Loren Sonkin's Top 75 California Wines to Try Before You Quit Drinking

WINE TALK
1

I guess fifty-seven ain’t so bad. Cool read.

http://www.intowine.com/top-75-wines-california?page=0,0

2

This list is controversial to say the least! [snort.gif]

And I certainly don’t agree with many aspects of it, but lists are always fun and I’ve had 21 of them.

3

Given my euro-centric wine habits I am surprised that I have tried 37 from the list.

I would quibble with listing specific SQN wines, as that as akin to listing vintages of other wines. Too many short track record wines as well.

4

I think if you are on SQN, you cover 20% of that list? :wink:

5

I haven’t tried them all, though I have had many of them. I think Loren and I are brothers from another mother.

6

I would quibble with listing specific SQN wines

Rankings are made to be quibbled with so quibble away!

I’m guessing this list was before the 2012 Caymus 40th Anniversary was available… [wink.gif]

7

Congratulations Loren !!!

8

Twenty-four for me, but the more telling number is how many of those wines I have in my modest cellar: two.

9

14 in my cellar.

10

Just two for me #7 and #42
None in the cellar.

But then I have an easy excuse for being euro-centric

11

A solid list of modern-styled California wine. Not enough Zinfandels!

12

51 here.
Not bad for someone with a reputation as a Burg guy.
Quite a few in my cellar too.

13

I find this list way lacking in Pinot Noir. But I guess California is known for its Cabs.

14

No Kalin?

15

That was written a little bit ago, but I have to say, I agree with the list. [snort.gif]

Like most lists, there are probably 100 wines in my top 75.

16

I’ve had 40 of the wines and currently have 12 of them in the cellar. There are probably 25 or more that I’d never buy and wouldn’t go out of my way to try. I’ll echo the thought that the multiple SQN entries skews it, as I’ve had other SQNs from the same varieties, but not the particular wines shown, and playing that kind of name game on this list adds credence to some of the snarky commentary that has been directed at SQN recently. It’s also pretty long on current fashion and short on history. I’d much rather have almost anything made by a member of the Bilbro family, Joel Peterson, Ric Forman, Philip Togni, Cathy Corison, Ken Burnap, or Patrick Campbell (and that includes cheapies like Old Vine Lot #X and REDS) than most of the wines on the list.

17

It was hard to do SQN. I thought about listing them as Syrah, Extended Ageing Syrah, etc., but in the end I went the other way. It’s a fair critique though. Making the list is a tougher exercise than I thought it would be.

18

No shit. Like 2 years or so. This is the third time I’ve got to relive it though. [cheers.gif]

19

I started a thread years ago on Ebob about the wine canon - what wines you needed to try before you die. Led to an interesting discussion. This is along the same lines and I like it.

Off the top of the head omissions:

Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
Merry Edwards S.B.

I’ve had 50, including a bunch in the past three months. But I need to get to work. I can see an OL coming.

I’ve never had a Sloan but I have the 2004. Just waiting for an excuse. Anyone want to join in with another bottle.

20

There is no Sauvignon Blanc other than Vatan that needs to be on list of this type.