Top wines of 2012?

[Salil]

Always fun to read these, and I don't think there's one for the past year yet.

So what are yours?

[Florida Jim]

2010 Occhipinti, il Frapatto
I have had other vintages but this is definitely the year to try. As a friend said, "that's the way wine should taste."
Best, Jim

[David M. Bueker]

2011 Wind Gap Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. 2 years after the concussion that took away my sense of smell, I experienced a clear smell and taste of raspberries in a wine.

[Brian Gilp]

Two stand out
1995 Ridge Geyserville - amazing complex nose of leather bound books and red fruit. Balanced and med weight in the mouth. Interesting and complex.

1999 Togni Cab - most amazing nose I have ever experienced on a Cal Cab ever. Tannins are already integrated and drinking great now.

Others:
1990 R Lopez de Heredia Rioja Blanco Vina Gravonia
2001 Muga Prado Enea
2009 Dom Rolet Arbois Nature du Jura
2008 Linden Avenius Chard - closest thing to a Chablis coming out of VA
1999 Long Meadow Ranch Cab
1999 Dutch Henry Res Cab Chaffen Vineyard
2007 Coastview Syrah North Block
2010 Cold Heaven Viognier Sanford and Benedict

[Rainer from CH]

1988 Domaine Roumier Bonnes Mares Vieilles Vignes – indescribable, like most great Burgundies
1998 & 2002 Armand Rousseau Chambertin – Rousseau’s most subtle wine, a fantastic way to explore the wonders of Pinot Noir
1998 & 2002 Armand Rousseau Chambertin-Clos de Bèze –provides more “fibers” (tannins) than his brother from Chambertin, however it plays in the same league of quality
1999 Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche – so easy to enjoy and so rewarding in any respect, the Lightness of Being
2009 DRC La Tâche – you can easily live without this stuff, but it truly enriches your life
2009 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas – to me this is a benchmark for classic Syrah/Shiraz worldwide
1989 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia – a true classic that delivers a gorgeous Barolo experience
2011 Tegernseerhof Steinertal Riesling Smaragd – a stunning beauty made from old Riesling vines planted on holy ground ..
2011 Vollenweider Wolfer Goldgrube Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel – hits you like thunder and lightning, an extremely impressive wine from a truly passionate winemaker, who rarely makes any compromises ..

[Matthew Latuchie]

1999 Allemand Reynard & 1999 Noel Verset. They were drank side-by-side at an informal dinner and brought a hush over the diners. Made the SQNs opened at the table look absolutely foolish. On this day, the Allemand was my favorite by a hair.

[James Roscoe]

The 2007 Zind -Humbrechdt Pinot Gris I had last night would be high on the list. Also numerous wines from MoCool! Recently I have been drinking a lot of Terry Theisse selection grower champagnes. YOWZER!!!!!

[Paul Winalski]

1959 Collette Gros Clos de Vougeot
1983 Quinta do Noval Nacional vintage Port
1990 Georges Roumier Bonnes-Mares
1999 Robert Chevillon Nuits-St.-Georges Les Chaignots

-Paul W.

[Kelly Young]

2009 Domaine Ostertag Riesling Muenchberg
2009 Domaine Ostertag Muscat Fronholz
2005 Müller-Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Spätlese
NV Sean Thackrey Pleiades XVIII Old Vines
2007 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard
2008 Huët Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont
2008 Daniel Bouland Morgon Vieilles Vignes
2008 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Fleurie Les Garants
2002 Weingut Weegmüller Haardter Herzog Riesling Auslese
2009 Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Gris Les Princes Abbés
2011 Tramontane Muscat Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes
2010 Geil Scheurebe Trocken
2005 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza

[Salil]

1999 Allemand Reynard & 1999 Noel Verset. They were drank side-by-side at an informal dinner and brought a hush over the diners. Made the SQNs opened at the table look absolutely foolish. On this day, the Allemand was my favorite by a hair.

I've got to try that Allemand Reynard soon... though '99 Verset is freaking amazing.

WOTNs this year for me though:

Sparkling/Champagne: 1996 Salon (with a special mention for the various bottles of Ledru that have blown me away each time I've opened one)
White: 1976 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
Red: 2000 Emmanuel Rouget Vosne Romanee 1er Cros Parantoux
Dessert: 1989 Huet Vouvray Cuvee Constance

[Gary Kahle]

Looking back I think we drank pretty well in 2012. Some of the best;

1975 Jean Laurent Blanc de Blancs Champagne
1996 Jean Laurent Blanc de Noirs Champagne
2005 Domaine L'Edre Cotes du Roussillov Villages
1988 Musar
1985 Daniel Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
1988 Pegau
1990 Pegau
1989 Henri Bonneau Cuvee Marie Beurrier CdP
1992 Henri Bonneau Cuvee Marie Beurrier CdP
1994 Ch Rayas CdP
1985 Sassicaia (possibly my favorite)

Cheers, Gary

[Dan Smothergill]

I'm looking forward to Robin's list of top QPRs.

[Jay Labrador]

My top 10 in no particular order

Chateau Rieussec 2001
Domaine Dujac Clos St. Denis Grand Cru 2004
Domaine Laroche Les Blanchots Chablis Grand Cru 2004
Fonseca Vintage Port 1985
Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Domaine Huet Cuvee Constance 2009
Chateau Petrus 2001
Chateau Latour 2001
Champagne Gosset Grand Millesime 1999
Champagne Bollinger Grand Annee 2002

[Brian Gilp]

Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

It's interesting how much more respected the 1998 vintage is now then when released. Just shows how little we all know when judging wines young.

[Dale Williams]

Dessert 1989 Huet Constance (again)
Sparkling 1996 Winston Churchill
White: 1978 Fevre Vaudesir, 83 DDC
Red- tough call- 1998 Trotanoy, 2002 Dujac CdlR, 1998 Soldera, 1982 Gruaud, 1982 Magdelaine, other contenders. Bonus points to 1929 Poujeaux for its age.

[Noel Ermitano]

I cannot single out any wine as a "top" one. So, in no particular order:

Favorite 10 reds

1964 R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva
1989 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru St. Jacques
1981 Château Lynch Bages
1988 Château de Beaucastel CdP
1988 Château Haut-Bailly
1982 Château Gruaud Larose
1985 Château Pichon Lalande
1986 Château La Mission Haut Brion
1986 Château Palmer
1990 Vega Sicilia Unico

Favorite 5 champagnes

2002 Dom Pérignon
2002 Bollinger La Grande Ainée "James Bond" Limited Edition
1997 Champagne Salon Brut Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil
1999 Champagne Gosset Grand Millésime
1998 Laurent Perrier Cuvée Alexandra Rosé

2012 wasn't particularly great on whites (dry and sweet) for me, apparently, because nothing immediately comes to mind.

[Matt Richman]

1989 Château Lynch-Bages
2009 Schubert Pinot Noir Marion's Vineyard
2009 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté's Vineyard
2010 Stonyridge Vineyard Larose
2004 Stonyridge Vineyard Larose
1970 Latour

[Bill Hooper]

That is very hard to say, but of those I can recall:

2011 Rebholz Muskateller Kabinett Trocken
2011 Bürklin-Wolf Riesling Pechstein GC
2010 Wehrheim Weißburgunder Mandelberg GG
2009 Peter Jakob Kühn Riesling Amphore
1999 Bürklin-Wolf Riesling Kalkofen
2001 Müller-Catoir Herzog Rieslaner Trocken
2009 Horst Sauer Escherndorfer Lump Silvaner GG
2008 Meyer-Näkel Kräuterberg Spätburgunder GG
1989 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett
1990 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese
2011 Rebholz Kastanienbusch Riesling GG
2011 Rebholz vom Muschelkalk Riesling ‚S‘ Trocken
2011 Rebholz vom Buntsandstein Riesling ‚S‘ Trocken
2011 Rebholz vom Rotliegenden Riesling ‚S‘ Trocken
2011 Christmann Idig Riesling GG
2009 Christmann Idig Riesling Eiswein
2010 Koehler-Ruprecht Saumagen Riesling Kabinett trocken
2010 Koehler-Ruprecht Saumagen Riesling Spätlese trocken
2011 Bernhart Sonnenberg Riesling GG
2009 Bründlmayer Heligenstein Riesling Lyra
2008 Bergdolt Weißburgunder Sekt Extra Brut
2007 von Bühl Kirchenstück Riesling GG
1998 Nikolaihof ‚Steinriesler‘ Riesling
2009 Knipser Cuvee XR
2008 Villa Pistoria Riesling

May 2013 be as kind.
Cheers,
Bill

[Sam Platt]

Best wine tasted from my cellar – 1998 Heitz Cellars Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet
Most bottles consumed – 2010 Jadot Macon-Village Chardonnay (16)
Best overall wine tasted – 1982 Montrose (MoCool)*

*There were so many great wines at MoCool that it is nearly impossible to pick a “best.” A case could be made for at least a half dozen other wines tasted at the gathering.

[Dale Williams]

(snip)

2010 Wehrheim Weißburgunder Mandelberg GG
2009 Horst Sauer Escherndorfer Lump Silvaner GG
2008 Meyer-Näkel Kräuterberg Spätburgunder GG
2011 Christmann Idig Riesling GG
2009 Christmann Idig Riesling Eiswein
2011 Bernhart Sonnenberg Riesling GG
2008 Bergdolt Weißburgunder Sekt Extra Brut
2009 Knipser Cuvee XR
2008 Villa Pistoria Riesling

OK, Bill, your list reads the most intriguing as most producers I don't know. Are these mostly Pfalz (guess the Silvaner is Franken?)?

[Carl Eppig]

Heavy on TJ again:

2006 Tobin James, Silver Reserve, Syrah
2006 Tobin James, Silver Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Tobin James, James Gang Reserve, Malbec
2006 Tobin James, Dusi Vineyard, Zinfandel
2007 Tobin James, James Gang Reserve, Refosco
2007 Tobin James, James Gang Reserve, Primitivo
2007 Tobin James, James Gang Reserve, Cabernet Franc
2007 Pessagno, Lucia Highlands Vineyard, Pinot Noir
2008 Knapp, Finger Lakes, Merlot
2010 Glenora, Finger Lakes, Reisling

[Sam Platt]

Hi Carl,

I'm curious as to what you find so compelling about the Tobin James wines? This year I tasted their '09 Dusi Ranch Zin and their '08 James Gang Zin. They were both decent wines, but I don't think they would be in my top 20 for the year. Your praise for TJ makes me wonder if there is something about the style that I am missing.

[Bill Hooper]

(snip)

2010 Wehrheim Weißburgunder Mandelberg GG
2009 Horst Sauer Escherndorfer Lump Silvaner GG
2008 Meyer-Näkel Kräuterberg Spätburgunder GG
2011 Christmann Idig Riesling GG
2009 Christmann Idig Riesling Eiswein
2011 Bernhart Sonnenberg Riesling GG
2008 Bergdolt Weißburgunder Sekt Extra Brut
2009 Knipser Cuvee XR
2008 Villa Pistoria Riesling

OK, Bill, your list reads the most intriguing as most producers I don't know. Are these mostly Pfalz (guess the Silvaner is Franken?)?

Hi Dale,

Yup. The only non-Pfalz wines from the snip are Horst Sauer (widely recognized as the finest and most famous Franken estate) and Meyer-Näkel (ditto for the Ahr –though they went through a bit of a jammy phase for a couple of years, they seem to be back on track.)

Villa Pistoria is a 1ha estate in the Südpfalz. They make hardly any wine, so I’d be shocked if you had heard of them. But the rest are all VDP estates (Indeed, Stephan Christmann is the president of the VDP and one of the top estates in the region). They all deserve to be better represented in the US. I actually think that they all do have importers (besides maybe Bergdolt).

Wehrheim makes (very probably) the greatest Pinot Blanc on the planet with the Mandelberg GG. Year in and out, I’d put it with anyone you can think of –especially the Austrians. But yeah, not exactly cheap and it IS Pinot Blanc which gets a lot of respect here, not so much anywhere else. The same could be said of Bergdolt (they are a Pinot Blanc specialist –but make even better Riesling these days.) Bernhart is a neighbor of F. Becker. They are also a Pinot Noir firm, but I was floored by how good this Riesling was –and it was 18€ for a GG. The Knipser I tried on bottling day during a visit –it is a blend of Cab Franc and Merlot (sometimes it has Cab Sauv as well). It was the best Bordeaux Blend I’ve ever tried from Germany –don’t laugh! It’s really nice. But Knipser is probably the most famous (high quality) producer in the Pfalz (they make lots of Spätburgunder, Riesling, and just about everything else too.) None of these guys has an importer that is well-known, nor are any of them known for German wine. I can only assume that these wines get a bit lost in the portfolio. The Pfalz remains one region in Germany where the some of the greatest producers are virtually unknown in the US, while many lesser producers have found good distribution. Go figure.

Cheers,
Bill

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

That is a very informative Bill. Have to restate I live the wrong side of the pond!