Published in the Year's Best 2006

Wines, Spirits and Beers published in the the Year's Best 2006 issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

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Tantara 2004 Evelyn Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $80

Stunning. Just magnificent. This is from Tantara’s little Bien Nacido block. It achieves wonderfully ripe fruit flavors with clean, balancing tannins and acids to produce the utmost California cool-climate Pinot Noir. Cherries, raspberries, cola, rich new oak and Asian spice flavors all flood the palate, wrapped into a dramatic silky, velvety texture. This is great… — S.H. (12/31/2006)

points

Masi 1990 Mazzano Red (Amarone della Valpolicella Classico)

This is wonderfully integrated and complex, offering a dizzying array of spices that blend seamlessly with notes of leather and cherries. Wonderfully velvety in texture and round in the mouth, but also boasting a long, spice-filled finish. A tremendous effort. Drink now–2020. — J.C. (12/31/2006)

points

Schramsberg 2000 Reserve Sparkling (Napa-Mendocino-Sonoma-Marin)

Cellar Selection

Price $80

An astonishingly brilliant bubbly, one of the best ever from Schramsberg or indeed any California winery, this Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend strikes with sheer beauty. It’s so delicate and refined yet so powerful, defining Champagne qualities of finesse and elegance. Rewarding now, but the parts are far from melding. Best 2007–2012. — S.H. (12/31/2006)

points

Talbott 2002 Diamond T Estate Chardonnay (Monterey)

Editors' Choice

Price $65

This has typical Talbottian heft, a gigantic Chard enormously rich in oak and munificent in flavor. Light pressing has captured the quintessence of cool-climate Chardonnay, heavenly rich and powerful, a flood of pineapple tart, Key lime pie, crème brûlée, smoky meringue and vanilla cinnamon toast. — S.H. (12/31/2006)

96-100

points

Johnnie Walker Blue Anniversary Blended Scotch Whisky

Price $3500

The dazzling bouquet includes scents of malted barley, oatmeal, prunes, dark toffee, dark honey and double cream. Palate entry is warm, semisweet, caramel-like and woody; at midpalate charcoal, oloroso Sherry, dark honey, marzipan, candied walnut and even a touch of rancio are added. Aftertaste is warm with long-lasting oily/buttery/creamy flavors. A wonderful… — P.P. (12/13/2006)

points

Joseph Drouhin 2003 Pinot Noir (Clos de Vougeot)

Online Exclusive

A superbly ripe wine, full of rich tense tannins and big black fruits. There is a depth of flavor in this wine which is remarkable, focusing on a dry structure, very rich fruit, layers of wood and a finishing fresh acidity. This is a wine which will age over many years. — R.V. (12/31/2006)

points

La Crema 2003 Nine Barrels Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $55

Only 200 cases were produced of this extraordinary wine. It just explodes in unfolding waves of lime custard, pineapple tart, ripe white peach, crème brûlée and Asian spice-box flavors, and a minerality usually found in Chards from the far Sonoma Coast. With that metallic stoniness comes mouthwatering, citrusy acidity leading to a long, dry finish. — S.H. (12/31/2006)

points

Beaulieu Vineyard 2003 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $95

Just classic Georges, balanced, elegant and refined, hiding its power under a blanket of controlled finesse. There’s great depth of flavor, with oodles of blackberry, cherry and raspberry, mocha, Chinese plum sauce, soy and spicy oak, wrapped in firm, dry tannins. Just wonderful now, but with the certainty of a long life ahead. Drink–2020. — S.H. (12/31/2006)

2009 Mira Hyde Vineyard

The esteemed Hyde Vineyard is in Carneros, and is the source for some…

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