What a year it has been. Our friends, family and country emerged from turbulent pandemic waters only to get washed overboard again with virus variants, lockdowns, and a lingering uncertainty toward just about everything.
We made the most of it when sunshine broke through the storm clouds. Our highlights included a magical tour of Umpqua Valley in Oregon, a visit to North Carolina wineries in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a return to the Wine Media Conference plus an in-depth introduction to the wines of Burgenland, Austria. That’s in addition to plenty of tasty bottles shared with family and friends.
As we prepare to turn the page on 2021 and look forward to uncorking a fresh and sparkling 2022, we present our curated list of the best bottles we sampled in 2021. Each is linked to the article in which it was featured. Our picks for “wines of distinction” are indicated with **.
Cheers!
Alma Negra NV Brut Nature Rosé, Mendoza
Bending Branch 2017 Tallent Vineyard Tannat, Texas Hill Country
Brandborg 2015 Bradley Vineyard Gewürztraminer, Elkton
** Brennan Vineyard 2019 Ella’s Pine, Texas
Byrd Vineyard 2012 Red Wine, Mendocino
Calvert 2018 Brut Rosé, AOC Crémant de Bordeaux
Cameron Hughes 2019 Lot 752 Gavi DOCG
** Cameron Hughes Lot 825 2020 Napa Valley White Meritage
Cantine Ermes Quattro Quatri Nero D'Avola Sicilia DOC
** Cassata Sonoma 2014 Sonoma CRU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Château Belle-Vue 2018 Petit Verdot, Grand Vin de Bordeaux
** Chateau Yaldara 2012 1847 Pappy’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa
Claus Preisinger 2019 St. Laurent Ancestral Pet Nat, Burgenland
Clos Pissarra 2015 “Arrels” Garnacha, Montsant
Cooper Ridge 2020 Vineyard Cuvee, Umpqua Valley
Deerfield Ranch 2012 Estate Syrah, Sonoma Valley
Dry Creek Vineyard 2019 Heritage Vines Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley
Dry Creek Vineyard 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley
HillCrest Vineyard 2016 Old Stones Teraldago, Umpqua Valley
In Signo Sagittarii 2008 Blaufränkisch, Burgenland
** Korbin Kameron 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
** L’Ecole 2020 Luminesce, Walla Walla Valley
L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Perigee, Walla Walla Valley
** Luke 2018 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope
Marqués de Cáceres 2020 Verdejo, Rueda
Melrose Vineyards 2016 Parker’s Pinot, Umpqua Valley
Monasterio de la Viñas 2011 Gran Reserva, Cariñena
Nadia 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard, Santa Barbara County
** Nieto Senetiner 2011 "Don Nicanor" Villa Blanca Malbec, Luján de Cuyo
P.J. Valckenberg 2016 Madonna Kabinett, Rheinhessen
Ravines 2017 Maximilien Red Blend, Finger Lakes
Reserve des Chastelles 2019 Rosé, Tavel
Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards 2018 Grüner Veltliner, Umpqua Valley
Riva Leone 2017 Barbaresco DOCG
Serre Vineyards 2018 Reserve Sangiovese, Yadkin Valley
Seven Hills 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
Sforno 2020 Gran Reserva Red Blend, Argentina
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** Spangler Vineyards 2016 Khayan’s Block Dolcetto, Umpqua Valley
Stone Ashe 2019 Coppedge Hill, North Carolina
Tablas Creek 2020 Patelin de Tablas Rosé, Paso Robles
** Turley 2018 Fredericks Vineyard Zin, Sonoma Valley
** Utopia 2015 “Eden” Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge
Watermill Winery 2017 Hallowed Stones Cabernet Franc, The Rocks District, Oregon
Weingut Strub 2019 Silvaner Trocken
Winery ET 2018 Tridendron, Burgenland
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