Once again I present my Wines of the Year – the best wines I have tasted in seven different categories, plus two extra categories: ‘Dud’ of the Year, and ‘Thing’ of the Year. There is a link to my tasting notes on all of the wine featured.
See Visitors’ Wines of The Year 2008
Tom’s wines of 2008
| Red – Château La Mission Haut-Brion (France) 1945 |
| White – Olivier Merlin (France) Pouilly-Fuissé ‘Terroir de Vergisson’ 2006 |
| Budget red – Julien Schaal (South Africa) Merlot Petit Verdot 2006 |
| Budget white – Château Saint Ferreol (France) Viognier 2006 |
| Sweet – Domaine Bellegarde (France) Jurançon Cuvée Thibault 2004 |
| Sparkling – Krug (France) Champagne Clos du Mesnil 1998 |
| Fortified – Rozès (Portugal) Vintage Port Quinta do Grifo 2003 |
| Dud – The entire Yellowtail range |
| Thing – Porsche Cayman S |
click to read my full tasting notes for my Wines of the Year 2008
The 1945 was one of half a dozen La Mission Haut-Brion’s that could have made the top spot, as it was part of an extraordinary vertical tasting and lunch I atteneded where 50 great vintages were poured. The Saint Ferreol is a stunning viognier, and possibly the best example I have ever tasted of this variety. The little Jurançon gets the nod over some amazing Tokajis I tasted on a visit to the region, just because it is such an inexpensive and honest little wine. The Krug was a profound experience and a wine that is in its absolute infancy, but at £500+ per bottle, one for the serious collector. Yellowtail might seem like too obvious a choice for ‘dud’, and indeed there were expensive wines that disappointed me too, but I give the entire range of this Aussie phenomenon the vote, because it is such a cynical range of wines, made sugary sweet to please people who’d really rather be drinking Coca Cola, and the antithesis of what ‘real’ wine is abot. Finally, I have indulged myself with a dozen wines that could easily substitute for wines in the list above. Webmaster’s privilege!
- Krug (Fance) Vintage Champagne 1998
- Fleury (france) Brut Vintage Champagne 1995
- Jeff Carrel (France) Morillon Blanc 2005
- Bergström (USA) Dr Bergström Willamette Valley Riesling 2006
- Fontodi (Italy) Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Vigna del Sorbo’ 2004
- Aurora (New Zealand) Syrah 2006
- Trapiche (Argentina) Malbec Felipe Villafañe 2003
- Viña Cobos (Argentina) Malbec 2005
- Bruno Giacosa (Italy) Dolcetto d’Alba 2006
- Királyudvar (Hungary) Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2002
- Disznoko (Hungary) Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 1999
- Willi Opitz (Austria) Opitz One 2004