THE WINE OF THE YEAR! 100 PLUStoP vaLUeS WineSpectator.com DEC. 31, 2015 – JAN. 15, 2016 TOP THE MOST EXCITING WINES OF 100 2015 AS SEEN IN Wine of the The Year TOP100 Our annual roundup of the year’s most exciting wines CONTENTS he 2015 Top 100 emphasizes how The three countries earning the most nods—France, much the wine world has changed Italy and the United States—collectively account for 53 since we put together our inaugural 64 percent of the list. France held steady, despite chal- honor roll, in 1988. That year, the Top lenging vintages in Bordeaux and the Rhône, as well as Wine of the Year 10 counted three Bordeaux, including rising prices in Burgundy. Italy gained ground slightly 57 our Wine of the Year, four Burgundies, on the strength of the 2010 vintage in Montalcino and Top 100 at a Glance including Domaine de la Romanée- Barolo. And California Cabernet is back on top thanks Conti Richebourg 1985, two Italian to the stellar 2012s, including our Wine of the Year. 59 reds and one California Cabernet. New Zealand and Oregon each increased their pres- Profiles of Wines All four Gaja Barbarescos from the ence, based on the terrific performance of Pinot Noir Nos. 2 to 100 1985T vintage were in the Top 20. in both areas. Washington too grew its representation, Now, less than three decades later, outstanding wines a reflection of its excellent Syrahs and Cabernets, and 65 from almost every corner of the globe compete with Spain upped its contingent from eight spots to 10. Top 100 by Region these historic leaders for consumers’ attention. This Many wines on the list are made in limited quantities, and Variety year, for example, a New Zealand wine and a South a reflection of the greater wine world. As such, our 69 African wine earned Top 10 honors for the first time. Top 100 is not a “shopping list,” but rather a guide to Put simply, it’s a great time to be a wine lover. wineries to watch in the coming months and years. The Wines of the Year The wines our editors found among the most interest- selections reflect the producers and wines our editors 1988–2014 ing in 2015 are a diverse group—ranging from emerging were particularly passionate about in 2015. 72 labels and regions to traditional estates exploring new For complete tasting notes on the Top 100 wines, 10 Years of Top 10s directions—and all generated the excitement we call turn to page 182 of the Buying Guide. Senior editors the X-factor. In addition, we applied the criteria of qual- MaryAnn Worobiec, Alison Napjus and Tim Fish, tasting 85 ity (based on score), value (based on price) and avail- coordinator Augustus Weed, associate tasting coordina- Values in the Top 100 ability (based on the number of cases either made or tor Gillian Sciaretta, assistant tasting coordinators Aaron 182 imported into the United States) to the more than Romano and Emma Balter, and associate editors Mitch 5,700 wines that rated outstanding (90 points or Frank and Ben O’Donnell all contributed to the profiles Top 100 Tasting Notes higher) this year, to determine our Top 100 of 2015. in the following pages. We hope you enjoy the exciting Overall, the average score and average price are the list of fine values, rising stars and historic producers that OBBY 187 R same as in last year’s Top 100: 93 points and $47. populate Wine Spectator’s 2015 Top 100. Classic-Scoring Wines LARA of 2015 52 Wine Spectator • Dec. 31, 2015 – Jan. 15, 2016 http://2015.top100.winespectator.com/wine/1-peter-michael/ Wine of the The Year TOP100 Our annual roundup of the year’s most exciting wines CONTENTS he 2015 Top 100 emphasizes how The three countries earning the most nods—France, much the wine world has changed Italy and the United States—collectively account for 53 since we put together our inaugural 64 percent of the list. France held steady, despite chal- honor roll, in 1988. That year, the Top lenging vintages in Bordeaux and the Rhône, as well as Wine of the Year 10 counted three Bordeaux, including rising prices in Burgundy. Italy gained ground slightly 57 our Wine of the Year, four Burgundies, on the strength of the 2010 vintage in Montalcino and Top 100 at a Glance including Domaine de la Romanée- Barolo. And California Cabernet is back on top thanks Conti Richebourg 1985, two Italian to the stellar 2012s, including our Wine of the Year. 59 reds and one California Cabernet. New Zealand and Oregon each increased their pres- Profiles of Wines All four Gaja Barbarescos from the ence, based on the terrific performance of Pinot Noir Nos. 2 to 100 1985T vintage were in the Top 20. in both areas. Washington too grew its representation, Now, less than three decades later, outstanding wines a reflection of its excellent Syrahs and Cabernets, and 65 from almost every corner of the globe compete with Spain upped its contingent from eight spots to 10. Top 100 by Region these historic leaders for consumers’ attention. This Many wines on the list are made in limited quantities, and Variety year, for example, a New Zealand wine and a South a reflection of the greater wine world. As such, our 69 African wine earned Top 10 honors for the first time. Top 100 is not a “shopping list,” but rather a guide to Put simply, it’s a great time to be a wine lover. wineries to watch in the coming months and years. The Wines of the Year The wines our editors found among the most interest- selections reflect the producers and wines our editors 1988–2014 ing in 2015 are a diverse group—ranging from emerging were particularly passionate about in 2015. 72 labels and regions to traditional estates exploring new For complete tasting notes on the Top 100 wines, 10 Years of Top 10s directions—and all generated the excitement we call turn to page 182 of the Buying Guide. Senior editors the X-factor. In addition, we applied the criteria of qual- MaryAnn Worobiec, Alison Napjus and Tim Fish, tasting 85 ity (based on score), value (based on price) and avail- coordinator Augustus Weed, associate tasting coordina- Values in the Top 100 ability (based on the number of cases either made or tor Gillian Sciaretta, assistant tasting coordinators Aaron 182 imported into the United States) to the more than Romano and Emma Balter, and associate editors Mitch 5,700 wines that rated outstanding (90 points or Frank and Ben O’Donnell all contributed to the profiles Top 100 Tasting Notes higher) this year, to determine our Top 100 of 2015. in the following pages. We hope you enjoy the exciting Overall, the average score and average price are the list of fine values, rising stars and historic producers that OBBY 187 R same as in last year’s Top 100: 93 points and $47. populate Wine Spectator’s 2015 Top 100. Classic-Scoring Wines LARA of 2015 52 Wine Spectator • Dec. 31, 2015 – Jan. 15, 2016 WINE of the YEAR PETER MICHAEL Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Au Paradis 2012 96 points | $195 | 1,785 cases made BY JAMES LAUBE small, little-known vineyard in Napa Valley’s Oakville and exhibit the telltale mix of dark berry, currant, black olive, District has produced a wine that epitomizes the mod- savory herb and scorched earth character that comes from the vine- ern style of Napa Cabernet. yard’s rocky red soil. The lavish use of new French oak adds both Au Paradis is the newest offering from Peter Michael a graceful textural allure and heightened aromatic presence of toasty Winery. This producer’s stellar reputation was built on mocha notes that further enhance the wine’s seductive charm. wines grown in Sonoma County, but the 2012 bottling The vineyard was planted in 1988 by Kal and Dorothy Showket. Aof Au Paradis proves its deft touch extends to Napa. The wine The couple bought the sloping hillside parcel off Silverado Trail speaks of its site, farmed and vinified to perfection by an experi- next to Dalla Valle for their dream vineyard. They planted wisely: enced team capturing the brilliance of a bountiful vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a little Sangio- Au Paradis 2012 offers a panoply of rich flavors that run deep vese. The Showkets made a small amount of wine but sold most of their grapes to the likes of Caymus, Shafer and Dalla Valle before an illness in the family led them to sell the vineyard to Peter Michael in 2009. Michael, a Britain-born tech tycoon, had looked at land in Napa Valley in the 1970s but found the prices too steep even for him and settled instead in a remote corner of Knights Valley due north of Napa. There he had the good fortune to discover a gold mine of a property and has en- joyed tremendous success with a stable of estate-grown Chardonnays and the Bordeaux-inspired red blend called Les Pavots. But he never put Napa out of his mind. When the Showket property came up for sale, Michael seized the op- portunity. Oakville is synonymous with lofty land prices and “grand cru” Cabernets. Cabernet in Oakville dates to the 1880s, grown first in what is still known as To Kalon Vine- yard, made famous by Robert Mondavi and subsequently others. The list of great Cabernets from Oakville reads like a who’s who: Mondavi, Opus One, Heitz Martha’s Vineyard, Harlan, Joseph Phelps’ Backus Vineyard, Dalla Valle, Schrader and Screaming Eagle are among the better known.