WOTYs--2019 Edition--and your Discovery of the Year

[Edward H. Earles]

"2015 Paola Bea Santa Chiara Umbria Bianco

Stunning deep bourbon colour. And stunning wine (this is an orange wine). Scents start off sort of a mulchy-mineral mix, but unripe citrus steals in. Tremendous palate presence adds a marzipan component and steely acidity, yet with ripe yellow fruit too and that slight oxidative character that only deepens in elegance through the night...the last sip, 4 hours later, was the best. Huge thanks to Peter for bringing this WOTN, 6 days later it had, of anything, only gotten more energetic and lean—-no honey notes now"

We tasted at Paolo Bea in May and they didn't have any of the Santa Chiara to pour for us....all sold already. Maybe you had our bottle!

[Eric Ifune]

Quinta do Mourao CL. CL for 150. This is a wood aged port, a blend of 19th century wines with an average age of over 150 years. Perhaps the best wine I've had the past 4 or 5 years.

[Mark Y]

WOTY candidates are mostly Burgs, but a couple of other surprises:

2011 Comte Liger Belair Aux Reignots
1999 Dujac Bonnes Mares
2002 Vogue Bonnes Mares
2015 Comte Liger Belair Clos du Chateau
2002 Jean-Jacques Confuron Romanee Saint-Vivant
1998 Jamet Cote Rotie
2011 Rougeard Les Poyeaux
2005 Egon MullerScharzhofberger Auslese

Discovery - first year drinking Liger Belair ... am a fan.
Discovery 2 - Cedric Bouchard bubbly - tastyyyyy

[R0$$ M 0 R R 1 $ 0 N]

Discovery: Elio Sandri, thanks to Bob Tai for the introductory bottle he gave me, and to visiting Elio in May.

A couple of WOTY that come to mind:

1995 Cos d'Estournel
1999 Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia
2009 Azelia Barolo Bricco Voghera Riserva
2009 Poderi Oddero Brunate
2001 & 2008 Luigi Oddero Vigna Rionda
any Cappellano Rupestris I opened.
2011 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto
1999 Olivier Cote Rotie, Rhone schtank, blood & meat, amazing mature Cote Rotie.
and maybe the most remarkable so it gets the not as WOTY: 1975 Alfonso Scavino Barolo. I had moderate expectations here given the age and vintage (Good, not outstanding) but took the bottle to share with Lorenzo Scavino on a visit to Toronto for a tasting. Stunning and WOTN for me despite a great lineup of Azelia Barolo going back to about 2005 from Magnum.
Probably some others but will have to brush out some cobwebs to remember....

Elio Sandri is a great producer ... I recently bought the Barolo Perno Riserva Vigna Disa 2012.
Cos d'Estournel 1995 a remarkable success for the vintage.

Côte-Rôtie from Olivier ... Ravoire ? (never tasted this domain)

My apologies, the Cote Rotie was Michel Ogier, it was stunning. I only had 1 bottle and enjoyed it enough to source another....

[C. Keller]

2016 Chateau Gloria
2014 Le Pergole Torte
2007 RM Occidental Ridge PN
2015 Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva

[Andre M]

After last night offline, my pick for discovery of the year is 2015 Keller GG Abts.
It was so goood.

[Todd F r e n c h]

Since half this thread is courtesy of Charlie, I'll add to it, as I just had my Champagne of the year, courtesy of him. In fact, it's my Champagne of all time, as far as I can recall. Jerome Prevost La Closerie Les Beguines Extra Brut Climax

My red wine of the year was a 2011 Ridge Monte Bello, brought to an offline at my house this summer by Joe Duncan - his first offline that I know of, and he came guns a'blazing with that amazing wine, which he double decanted prior to arriving!

[Rich Brown]

Quinta do Mourao CL. CL for 150. This is a wood aged port, a blend of 19th century wines with an average age of over 150 years. Perhaps the best wine I've had the past 4 or 5 years.

Wow, that sounds incredible! You have any pics or detailed notes you can pass along?

[Howard Cooper]

My red wine of the year was a 2011 Ridge Monte Bello, brought to an offline at my house this summer by Joe Duncan - his first offline that I know of, and he came guns a'blazing with that amazing wine, which he double decanted prior to arriving!

Fabulous wine.

[Robert.A.Jr.]

My red wine of the year was a 2011 Ridge Monte Bello, brought to an offline at my house this summer by Joe Duncan - his first offline that I know of, and he came guns a'blazing with that amazing wine, which he double decanted prior to arriving!

Fabulous wine.

I remember David Z raving about this wine.

[Howard Cooper]

I did as well. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=110096&p=1652512&hi ... 1#p1652512 Beautiful wine.

[RyanC]

My red wine of the year was a 2011 Ridge Monte Bello, brought to an offline at my house this summer by Joe Duncan - his first offline that I know of, and he came guns a'blazing with that amazing wine, which he double decanted prior to arriving!

Fabulous wine.

I remember David Z raving about this wine.

It really is so good. One of the better young CA wines I’ve had.

[joeduncan]

Since half this thread is courtesy of Charlie, I'll add to it, as I just had my Champagne of the year, courtesy of him. In fact, it's my Champagne of all time, as far as I can recall. Jerome Prevost La Closerie Les Beguines Extra Brut Climax


5EA4130F-B18D-4889-A2D2-8B8E79FE325B.jpeg


My red wine of the year was a 2011 Ridge Monte Bello, brought to an offline at my house this summer by Joe Duncan - his first offline that I know of, and he came guns a'blazing with that amazing wine, which he double decanted prior to arriving!

Very glad you enjoyed it, it's a great early drinking vintage for monte bello!

[Eric Ifune]

Posted by Rich Brown
Wow, that sounds incredible! You have any pics or detailed notes you can pass along?

San Leonardo is the brand name for Quinta do Mourao. Tasted at the Quinta. A blend of 7 wines ranging in dates from 1863 to 1872 with an average age of more than 150 years. 75 liters made and bottled in 500ml bottles.
Enormous color. Darker than an old Malmsey Madeira. Aromas of smoke, earth, damp forests. Lots of citrus. Toasted Almonds and hazelnuts. On the palate, incredible density. Very sweet but balanced by enormous acidity. A cornucopia of citrus fruits. Also dried fruits; dates, figs, sultanas. Pralines. Unbelievable concentration but with impeccable balance. Fantastic length.

[Rich Brown]

Posted by Rich Brown
Wow, that sounds incredible! You have any pics or detailed notes you can pass along?

P1030737.JPGP1030739.JPG
San Leonardo is the brand name for Quinta do Mourao. Tasted at the Quinta. A blend of 7 wines ranging in dates from 1863 to 1872 with an average age of more than 150 years. 75 liters made and bottled in 500ml bottles.
Enormous color. Darker than an old Malmsey Madeira. Aromas of smoke, earth, damp forests. Lots of citrus. Toasted Almonds and hazelnuts. On the palate, incredible density. Very sweet but balanced by enormous acidity. A cornucopia of citrus fruits. Also dried fruits; dates, figs, sultanas. Pralines. Unbelievable concentration but with impeccable balance. Fantastic length.

So awesome. I think that's my vicarious WOTY!!

[Tran Bronstein]

I always both love and loathe this thread. Love it because I enjoy reading about all the amazing wines people have tried during the year. Loathe it because it means I've gotten another year older. Ah well.

Wines of the Year:

* Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2008 Champagne
* Argyros 20 Year Old Vinsanto
* Pol Roger 2006 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill
* Egon Muller 2018 Scharzhofberger Spatlese
* Robert Biale 2017 Royal Punishers Petite Syrah
* Hugel 2010 Gewurztraminer Vendange Tardive
* Quinto do Crasto 1999 Vintage Porto
* Chateau de Rayne Vigneau 2009 Sauternes
* Loimer 2007 Riesling Kamptal
* Kracher 2003 #1 Nouvelle Vague
* 2007 Huet Le Mont Demi-Sec
* Gernot Gysler 1990 Huxelrebe Trockenbeerenauslese
* Muller-Cattoir 2003 Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten Rieslaner Spatlese
* Anselmann 2013 Edesheimer Rosengarten Riesling Beerenauslese
* Domaine Huet 2009 Clos De Bourg Moelleux 2009 Premiere Trie Vouvray

Discoveries of the Year:

* Rioja Vega 2017 Tempranillo Blanco -- my first ever white Tempranillo
* Hugel 2012 Pinot Noir Grossi Laue -- my first ever Alsacian Pinot Noir
* Nonino Prunella Mandorlate -- Italian plum eau-de-vie based liquor that tastes like chocolate covered cherries
* Peller Estates Clarity 2017 Ruby Red -- local Niagara region off-dry table red
* Tablas Creek 2004 Vin de Paille -- Italian passito style dessert wine made from French white Rhone varietals that have been grown and dried in California
* Meo Camuzet 2015 Grand Cru Corton Charlemagne -- literally made me both rethink and regret my love affair with Chablis and Meursault as this completely blew them both away
* Redbreast 21 Year Old Irish Whiskey -- Should never have touched Scotch with this whiskey existing in the world
* 2015 Kiralyudvar Tokaji Furmint Sec -- my first ever dry Tokaji
* Duke Spirits The Duke 24 Year Old Special Reserve Brandy -- the best American brandy I have ever had in my life
* Tokajska Vyberova 2003 Tokaji Essencia -- a rare Tokaji from Slovakia

[Howard Cooper]

If you have spent the year drinking good wines with friends, you may have gotten another year older but at least you have not wasted the year.

Fascinating about the Gysler Huexelrebe TBA. I had (and drunk) a few of his sweeter wines back in the day, but never would have expected it to last this long.

[Bryan Price]

1996 Verset Cornas
2006 Gonon Vieille Vignes
2008 Roulot Mei Chavaux
1985 Chateau Magdelaine

In terms of discovery, I’ve been introduced to the Pinots of Williams Selyem and have dug them.

Now you're talking my language Robert! Which WS vintages have you had?

[Bryan Price]

I think another poster mentioned most memorable wines of the year (rather than "best"), and I think back to a a 2001 Arcadian Pisoni that stood up to the Peruvian meal I had with my wife in Sonoma during her birthday week. Another standout was a WS Rochioli on that same trip at Chalkboard in Healdsburg. Met up with a friend I hadn't seen in 10 years and hadn't lost a step in terms of conversation and rapport. I also think about my other most memorable experiences, and these were sharing wine with friends (and opening their eyes to the "good life") and also every bottle I shared with my father who is 76 and already feeling his own mortality.

[B. Buzzini]

Discovery of the year - How much I really really really LOVE Champagne and sparking wines! I could drink Champs and eat pizza, seafood, and fried chicken EVERYDAY for the rest of my life...although might be a short life...I'd be happy!

Wine of the Year - I rated two wines 98pts this year...goes along with my DOTY...1969 and 2008 DomP.

[D0mi S0pk0]

I'm a champagne/sparkling wine fan and would pick the 2002 Piper Rare. Although I have yet to try the 08 Dom.

[John Glas]

On the cheap for under $15 with tax this one works:

2015 Domaine Christophe Cordier Mâcon-Charnay Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Mâcon-Charnay (11/7/2019)
Day 1: Sampled at Hennepin Lake earlier in the day and bought at 1010 Washington Wine & Spirits for much less. $14.99 on sale. This is really nice with saline, shells, orange peel and chalk. Short to medium finish. Picks up some nice Carmel elements on the finish. Very complex for a wine under $20.00! 91 points
Day 2: Honey, Carmel, saline, shells and orange peel. Very complex wine for $15. Medium finish and good acidity. Highly Recommended. 91 points
Day 3: Not as good as day 1 and 2 and lost some of the intensity. Drink on a pop and pour and enjoy.
Recommendation: This is a short term ager. Drinking well now so why wait. Drink now to 2021. (91 points)

[PCLIN]

Discovery of the year - How much I really really really LOVE Champagne and sparking wines! I could drink Champs and eat pizza, seafood, and fried chicken EVERYDAY for the rest of my life...although might be a short life...I'd be happy!

Wine of the Year - I rated two wines 98pts this year...goes along with my DOTY...1969 and 2008 DomP.

Champagne and fried chicken, a combo I learnt last year while visiting NY.

[Herwig Janssen]

My wine of the year is ~Hermitage La Chapelle 1978 from Jaboulet .
Discovery : 2017 Puligny Montrachet Folatieres from Pierre Girardin and also the 2017 Riesling Pettenthal from KP Keller , what an awesome wine .

[Mike Grammer]

Champagne and fried chicken, a combo I learnt last year while visiting NY.

A fine, fine combo--I was at a themed party that Leslie Fisher hosted on this theme and it was great.

Domi, welcome to the board.

Mike

[PCLIN]

Wines of the year.

‘62 Latour
‘66 Haut Brion
‘98 Jamet Côte Rotie
‘96 DRC Grands Echezeaux
‘66 Beychevelle
‘08 Rougeard Poyeux

[Rory K.]

Sad to say no real discoveries this year but the top wines I can remember

Paolo Bea Sagrantino Passito 2006
Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva 'Pora' 2008
Sean Thackrey Orion 2011
A. Rafanelli Zinfandel 2013

Now that I think about it my discovery is that I'm drinking more California wine than I used too. Not a change in taste it's just all my Italian favorites are too young and I'm exercising better patience.

[Mattstolz]

New addition for a champagne revelation for me:
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne, the most recent release. Just the best champagne I've had period.

[Howard Cooper]

2003 Truchot Clos de la Roche
2003 Truchot Charmes Chambertin
2003 Truchot GC Combottes
1996 Taittinger Comte de Champagne
1996 Taittinger Comte de Champagne Rose
2008 Ramonet CM Ruchottes
1978 La Mission Haut Brion
2011 d'Yquem
2015 Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Kabinett

Discovery of the year. Despite the fact that I have been drinking them for a while now, I am going with Ramonet Reds. I have a couple this year that have really hit home how much I like these wines. In the world of Burgundy, IMHO they are very underrated.

Add to my list 1999 Truchot Clos de la Roche from last night. Very much a wow wine. Probably my single WOTY - so far.

[LMD Ermitaño]

For many years I had pretty much dismissed Cristal as a wine best for rapper videos, and given the cost, it was easy to simply ignore it. A bottle of the 2009 a few months ago really opened my eyes. Sensational wine, as good as any champagne I have had in recent memory. The 2007 Bollinger Grand Anneé Rosé was also a revelation. Both PAME.

Same here with the ‘09 Cristal. I think it’s the first Cristal that I’ve genuinely enjoyed (though I’ve had many of their vintages). I don’t think I’ve had any ‘07 Bollinger though (not that I recall, anyway). Their ‘04 RD I enjoy now; as well as their regular ‘04, rosé included.

[Geoff F.]

WOTN: 1920 Bodegas de la Real Divisa Marques de Legarda
Close runner up: 2011 DRC Échezeaux

Contenders (in no particular order):
2016 André Perret Condrieu Chery
2013 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
1993 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Les Perrières
2010 Lillian Syrah (stylistically different, I liked this more than the young Allemands it was up against, and would easily take 2-3 bottles of this over Allemand)
1998 Jamet Côte Rotie
2017 Joseph Drouhin Beaune Clos des Mouches (both red and white)
2006 Taittinger Comte de Champagne

Discovery of the year: 2014 Ontañón Rioja Akemi. For under $15 a bottle, this is pure drinking pleasure in the summer, and goes well with food. It's hard to convince myself to buy a single bottle of any of the above over a case of this.

[PCLIN]

There is one single wine that stands out so far, ‘98 Jamet Côte Rotie, mentioned 5 times.

[LMD Ermitaño]

It's only early November; but I'll give it a shot and try to narrow down to 10 or under (n.b., no trade tastings or "tasting pours" - all these wines I drank and enjoyed over the course of lunch or dinner):

Champagne:

1995 Dom Pérignon Rosé - Late April. Alex shared a bottle between the 2 of us at his home while we were killing time before a wine dinner with other friends.
2009 Roederer Cristal - Early January, dinner with the wife & children. As apéritif and with 1st courses.
2004 Bollinger RD - Around 4-5 bottles I opened throughout the year in various restaurants as apéritif and with first courses.

White:

1990 de Vogüé Grand Cru Musigny Blanc - during a de Vogüé dinner in early May.

Red:

1990 Rausan-Ségla - Over dinner with family & family friends late August.
1999 Pétrus - Over dinner with the wife & children mid-March.
2001 de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses - with the veal course during a de Vogüé dinner in early May.
1970 La Fleur Pétrus - 3 bottles that I've opened during dinners over the past months. Excellent wine.
1999 Ausone - Over dinner, shared by Keiichi-san, mid-August.

N.b., I've had many other lovely wines, e.g., '98 HB, '82 HB, '98 LMHB, '90 VCC, '00 Chave Hermitage, etc., over 2019; but the above were the most exceptional.

Edit: To add 2 “discoveries”:

This excellent cava my wife & I enjoyed during a wine paired degustation at Restaurante Iván Cerdeño in Toledo, 16th October.

The first white Pedro Ximénez wine I’ve ever had - during a wine paired degustation at Restaurante Novodabo, Zaragoza, 18th October.

[Mike Grammer]

It does look like the 98 Jamet is going to be hard to beat, even this early, for group WOTY. I have an add to my list of 2005 Domaine Maillard Corton Renardes which was terrific wine.

[Jim Stewart]

A good year for wine enjoyment. I'll pick this as my wine of the year:
2004 Patricia Green Etzel Block Pinot Noir

A bunch of WB-influenced discoveries. These are wines that I did not previously know about, that I have enjoyed test driving, and that I have purchased multiple bottles of:
Musar
Baudry Chinon
Fevre Chablis
Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc
Thivin Beaujolais
Roilette Beaujolais
AJ Adam Riesling
Ployez Jacquemart Rose Champagne
Egly-Ouriet Vignes de Vrigny Champagne
Sandler Pinot Noir
Bedrock Zinfandel

Thank you, Berserkers!

[Scott McDonald]

Discovery of the year: 2016 Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale, $60. Wow, what a nose! Drinking beautifully already and will only improve.

[JeremyMullman]

WOTYs:
-) 2014 SQN Capo dei Putti Syrah
-) 2013 No Girls Grenache
-) 2009 Chateau Coutet Barsac
-) 2013 Rivers-Marie Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir
-) 2014 Pegau Cuvee Reservee

Discovery of the Year:
Bedrock. New to me, despite being on a "kindred spirit" list in Carlisle (which I also love).

[Brian Pinci]

Even though it was technically last couple of days of 2018, I had a 1981 Paul Droin Grenouille. Changed my mind about Burgundy and longevity (thanks Marc)

Others:
1983 Coutet
2012 Y
2013 Morlet La Proportion Doree
1989 Lynch Bages
2008 Taittinger Comtes Blanc de Blanc

Discovery would be 2013 Pietradolce Archineri Etna Rosso

[Mattstolz]

just tried my first wine from Sylvain Pataille... definitely a discovery of the year for me!

[Tran Bronstein]

San Leonardo is the brand name for Quinta do Mourao. Tasted at the Quinta. A blend of 7 wines ranging in dates from 1863 to 1872 with an average age of more than 150 years. 75 liters made and bottled in 500ml bottles.
Enormous color. Darker than an old Malmsey Madeira. Aromas of smoke, earth, damp forests. Lots of citrus. Toasted Almonds and hazelnuts. On the palate, incredible density. Very sweet but balanced by enormous acidity. A cornucopia of citrus fruits. Also dried fruits; dates, figs, sultanas. Pralines. Unbelievable concentration but with impeccable balance. Fantastic length.

My God but I'd kill to try this!

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

WOTNs:

2008 Dom
2008 Cristal
1996 Krug
2001 d’Yquem
1996 La Tache

[Jim Stewart]

WOTNs:

2008 Dom
2008 Cristal
1996 Krug
2001 d’Yquem
1996 La Tache

What a Night!!!!

[Pat Burton]

1975 R. López de Heredia Rioja Crianza 6º Año Viña Tondonia
1996 Château Cos d'Estournel
2003 Château d'Yquem
2002 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel Auction
1991 Zind-Humbrecht Tokay Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl Vendange Tardive
2007 Melusine Grüner Veltliner Lyra
2008 Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot
1945 Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes
2006 Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie La Chavaroche
1995 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese

[Mike Grammer]

Great everyone, keep 'em coming. Pat, it looks like you made "right choice" in letting the Melusine age. I've had that wine, but it was 9 years ago. Thoughts from then...

"2007 Melusine Lyra Gruner Veltliner

Vanilla bean, lurking nutmeg and white fruits, that’s what the bouquet says to me. This is still so primary---real sweetness to the peppered pears and grapefruit. Gets much better in the glass with, later, killer lilac. Swatch of petrol gets in the mouth later too. It does get to the spicy side, but still remarkably “thick” for a Gruner. Gruvee on steroids? It certainly deserves lots and lots of time to settle down."

[Pat Burton]

I wish I could take credit, but that bottle was shared by a generous friend.

[Jonathan Sirot]

WOTNs:

2008 Dom
2008 Cristal
1996 Krug
2001 d’Yquem
1996 La Tache

Aren't wine offlines the best thing in the world ? Hard to beat that' but a few events I attended would run with it. An 83 LaTache, 98 Grange, 89 Giacosa Barbaresco, 97 Harlan, all fought with an 82 Mouton for the title one night. My 02 Latour got lost in the shuffle there so many great wines. 1st world problems. I am quite fortunate that through the years and by travelling a bit for special events I have become friends with folks from all over the country. This year, my first time attending the wild weekend in Charleston was full of epiphanies and of course provided many of my top 15, as did another dinner up in Boston.

1. 1988 Salon { showing perfectly}
2. 1988 Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet
3. 1975 Heitz Martha's Vineyard
4. 1978 Diamond Creek
5. 2006 Pignan
6. 1998 Grange { finally ready ! Start drinking if you got em }
7. 1989 Giacosa Asili Reserve red label { Now I truly believe in Italian wine }
8. 1983 La Tache
9. 1969 Resmoissenet Morey Saint Denis
10. 1998 Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame Rose out of magnum
11. 1995 Chave Hermitage
12. 1978 Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace
13. 1995 D'yquem out of Magnum
14. 1997 D'yquem out of Magnum at same event
15. 2008 Dom

I have left off about a half dozen more great wines, but as I was trying to keep it at 10 so will stop here. This year was very kind to me and look forward to another great year sharing some more new discoveries. Dangerous development was having my first two burgundy epiphanies, but it's ok as I loved the Resmoissenet almost as much as the La Tache so I can dabble a little.

[Steve Saxon]

As of right now the 1964 Cheval Blanc is my WOTY.

[Craig G]

As of right now the 1964 Cheval Blanc is my WOTY.

Did you bring enough for all of us?

[William Kelley]

My drinking year is winding down now, so the list is beginning to solidify as follows. It is much less geographically diverse than last year's, which perhaps reflects badly on me. I confine myself to ten and exclude recent releases as I taste too many of those.

1919 Clos des Lambrays
1990 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne.
1947 Coche-Vincent Meursault
NV Krug Private Cuvée (late 1940s)
1989 Dauvissat Preuses
1947 de Vogüé Musigny
1959 La Tâche
1990 Henri Jayer Cros Parantoux (en magnum)
2002 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuissé Clos de Petit Croux (en magnum)
1978 Château Rayas

[Sh@n A]

1919 Clos des Lambrays
1990 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne.
1947 Coche-Vincent Meursault
NV Krug Private Cuvée (late 1940s)
1989 Dauvissat Preuses
1947 de Vogüé Musigny
1959 La Tâche
1990 Henri Jayer Cros Parantoux (en magnum)
2002 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuissé Clos de Petit Croux (en magnum)
1978 Château Rayas

Bring us some fresh wine. The freshest you've got. This year!