welcome to the fifty best wines of 2006

                 Presents

Page 2

11   Harlan Estate 2002
Red Wine  (Napa Valley);  $245. 
The aroma is deep and inviting, equal parts new oak, Cabernet fruit and dried herbs. Has tremendous weight, with red and black cherry, cola, chocolate, cassis and roasted coconut flavors. Brilliant now, virtually flawless and totally delicious, yet has the impeccable balance to age and even improve over the years. The listed price is its pre- release price. Drink now through at least 2020.

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12   EOS 2004
Tears of Dew
Dessert Wine
Late Harvest Moscato  (Paso Robles);  $22. 
This dessert wine has pushed itself to the front of the line of California sweeties, and the '04 is a great bottling. It's enormously sweet in late-harvest character, with apricot liqueur, pineapple tart and vanilla cream flavors that are brightened and boosted with cleansing acidity. So addictively delicious you just can't help yourself.

13   Peter Michael Winery 2004
L'Apres-Midi
Sauvignon Blanc  (Knights Valley);  $42. 
As rich as a Chardonnay, yet with Sauvignon's distinctive savory profile, this is great wine. From low-yielding mountain vineyards, the juice was barrel fermented and aged sur lies, but no malolactic fermentation was permitted. Few Sauvignons in California achieve this level of complexity. The lush, roasted nuts, with a firm, hard minerality throughout.

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14   Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2001
Brunello
(Brunello di Montalcino);  $55. 
Enthusiastic applause across the panel for this blockbuster wine made by superstar enologist Carlo Ferrini. Modern, concentrated and packed with plump fruit, black pepper highlights, vanilla and chewy meatiness. One panelist likened it to Californian Syrah. Does not bode well for Brunello purists, but it is a rich, powerful wine that leaves a dry, chewy finish and a huge impression in the mouth. Imported by Supreme Wines & Spirits.

15   Robert Young 2002
Merlot
(Alexander Valley);  $42. 
Robert Young is one of Alexander Valley's greatest wineries. After others achieved success with their Merlot grapes, they started making their own wine, and consumers are the beneficiaries. Truly soft and voluptuous, yet richly structured, the wine is totally dry, with a dried herb edge to the cherry flavors. The complexity is enormous, but somehow the wine remains delicate and elegant.

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16   Rubicon Estate 2002
Red Wine
(Rutherford);  $110. 
Fragrant, showing cascades of violets, caramelized new oak, sweet cherry pie, cocoa and cassis aromas. In the mouth, it's unctuous, and floods the palate with sweet, savory flavors. Has a youthful jamminess right now, which will melt off and refine as time goes by. Such is the elegance and balance that cellaring it for 20 years will be no problem. This is the best Rubicon ever.

17   Dry Creek Vineyard 2003
Old Vine Zinfandel
(Sonoma County);  $25. 
The primary source of this Zin is from Dry Creek Valley. It's rare to find this quality and quantity of upfront fruit in a Zin that's so balanced, but here it is. Massive raspberry, cherry, blackberry, mocha and Asian spice flavors, with buttery, smoky oak notes. Just delicious. Drink now.

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18   Moët & Chandon 1996
Dom Pérignon
(Champagne);   $140. 
This minerally, toasty wine has flavors of almonds and white stone fruits, and a long, finish. It is still young, and is just coming into great balance. Elegant and ethereal.

19   Le Cadeau Vineyard 2003
Pinot Noir
(Willamette Valley);  $40. 
What a spectacular effort. Dense and precise, it explodes from the glass with pure varietal scents and crisp, layered flavors. The mix of red fruits seamlessly weaves into barrel flavors of coffee, toast, caramel and buttered nuts, then adds licorice and spice to the long, clean, lifted finish. A tour de force.

20   Clarendon Hills 2004
Astralis Syrah
(Clarendon);  $325. 
The flagship of the Clarendon Hills line, this comes from a patch of 80-year-old vines that winemaker Bratasiuk claims routinely provides his best fruit. The 2004 is a stunner, yielding up scents of flowers and spice, framed by hints of vanillin oak. It's dense and amply textured in the mouth, packed with wonderfully expressive blackberry and blueberry fruit, then shows layers of rich tannins on the finish that leave no doubt this needs time in the cellar to show its best. This is a tour de force of Australian winemaking that should be consumed 2010 - 2025.

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