Wine Spectator Top 100, 2010

Aquí les envío directamente del web site de Wine spectator la cuenta regresiva de los 10 mejores vinos de su raiting anual...

1.- Saxum
James Berry Vineyard Paso Robles 2007

98 points / $67
950 cases made
California

In 1998, when 28-year-old Justin Smith started making wine in Paso Robles, it was a sleepy Central Coast area. Now the wine region is one of California’s fastest-growing. West Paso has a magical combination of rocky limestone soils, rolling hillsides and a not-too-cool climate that gives red Rhône varieties a firm structure to frame their rich, dark berry flavors.

Smith, who owns the 3,000-case Saxum winery with his wife, Heather, creates wines of distinctive character, depth and personality. In 2007, a near-perfect vintage, Saxum’s wines reached new heights. The 2007 James Berry Vineyard Paso Robles is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah from a vineyard named after Smith’s father. The three varieties are aged 20 months in new and used barriques and large puncheons, to emphasize fruit purity. With its classic quality and reasonable price, this wine is a testament that Paso Robles has earned its place on the world stage.

2.- Two Hands
Shiraz Barossa Valley Bella’s Garden 2008

94 points / $55
2,400 cases made
Australia

Managing partner Michael Twelftree and winemaker Matt Wenk have found a winning formula with their Garden Series, an umbrella of six different Shiraz wines, each sourced from vineyards located in subappellations of South Australia. The Barossa bottling, Bella’s Garden, has reached the Top 100 a total of six times since its first release (the 2001 vintage). Wenk used 18 percent new French oak hogsheads, minimal fining and no filtration to produce this fresh-tasting, complex wine.

3.- Peter Michael
Chardonnay Sonoma County Ma Belle-Fille 2008

97 points / $85
2,100 cases made
California

Ma Belle-Fille is the youngest vineyard on the winery’s Knights Valley estate, as well as the highest, reaching an elevation of 1,900 feet, and is quickly becoming the winery’s best source for Chardonnay. It’s a cool location but situated above the summer fog line, allowing for excellent sun exposure. Winemaker Nick Morlet uses native yeast; the wine is 100 percent barrel-fermented in French oak.

4.- Revana
Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena 2007

97 points / $125
2,000 cases made
California

Houston cardiologist Madaiah Revana grew up in rural India, immigrated to America and caught the wine bug. In 1998, he planted 9 acres of grapes north of St. Helena, across Highway 29 from Grace Family. This 2007 is Revana’s best effort to date. Winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett ferments small lots and ages them separately for 20 months in French oak (40 percent new) before making the final blend of 92 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

5.- Altamura
Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2007

96 points / $85
3,000 cases made
California

Altamura comes from one of the least-known corners of Napa, a small, remote area called Wooden Valley. Northeast of the city of Napa, this area is distinguished by a dramatic fog bank and cooler climate, and subsequently a longer growing season; temperatures here can be as many as 10 degrees lower than the Napa Valley average. Frank and Karen Altamura started planting grapes on their 400-acre family ranch in 1985. They also make Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc.

6.-Paul Hobbs
Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2008

94 points / $45
3,644 cases made
California

Paul Hobbs made this exceptional Pinot Noir in a tricky year and made it in considerable volume, a challenge to most vintners. Hobbs founded his own label in 1991, but also consults for dozens of clients in California, Argentina, Chile and Hungary. This bottling is one of six different 2008 California Pinot Noirs from Hobbs; the grapes for this one come from six vineyards in Russian River Valley, including the Lindsey Estate, Valdez and Walker Station.

7.- Schild
Shiraz Barossa 2008

94 points / $20
5,000 cases imported
Australia

Schild’s entry-level Shiraz has all of the stuffing of a blue-chip bottling, but sells for a fraction of the price of other brands. The winery is able to achieve this because it’s one of the largest independent growers in the Barossa, with more than 400 acres under vine. Winemakers Jo Irvine and Scott Hazeldine used grapes from the cooler southern Barossa to produce this polished and complex red that was aged in both new and used American oak.

8.- Fontodi

Colli della Toscana

Centrale Flaccianello 2007

95 points / $110

5,000 cases made

Italy

The area around Fontodi’s property in Panzano is known as the Conca d’Oro, or Golden Shell, for its heat-trapping amphitheater shape, excellent for ripening grapes. Flaccianello, 100 percent Sangiovese, is a selection of the estate’s best grapes. The 2007 was fermented in stainless steel, transferred to oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and aged in new French oak for 18 months. This is the third Top 10 appearance for Flaccianello and owner Giovanni Manetti this decade.

9.- CARM

Douro Reserva 2007

94 points / $27

8,500 cases made

Portugal

CARM stands for Casa Agrícola Roboredo Madeira. The Madeira family has owned vineyards in the Douro Valley since the 1600s, but until a decade ago, they were more focused on olive trees than their 150 acres of vines. Energetic Rui Roboredo Madeira has been the winemaker since 1999, farming seven vineyards at the extremely dry upper end of the Douro. The reserva is a blend of mostly Touriga Nacional, with some Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz, aged in French and American oak.

10.-Clos des Papes

Châteauneuf-du-Pape White 2009

95 points / $100

1,000 cases made

France

Clos des Papes is widely recognized for its red cuvée (its 2005 earned Wine of the Year in 2007), but this estate also produces one of the appellation’s best whites. From the Southern Rhône’s excellent 2009 vintage, this wine blends equal parts Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne, Picpoul and Bourboulenc. To retain freshness, Vincent Avril fermented the wine in stainless steel tanks and avoided malolactic conversion. This white will benefit from a few years in the cellar.

Cabe destacar el protagonismo de California en esta clasificación, y la buena relación calidad precio de la mayoría de los vinos seleccionados. 

Ojalá pudieramos tener la oportunidad de probar estos calificados vinos...