Wine Spectator’s Most Exciting Wines of 2011

by Frank Mangio

Each year Wine Spectator, the most respected wine publication in the world, compiles the top 100 wines reviewed the past 12 months. They were selected from some 16,000 new releases that were blind tasted and placed into a 100 point scale according to: quality ( the wine’s score), value (the price), availability ( cases produced) and what they call the “X Factor” or excitement level.

In this year’s list, 12 countries were represented, with the average wine score of 93 on the 100 point scale. The average cost per bottle was $44.

Before we list the top ten (my editors would balk at giving me two pages for the top 100), a couple of interesting points. Aside from California which had 28 in the top 100, Italy came in 2nd with 20, ahead of the 3rd most popular, France. The most popular grape varietal was Cabernet Sauvignon in a tie with Pinot Noir. What wasn’t clear but was clearly evident was the performance of Sangiovese, the signature wine of Tuscany, the wine capital of Italy. Tuscany had 10 in the top 100. a victory for the wineries that bottle Sangiovese and its premium clone, Brunello.

I also want to note that the annual TASTE OF WINE Top Ten Tastes will publish the week of January 1st. We continue to search for the very best wines for the dollar and will continue to so until the deadline of December 25th.

Wine Spectator’s Top Ten:

1- Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma 2009. $52.

2- Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 2008. $90.

3- Domaine Huet Loire Valley France, 2009. $69.

4- Campogiovanni Brunello Di Montalcino, 2006. $50.

5- Dehlinger Pinot Noir Sonoma, 2008. $50.

6- Baer Ursa Blend Columbia Valley Washington, 2008. $35.

7- Quinta do Vallado Touriga Douro Portugal, 2008. $55.

8- Domenico Clerico Barolo Italy, 2006. $90.

9- Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Syrah Rhone France, 2009. $55.

10- Chateu de St-Cosme Gigondas Grenache France, 2009. $58.

Vigilucci’s Piemonte-Inspired White Truffle Dinner

When the world’s leading producer of Italian Barolo Wines comes to San Diego County, that’s Beni di Batasiolo, it chooses the leading Italian Restaurant Group, and that’s Vigilucci’s. This night was special since all menu offerings were laced with truffle mushrooms. These elusive delicacies are at times priced up to $500. per truffle.

The white, or as the Italians call them “Tarufi” Truffles, are the gourmet sought-after treasures in Northern Italy that are served shaved.

Vigilucci’s expertly presented them in dishes such as: Asparagus with Cauliflower Soup, Fettuccine Pasta with Poached Egg, and a grilled Filet Mignon with Polenta.

Stefano Poggi of Beni di Batasiolo, tastes the Barolo Reserva 2004, before serving at Vigilucci’s Carlsbad.

The wine to match the steak was the Barolo Riserva Batasiolo DOCG 2004. This wine is made from the Nebbiolo grape grown on the hills of Serralunga d’Alba in the Barolo District of Piemonte, Italy. It’saged in oak for 3 years followed by a minimum 2 years in bottle prior to release. ($64.). Batasiolo also makes Barbera and Dolcetto, among others. See their story at www.batasiolo.com.

Wine Bytes

Bel Vino Winery, formerly Stuart Cellars in Temecula, has a Jingle and Mingle Holiday Party Fri. Dec. 16 from 6 to 9pm. Live entertainment, appetizers, wines and ports will be served with ice cream. $30. pp. Call 951-676-6414.

Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido presents their annual Holiday Grand Tasting Sat. Dec. 17 from 3 to 6pm. Over 100 wines will be spotlighted. Advance purchase of $30. Call 760-745-1200.

Wines from Tuscany are being served at Bacchus downtown San Diego Fri. Dec. 16 from 4 to 8:30pm, including some Brunellos and Chianti Classicos. Cost is $25. Find out more at 619-236-0005.

North County Wine Company in San Marcos opens up Wines That Make Great Gifts on Fri. Dec. 16, anytime between 4 pm to 10pm. $15. fee Call 760-744-2119 for details.

Orfila Winery in Escondido celebrates with Holiday in the Vines, with music, entertainment, wine and food, on Sun. Dec. 18 from 6 to 9pm. Classic rock and classic holiday songs from the Aftershock Seven. RSVP at 760-738-6500 x 20.

Is Sangiovese the Greatest Grape?

by Frank Mangio

As most of my readers know, I will be leading a small group of wine aficionados through Tuscany, Italy during the harvest of its signature grape, Sangiovese.

Tuscany is a maze of different microclimates with 7 distinct districts. It’s like you placed all the major wine making areas in California in a tight cluster with their own climactic kingdoms, all growing Sangiovese.

A farm near Siena Tuscany that makes Sangiovese with an ancient press and oversize straw bottles.

Italy itself is a vast garden of grape varietals with over 2,000 native wine grapes that came from a longhistory of settlers from other lands that brought their vines with them to plant in this wine paradise. Today, Italy is the largest producer and exporter of wine in the world, with the U.S. its largest importer. But big is not the Sangiovese story. Growers on average farm on just 2.5 acres and operate old-world equipment with historic techniques as shown in the photo of the wagon, storage jugs and press.

The American appetite for Tuscan Chianti reached its peak in the 60’s when, wrapped in quaint, ubiquitous straw bottles, it was the darling of mindeless wine drinkers. Tuscany was churning out wines that were watered-down with little regard for quality.

When California Italians emerged as the new world quality wine makers , old world Italy had to dramatically change for the better, and they did. The government, with the cooperation of the larger wineries, raised the standards to the highest quality possible and by the late 1970’s the revolution to fine wine was well under way.

Leading wineries, for the first time, were allowed to blend their wines and called them “Super Tuscans.” Antinori was the first with his Tignanello, a wine of 85% Sangiovese, with the balance of Cabernet and Cab Franc. Piero Antinori is the wine “maestro” that I studied under with a Wine Spectator video course where I earned my Wine Connoisseur certification. “I feel a special bond with Tignanello,” he is fond of saying. “It represents a major point of departure for my winery, my family and I, and sparked the beginning of the Italian wine renaissance.”

Other world-class Sangiovese based wines that I recommend are: Banfi Wines Summus, a fine wine blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Syrah in the Montalcino estate and Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino, a Sangiovese clone aged for 4 years; Fontodi Chianti Classico with 100% Sangiovese, a classic Tuscan wine; Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico, from a family that dates back to the 11th century. Franceso Ricasoli is credited with working with the Italian government on higher standards for Sangioivese wines, that became Chianti Classico. All these classic Tuscan wines give us rich notes of black berry fruit, earthiness, the high grades of minerality, excellent food friendly acidity and silky tannins that benchmark all Sangiovese wines.

Sangiovese’s name comes from early Roman Empire times. The literal translation means “the blood of Jove”- the Roman version of Jupiter.

The blood of Sangiovese ran thick in Italian immigrants as they flooded California in the late 19th century. The early Seghesio family is credited with growing it in Sonoma, the first in California.

A rising star in Tuscany is Agricola Fontanelle with the three Rosati bothers that contribute to Sangiovese-based wines that are turning heads. They also cultivate high quality olive oil and an “heirloom” breed of pig. They use small oak barrels and age the wines for 24 months. The best example now released is the 2007 Ri.Va.Le. Chianti ( $15.) distributed through Quigley Fine Wines in San Diego.

Today, two California wineries produce Sangiovese wines to try: Niner Wine Estates in Paso Robles and their 2008 vintage ( $24.) with winemaker Amanda Cramer. It packs a strawberry taste with a touch of spice and lovely acidity that mates with Italian hard cheese.

At South Coast Winery, master winemaker Jon McPherson makes his Sangiovese in the hills of Temecula with a style more like Brunello. The current release is still 2006 ( $34.). Age and French Oak barrels are key to the refined acidity of this Sangiovese.

Is Sangiovese the greatest grape? It’s worth a glass or two to find out for yourself.

Wine Bytes

San Diego Wine & Culinary Center has a Caymus & Groth Wines Tasting Fri. July 29 from 6 to 9pm in cooperation with Alternative Wines. $45. pp. with finger foods. Call 619-231-6400 for an RSVP.

Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido has a Frank Family Wines event Sat. July 30 from 2 to 4pm. Fee of $10.in advance. For your glass call 760-745-1200.

Pala Mesa Resort in Fallbrook is offering half-off Fallbrook Wines by the glass or bottle on Fridays. The Food and Beverage Director recommends the Syrah. Call 760-731-6806.

Stuart Cellars in Temecula Wine Country welcomes the 7th annual Futures Barrel Tasting event Sat. July 30, 6:30 to 10pm. Sample 10 wines plus gourmet food for $70. RSVP at 951-676-6414.

Enjoy a gourmet Winemaker Dinner at Orfila Winery Escondido Thurs. Aug. 4 from 6 to 8pm. $85. pp. Details at 760-738-6500 x22.

La Costa Wine Company presents its Cakebread Wine Tasting Fri. Aug. 5 from 5 to 8pm. Cost is $25. Call 760-431-8455.

Banfi Pours at the 3rd Corner-Will be the Top Stop in Taste of Wine Tour of Tuscany

by Frank Mangio

The wine glasses were being toasted high and loud recently at the 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro in Encinitas. Not only was there a classic lineup of Castello Banfi Chianti Classico, Super Tuscan Blends and a 4 course menu especially created for the occasion by the 3rd Corner Executive Chef Lincoln Williams; it also kicked off the news of a special, personal tour of great Tuscan wineries that I will lead October 7th to the 10th of this year.

I have teamed up with Banfi, the Mazzei Winery, Celebrity Cruise Lines and Vineyard Travel in Escondido for a round- trip Rome to Rome 10 day Mediterranean Cruise with on-board wine events from October 10th to the 20th. Ports of call include Naples, Messina Sicily, Mykonos, Santorini, other Greek Islands and Kusadasi, Turkey.

The 3rd Corner Encinitas Executive Chef Lincoln Williams and Banfi Wines Representative Diane Cappetta Nares

Prior to the cruise, our privileged group will set out 3 days earlier and enjoy hotels,transfers, rustic breakfasts, lunches and dinners in the wine country of Tuscany. It will include castles, wine tastings with extensive winery tours in Montalcino and Castellina, an Italian cooking class and an ancient glass museum.

There is no other place on earth like the sun-kissed hills of beautiful Tuscany. I know, I have walked the hills and felt the joy of life in this wine country. I have carefully chosen Mazzei with its legendary Fonterutoli and Banfi with its Brunello Di Montalcino wines as excellence in a bottle. The wineries are known worldwide for their graciousness and hospitality.

Italy is the largest importer of wine into the U.S. and makes roughly 20% of all the wine in the world. All 20 regions of this amazing country, from Sicily to the Alps, offer high quality old world wines from some 3,000 different grape varietals.

Other master-produced wines include: Gaja Barbaresco, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, Pio Casare Barolo, Bertani Amerone della Valpolicella Classico, Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico, Marchesi Antinori Tignanello, Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia, Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia and Planeta Santa Cecilia.

That is an unforgettable Italian wine journey and we get to sample the heart, in Tuscany. Complete details are at www.vineyardtravel.net. Enter offer #676757. Or call Rosemary Nigro at 800-359-3772.

Wine Bytes

A Cupid Wine Party is planned for Fri. Feb. 11 from 6 to 9pm at Bacchus Wine Market in the Gaslamp downtown San Diego. Appetizers, deserts and plenty of wines on hand for the party. $25. cost. Call 619-236-0005.

La Costa Wine Company has an Italian Tasting on Fri. Feb. 11 from 5 to 8:30pm. For $20. pp., taste 5 great Italian varietals including the ’07 Oreno awarded 95 points. New are “Wine Wednesdays” …a three wine flight for just $10. Details at 760-431-8455.

Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas is planning a Bordeaux night on Fri. Feb. 11 from 6 – 8pm. Call the shop at 760-479-2500 for brands and varietals.

Orfila Vineyards and Winery in Escondido has a special Valentines Day concert in the vines, Sun. Feb. 13. $20. ea. or $35. per couple. Includes a welcome glass of sparkling Moscato. Check for times and tickets at 877-727-9463.

San Diego State University’s next wine class starts Tues. Feb. 15 from 6 – 9pm. Advance sommelier Lisa Redwine teaches “Exploring Wine.” Call 619-594-6924 for more.

San Clemente Wine Company has a Cheese and Wine Pairing Class with Starr Cornwall on Wed. Feb. 16 from 6:30 to 7:30pm. 5 wines, chocolate, cheeses and educational materials are included for $35. To learn more, call 949-429-7067.