Wine Spectator’s 2010 Top 100

By Nikki Berglund
Staff Writer

This past Monday the online version of the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list for 2010 came out and for me it was a hunt to acquire as many as possible for the store. I am against buying only wines rated highly by major wine publications because it can hold you back from discovering your own personal taste in wine.

I do enjoy this list though. I like that it highlights not only the predictable Napa Valley superstars but also some lesser known styles and regions that may not have otherwise appeared on your radar. The average price this year was $48 and the average score was 93 points, with 14 different countries being represented. The best part is that regardless of your budget or wine expertise there is a wine on this list for everybody.

There are four main criteria used in the judging of these wines. Quality is first and is reflected by a numerical score, between 90 and 100 points on this list. The next qualifier is Value, with these wines ranging in price from $11 to $535. The third consideration is Availability and the fourth is what is known as the “X or Excitement factor.”

The downfall of this list is that often by the time it comes out, many of the wines have already moved on to the next vintage. Last year, Fargo could offer 5 out of the top 100 wines that were still available by the time the list was published. This year you can find almost double that number. This may not seem like a huge amount, but it actually is. I remember living in Denver and since it was such a large and wine-savvy market, most of the wines were no longer available for retail by the time the issue came out.

Here are the wines from the Top 100 list that can currently be purchased in our blossoming Fargo wine market.

d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Red South Australia 2008: #63, 90 points, $11.00

Last year it was The Stump Jump Shiraz which made it onto this list at #82 and with 90 points as well. This wine from McLaren Vale is a blend of Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre. Talk about an amazing bottle and overall winery for the money. I have never had a d’Arenberg wine that I wasn’t absolutely in love with. They do everything simply, using traditional winemaking techniques, which is right up my alley. This is the least expensive on the list but that doesn’t mean it’s one to scoff at.

Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills H3 Merlot: #43, 91 points, $15.00

Hailing from Washington State, the vintage of this Merlot was also named “Best American Merlot Under $20” by Food and Wine Magazine. The Columbia Crest H3 label has been making some pretty spectacular wines all around that are easy to find and very affordable.

Peter Lehmann Clancy’s Barossa 2007: #77, 90 points, $16.00

By the time this list came out we were already onto the 2008 vintage in our market. I am pretty sure with a little calling around though, you could still find this somewhere around town and the effort is definitely worth it. The vintages I have had were all amazing and this year they are being recognized for it. Again, a fantastic Australian winery where any wine from these guys is going to be great. Last year the Shiraz made it to #54 with 91 points and is also a killer bottle of wine. The Clancy’s Red is a blend of Shiraz/Cabernet/Merlot.

J.-C. Pichot Vouvray Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette 2008: #76, 90 points, $16.00

This Vouvray from the Loire Valley in France might be a little more of an acquired taste, based on whether you enjoy a good Chenin Blanc or not. Although these French white wines possess varying degrees of sweetness, this particular version demonstrates a modern style with only a hint of sweetness and a lot of fresh acidity.

Mumm Napa Brut Napa Valley Prestige NV: #48, 90 points, $20.00

This California sparkling wine is often highly rated and is such a beautiful value for the price. Inexpensive quality sparkling wine is always a good thing. You won’t find a ton of this vintage left around town, so grab this one while you can.

A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir Oregon 2008: #75, 90 points, $20.00

The Pinot Noirs coming out of the Pacific Northwest these days are just incredible, and this is coming from a non-Pinot Noir lover. This wine is blended with the grapes of all thirty of the Oregon AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) that grow Pinot Noir. It has twice been named “Best American Pinot Noir Under $20” by Food and Wine Magazine. This winery also makes a Pinot Gris that is to die for, and is always a staple at my Thanksgiving Day feast. $20 is already a great price for a Pinot Noir these days and to have it also so highly regarded in the wine world is just a bonus.

Waterbrook Merlot Columbia Valley Reserve

This 100% Merlot out of Columbia Valley, another great contribution from the Pacific Northwest, has already received numerous other awards. You will be seeing more and more from this part of the country where the value is still equal to the quality…. unlike some places we know (Napa Valley ahhhem.) Oh and in case you haven’t got the memo, Merlot is no longer on the uncool list and if you are not trying some of the great Merlots out there today you are really missing out!

Bodega Colomé Malbec Calchaquí Valley 2008: #66, 91 points, $25.00

This Argentinean wine was also on the list last year at #32 and with 92 points. I was very worried this personal favorite was going to drastically go up in price but it fortunately only went up a couple of dollars. This is the epitome of what I love about Malbec from Argentina!

Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love 2009: #55, 94 points, $90.00

I have already sung the praises of Mollydooker and now the Wine Spectator pays tribute as well. This one ain’t cheap but is one to covet.
Cheers and happy holidays!

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