WOTY 2016; Your candidates? (at about the halfway point on the calendar)

So far, mine’s the 2006 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne.
I should show more restraint and stop popping these corks, but can’t seem to help myself. Every bottle has been fantastic. Gorgeous and complex nose and palate, but I think it’s the balance, texture and mouthfeel that bring me back so often. Deep and dense, yet very lithe. Surprising choice, as I haven’t found any other '06 champagnes particularly stunning.

Cheers,

Warren

I’ll sign on (and play), Warren, in part to keep track of this thread for my end-of-year compilation

Arguably the 1996 Marcassin Hudson E Block Chard from May held top spot till last week, but it got kicked to the curb by two wines at the same lunch (which I haven’t, criminally, posted on yet—still seeking my notes!), the 1989 D’Yquem and the 1997 Huet Cuvee Constance. Hard to know which one wins, but both probably rate a 96 or 97.

Mike

2000 Chateau Cheval Blanc.

Stunning.

2013 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Chateau Pavie
2001 d’Yquem
2010 Cargasacchi Estate Pinot Noir (front runner)

Wines I have had more than once this year: Piper 2012 Cabernet

One offs: 1985 Ridge Devil’s Hill PS (if only PS didn’t suck), 99 Mongeard-Mugneret Échézeaux, Marcassin 08 Chardonnay

Best Wine: '83 Verset Cornas

Runner Up: '01 Roulot Perrieres

Young Gun: tie between '11 Allemand Chaillot and '11 Benetiere Cordeloux

Right now looks like…

99pts
1968 Heitz Cellar Chardonnay Pinot Chardonnay LOT Z-82

98pts
2009 Weingut Keller Riesling G-Max
2010 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
1974 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard
2006 Alban Vineyards Syrah Lorraine
2013 Sine Qua Non Syrah

My money is on those two Heitz wines, tasted together, and probably the “tues” dinner of the year!

In rough order so far:

1997 Gaja Sperss
2007 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve
2001 JJ Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Auslese
1987 Chateau Montelena
2002 La Jota Howell Mtn

I second Roy Piper’s 2012.

Here’s the top 5 wines up for consideration:

1946 Château Mossé Rivesaltes
1964 Prince Florent de Merode Corton-Maréchaudes
1996 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon Oenothèque
1996 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut
2013 Brundlmayer Gruner Veltliner Vincents Spiegel

Glad to see 46 Mosse getting some love on this board Kirk! Hellova wine and the owner couldn’t be a better guy.

2008 Blankiet Rive Droite. Stunning.

Two mags from the same dinner compete for WOTY for me:
G. Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Riserva 1978
Chateau Latour 1970
Both were amazing. Honorable mention to Conterno Monfortino 2006 (also from mag) and Krug 2002

11’ rougeard Breze
Hands down the best wine this year, I didn’t
Want to buy the hype, but now I’m convinced not to buy the red anymore and just the white at these price points…

1994 Dunn Howell Mountain

Not sure. at this point it’s either the 2005 Truchot MSD VV or 2002 Mugneret-Gibourg Chambolle Musigny Feusselottes.

so many great wines this year
1988 J. Drouhin Marquis de Laquiche Montrachet
1990 Leroy Clos Vougeot
1985 Mugneret-Gibourg Ruchottes-Chambertin
1993 Dujac Charmes
2001 Rayas CdP

Have mostly been drinking younger wines so far this year, and those that were most eye-opening to me, and thus WOTY potential were the 13 Piper and the 13 Lail John Daniel Estate. 2012 Roger Craig Howell Mtn was not too far behind- honorable mention- at less than 1/2 the cost.

Reaffirming my love of Bordeaux

1986 Gruaud Larose
1985 Gruaud Larose
1988 Gruaud Larose
1989 Beychevelle
And the rest
1994 Fisher Wedding Vineyard
1993 Philip Togni
1996 Giacosa Santo Stefano
1996 Produttori Rabaja

I’m kinda p-o’d about the high prices too of Rougeard reds these days, but the reds are no hype either. After having had a couple of mid-to-late 90’s Le Poyeux, these wines when properly aged, are the real deal.