Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/twoway/public_html/food/wine/2002/w1202.html on line 25
Warning: include(http://globalgourmet.com/includes/nav1.html) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/twoway/public_html/food/wine/2002/w1202.html on line 25
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://globalgourmet.com/includes/nav1.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/twoway/public_html/food/wine/2002/w1202.html on line 25
Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/twoway/public_html/food/wine/2002/w1202.html on line 30
Warning: include(http://globalgourmet.com/includes/banner468.html) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/twoway/public_html/food/wine/2002/w1202.html on line 30
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://globalgourmet.com/includes/banner468.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/twoway/public_html/food/wine/2002/w1202.html on line 30
by Fred McMillin
for December 2002
One In a Thousand...
Our Best Wine of the Year 2002
During 2002 we tasted about a thousand candidates for BEST WINE. Here are the top bottles, the best of each varietal, and the best of other categories such as Port. The further you go down the list, the higher the rating of the wine, until you finally reach the BEST OF THE YEAR. So, here's our...
Thirsty Thirty
| Rank | Varietal or Other Category | Winery, Etc. | |
| 30th | - | Pink | Handley Rosé, Anderson Valley, '00, $12 |
| 29th | - | Viognier | Echelon, Clarksburg, '01, $12 |
| 28th | - | Pinot Gris | Trimbach Reserve, Alsace, '99, $15 |
| 27th | - | Gewürztraminer | Chateau St. Jean, Sonoma County, '00, $15 |
| 26th | - | Petit Verdot | Yorkville Cellars, Mendocino County, '99, $16 |
| 25th | - | Supertuscan | "Trovato" by Castelleto (Mt. Palomar), Temecula, '99, $18 |
| 24th | - | Malbec | Michael Torino, Argentina, '00, $10, Importer—F. Wildman |
| 23rd | - | Cabernet Franc | Yorkville Cellars, Mendocino County, '97, $17 |
| 22nd | - | Malvasia Bianca | Cá del Solo (Bonny Doon), Monterey County, '01, $12 |
| 21st | - | Riesling | Dr. Loosen Eroica, Chateau Ste. Mitchelle, '99, $20 |
| 20th | - | Dessert Semillon | Renaissance, Late Harvest, Sierra Foothills, '99, $25 (375 ml.) |
| 19th | - | Sauvignon Blanc | Geyser Peak, California, '01, $10 |
| 18th | - | White Dessert Blend | Violetta, Grgich Hills, Napa Valley, '00, $50 (375 ml.) |
| 17th | - | Sparkler | Schramsberg Crémant Demi-Sec, 99, $29 |
| 16th | - | Petite Sirah | Foppiano, Sonoma County, '00, $23 |
| 15th | - | Barbera | Montevina, Amador County, '98, $18 |
| 14th | - | Chardonnay | Crichton HaIl, Napa Valley, '98, $26 |
| 13th | - | Dessert Muscat | Sattui Winery, California, '01, $15 |
| 12th | - | Sangiovese | Van der Vijver, Reserve, Sierra Foothills, '00, $18 |
| 11th | - | Vignoles Dessert | St. James Winery, Late Harvest, Missouri, '00, $17 (375 ml.) |
| 10th | - | Merlot | Kenwood, Massara Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, '97, $25 |
| 9th | - | Port Dessert | Smith Woodhouse, 1976, $42, Importer—Premium Ports |
| 8th | - | Bordeaux Varietal Blend | "Ruah" by Desert Wind Vineyard, Washington State, '97, $50 |
| 7th | - | Syrah | Rosemount's Balmoral, Australia, '99, $50 |
| 6th | - | Sparkling Ice Wine Vidal | Inniskillin, Niagara Peninsula, '99, $85 (375 ml.) |
| 5th | - | Zinfandel | Deaver Vineyards, Amador County, '99, $28 |
| 4th | - | Pinot Noir | Gary Farrell, Allen Vineyard, Russian River Valley, '99, $50 |
| 3rd | - | Cabernet Sauvignon | Joseph Phelps, Napa Valley, Backus Vineyard, '97, $120 |
| 2nd | - | Riesling Ice Wine | Inniskillin, Niagara Peninsula, '99, $65 (375ml.) |
And Our Best Wine of the Year
This is the only wine in years that got a perfect 100 rating from EVERY panelist. How could a Cabernet Franc attain such heights? Well, it's a RED ICE WINE. Yup, Inniskillin did it with the 1999 vintage...a RARE dessert wine...$130 for 375 ml.
Comments
1. There was only one repeater from last year's selections. The 1998 BALMORAL Syrah was seventh last year, and the 1999 vintage finished seventh this year.
2. The best red table wine again was a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Last year it was $120 Robert Mondavi 1997 Reserve Cab, and this year it's a $140 Joseph Phelps Cab.
3. Zinfandel deserves more respect. Last year a Folie á Deux Zin was the third best table wine and this year a Deaver Zin was the third best table wine.
4. A Port wine was in the top ten both years, Guenoc last year and Smith Woodhouse this time.
5. We've said that Canadian ice wine is a candidate for the best wine development of the 20th century. These results don't alter our opinion.
6. Last, important names that may be new to you include Dessert Wine Vineyard, Crichton Hall, and Van der Vijver.
 |
About the Writer
Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents. For information about the wine courses he teaches every month at either San Francisco State University or San Francisco City College (Fort Mason Division), please fax him at (415) 567-4468. |
This page created December 2002