On Wine: Best Bottles of 2006

On Wine

Wine

Get Your Kicks on Route 2006...

(Last Year's Best Bottles)

by Fred McMillin

Swirl, Sniff, & Sip: that's what we did a lot during 2006 at my San Francisco City College classes (Ft. Mason campus) and here are the top bottles of the year.

Best Buys

The Whites

Rank		Wine
4th	-	Pinot Grigio, Fetzer, 2005, $9
3rd	-	Gewurztraminer, Fetzer, 2005, $9
2nd	-	Chenin Blanc, Bogle, 2005, $8
1st	-	Chardonnay, BV, 2003, $7

The Reds

Rank		Wine
6th	-	Barbera, Montevina, 2003, $10
5th	-	Merlot, Bogle, 2004, $9
4th	-	Zinfandel, Shenandoah, 2003, $10
3rd	-	Shiraz, Forestville, 2003, $6
2nd	-	Sangiovese, Crane Lake, 2004, $5
1st	-	Cabernet Sauvignon, Donna Sol, Bronco, 2002, $5

Best Wines

The Whites

Rank		Wine
6th	-	Sauvignon Blanc, Joseph Phelps, 2004, $24
5th	-	Riesling, Navarro, 2003, $15
4th	-	Gewurztraminer, Thomas Fogarty, 2004, $17
3rd	-	Viognier, Adelaida, 2004, $40
2nd	-	Pinot Grigio, Montevina, 2005, $18
1st	-	Chardonnay, Grgich-Hills, 2003, $38

The Reds

Rank		Wine
7th	-	Catfish Zinfandel, Steele, 2002, $21
6th	-	Cabernet Franc, Jarvis, 2002, $95
5th	-	Le Mistral Syrah, Joseph Phelps, 2003, $30
4th	-	Barbera, Sunset Cellars, 2002, $19
3rd	-	Cabernet Sauvignon, D.R. Stephens, 2002, $100
2nd	-	Petite Sirah, Silkwood, 2002, $36
1st	-	Rochioli-Allen Pinot Noir, Gary Farrell, 2003, $65

And A Final Wine Smile

The '49er miners' thirst jump-started wine production in the Gold Country, but I'm not sure that they appreciated the result, since they named a local town PUCKERVILLE!

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.

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This page created January 2007

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