Wine Spectator Top 100 for 2004

[Really Nice!]

1) Chateau Rieussec 2001

2) Casa Lapostelle Clos Apalta 2001

3) Numanthia Termes 2002

4) Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc 2000

5) Peter Michael Les Pavots 2001

6) Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia Toscana Masseto 2001

7) Lafite Rothschild 2001

8] Greg Norman Estates Shiraz SE Australia Reserve 1999

9) Chateau Suduiraut 2001

10) Fontodi Colli della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello 2001

11) Seghesio Zin Sonoma County 2002

12) Lewis Alec’s Blend 2002

13) Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne 1995

14) Staglin Rutherford Chardonnay 2002

15) Marchesi de Frescobaldi BdM Castelgiocondo 1999

16) Vina Almaviva Puente Alto 2001

17) Paul Hobbs Chardonnay RRV 2002

18] Chateau Souverain Chardonnay Sonoma County 2002

19) Ponzi PN WV 2002

20) Quinto do Vale Meao Duoro 2000

21) Glen Carlou Chardonnay Paarl 2002

22) Beringer Sbragia Charonnay Ltd. Release 2002

23) Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2001

24) Leeuwin Chardonnay Art Series 2001

25) Beaux Freres PN WV Beaux Freres Vyd. 2002

26) Concha Y Toro Don Melchor 2000

27) Elderton Command Shiraz 2000

28] Green Point Shiraz Victoria 2002

29) Castello Banfi BdM 1999

30) Columbia Crest CS Reserve 2001

31) Domaine Charvin CdP 2001

32) Viticcio Chianti Classico Riserva 2001

33) Cougar Crest Syrah WWV 2002

34) Araujo Sauvignon Blanc Eisele Vyd. 2002

35) Henri Bourgeois Pouilly-Fume La Porte de L’Abbaye 2002

36) Marques de Grinon Syrah Vino de Mesa de Toledo Dominio de Valdepusa 2001

37) Chateau Cos-D’Estournel St. Estephe 2001

38] Torbreck the Struie BV 2002

39) Siro Pacenti BdM 1999

40) Azelia Barolo Bricco Fiasco 2000

41) Rosenblum Zin Paso Robles Richard Suaret Vyd. 2002

42) Worthy CS NV Sophie’s Cuvee 2001

43) Pago de Los Capellanes Ribera del Duoro Criznza 2001

44) Kim Crawford SB Marlborough 2004

45) Penfolds Shiraz BV RWT 2001

46) Pride CS Reserve 2001

47) Alban Syrah Edna Valley Reva 2001

48] Falset-Marca Montsant Castell de Falset 2000

49) Domaine Tempier Bandol 2001

50) Truchard Chardonnay NV Carneros 2002

51) Two Hands Shiraz McLaren Vale Angel’s Share 2003

52) Columbia Crest Merlot Grand Estates 2001

53) Bodegas Terrazas de Los Andes Malbec Mendoza Reserva 2002

54) San Fabiano Calcinaia Chianti Classico Cellole Riserva 2001

55) Columbia CS Yakima Valley Otis Vyd. David Lake Signature Series 1999

56) Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District 2002

57) Chateau Dereszla Tokaji Aszu 5 Putoonyos 2000

58] Chateau Giscours Margaux 2001

59) Fairview Goat-Roti Western Cape 2002

60) Ca’Bianca Barolo 2000

61) Tamarack Firehouse Red Columbia Valley 2002

62) Williams Selyem PN RRV 2002

63) Sea Smoke Southing 2002

64) Castello di Querceto Chiati Classico Riserva 2000

65) Allegrini Verona Palazzo della Torre 2000

66) Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Alsace Les Princes Abbes 2000

67) Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza 2002

68] Chateau Ste. Michelle-Dr. Loosen Riesling CV Eroica 2003

69) Chateau Haut-Bages-Liberal Pauillac 2001

70) Van Duzer PN WV Estate 2002

71) Warwick Three Cape Ladies Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 2001

72) Chateau Montus Mediran 2001

73) Wolf Blass Shiraz Barossa Gold Label 2002

74) Beuhler CS NV 2001

75) JJ Prum Riesling Kabinett MSR Wehlener Sonnenuhr 2002

76) Sebastiani Chardonnay Sonoma County Appelation selection

77) 2001 Bodegas Palacio Rioja Cosme Palacio y Hermanos 2001

78] Valentin Bianchi CS San Rafael Famiglia 2002

79) Chateau Langoa Barton St. Julien 2001

80) Chalone Syrah Chalone 2002

81) Josef Leitz Riesling Spatlese Rheingau Rudesheimer Magdalenekreuz 2002

82) Scala Dei Priorat Cartoixa Reserva 2000

83) La Chablisienne Chablis Premier Cru Grand Cuvee 2002

84) Waterbrook Melange CV 2003

85) Villa Mt. Eden Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley Bien Nacido Vyd. Grand Reserve 2001

86) La Valentina Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2002

87) Michele Chiarlo Barolo Tortoniano 2000

88] Kanonkop Paul Sauer Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 2000

89) Inama Soave Classico 2000

90) Domaine Des Baumard Savennieres Clos de Paillon 2001

91) Lucien Crochet Sancerre La Chene 2002

92) Domaine du Pegau CdP Cuvee Reservee 2001

93) Rosemount Chardonnay Hunter Valley Show Reserve 2002

94) Cusumano Insolia-Chardonnay Sicilia Angimbe 2002

95) Peter Lehman Shiraz Baross 2002

96) Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina Sannio 2003

97) Gloria Ferrer Brut Sonoma County NV

98] Argyle PN WV 2002

99) Georges Duboeuf Moulin-a-Vent Domaine des Rosiers 2003

100)Acacia PN NV Carneros 2002

[melkor]

I'm glad I already bought all my 01 Sauternes...

[wkl]

Seghesio Zin??? I respect the winery and have drunk many of their wines and enjoyed them, but the 11th best wine of the year?????

[iamthestretch]

This isn't a listing by any definition of absolute merit, is it? Or in any strict order? Because pleased as I am to see a solid South African bottle like the Glen Carlou Chardonnay (#21) up there, I will happily trade you the case of that I have in my basement for your case of the Leeuwin Art Series Chard (#24). Call me. Anytime.

[Coop]

I'm drinking the Inama 2002 and have been all year. The 2000 #89?

[liamdc]

Seghesio Zin??? I respect the winery and have drunk many of their wines and enjoyed them, but the 11th best wine of the year?????

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My thoughts exactly.

My fiancee and I drink a fair amount of wine and seek out good values and good wines, but we haven't bought or tried a single wine on this list--very different from the 2003 list. I don't know what to make of it frankly. I don't plan to change my buying or drinking habits based on what I see here; and you can't find many of these wines anyway. The only wine that this list has reminded me I'd like to try is the 2004 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc.

[geo t.]

The only wine that this list has reminded me I'd like to try is the 2004 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc.

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Try it soon before it's all gone. It's some seriously intense Sauv Blanc.

[KatieLoeb]

The only wine that this list has reminded me I'd like to try is the 2004 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc.

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Try it soon before it's all gone. It's some seriously intense Sauv Blanc.

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Amen Brother. Been putting as much of a dent in the world wide supply of this as I can muster single-handedly, This is some very serious value wine.

[Phil Ward]

Its also nice to see Eroica Riesling in once again.

Certainly one of the best, if not the best, American Rieslings made each year.

Phil

[Brad Ballinger]

Oh, yeah. Lists are always fun to get discussion going -- glad to see this one on there, were they high when they put this other one on the list, and so forth. But the list sells indidivudal magazines and subscriptions. Advertising rates are also likely higher for the Top 100 issue, the Restaurant Guide issue, and perhaps some other special issues (I say "likely" as a guess -- I don't know for certain). Some retilaers love it because, if they dice roll their way, they may raise the price. It's been known to happen.

I've read and been involved in other discussion where people take some perverse satisfaction in not owning any wines on the list. Others are glad they own the Number 1 wine. Some don't care either way.

Last year, I think I had one wine in my cellar on this list. This year, it's four:

1. Rieussec

9. Suduiraut

49. Tempier

89. Inama

I'm a little bummed about all the Sauternes toward the top. These have always been a good deal buying on a pre-arrival basis, and I've done so nearly every vintage with Rieussec, Suduiraut, and Climens. I only hope pre-arrival pricing doesn't see a hike as a result of this.

Coop - the reason for 200 being on there instead of 2002 or 2001 is that the list is made of wines tasted within the year. I don't expect the tasters make their way to too much Soave.

Regarding Eroica, I think this is three years in a row on the list. Aren't they tasting any Smith-Madrone, Stony Hill, or Navarro? And there are only two from Germany?

Oh, well. I better stop now.

[Coop]

Not to nit pick, they did pick the 2002 Inama as a best buy earlier this year.

[liamdc]

Regarding Eroica, I think this is three years in a row on the list.  Aren't they tasting any Smith-Madrone, Stony Hill, or Navarro?  And there are only two from Germany?

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I agree. Nothing against the Eroica, it's just not my style of riesling. On the other hand, the 2002 Gunderloch Riesling Spätlese Rheinhessen Nackenheim Rothenberg--that WS rated a '93' but which didn't make the Top 100--rocks my palate!

I haven't tried a Navarro riesling, but its 2001 Gewürztraminer is wonderful.

[GordonCooks]

Not to nit pick, they did pick the 2002 Inama as a best buy earlier this year.

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What blatant nit-picking