OUR TOP 100 WINES FOR 2008 – We tasted thousands of wines in 2008 including a number of wines that are no longer available through traditional retail channels. This list is our top 100 picks that for the most part were released in late 2007 or 2008 and are still likely to be available somewhere in your market. Prices are in Canadian dollars and reflect the price of the wine about the time it was tasted in 2008. Prices and availability vary globally. Where possible we have noted the grapes in any of the wines that are blends just after the name.
1
97 Château d'Yquem 2003 Sémillon - Sauvignon Blanc Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, France BC $250.00 (375 ml) specialty listing, AB $140.00 (375 ml) private wine stores, ON $248.00 Vintages, QC $935.00 (1500 ml), QC $1,880.00 (3000 ml), QC $3,750.00 (6000 ml) The 2003 vintage is said to be one of the warmest ever at d‘Yquem and it combines with a hit of clean, total botrytis infection throughout the vineyard. Historically it is the last year before the Lur Saluce family handed off to LVMH and winemaker Pierre Lurton. No shortage of power and weight but with beautiful fruit and surprising acidity, candied crystallized peach and apricot with honey and marzipan notes. Almost taut and nervy at this stage. Leave it alone for decade or more as it fattens up and prepares for a long journey in bottle. (AG-ST)
02
97 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2003 Touriga Nacional - Touriga Francesa - Tinta Roriz - Tinta Barroca Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, Portugal BC $136.00 specialty listing, AB $144.00 fine wine shops, MB $140.00, NB $142.00, ON $109.00, QC $142.00, SK $107.00 Retasted in Portugal earlier this year it's even better than the last time we tasted it and it won't be rewady for decades. Always so solid with powerful dense fruit, flecked with floral (violet) notes. The color is opaque with a licorice laced, black fruit flavours, brown sugar, spice and molasses. Interminably long in the mouth showing off a youthful finish packed full of plums chocolates and raisins. It seems to linger on the palate forever in perfect balance. Lock and load this into the cellar for the next century. (AG)
03
96 Krug Grande Cuvee N/V Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Meunier Champagne, France BC $118.00 (375 ml) speculative listing - Charton-Hobbs, AB $248.00, BC $255.00, BC $612.00 speculative listing - Charton-Hobbs, ON $270.00, QC $273.00 Krug is back in the market. Look for a light yellow colour, fine, continuous mousse and a nutty, toasty, mineral, earthy nose with floral, almond, quince and spicy, baked apple aromas. Crisp elegant and dry but structured with high acidity and fine, creamy mousse. Nutty, toasty, citrus, honey, quince, lemon, floral, rhubarb, tobacco, earthy, mineral flavours and a persistent dry, rich finish with lots of nuts and lemon. More intense and concentrated than almost any other champagne but also austere and drier. Ready to drink now but will hold for many years. Almost more like a table wine with its intensity yet impeccable balance and acidity. Top flight bubble. (AG-ST)
04
96 Quinta do Crasto Douro Vinha Maria Teresa 2005 Douro Mixed Vines Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, Portugal BC $135.00 specialty listing The ’05 Maria Teresa is stunning thanks to its mix of 30 different grape varieties pulled form 90-year-old vines that get mid-day sun but are in the shade all afternoon. It’s all handpicked and crushed by foot before the alcoholic fermentation is passed over to mechanical robots working in open temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. It is aged in French oak and with Jean Michel Cazes on board for Xisto Crasto now get’s its share of super top quality French barrels. The wine is black the fruit dark, sweet and concentrated with spicy cinnamon laced with chocolate and vanilla. Impressive to say the least and showing more finesse than the regular Crasto labels that do not lack finesse. Only 5500 bottles produced for the world. Hold until 2015 for best results. Made by winemakers Dominic Morris and Manuel Lobo (AG-ST)
05
96 Roederer Cristal Champagne 2002 Pinot Noir - Chardonnay Champagne, France BC $272.00 speculative listing - Charton-Hobbs, ON $287.00 Vintages, ON $756.00 (1500 ml) Vintages, QC $280.00, QC $740.00 (1500 ml) Very tiny, continuous mousse. Clean cherry, citrus, toasty, mineral nose with green apple, honey, floral aromas. Dry, crisp, creamy, fine mousse with a rich but refined, elegant and balanced palate. Big green apple, nutty, clean toast, light garlic lees, floral, lime, lemon, honey and cherry flavours. Very dry, long but elegant style with crisp acidity and the ability to age for at least two decades but you can open this anytime. Excellent quality. (AG-ST)
06
95 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2006 Chevalier-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, France BC $350.00 specialty listing Spicy, floral, butter, honey, mineral, quince, pear skin, cream, baked apple, anise, vanilla, toasty oak, lees nose, very fine. Dry, crisp, full and round but juicy and structured. Lemon, butter, green apple, toasty lees, vanilla, honey, slate, floral, pear flavours. Long, elegant, juicy finish. Supremely classy, will age for years. Delicious but you pay the price for such limited production. Tough to believe that the La Cabotte version might be even better. (ST)
07
95 Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1998 Pinot Noir - Chardonnay Champagne, France BC $190.00 specialty listing, QC $390.00 (1500 ml), QC $200.00 Pale yellow colour with very fine, continuous mousse. Very toasty, nutty, spicy, floral, quince, mineral, baked apple, cherry aromas. Crisp, juicy, full flavoured palate but elegant and concentrated with fine mousse. Citrus, nutty, spicy, honey, green apple, strawberry, floral flavours. Finish is long and balanced with baked apple and earth notes. More complex, fuller and crisper than the vintage brut, this can age further. (AG-ST)
08
95 Signorello Padrone 2004 Napa Valley, California, United States BC $120.00 specialty listing, AB $121.00 private wine stores Big cedar, tobacco, plum, blackberry, spicy, floral, peppery, earthy, coriander, mineral aromas. Rich, round, full bodied and concentrated with lots of young, smooth grained tannins. Spicy, coffee, cedar, vanilla, mocha, earthy, tobacco, cassis jam, black berry, licorice and orange peel flavours. Youthful, warm finish but very good finesse and fruit throughout. Needs 4-7 years. Excellent (AG-ST)
09
95 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs 1998 Champagne, France NS $225.00 Bishop's Cellar, ON $249.00 Vintages, QC $240.00 If there is one champagne we can never get enough of it is the elegant Taittinger Comtes de Champagne. Look for baked apple, citrus, creamy, floral, nutty, brioche, peach, mineral aromas. Very fine mousse on the palate with a creamy texture and persistence. Delicate with creamy, toasty, lees, spicy, baked green apple, mineral and citrus flavours. Fresh, crisp, dryer brut style with great finesse and acidity. A bit tight now, will improve with 3-5 years of age. (AG-ST)
10
95 William Fèvre Les Preuses Chablis Grand Cru 2006 Chablis, Burgundy, France BC $79.00 specialty listing Citrus, honey, floral, slate, pear, lees, butter, seashell and spicy quince aromas with a touch of anise, very complex. Round, elegant, rich but delicate and crisp with great intensity and acidity balance. Orange, lime, green apple, pear skin, buttery, vanilla, spicy, creamy lees flavours with a strong mineral note. Long, crisp finish with great finesse and nice viscosity. Delicious now but will improve over the next 2-5 years, perhaps more. Just about as good as it gets in Chablis and worth every dollar. Classy. (ST)
