Best Wines of 2010 So Far

On Wine

Best Wines of 2010 So Far

by Fred McMillin

We sip a lot of wines in our Fort Mason (S.F. City College) classes. In alphabetical order, here are the best we have tested so far this year. That is, the best Chardonnay, best Cabernet Sauvignon, etc.

Whites, Pinks, Sparklers, and Desserts

Best Chardonnay:
Under $20: Steele Wines, California, 2008, $18
Over $20: Grgich Hills Estate, Napa Valley, 2007, $42

Best Dessert:
Under $20: Woodbridge (Robert Mondavi), California, 2008, $8
Over $20: Deaver Vineyards, Amador County, NV, $26

Best Gewurtztraminer:
Under $20: Daniel Gehrs, Monterey, 2008, $19

Best Pink:
Under $20: Pedroncelli Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, 2008, $10

Best Pinot Gris:
$12 Maximum: Tiamo, Veneto, Italy, 2008, $12
$12 Minimum: King Estate, Oregon, 2008, $16

Best Riesling:
Under $10: Bogle Vineyards, California, 2008, $9
Over $10: Shooting Star (Steele Wines), Lake County, 2008, $14

Best Sauvignon Blanc:
Under $10: VINI, Bulgarian Master Vint., Bulgaria, 2008, $8
Over $10: Kenwood Vineyards, Sonoma County, 2008, $13

Best Sparkling Wine:
Under $10: Crane Lake, California, NV, $8
Over $10: Prosecco di Valdobbiadene,Tiamo, Veneto, Italy, $15

Reds

Best Barbera
Under $20: Shooting Star (Steele Wines), Lake County, 2007, $14

Best Cabernet Franc:
Under $20: Writer's Block (Steele Wines), Lake County, 2007, $16
Over $20: Jarvis Wines, Napa Valley, 2004, $70

Best Cabernet Sauvignon:
Under $20: Bogle Vineyards, California, 2007, $11
Over $20: Corison Winery, Napa Valley, 2005, $70

Best Merlot:
Under $20: Shooting Star (Steele Wines), Lake County, 2007, $14
Over $20: Williamson Wines, Dry Creek Valley, 2002, $42

Best Petite Sirah:
$10 Maximum: Masked Rider (Panther Rock Wine Co.), California, 2007, $10
Over $10: Napa Ridge, Napa Valley, $12

Best Pinot Noir:
Under $20: Kenwood Vineyards, Russian River Valley, 2007, $18
Over $20: Fess Parker Winery, Santa Barbara Co., 2007, $27

Best Red Blend:
Under $20: Red Duet (50Cab/50Syrah), Silkwood Wines, Stanislaus County, 2007, $17
Over $20: Lake William Blend, Jarvis Wines, Napa Valley, 2004, $75

Best Sangiovese:
$12 Maximum: Tiamo, Marche, Italy, 2008, $12
Over $12: Bonny Doon, San Benito, 2006, $12

Best Syrah:
Under $20: Shooting Star (Steele Wines), Lake County, 2007, $13
Over $20: Fess Parker Winery, Santa Barbara County, 2006, $24

Best Zinfandel:
Under $20: Ravenswood, California, 2007, $10
Over $20: Daniel Gehrs, Santa Ynez Valley, 2007, $28

The Winner Is...

The best wine is the Corison Cabernet Sauvignon (Corison Winery, Napa Valley, 2005, $70).

And a Final Wine Smile

A reader asks us to repeat the hot dog item published a while ago. Here it is:

My favorite San Francisco hot dog cart sports a brilliant, yellow umbrella with the words, Mustard's Last Stand!

Credits:
Tastings: Edgar Vogt
Statistics: Ophie Mercado

Fred McMillin

About the Writer

Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for over 30 years on three continents. He was voted one of the U.S.A's 22 Best wine writers by the Academy of Wine Communications. For information about the wine courses he teaches every month at San Francisco City College (Fort Mason Division), please fax him at (415) 567-4468.

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