I first tasted this wine in 2009 which gave way to this controversial post on Corkd about supporting local retailers versus buying online. I shared this wine with guests on the first day of 2010 and it had me thinking I may have tasted the best wine I'd try all year. It sure came close.
My Notes: A stunningly good Italian red wine. Medium-dark ruby color. Candy-like fruit on the nose- reminded me of Luden's Wild Cherry Cough Drops in a good way. Gets serious on the palate. Rustic but complex and balanced. Medium-high acidity makes it food-friendly but absolutely delicious and enjoyable on its own. Appreciated by everyone who tasted it. Highly recommended.
$60 release price, 91 WS, 95 points for me. A very memorable wine. Loved it.
#2 2008 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Las Alturas
I'd seen the name "Belle Glos" around for a few years but didn't know what it was about. This wine did exactly what I hope a step up in price does from their entry-level bottling, delivering depth of flavor and site-specific nuances. Their $25 Meiomi (MAY-oh-mee) bottling landed at #12 on my list and their vineyard-designated wines carry a release price of $44. It may not be quite worth roughly 2x in my book -but- value hounds know you can always find a wine for less if you look around.
The first one is always free as they say. I got a sample of this wine for an online Pinot Noir tasting. Then I purchased a mixed case of their three single-vineyard designated wines it at a ridiculously low price from JJ Buckley. The case has dwindled quickly. The wine strikes the perfect balance between deliciousness and quality. This wine also wound up at #2 on Drink Nectar's Top 10 of 2010 list. Further reading on why this wine fared so well against #16 on my 2010 list in this post.
Other Posts in This Series:
- Monday: #25-#11
- Tuesday: #10-#4
- Thursday: The WWP Wine of the Year is Revealed!
- Click here to download a pdf of the entire Top 25
What do you think of these picks? What were some of your favorite wines of 2010?
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