The “50 Great Wines” in this roster include the profound and the deeply enjoyable, the monumental and the light-hearted. Above all, each wine seemed to me to embody the principles of authenticity and integrity, of thoughtful and careful practices in the vineyard and the winery, of — as much as possible — allowing the vineyards and the grapes to express themselves with eloquence and authority. Some of these bottles are expensive, and while they may stimulate some interest or raised eyebrows with My Readers, they would be beyond their reach financially. Others are surprisingly inexpensive, and I hope My Readers will find some attractive wines priced at, say, $50 and under. Fear not, in a few days, I’ll post the annual “25 Great Wines, $20 and Under.”
The disposition here is 32 from California, eight from France, five from Italy and one each from Oregon, Germany, Chile, Japan and New York state. These numbers reflect no bias on my part but are a symptom of the samples I receive for review, the preponderance of which are from California. For the first time in its long history, “The 50 Great Wines” post includes sake and a pretty damned glorious one at that. Well, all these wines are glorious, each in its own way, some with quiet intensity, others with high caliber performance. You pays yer money and you takes yer choice, innit right?
These wines were samples for review.
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Black Kite Cellars “Stony Terrace” Pinot Noir 2017, Anderson Valley, Mendocino. 124 cases. Exceptional. About $64.
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Chateau de Brézé Clos du Midi Blanc 2020, Saumur, Loire Valley, France. 100 percent chenin blanc grapes. Excellent. About $25.
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Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut nv, Champagne, France. 100 percent chardonnay. Excellent. About $80.
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Tenuta Capofaro Didyme Malvasia 2019, Salina, Sicily. Excellent. About $26.
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Domaine Carneros “The Famous Gate” Pinot Noir 2019, Carneros. Exceptional. About $92.
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Domaine Carneros Pinot Clair White Pinot Noir 2019, Carneros. 156 cases. Exceptional. About $48.
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Cattleya Cuvée Number One Pinot Noir 2019, Russian River Valley. 350 cases. Exceptional. About $60.
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Clarice Wine Co. Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018, Santa Lucia Highlands. Exceptional. About $85.
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Corison Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, St. Helena, Napa Valley. Exceptional. About $100.
Out-of-date labels for these two Corison wines.
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Corison Sunbasket Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, St. Helena, Napa Valley. Exceptional. About $195.
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Courtil-Thibaut Clos de Brusquières 2017, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France. 70 percent grenache, 15 percent syrah, 10 percent mourvèdre, 5 percent mixed grapes. Excellent. About $47.
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Double Plus Wine Rosé 2020, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley. 100 percent cabernet sauvignon. 60 cases. Exceptional. About $30.
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Emiliana Coyam 2018, Colchagua Valley, Chile. 43% syrah, 29% carménère, 12% cabernet sauvignon, 16% combo of mourvèdre, petit verdot, carignan, malbec, grenache and tempranillo. Excellent. About $35.
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Enricio Serafino Monclivio Barolo 2015, Piedmont, Italy. 100 percent nebbiolo grapes. Excellent. About $46.
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Fathers & Daughters Cellars “Ella’s Reserve” Pinot Noir 2017, Anderson Valley, Mendocino. 100 cases. Exceptional. About $52.
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Goosecross Cellars State Lane Vineyard Merlot 2017, Napa Valley. Excellent. About $70.
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Hazelfern Cellars Chardonnay 2018, Willamette Valley, Oregon. 175 cases. Excellent. About $39.
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Inman Family Wines OGV Pinot Noir 2017, Russian River Valley. 200 cases. Exceptional. About $73.
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Jordan Winery and Vineyard Chardonnay 2019, Russian River Valley. Exceptional. About $36.
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Laherte Frères Extra Brut Rosé of Meunier nv, Champagne, France. Excellent. About $55.
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Chateau Lassègue 2017, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux. 50 percent merlot, 45 percent cabernet franc, 5 percent cabernet sauvignon. Excellent. About $60.
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Lucia Vineyards Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay 2019, Santa Lucia Highlands. 215 cases. Exceptional. About $65.
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Lucia Vineyards Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018, Santa Lucia Highlands. 220 cases. Exceptional. About $70.
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Marco Felluga Russiz Superiore Sauvignon 2018, Collio, Italy. Excellent. About $29.
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Merry Edwards Olivet Lane Pinot Noir 2018, Russian River Valley. 695 cases. Exceptional. About $72.
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Minenohakubai Sake Brewing Company “King of Modern Light” Junmai Ginjo. 800 bottles imported. Exceptional. About $45.
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Miner Family Wines Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018, Santa Lucia Highlands. Exceptional. About $60.
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Mt. Brave Merlot 2018, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley. Exceptional. About $85.
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Nenow Family Wines “The Tightrope” 2018, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles. 100 percent viognier grapes. Excellent. About $35.
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Orchard Hill Bitters & Sharps New York Sparkling Cider. Harvest of 2019, bottled in 2020. Excellent. About $25.
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Parallel Wines Chardonnay 2018, Napa Valley. 102 cases. Exceptional. About $75.
The image is of the 2016 version of the wine, which carries a Russian River designation.
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The Paring Syrah 2018, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County. Excellent. About $25.
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Pellet Estate Unoaked Chardonnay 2018, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma County. 150 cases. Excellent. About $42.
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Pieropan “Calvarino” Soave Classico 2018, Veneto, Italy. 100 percent garganega grapes. Excellent. About $40.
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Prima Materia Tocai Friulano 2019, Potter Valley, Mendocino County. 50 cases. Excellent. About $32.
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Ramey Wine Cellars Woolsey Road Vineyard Chardonnay 2019, Russian River Valley. Exceptional. About $70.
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Ramey Wine Cellars Pinot Noir 2017, Russian River Valley. Exceptional. About $50.
The label image is one vintage retrograde.
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Richard Böcking Trarbacher Burgberg Kabinett Riesling 2016, Mosel, Germany. Excellent. About $35.
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Ridge Vineyards Adelaida Vineyard Grenache Blanc 2019, Paso Robles. 77 percent grenache blanc, 18 percent picpoul, 5 percent roussanne. Excellent. About $30.
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Saget La Perrière Sancerre 2019, Loire Valley, France. 100 percent sauvignon blanc grapes. Excellent. About $44.
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Sipp Mack “Rosacken” Grand Cru Riesling 2015, Alsace. Exceptional. About $49.
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Smith-Madrone Vineyards Riesling 2017, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley. Exceptional. About $34.
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Sonoma-Cutrer “The Cutrer” Chardonnay 2019, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County. Excellent. About $35.
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Sosie Wines Rossi Ranch White Blend 2019, Sonoma Vally. 52 percent roussanne. 27 percent grenache blanc, 21 percent marsanne. 200 cases. Excellent. About $35.
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Sullivan Rutherford Estate Coeur de Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Rutherford, Napa Valley. Exceptional. About $90.
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Surrau “Sciala” 2019, Vermentino di Gallura Superiore, Sardinia. Excellent. About $27.
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Terragena Elk Prairie Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017, Humboldt County. 150 cases. Excellent. About $49.
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Turley Wine Cellars Kirschenmann Vineyard Zinfandel 2018, Lodi. Excellent. About $45.
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Two Shepherds Pinot Meunier 2019, Russian River Valley. Excellent. About $40.
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Domaine Zind-Humbrecht “Roche Calcaire” Pinot Gris 2018, Alsace, France. Excellent. About $44.
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