0280

Hours are 11AM to 8PM, Monday through Saturday and noon to 5PM on Sundays.

Read more…

Fabulous & Frugal!
Our friends launched a new site and domaine547 is a featured wine columnist in their premiere edition! Go check out Fabulous & Frugal for some fantastic lifestyle tips for living the good life during what, for most of us, is an economically challenging time. There’s much more than wine there, and we’re thrilled to be a small part of the start of what will surely be a successful venture. Congrats to Brandi & Steph for their achievement!

Read more…