2001 was another successful year for The Brat. My passion and interest in wine have continued to evolve, and even branched out to the world of cooking. Sometimes that meant good news, sometimes it meant, well, that's not important. Highlights of the year included successful completion of the Introductory Sommelier Course [Court of Master Sommeliers] in August 2001, qualifying me as a candidate for the Advanced Sommelier Course; completion of coursework from the International Wine Academy [administered by Dr. Alan Young]; completion of "Wines of the World", a two credit college class from Rochester Institute of Technology [taught by Master of Wine candidate Debra Meiburg] and my debut as a Wine Educator, teaching a series of classes for my co-workers on the job and also for friends in my home. On top of all that, I also registered for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust [London, England] Advanced Certificate Program. I hope to successfully complete that task sometime in May 2002. Phew, what a year! The List In January 2001 I began recording notes on every wine (well, almost every wine) I tried throughout the entire year. When it was all said and done, I had notes on 265 selections. Not bad considering all of the other stuff I was doing. That list provided the seeds for this column - my 10 favorite wines of 2001. Before you let out that big sigh and stop reading, let me assure you that this list isn't like all the others that have been published by now. It is not based on the highest scores, the highest prices nor does it contain a list of wines that are so tightly allocated that you'll never see them outside of the auction house and the wines are listed in no particular order. The wines on my list are generally available (depending where you live) and are just plain good ol' wines that us regular folks can find and afford. To make the list, the wine had to have that something extra that makes it stand out in the vast sea of bottles available in today's marketplace. Enough wine babble - on to the list. I hope you'll go out of your way to try a few of these favorites. Sit back, relax and enjoy… 1998 Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc - Monterey County, CA: Straw yellow with oak, citrus and creamy fruit on the nose. Well balanced, crisp and creamy at the same time. Tangy citrus combine with apples and a note of vanilla. Beautiful texture and wonderfully made. Wines from Bernardus are known for their mouthfeel and this wine does not disappoint. Probably about $15 and worth every penny. NV Moet Chandon Brut Rose Champagne - Epernay, France: Salmon/pink in color - a beautiful looking wine. Nose is like a basket of fresh picked strawberries and flowers with a touch of yeast. Silky smooth on the palate. Graceful, soft and so easy to gulp down. An amazing wine with superior character and wonderful flavors. One of my top 10 favorites of all time. Another reason I'll never forget this one - my wife and I toasted our brand new house with it last May. The day we moved in, we popped the cork and have not looked back since. $40+ and worth it. 1999 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay - Columbia Valley, WA: Straw yellow with apples, pears, spice [nutmeg/cinnamon/clove?] and oak on the nose. Cream, fruit, and spicy oak on the palate with all of the elements working together in just the right proportions. Long finish, well made wine. Reminded me of smooth, creamy custard with just a touch of spice. Ridiculous quality for $10. 1999 Dallas-Conte Cabernet Sauvignon - Rapel Valley, Chile: Best $8 Cabernet I've ever tasted. Purple plum in color. Big nose - intense with dark berry fruit and currants. Big tannins and big flavors make this ideal for a steak. Long spicy finish completes the package. This one would be worth throwing in the wine cellar for 5 years just to see what happens. 1999 Clos du Bois Pinot Noir - Sonoma County, CA: Light purpley red in color. Looks just like a Pinot should. Big nose, lots of fruit. Cherry, raspberry and a touch of soil and earth. Well balanced, good acid. Smooth. Easy to drink. Lots of fruit. Rich and lucious with a long finish. Complex and tasty. I'm not big on Pinot Noir because it's hard to find the good ones - this one is the real deal. $15. 1971 Chateau Rieussec Grand Cru Classe - Sauternes, France: This is one of those once in a lifetime wines. Chances are you'll never see it on a retailer's shelf but you may see it on a restaurant wine list. Gorgeous amber/orange color. Complex nose - changes as it opens. Crème brulee would be a good way to sum it up. Smooth, mellow, rich but light and silky at the same time. Perfect with Roquefort cheese. Rieussec is a first growth Sauternes - only one other holds a higher classification, and costs ten times more. 2000 Chateau Lamothe de Haux - Bordeaux, France: Pale straw in color. Ripe melon, herbs and even some cat pee (that's a good thing!) on the nose. Dry, crisp and refreshing on the palate. Grapefruit, herbs and a touch of earth all chime in on a medium-long finish. Good wine, not great. But, the fact that I drank this wine as I crammed all night long for my Intro Sommelier Course final exam in Toronto last August helps make this wine another that I'll never forget. Every time I even see a bottle in the store I'll think back to that memorable experience studying and working with the Court of Master Sommeliers. Wow! 2000 Red Newt Cellars Riesling - Finger Lakes, NY: Winner of the 2001 Governor's Cup for Best Wine in New York State [and yes, that competition does include wine from Long Island!]. Pale straw with fresh picked citrus on the nose. Very aromatic. Well balanced, good acids, tart fruit - very fresh tasting, like it was just made yesterday. Long crisp, juicy finish. This wine is proof that New York Riesling can compete on the world's stage. For more details, go to: http://rednewt.com. 1999 Fazi-Battaglia Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi: Straw yellow in color. Exotic nose - floral/fruity/earthy all at the same time. Noses changes and improves as it warms in the glass. Crisp and vibrant, full of flavor on the palate. Tastes of lemon, earth with an almond note. Very complex for just $8. Then again, who has ever heard of Verdicchio before? Wine for Dummies says this is the perfect fish wine, who am I to argue? 1989 Remoissenet Royals Club Rousset-Chambertin: A rare treat - aged Grand Cru burgundy for just $25. Yes, it is an "overproduction wine", but still a treat nevertheless. Orangey/Brown/Amber in color. Shows it's age. Wonderful nose - cherry, earth, mushroom, "forrest floor". Juicy cherry on palate. Rich, smooth. Charming wine, this is what good pinot noir is all about. Definitely Old World in style. Amazing wine. Available (at least it was) at Century Discount Liquors & Wines, 630 W. Ridge Road, Rochester, NY. There you have it - a pretty diverse list of fantastic wines that should not disappoint. Other greats that I did not include on this year's list include: 1999 Caymus Sauvignon Blanc [Napa Valley], 2000 Nobilo Fall Harvest Sauvignon Blanc [Marlborough], NV Veuve Clicquot "Yellow Label" Brut Champagne [Reims], 1999 Meridian Chardonnay [Santa Barbara], 1999 Standing Stone Gewürztraminer [Finger Lakes], 1999 St. Urbans-Hof Riesling [Mosel-Saar], 1999 Belvedere Healdsburg Ranches Chardonnay [Sonoma County], 1999 Fiori Delle Stelle Ice Wine [Finger Lakes] and the list could go on and on. Looking back, 2001 was a pretty good year, huh? That's it, finally! Thanks for the visit. As always, please feel free to write me at cellarbrat1@yahoo.com with your comments, questions and suggestions. Everyone gets a reply! All feedback is welcomed and appreciated. See ya next time from the cellar, and remember wine is more fun than you think ... Wine Brats is a national non-profit organization based in California. They are an active group of adult wine enthusiasts who are mostly young in age but absolutely young at heart. Wine Brats enjoy sharing their passion for wine with their peers and take pride in breaking down the cultural walls that for too long have mystified this beautiful beverage. Ultimately, as a non-profit organization, the Brats' purpose is to attract a whole new generation of adults to the wonders of life with wine. For more information, visit the national site at www.winebrats.org/. Gunerman writes "The Brat In The Cellar" monthly for the Rochester, NY chapter of Wine Brats. The column is featured on Robin Garr's WineLoverPage.com and mirrored at www.BratintheCellar.com. Also available is "The Brat Report", a weekly subscription based wine newsletter designed to educate and entertain. "The Brat Report" is available for $12/year. To subscribe, send a check/money order along with a valid e/mail address to: The Brat In The Cellar, PO Box 462, Pittsford, NY 14534. Have questions? Want to see a free sample? Send an e-mail to thebratreport@hotmail.com. Everyone gets a reply!
Volume Two
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