Wine Spectator Top 100 Thread

[A_d_a_m_Mintz]

#4 2016 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder
#3 2015 San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucére
#2 2018 Aubert Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast UV Vineyard

Tom

2 years in a row with Mayacamas Cab in top 10. Is it that amazing? I’ve never had it before.

#2 last year and #4 this year. Conspiracy theorists will love that. It always seemed to me that the Wine Spectator made an effort to diversify the list each year so the choice is hard to figure out regardless of the quality of the wine in the bottle.

Tom

I’m more curious as to why they put a '16 CDP and a '16 Napa Cab on top 10 list when both of those vintages are 2 years behind and not considered “newly released this year.” 17 CDP was a decent vintage, not as amazing as 16. I know 17 was the fire vintage in Napa so were there no worthy 17 Napa Cabs to make the top 10?

Part of the WS Top 100 is that these wines are available to most consumers. I think they’re blurring the lines a bit with that one.

[David_Baum]

Any guesses as to which will be #1? Not specifically but I will say it will be a bottle that’s sub-$50.

Im gonna go with 2016 Scavino Bric Del Fiasc.

[J_Rock]

2 years in a row with Mayacamas Cab in top 10. Is it that amazing? I’ve never had it before.

#2 last year and #4 this year. Conspiracy theorists will love that. It always seemed to me that the Wine Spectator made an effort to diversify the list each year so the choice is hard to figure out regardless of the quality of the wine in the bottle.

Tom

I’m more curious as to why they put a '16 CDP and a '16 Napa Cab on top 10 list when both of those vintages are 2 years behind and not considered “newly released this year.” 17 CDP was a decent vintage, not as amazing as 16. I know 17 was the fire vintage in Napa so were there no worthy 17 Napa Cabs to make the top 10?

Part of the WS Top 100 is that these wines are available to most consumers. I think they’re blurring the lines a bit with that one.

Mayacamas’ most recent release is the 2016. I suspect the same for the CDP.

[markjchambers]

Any guesses as to which will be #1? Not specifically but I will say it will be a bottle that’s sub-$50.

My guess is the Volpaia 2016 CC reserva. It was rated way back in Feb. so that may hurt it a little. 97 points, $40, 3000-some cases imported. The 2015 scored 96 and
was #3 last year. The 16 is even better. Still it’s basically a crap shoot. There are many wines with scores >95 and prices <$100 that I would consider better values than what has been selected so far. Value is supposed to play a part.

[Scott_G_r_u_n_e_r]

Cinq Cepages!
BV Tapestry!

[Kris_Patten]

Any guesses as to which will be #1? Not specifically but I will say it will be a bottle that’s sub-$50.

My guess is the Volpaia 2016 CC reserva. It was rated way back in Feb. so that may hurt it a little. 97 points, $40, 3000-some cases imported. The 2015 scored 96 and
was #3 last year. The 16 is even better. Still it’s basically a crap shoot. There are many wines with scores >95 and prices <$100 that I would consider better values than what has been selected so far. Value is supposed to play a part.

I’d guess it will be a 2016 Bordeaux. Already 2 Italians in top 10, already a Champagne, CA Cab and Pinot. Doubtful it is Oz or South America.

Not sure a Spanish wine has ever been there, so maybe that too.

They seem to use #1 to “discover” regions.

[Ron_Erickson]

2016 Bordeaux were so last year. It’s got to be either a 2020 release of a 2016 Barolo or a 2015 Brunello.

[A_Dotson]

#2 last year and #4 this year. Conspiracy theorists will love that. It always seemed to me that the Wine Spectator made an effort to diversify the list each year so the choice is hard to figure out regardless of the quality of the wine in the bottle.

Tom

I’m more curious as to why they put a '16 CDP and a '16 Napa Cab on top 10 list when both of those vintages are 2 years behind and not considered “newly released this year.” 17 CDP was a decent vintage, not as amazing as 16. I know 17 was the fire vintage in Napa so were there no worthy 17 Napa Cabs to make the top 10?

Part of the WS Top 100 is that these wines are available to most consumers. I think they’re blurring the lines a bit with that one.

Mayacamas’ most recent release is the 2016. I suspect the same for the CDP.

Is that the secret red stripe Mayacamas, or the Mayacamus Mayacamus?

[Chris_Seiber]

#4 2016 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder
#3 2015 San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucére
#2 2018 Aubert Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast UV Vineyard

Tom

2 years in a row with Mayacamas Cab in top 10. Is it that amazing? I’ve never had it before.

#2 last year and #4 this year. Conspiracy theorists will love that. It always seemed to me that the Wine Spectator made an effort to diversify the list each year so the choice is hard to figure out regardless of the quality of the wine in the bottle.

Tom

On the other hand, Mayacamas cab is fairly the opposite of the WBer stereotype of “Napa cabs that get high scores from Wine Spectator,” so it’s interesting in the other direction too.

[J.Vizuete]

Not sure a Spanish wine has ever been there, so maybe that too.

2004 CVNE Imperial Riserva was #1 a few years back

[David_Chow]

Any guesses as to which will be #1? Not specifically but I will say it will be a bottle that’s sub-$50.

My guess is the Volpaia 2016 CC reserva. It was rated way back in Feb. so that may hurt it a little. 97 points, $40, 3000-some cases imported. The 2015 scored 96 and
was #3 last year. The 16 is even better. Still it’s basically a crap shoot. There are many wines with scores >95 and prices <$100 that I would consider better values than what has been selected so far. Value is supposed to play a part.

That’s a good pick and has potential, considering their 2015 was actually selected #3 in 2018.

[maureen_nelson]

My guess is a 2019 Mosel. Maybe a Prum auslese (remember with the 01 GH auslese was atop the list?) or maybe something a little less avaulable, like a Schaefer spatlese.

[K_N_Haque]

My guess is a 2019 Mosel. Maybe a Prum auslese (remember with the 01 GH auslese was atop the list?) or maybe something a little less avaulable, like a Schaefer spatlese.

No way. This is a popularity contest (they even say there is an undefinable excitement factor) and Marvin Shanken will never allow a Riesling to be #1. Just look at his picture at the beginning of every issue. He never holds a glass with white wine. I just looked through the lists and the last white to win #1 was in 2004, the 2001 Chateau Rieussac Sauternes. The top 10 has been so red heavy this year that a white is possible, but if so, you can be sure it will be something with oak from California or France.

I love Riesling and so I would happily eat [or perhaps drink] my words tomorrow.

[ericskitei]

Another Rioja. Interesting.

[Tom_Lee]

#1 2010 Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial

Clean sweep for me. I own nothing in the top 10.

Tom

[Juliec]

I think its worse when you actually have the producers but not the bottling. I did get a few to try. Rioja is definitely not an area that have even have explored.

[John_Morris]

At one time this was a big deal. I wonder… does it move the needle much at all?

Yup still does. We had 45 cases of the Massolino Barolo in stock when this came out, sold out in about 20 minutes

I’m not sure which to be more impressed with – the sales rate, your foresight or your inventory!

[Marlon_F]

#1 2010 Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial

Clean sweep for me. I own nothing in the top 10.

Tom

I always liked this wine. Sad to see it will now cost more - for years I would find it around $79; prices has increased in the last couple of years… I bet next one will be around $120.

[Chris_Seiber]

How do you pronounce Ygay?

[PHuff]

How do you pronounce Ygay?

EEE-GAY?