Congratulations Richard (aka The Passionate Foodie). You are the winner of the Wine Spectator guessing game. Thanks to everybody else for participating and my apologies for the delay in making this announcement. It’s been busy, for a lot of reasons (one of which you’ll read about in the next post).

Richard will get a gift certificate to domaine547. Yay! BTW, everybody did really well this time. Last year, the number of correct guesses was way lower. I’m very impressed.

In their annual countdown to their Top Ten Wines of the Year, usually the Wine Spectator releases wines 100 through 11 for subscribers a day early, and then reveals the top 10 in a countdown on their website, over the course of a week or so.

This morning, they gave a sneak peek to subscribers of the entire top 100. A mistake? I’m not sure. I think they were trying to boost subscriptions by charging for access to the full list, a week in advance of when non-subscribers gain access to the list. But we all know how information gets disseminated online. Rapidly. Widely. Etc.

Suspense has been suspended as far as the Top Ten is concerned, and suffice it to say, the annual d547 contest is closed for entries. I’ll mull through the handful of entries and try to come up with a winner (a few people seem to have gotten a few wines correct, so we may end up with a split prize again).

And in the spirit of democratization of information via the internet, here’s a snapshot of the WS Top 10 for those of you who aren’t subscribers:

Most of you realize that I don’t take these rankings seriously, and I like to have fun with it, poke fun at it, etc. I don’t stock most of the high scoring wines in my shop (Telegraphe excepted), and don’t chase points (though I do admit to making a stupid Bordeaux purchase of the Rauzan-Segla last year amidst the hype; and I totally regret said purchase). But I still enjoy my own Top Ten contest, as making a game out of it usually results in the initiation of some sort of dialogue regarding scores, subectivity, etc.

Suffice it to say, I think that in its quest for paying subscribers, the Spectator actually took a lot of wind out of its own sails and kind of killed the fun of the countdown.

My biggest disappointment, though, comes in that I don’t get the usual five or six blog posts out of the countdown and only get this one. And, of course, it’s all about me.

ADDENDUM: You don’t even need to become a subscriber to get the Top Ten Sneak Peak. Sokolin already has several of the wines for sale on its site, with an animated banner showing each of those available and their rankings.

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!

OK, don’t screw the WS top 100! This came in at #42 and it deserves at least that. It’s the only reasonably priced domestic cab on their list, and we love it. It’s deep and rich and generous with the oaky vanilla — but not cloyingly so. Yay for #42 - just $28.