My 10 favorite wines of 2009

These are my 10 favorites from the wines I tasted during 2009. I'll give the cost of the wine at the time it was released and, as a point of reference, the rating the wine received from Robert Parker's "Wine Advocate" magazine.


1. Brewer-Clifton 2007 Pinot Noir "Cargasacchi Vineyard"

An absolutely stunning wine. Robert Parker rated it 98 points and called it perhaps the best pinot noir ever from the Santa Rita Hills appellation. It’s still way too young to enjoy fully, so the remaining three bottles that I have will spend the next few years in my wine fridge. Sadly, this wine is only available now at auctions, where it is fetching $200 per bottle. I paid $64 a bottle when it was released.


2. Stolpman 2004 Syrah "Angeli"

It was hard to put this wine in second place because it is so good. Syrah is probably my favorite red wine and this was the best syrah I tasted all year. This is a 100% syrah, barrel aged for 34 months before release. I've also had the Stolpman 2005 Angeli and the 2006 Angeli as well. Both are great, but the 2004 was extra special. Rated 95 points by Robert Parker. Cost: $65


3. Foxen 2006 Syrah "Toasted Rope"

Just a beautiful, beautiful wine. 85% syrah and a whopping 15% viognier, this is a Santa Ynez Valley homage to a Cote Rotie Blonde. Rated 96 points by Robert Parker. Cost: $45.


4. Don Melchor 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

This is the flagship wine of the giant Chilean winery Concha y Toro. It's still tightly wound and will benefit from a few more years of bottle aging, but it is an exceptional wine. Rated 96 points by Robert Parker. Cost: $70.


5. Fess Parker 2005 Syrah "Rodney’s Vineyard"

A great wine from one of the Santa Ynez Valley's most consistent wineries. This is a single vineyard syrah, with a touch of petite sirah added (5%). Rated 92 points by Robert Parker. Cost: $45.


6. Fess Parker 2005 Syrah "The Big Easy"

Another single vineyard syrah from Fess Parker, this one is 100% syrah. I like the Rodney's Vineyard syrah a tad more, but both are superb. Rated 91 points by Robert Parker. Cost: $45.


7. Cuvelier Los Andes Grand Vin 2005

This is an Argentine wine. It’s a Bordeaux inspired blend of 70% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 7% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot. The renowned French winemaker Michel Roland a hand in making this wine. Rated 94 points by Robert Parker. Cost: $35


8. Brewer-Clifton 2007 Pinot Noir "Santa Rosa Vineyard"

A 100% single vineyard pinot noir from the Santa Rita Hills appellation outside Santa Barbara, this is another gorgeous effort from Brewer-Clifton. Rated 94 points by Robert Parker. Cost: $56


9. Ojai Vineyards 2004 Syrah "Thompson Vineyard"

A single vineyard syrah from Adam Tolmach, the man who probably trained at least half of the winemakers currently working in the Santa Ynez Valley. This wine is still very young, but is definitely approachable now. Rated 93 points by Robert Parker. Cost $56.


10. Stolpman Vineyards 2006 "L’Avion"

The only white wine to make the list. It is a Rhone-style blend of 90% roussanne and 10% viognier. Rated 94 points by Robert Parker, who called it one of the two or three best white wines being made in California today. Cost: $35.




In no particular order, here are some wines that just missed making the list:

Stolpman Vineyards 2006 Syrah Hilltops Vineyard
Ojai Vineyards 2005 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard
Fess Parker 2007 Pinot Noir Clone 115
Fess Parker 2007 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard
Fess Parker 2007 Pinot Ashley’s Vineyard
Epiphany 2007 Grenache Blanc
Hartley-Ostini 2006 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita’s Earth