The Top Wines Of 2018: An Exclusive Vino-Sphere List

Here it is – our annual listing of the best bottles of the year. Uncork a bottle and enjoy as you check out the favorites we reviewed in 2018.

We hope you have enjoyed 2018 as much as we have. We’ve tasted hundreds of wines and visited dozens of wineries. Our travels included a foray to sample the great wines of Washington State and a couple of jaunts to the wine country of North Carolina. After sorting through our tasting notes and piles of empty bottles and corks, we’ve compiled our anticipated 2018 Top Wines list.

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We present the list in alphabetical order. An asterisk indicates exceptional quality.


Ad Lucem 2014 Elaina Red, Columbia Valley
Adorada 2016 Rosé, California
Altipiano 2016 Estate Sangiovese Reserve, San Diego County*
Balletto 2014 BCD Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Becker Family 2012 Pinot Noir, Pfalz
Bedell Cellars 2017 Taste Rosé, Long Island
Bollina Corte Medicea 2015 'Cletus' Toscana IGT, Tuscany
Bonterra 2015 The Roost Blue Heron Vineyard Chardonnay, Mendocino County
Breathless Brut Magnum, North Coast
Brut Jordan Cuvée by Champagne AR Lenoble
Ca’Marcanda 2013, Bolgheri*
Clos du Bois 2008 Marlstone, Alexander Valley

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Corona de Aragon 2017 Garnacha Blanca
Cremisan Wine Estate 2014 Star of Bethlehem Baladi, West Bank
Domaine Artefact 2017 Rincon del Diablo, San Diego County
Dry Creek Vineyard 2013 Meritage, Dry Creek Valley
Duckhorn Vineyards 2015 Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyards*
Geil 2015 Bechtheimer Scheurebe Kabinett, Rheinhessen
Hanna 2014 Bismark Moon Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon*
Hanna 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley
Hightower Cellars 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain*
Il Poggione 2016 Rosso di Montalcino
Jezreel 2016 Levanim, Jezreel Valley*
Kenwood 2013 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma*
Lambert Bridge 2013 Crane Creek Cuvée, Dry Creek Valley*
LAN 2011 Rioja Reserva
Left Coast Cellars 2017 “The Orchard” Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley*
Lorenzi Estate 2009 Zinfandel Signature Series Reserve Temecula*
Montefioralle Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2014
Muscardini Cellars 2013 Rancho Salina, Moon Mountain
Papapietro Perry 2014 Peters Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Parducci 2005 True Grit Petite Sirah, Mendocino County
Raffaldini 2014 Sangiovese Classico, Swan Creek
Santa Ema 2013 Amplus Old Vine Carignan, Maule
Shadow Springs Vineyard 2014 Petit Verdot, Swan Creek
Sterling 2014 Iridium Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley*
Terra Bella 2008 Estate Syrah, Paso Robles
Three Rivers Winery 2015 Svelte, Walla Walla Valley*
Vignobles Mayard 2009 La Crau de ma Mère, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Villa Maria 2015 Taylors Pass Pinot Noir, Marlborough*
Villa Maria 2016 Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
Weingut Wittmann Westhofener 2014 Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen

LAN Delivers Rioja Excellence In Spanish Duo

Rioja is the most famous red wine of Spain and undoubtedly one of its best. We pop the cork on two releases from famed Rioja producer Bodegas LAN.

Richness of Rioja

Winemaking in Spain’s Rioja region got a huge boost from Bordeaux winemakers who settled there in the 19th century. The French eventually departed, but left behind improved winemaking techniques, including the use of oak barrels for aging.

The earthy flavors of oak and leather have long been hallmarks of wine made in the Rioja region. We recently opened a pair of Rioja wines from Bodegas LAN, one the regions top producers.

Winemaker’s Choice

The LAN D-12 2015 Rioja is 98% Tempranillo and 2% Mazuelo (also known as Carignan). The moniker is a reference to Deposit 12, the stainless steel tank that holds the most outstanding wine from each vintage. The grapes are hand selected from two plots in Haro and two in Laguardia. The wine gets 12 months in French and American oak and another year of bottle aging before release.

D-12 is a deep ruby in the glass. On the palate, there are nicely structured tannins with a rounded texture. The flavor is intense with tart red fruit, a touch of spice and a flavor of malted chocolate.
You can find the D-12 for about $18, and it is a rich, rewarding wine. Rioja can be tannic, but this was smooth and supple after we let it open up for a few minutes.

Stepping Up To Reserva

LAN’s Reserva gets an extra measure of aging, for 16 month in hybrid barrels with American oak staves and French oak heads. Afterward, there is another 24 months of aging in the bottle.

The 2011 Rioja Reserva is a delightful wine. It is 92% Tempranillo and 8% Graciano coming from selected 20- to 25-year-old vines. In the glass it is an inviting deep garnet color.

Although it’s ready to drink now, it could easily age for another five years. This is a savory wine with notes of baking spice and ripe cherries. The flavor is intense and the finish is long lingering. It’s a fine wine experience for about $20. It’s perfect for stews or marinated meat dishes.

LAN represents Rioja in three letters. The name is an acronym based on the initials of each of the three provinces that form the D.O.Ca. Rioja: Logroño (currently part of La Rioja), Alava and Navarra. LAN is a sure bet when you are seeking a flavorful Rioja wine at an excellent price point. The 2011 Reserva and 2015 D-12 are great choices for wintertime sipping.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Rioja,Spainish wine,wine tasting,wine lover

Online Auctions Offer Thrill Of The Hunt, Chance To Build Wine Collection

Think wine auctions are stodgy affairs reserved for the filthy rich? The reality may surprise you.

Auctions For All Levels Of Wine Enthusiasts

Wine auctions of decades past were often exclusive, stuffy events geared to the top echelon of consumer. That’s far afield from today, according to Samantha Compono, director of operations for Acker Merrall & Condit. The firm has conducted fine and rare wine auctions since 1820. 

Today’s wine auctions are inclusive, fun and interactive celebrations of food and wine catering to all walks of wine lover. Compono was recently featured on the Wine Studio education program and was interviewed by Vino-Sphere.

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The advent of the digital age means that participation in wine auctions is no longer limited by geography. Anyone with access to a website or an app can participate. You may be someone ready to jump into an online wine auction if you are interested in expanding your cellar, exploring older vintages or simply enhancing your palate.

While some lots can range into the tens of thousands, web auctions  feature many lots under $100, said Compono. You can taste great producers without committing to a case or half case. Mixed lots are appealing to cost-conscious buyers and feature great finds and great values. It’s a way to get diversity into your cellar quickly.

The Thrill Of The Hunt

First time auction participants should know that there is no entrance fee to participate. Acker Merrall applies a 24% fee to the winning bid price to offset the auction house cost of conducting the auction. Getting started is as simple as filling out a registration form  with basic information and a valid credit card to hold your bids. If you are itching to experience an online wine auction, Acker Merrall’s next online auction starts January 1, 2019, and runs through January 13.

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A wine auction might be just the ticket if you are on the hunt for something special - a coveted vintage, a bottle of a newly discovered producer you’ve been clamoring to try, or finally finding that perfect bottle to complete a vertical you’ve been working on. While seeking elusive vintages or filling in weak spots in a wine collection are all motivations, there is more.

“Wine auctions are fun,” said Compono. “From a practical perspective, participating in wine auctions is the best way to access vintages long gone on average retail shelves and finding and winning a lot at auction can feel like uncovering lost treasure. Plus, there is the thrill of the hunt. It always feels great to win!”

Lots from Bordeaux and Burgundy are the real superstars and those coveted wines can be very costly. Aged Champagne, Rhones, and wines from Italy, Spain and California all frequent the auction catalogs.

First Timer Tips And Ensuring Quality

If you are bidding on a Burgundy from the 1990s, how do you know the bottles aren’t spoiled? In the case of Acker Merrall, are wines are carefully examined to ensure they have been stored properly and are, in fact the wine represented. Acker Merrall subjects all wine to robust inspection procedures and also use a third party to inspect the bottles. Frequently the bottles are opened and sampled to taste for provenance. A limited guarantee is provided by Acker Merrall if they are notified of problems in a timely way.

First timers needn't be hesitant. Acker Merrall offers a “fine wine concierge” who is available at any time to help with questions on bidding. Bidders can also connect with one of the company’s experts to hone in strategies on focus for each sale.

Here are some tips for first time online wine auction participants:

1. Do your research. Whether a single bottle or a case or cases from a specific producer, search through open auction inventory via digital or hard copy catalogs. You can search specific auction house latest results to ensure low and high estimate ranges are accurate, and that you place a proper competitive bid.
2. Check your increments. Most auction houses will tell you if you place a bid off-increment, but in case they don’t put yourself in the best position to win by checking and ensuring you place your bid properly, within bidding parameters for the house.
3. Know your limit, and place it. Always go into an auction with an idea of your max spend, keeping in mind auction premium and any tax that may apply. If you’re bidding digitally, utilize the ‘max bid’ feature to have the system bid immediately for you up to your limit so you aren’t outbid at the end of a heated auction. If you’re willing to pay more than your initial bid, you’ll still have the greatest chance of being the winner up to your maximum price and not miss your chance with a manual click.
4. Don’t underestimate the value of a great mixed lot. Big time collectors seek out original cases of 6 or 12 bottles, but there are great values to be had when exploring mixed lots that can cross country, vintage and style, and the estimates typically reflect that.
5. Never let geography define your role in bidding. You can bid from any mobile device or tablet, submit auto-bids and watch a sale as it happens in real time, anywhere in the world. If you don’t need your purchases right away, return shipping via temperature-controlled shipping container is typically affordable, if not complimentary.
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Bistecca alla Florentina and Il Poggione 2016 Rosso di Montalcino

Sangiovese and a juicy steak is a marriage made in heaven. So with an uncorked bottle we fire up the grill to cook a famous Italian dish.

Bistecca alla Florentina

Bistecca alla Florentina is an Italian dish with English roots. In the early 19th Century, the English settled in and around Florence and introduced new cuts of beef, including the T-bone and porter house steaks. Bistecca alla Florentina, or Florentine steak, was born.

The cut is a porterhouse of T-bone with as large a fillet (tenderloin) as possible. Most of the Bistecca alla florentina sold in Florence is Spanish Beef. The meat should be kept at room temperature for 10 hours or so before grilling. Traditionally, the thickness should be “three fingers.” We ordered our 1 1/2 inch-thick bone-in porterhouse (about 3.5 pounds) from Pat LaFreida online. The meat was cut and shipped in an ice-gel pack and never frozen.

Trial By Fire

The traditional Tuscan Bistecca alla Florentina recipe calls for cooking over charcoal, preferably hardwood. Since I have a natural gas grill, that wasn’t an option.

I cranked the grill up as hot as it has ever been, in the neighborhood of 650 degrees. We were going on faith in the recipe, since I’ve never cooked a large steak like this before.

After about 7 minutes I flipped it to the other side using tongs, as opposed to a fork, which would release that precious juice. On the seared side I poured some Il Poggione olive oil and Tuscan sea salt.

When the other side was done, I flipped the steak on end for a few more minutes before entering into the house triumphantly. It was a monolithic masterpiece!

Wine Pairing Perfection!

We’ve enjoyed some superlative wine pairing dinners over the years, but the pairing of the Il Poggione 2016 Rosso di Montalcino and the bistecca was off the charts. The meat was smoky and the charred crust and juicy meat exploded with flavor. “That chef was truly amazing.”

Our meal was accompanied with roasted broccoli and potatoes. We had a nice loaf of crusty Italian bread with an olive oil dipping sauce.

Rosso di Montalcino is sometimes called a “baby Brunello” after the highly regarded Brunello di Montalcino. The Il Poggione Rosso is 100% Brunello (the local name for Sangiovese). The wine is matured for 12 months in large oak barrels before undergoing bottle aging.

This is a silky wine with flowing flavors of red berries and sour cherry. The oak aging provides a welcome structure. To have a bite of steak in your mouth and sip in the Rosso di Montalcino was euphoric.
The Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino has an SRP of $27.

When you can enjoy it with a beautiful steak it is priceless!

Full disclosure: We received the wine as a marketing sample and the steak was provided gratis.

Technorati Tags: Sangiovese,Italian wine,recipe,wine tasting

Exitus 2016 Red Wine, California

There’s a new entry in the Bourbon-barrel aged beverage market. We uncork Exitus to test the merits of the new offering.

Something Old, Something New

There is a buzz – in more ways than one – about Bourbon-barrel aged beverages these days. There are a multitude of Bourbon-barrel aged craft beers. Aging reds in Bourbon barrels has also launched several successful wines.

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We’ve also seen white wines aged in Bourbon barrels. Some whiskey makers have also flipped the tables by aging their spirits in old wine barrels. It seems like the latest trend – but it isn’t exactly.

The cost of oak wine barrels can run anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 or more depending on the producer and whether it is American or French oak. It’s easy to see that oak barrel aging can be quite expensive. Decades ago, some small wine producers would buy much cheaper used Bourbon barrels to age their wine. Score one for Mrs. Alba, my 6th grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary, whose favorite saying was, “There is nothing new under the sun!”

What is new, though, is that winemakers are now using Bourbon barrels to introduce new flavors into wine specifically blended to marry with the dark smoky notes that BBA (Bourbon barrel aging) brings. Exitus is a case in point.

To Exitus With Tradition

Exitus is a Zinfandel-based red blend that includes Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is produced by O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, one of the largest wine and brandy producers in California. It’s portfolio includes Robert Hall and Austerity  wines, among others.

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The marketing theme of Exitus is, “To Hell With Tradition.” Its bottle certainly breaks with wine packaging norms. It is clear glass, unlike the dark greens and ambers typically used for red wine to limit exposure to light. There is no foil capsule on the top of the bottle. Instead, there is a seal-like sticker like you might find on a bourbon bottle.

Below the main label is a rectangular one listing the “batch” number, year and noting that the wine is aged for three months. Again, this label is a nod to what your might find on a small batch bourbon. The main Exitus label is gold lettered on a dark brown background and brings to mind a craft beverage.

It’s a very cool package and we were anxious to uncork.

Imbibing The Bourbon Barrel Blend

Raise your hand if this has happened to you. You uncork a wine that from all outside appearances should be world-changing, only to disappointed by what was inside.Would that be the case with Exitus?

Exitus considers itself a “badass” wine. We agree. Unlike other BBA wines we’ve had that proffer a smidgeon of Bourbon taste, Exitus is a wine for Bourbon lovers. From the first sip, the Bourbon flavor is out front.

Even without the Bourbon barrel aging, this is a big wine. It weighs in with 15.9% alcohol. I don’t recall drinking an unfortified wine with more alcohol content. That being said, it sill has some great dark berry flavor with touches of earth and spice. The BBA adds caramel, smoke and toasted oak to the party. It’s a tasty value at about $20.

This isn’t a wine for wimps. It is perfect for those seeking adventure in their wine drinking. Chances are if you serve this at your next party, guests will be headed to the Exitus, not the exits. 

Full Disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Zinfandel,California wine,Bourbon barrel aged wine,wine tasting

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival A Visual Treat

Hundreds of lanterns light up the night sky in Cary, NC, during an annual celebration of Chinese art and culture.

Enter The Year Of The Pig

The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival is being held through January 13, 2019, at the Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary, North Carolina. We had an opportunity to tour the event and came away impressed with the beauty and a deeper
understanding of Chinese culture.

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In case you are wondering, 2019 is the Year of the Pig in the Chinese Zodiac, which is based on the lunar calendar. Pigs are diligent, compassionate and generous. There were pigs aplenty at the festival.

Zigong, The Chinese Lantern Capitol

The lanterns are created by hand on silk fabric stretched over steel frames then lit with hundreds of LED lights. In fact there are more than 15,000 LED lights contributing to the glowing masterpieces . It takes 19 tractor-trailers to deliver all the lanterns for the festival.

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Zigong, Sichuan, considered the capitol of Chinese lantern-making for thousands of years, is where almost all the lanterns are made. The skills of the artisans are passed from one generation to the next.

There are 25 different displays ranging from traditional palace lanterns and traditional oil-paper umbrellas to a fairy dancing with phoenixes. My favorite was the fairy tree, making its world premiere this year, a glowing silver tree that looked like a sea anemone with strands of pearls.

A Life-Size Dragon

The Chinese Drum is an impressive display and is even more engaging when you strike the drum to change the colors of the lanterns. Dignity and grace is exemplified in the Swan Lake display of two swans in the lake. There is also the Closely Attached Hearts display which has two buttons that require two people to press so that the light in the massive heart will illuminate.

Dominating the scene is the glowing yellow Chinese Dragon lantern, which is longer than three school buses and weighs 18,000 pounds. It stands 21 feet tall and is 200 feet long. It’s head had to be installed by a 15-person crew.

Ticket prices start at $10 and food trucks offer refreshments for sale. Cultural acts run regularly on the main stage and we enjoyed hat jugglers (we didn’t know there was such a thing!), plate spinners and acrobats.

Germany’s Cool Climate Wines A Delicious Choice For The Holidays

The holidays bring out a variety of festive foods. Germany’s white wines are delicious choices and versatile enough to pair with savory or sweet dishes.

German Riesling Versatility

For Thanksgiving we opened our doors to family and friends to share our holiday feast. In addition to the traditional turkey, we had a variety of sides including potatoes both mashed and sweet with cranberry sauce and gravy. Veggies ranged from brussel sprouts to green beans. Our table was overflowing and there are probably a few dishes I left off.

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What wine to pick? A great grape for this meal, and to keep in mind for Christmas and New Years festivities, is Riesling. Germany’s reputation for outstanding wine is built on producing world-class Riesling. It’s a smart choice for holiday entertaining.

By all rights, Germany shouldn’t be able to produce excellent wine. Germany is home to some of the world’s coldest climate vineyards and it is far away from a large body of water. It’s difficult for grapes to ripen in such conditions.

Through determination and wise vineyard selection, with southern-facing slopes and close to rivers, German winegrowers have experienced success. Riesling, a cold-hardy variety, is the most widely planted grape in the country.

Holiday Feasting

The 2015 Clemens Busch vom Grauen Schiefer Riesling Trocken is a dry wine that was a delightful pick for our main course. The grapes are grown on treacherously steep slopes of slippery slate that are snug up to the Mosel River. Mosel is the most northerly great wine region in the world.

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This is a fresh wine that is crisp without harsh acidity. There are notes of white flowers and citrus graced with a flowing minerality. A wonderful blending with the turkey!

In contrast, the 2015 Louis Guntrum Niersteiner Rehbach Riesling Spätlese from Rheinhessen is an amply sweet wine. How sweet? It was sweet enough that my sister-in-law snuck into the fridge and opened the wine a few hours before our meal.

The Guntrum Riesling is juicy with honey flavors and notes of tropical fruit. Spätlese means late harvest, and the grapes are more intense in flavor than the lower Kabinett level. The ripeness can also come with sweetness.

Residual sugar is listed at 4.5%, which isn’t too extreme. It is just the ticket for some people. (I’m talking to you, sister-in-law Sandra!). The sugar is balanced nicely with the acidity.

For our dessert, we had pumpkin and pecan pie. The dessert that paired best with the Spätlese was prepared a few days later by our daughter: Bartlett pears poached in lemon jasmine tea spiced with ginger. The sweetness of the dessert dials down the sweetness of the Riesling. The pears also had some nice savory notes courtesy of the tea and ginger, which had delicious interplay with the subtle notes of the Riesling.

Rheinhessen is the largest wine-growing region in Germany and on August 6, Rheinhessen saw the first grapes picked for the earliest harvest in Germany’s history. These grapes are used to make Federweißer (“new wine”). The partially fermented, traditional beverage is halfway between grape juice and wine. It’s offered all around Germany but not exported.

Germany Riesling runs the gamut from bone dry to sublimely sweet. It’s a perfect “pearing” for you holiday meals.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Riesling,German wine,wine tasting