I travel everywhere in search of wine. From the stately Napa Valley, right here in my own backyard, to the outpost of picturesque Salta in Argentina. I find beauty everywhere I go.
As I wind down the year 2012, with experiences such as catching an incredibly bad flu in the southern Rhône, to drinking lots of Northern California wines, to helping the San Francisco Giants get through the playoffs and win the World Series, I am so glad we have arrived at the end of the year. I can finally stretch out on the sofa and take it all in. This is the time to spend with family and friends.
Every year is a new wine adventure for me. I never know what is going to be a hit with me. Yes, I read all of the vintage reports for all the ports of call, but one cannot let that be your guiding light. I just taste, taste and taste. Finally after all the tasting has been done, a few wines end up in the winner’s circle.
Here are three of the most magical wines of 2012 – in no particular order. I’ll start with the 2009 Altocedro Gran Reserva Malbec. I tasted this with winemaker Karim Mussi at the winery in La Consulta, Argentina and I swear, a light bulb went off. The wine was so rich and so well balanced, I was in awe. While I won’t say the sky parted, it was one incredible wine. The ultra-rich and sophisticated red reminded me of being in the cellars at Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Margaux and Château Latour in Bordeaux. As I continued tasting under the watchful eye of Mussi, I saw visions of the greatest Napa Valley Cabernet producers- Shafer and Harlan Estate coming to mind. After that incredible moment, I thought, “I should pour this for BevMo’s top wine guys in the stores.” And that’s what I did. I arranged to pour the wine blind for 80 of our wine apprentices; they loved the wine, as I breathed a sigh of relief.
My next great moment came when I tasted the unbelievable 2009 Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the best wine this winery has ever produced. Packed with gorgeous, black currant and cassis flavors, and a light touch of sweet oak, this one just sails onto the palate as if it never wants to leave. Cakebread Cellars, one of the greatest names in the Napa Valley, was on target with this one.
And finally, as the year was quickly coming to a close, the 2011 and 2010 Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé found itself into my inner circle – a wine that most of us take for granted. But not anymore, the wine is one of the top Chardonnays in a world of too many chards.
Life on the road for 2012 has finally come to a close. I am already looking forward to my next adventures in 2013. Many visits near and far have been planned. Who knows which wines will make their way into my heart. In the meantime, I am getting my gear ready: my iPad, iPhone, laptop and camera. Oh, and the sunglasses you see in the picture keep the glare from the “wine” stars from blinding me.
Cheers,
Wilfred
