November 26, 2007--Best Wines of 2006

Greetings!

The Wine Spectator has just released their list of what they consider to be the best wines released in 2006. Wine Spectator is not my wine bible by any means, but there is so much wine available that it's nice to try some that someone else liked.

I have sorted the list since, being a thrifty person by nature, I like to spend under $25 for a bottle of good wine [under $20 is even better!!]. So...here are the cheapest wines in Wine Spectator's list of top 50 wines of 2006. Note that prices are quoted by the Wine Spectator; expect prices to be a little higher here--

$17...MATUA SAUVIGNON BLANC, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND, PARETAI ESTATE SERIES, 2005

$17...KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND 2006

[I have had this Kim Crawford wine and it's excellent. I found it in Calgary at Willow Park Wine Stores and a month ago found it at the Costco at the end of Sarcee Trail, location shown at the link below-- http://www.costco.ca/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=543&lang=en-CA NOTE that no other Costco's in Calgary have a wine outlet. The Costco selection is quite small but the prices are excellent. If you do go there, try a Spanish red wine, if it's still there, called JUAN GIL.]

$20...THE HESS COLLECTION CHARDONNAY, NAPA VALLEY, US, 2004$23...PIRRAMIMMA SHIRAZ, MCLAREN VALE, AUSTRALIA, 2003
$23...LANGMIEL SHIRAZ, BAROSSA VALLEY, VALLEY FLOOR, AUSTRALIA, 2004$25...YANGERRA ESTATE GRENACHE SHIRAZ-MOURVEDRE, MCLAREN VALE, AUSTRALIA, CADENZIA, 2004

Oh, and the #1 wine of 2006 scored 97 and is yours for $70. It's from Italy, CASANOVA DI NERI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO, TENUTA NUOVA, 2001.
And the cheapest wine in the top 100 is listed at $12 [I paid about $16 for it at BIN 905 Wine Store] and it scored a 90. It is a delicious red wine...BODEGAS BARSAO GARNACHA, CAMPO DE BORJA, TRES PICOS, 2004

Happy hunting. If you find one of these wines in Calgary, please let me know where and how much so that I can pass on the news [or maybe you want it all to yourself!! :) ]
Cheers!

Tom

Tom Buck, M. Ed. CFP
Certified Financial Planner
Assante Financial Management Ltd
email: tom.buck@ethicalfootprint.ca