With the year drawing to a close, we asked our 2011 TOP|SOMM and Top New Somm finalists to highlight five favorite, impactful new releases from the past year, regardless of price. Selections from each finalist are not listed in any particular order. Price is approximate retail, with importers in parenthesis where appropriate.
Ian Cauble (The Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay, CA) TOP|SOMM 2011
Desi Echavarrie (French Laundry, CA) Top New Somm 2011
Great list of wines, and solid values there too!
Proves that wines do not have to be expensive to be good.
Wine trends are going in the direction of 'off the beaten path' of what is usually seen and expected on wine lists (and isn't that what we're here for??)
I have put these on my list of wines to look out for. Thank you for all the recommendations.
I'm with Bates on this. I have been tasting to many European wines that are out or wack. The new world wines seem to be finding more balance. Hmmm. Could it be that it is more important that the wines are balanced then it is that they are less then 14% alcohol? Sorry, had to throw that in there.
Wow...thank goodness we got a few New World wines up there! The first few folks had me worried... Awesome rec's, lots of fun. Saw a few that I absolutely love, too! Georges Laval is remarkable - in Europe, those wines beat Selosse for prices garnered. But, 'tis the ones I haven't heard of that I can't wait to try...thanks for the illumination, all.
I think pricing might have to do with a lot of things....Less big rollers are letting us drink their fancy wine for free these days. They are tipping a bit less well. And I think a new generation of honesty is happening in what we may all be able to drink (not just taste).
As for the US selections, I would though in that while european wines are increasingly out of balance, american and even ausi wines seem to be coming more and more in balance. I rekon experience with extreme ripeness seems to go to the new world these days...
Awesome choices all around.
Unfortunately up here in Massachusetts, we're usually a vintage behind on a lot of juice, so what I've been tasting recently doesn't qualify as current release. We like to remain a step behind the rest of the world and scoff at them from afar.
Though, in all seriousness, the Westport Rivers sparkling is ridiculously good for New World bubbles. And it doesn't hurt that the family that runs the winery also makes some damn good beer. It is always a fun spot to visit!