Wines of the Year
Red Wine of the Year: Lucky Star Pinot Noir
Grapes: pinot noir (90 percent), zinfandel (7 percent), merlot (3 percent)
Region: California
Vintage: 2009
Price: $7.99
White Wine of the Year: Windmill Estates Lodi Chardonnay
Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Lodi in Northern California
Vintage: 2009
Price: $3.99
This year was marked by the continued economic woes of the domestic market for just about anything. But American consumers are savvy and know what they want, so they helped the United States become the biggest wine market in the world.
With this expanded market, great value wines proliferate in stores across the nation, and it is possible for wine lovers in every state to find great deals on tasty little wines.
In the past year, I tasted about 1,470 wines to determine the 52 that would make it into this column. There were 44 red wines and six white wines, as well as the two pink bubblies from last week's column.
As I was starting to celebrate there being more great value white wines last year, this year they were few and far between. Red wines are now at an almost 8-1 ratio in relation to this column, reflecting to some extent the trends in the market.
Of the wines that were selected for final review and publication, 13 countries and within them 24 distinct viticultural regions were represented. This is a nicely diverse group, showing how the world is getting smaller these days when it comes to great wine values.
The United States came out on top again in 2011 with 12 wines reviewed. This was only slightly ahead of France and Italy with nine wines each, and it highlights a continuation of the excellent prices on good value Old World wines in the American market. It also shows that domestic wines continue to be a big part of the wine-drinking culture of America, and that prices for domestic wines on average have decreased dramatically.
Quality, value, breed and overall experience, as well as availability, are considered when determining the Wines of the Year.
The Red Wine of the Year is the excellent Lucky Star Pinot Noir 2009, which really stood out in a huge blind tasting of pinots back in the spring. It was reviewed April 6.
The tasting notes on the wine include: "The wine shows great voluptuousness for a pinot-based bottling, with forward crushed red cherries, strawberry compote, stewed red plums, medium-bodied intensity with great play between the red fruit and the acidity, with hints of red currant juice, red licorice and minerals. The midpalate, which has barely traceable wood notes, is pleasantly supple with pure integrated tannins, leading into a wonderful finish that lingers on the palate with red cherry fruit, currants and measured quantities of minerals and plum components. This is a fine example of what can be produced from blended California fruit."
Runners-up in red wines are Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (reviewed Nov. 9) and La Czar Syrah 2007 (reviewed Aug. 17).
The White Wine of the Year is Windmill Estates Lodi Chardonnay from the highly regarded Michael David portfolio of wines. It was reviewed Oct. 19.
The tasting notes on the wine include: "It has an almost sweetish pineapple, Braeburn apple and citrus character right off the bat, but there is more depth and complexity than that, and the wine rounds out through the midpalate with softer, fleshier white fruit and apricot as well as nicely balanced acidity to keep the richness of the wine in check. The finish is lingering and pleasant with soft rounded notes of toast and lemon curd."
Runners-up among the white wines are the delicious Cristobal 1492 Torrontes 2008 (reviewed June 29) and the crisp Le Coste Pinot Grigio 2010 from Italy (reviewed Aug. 31).
As I begin my 14th year of wine reviews for the Las Vegas Review- Journal, I wish you a prosperous and happy new year
Gil Lempert-Schwarz's wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89106-0749, or email him at gil@winevegas.com.
