The newest list of the top 100 wines from Wine Spectator magazine is available in the newest issue, but for those of you who are Washington wine fans and don't subscribe to the magazine, here's a sneak peak at the winners from WA state. The number on the left represents the place within the 100 list where the wine finished.
1. Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon CV Reserve 2005 95pts $27
26. Cayuse Syrah Walla Walla Valley Cailloux Vineyard 2006 95pts $65
33. Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2006 92pts $25
36. Efeste Syrah Red Mountain Ceidleigh 2006 93pts $29
38. Ch Ste. Michelle Cabernet HHH Canoe Ridge Estate 2006 92pts $28
60. Spring Valley Uriah Walla Walla Valley 2006 93pts $50
66. Barnard Griffin Riesling Columbia Valley 2008 90pts $8
72. The Magnificent Wine Company Syrah Columbia Valley 2006 91pts $20
74. Waterbrook Cabernet Sauvignon CV Reserve 2006 91pts $22
Wow, # 1 on the list this year is a Washington State wine from Columbia Crest! Well done!
Of course, you had to have been paying attention to your palate in the fall of 2008 when the wine was released, if you were ever to get your hands on a bottle or more of the Columbia Crest 2005 Reserve Cab Sauv...it's been sold out at the winery literally the month after the Wine Spectator awarded the wine a 95 pt score. (Those of you who might have forgotten, let me remind you, scores of 95 pts or higher are deemed "World Class Premium" products.)
Good luck searching the shops in and around your neighborhood to find some of these gems.
Comments
In a related story, the Emperor is naked.
Trust your own taste buds, people. My bird won't even poop on the Spectator.
wow ... Columbia Crest??? grocery store wine ??? am I reading this right? wonder how much they spent on advertising with WS this year?
HEY! give it up for WASHINGTON (the state) You wont find that Columbia crest on Grocery shelves! Limited, hard to find, sold out! It is About time the world buffons found out how great this region is!
The Spectator is a report card for wineries that adertise with them.
'nuff said!
Check the ownership of the wineries-the ratings for some of these wines all improved after many of the ownership's changed. Barnard Griffin is family owned and excellent year in and year out. Some of the rest are questionable.
FYI the top 10 were tasted blind. It was was unanimous.
They must have spent some big money on ads in WS.
Here's how the ratings/advertising game works at WS (same goes for the sister publication Cigar Aficionado).
The tastings for wine (and cigars) are in fact done blind. The scoring and subseqent ratings are honest.
NOW, here's where the advertising comes in.
Say your wine (or cigar) earned a high score, they'll call you up and ask if you would like to advertise (if you're not already). If you agree to pony-up then your rating gets published. If you decline to advertise, your rating may not get published. There have been examples where advertisers declined and their rating was still published, but most do end up advertising.
Bottem line, the ratings are done honestly, but yes, advertising does play a role in whether or not you ever see the scores.
--FR
Shoreline, WA
DRR, Drink your way thru the List.
Take a week.
gbj
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