Bruce’s Top Wines

Wine of the Year

Each year since 1990 I have selected
the best wine I tasted during the year and the four runners-up. My
criteria for this selection is that I must have had at least one full
glass or more. Also the wine should have scored at least 18 points (I
personally use the U. C. Davis 20 point scale) and been a wine that I can
still remember. This means that I will remember the taste of the wine, the
people that I shared it with and the place that we consumed it.

2012

2007 Row Eleven, Pinot Noir, Russian River (July & December)

2008 Kenneth Volk Pinot Noir (June)
2010 Domaine Huet, Vouvray, Le Haut-Lieu (May)
2008 Chateau de Saint Cosme, Cotes du Rhone
“Les Deux Albion” (April)
1999 Chateau D’Yquem (January)


2011

2008 Evening Land, Pinot Noir, Seven Springs Vineyard,
Eola-Amity Hills (January)

2007 Nicholas
Joly, Savennieres Les Clos Sacres, Loire Valley (May)
1985 Chateau Lafite, Pauillac (August)
2006 Inniskillen, Vidal Ice Wine, Canada (September)
2009 Domaine Weinbach, Pinot Blanc Reserve, Alsace (December)


2010
2001 Domaine
Laflaive, Puligny-Montrachet, Carillon

(Jun)

1995 Chateau Cos d’Estournel (Apr)
2002 Maison Louis Latour, Volnay Chevret 1er Cru (Dec)
2008 Wild Earth, Pinot Noir, Central Otago (Nov)
2000 Twomey, Merlot, Napa Valley (Mar)


2009


2000 Chateau Rayas, Reserve Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone Valley

2004 Maison Louis Latour,
Volnay “en Chevret”, Burgundy      NV Piper
Heidsieck, Brut Champagne
1992 Dominus, Napa Valley
2004 Chateau Mont-Redon,
Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Rhone Valley
1998
Stony Hill, Chardonnay (Magnum) Napa Valley



2008

1996 Louis
Latour, Corton-Charlemagne, Burgundy – March

1992 Opus One, Napa Valley – June
2002 Leitz, Riesling Spätlese, Rheingau -October
2002 Nicolas Joly, Savenniẻres, Coul
ée de Serrant, Loire Valley -October
2005 Antinori, Tignanello, IGT Tuscany – October

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2007


2004 Melville, Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills

2002 Twomey, Merlot, Napa Valley

2006 Qupé, Roussanne, Bien Nacido Hillside Estate, Santa Maria Valley

2002 Kistler, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

1998 & 2003 Alión, Ribera del Duero


2006

2002 Domaine V. Girardin, Pommard Les Vignots

1997 Trimbach, Riesling Frederic Emile

2003 Avignonesi, Vino Nobile de Montepulciano

2004 Zind-Humbrecht, Gewurztraminer

2003 Kosta Browne, Pinot Noir, Russian River

1982 Chateau Margaux


2005 Lustau, East India Solera Sherry


From Bodegas Lustau, Spain, one of the major Sherry producers in Jerez de la Frontera
.

1996 Penfolds Grange

1994 Rubicon

2002 Charles Schleret, Gewurztraminer

1992 Banfi, Brunello di Montalcino

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2004

1991 Caymus, Special Selection (Caymus dinner
with a 10 vintage vertical)

1997 Avignonesi, Vino Nobile Montepulcino,
Reserva Grand Annate

1997 Topolos, Zinfandel Piner Heights

1999 Pesquera, Reserva

1999 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Beaune Le Clos de la
Mousse (a gift from Bouchard for discovering an error in their
website)


2003

1999 Domaine Weinbach, Gewurztraminer Cuvee
Theo

1989 Chateau Pichon-Lelande

1986 Chateau Haut-Brion

1989 Chateau de Beaucastel (Magnom)

1999 Wolf Blass, Shiraz Platium


2002 Graham, 40 year Tawny Oporto


The port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia
taken from across the Douro River from Oporto, Portugal.

1998 & 1999
Domaine Chandon, Pinot Meunier

1996 Matanzas Creek, Merlot

1986 & 1994 Vega Sicilia, Valbuena

1996 Antinori, Brunello de Mantalcino, Pian della
Vigne

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2001

1996 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Pinot Gris,
Turchheim Clos Jebsel

1994 Oremus, Tokaji Aszu, 5 Puttonyos

1990 Domaine Maume, Gevrey-Chambertin

1983 Chateau de Beaucastel

1998 Witford, Pinot Noir


2000

1995 Fritz Wieninger, Chardonnay
Trockenbeerenauslese

1995 Alion

1989 Chatuea Pichon-Baron (at a dinner along with
1990 in Magnum & 1995)

1998 R. Pichler, Gruner Veltliner Hochrain

1996 Saucelito Canyon, Late Harvest Zinfandel


1999

1996 Leonetti, Merlot

1996 Clarendon Hille Chardonnay Norton

1986 Beaulieu Vineyards, Georges de Latour
Reserve

1996 Panther Creek, Pinot Noir Freedom Hill

1997 Martin Schaetzel, Tokay-Pinot Gris


1998


1992 Weingut Hubertushof, Riesling, gau-Opernheimergotspfap.
Trockenbeerenauslese


The steep slopes along the Mosel River at Bernkastel, Germany.

1990 Domaine Weinbach, Gewurztraminer Cuvee Theo

1996 Claredon Hills, Chardonnay Norton

1992 Stonestreet, Legacy

1986 Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander
Valley

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1997

1994 Talbott, Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow

1995 Swanson, Sangiovese

1989 Drouhin, Volnay Clos de Chenes

1994 Mac Rostie, Pinot Noir Reserve

1991 Hanzell, Pinot Noir


1996

1983 Vega Sicilia, Unico

1985 Chateau L’Angelus

Charles Heidsieck, Brut Monopole

1982 Penfolds, Grange Hermitage

1970 Warre, Oporto


1995

1955 Chateau Mouton Rothschild

1976 Guigal, Cote Rotie La Mouline

1985 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Richebourg

1981 Domaine du Grand Tinel

1990 & 1991 Forman, Chardonnay


1994

1986 Chateau Haut-Brion

1984 Jayer-Gilles, Echezeau

1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild

1985 Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne, Rose

1959 Chateau Leoville-Las-Cases

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1993

1978 Gallo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Private
Reserve

1989 Chateau Montelena, Chardonnay

1986 Beringer, Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

1990 Vidal-Fleury, Condrieu

1988 La Jota, Zinfandel


1992

1989 Chateau Woltner, Chardonnay St. Thomas

1978 Chappellet, Cabernet Sauvignon

1987 Spottswood, Cabernet Sauvignon

1985 Mondavi, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

1985 Schug, Pinot Noir Reserve


1991

1985 Il Poggione, Brunello di Montelcino

1970 Fonseca, Oporto

1985 Jaboulet, Hermitage La Chapelle

1985 Heitz, Cabernet Sauvignon Bella Oaks

1987 Caymus, Pinot Noir Special Selection


1990

1989 Caymus, Cabernet Franc

1983 Domaine du Grand Tinel

1985 L. Latour, Chassagne Montrachet

1985 Guigal, Cote Rotie

1985 Mondavi, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

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