My Favorite Wines of 2008

It isn't my thing making New Year's resolutions, and if it were they'd likely be Drink More, Eat More, and Listen At Louder Volumes, but around this time of year I do like to reflect upon the highlights of the past. Perhaps you had some stellar moments that you would like to share here too. Below I've included the top five red wines, top five white wines and top five sparkling wines of 2008, many of which I've shared on this blog during the year. Please email or comment if you have any specific questions about the wines.

The main characteristics I looked for when choosing the favorites where those that they taught me something new, e.g. Stryker's Petit Verdot, brought out the amazing flavors of food, e.g. Ferrari Carano's Fiorella, and typified specific varietals, e.g. Imagery's Cab Franc. Kistler's 1999 Chardonnay (the vineyard of which I unfortunately cannot remember) made me specifically contemplative, as it did those who drank it with me, for when again would we be lucky enough to drink a white wine from the 1900's?

Top 5 Red Wines (in no particular order)

Chehalem Winery's 2002 Stoller Vineyard Pinot Noir
Stryker Winery's 2004 Petit Verdot
Imagery Winery's 2004 Cab Franc
Ridge Winery's 2005 Oltranti Vineyard Zinfandel
Wellington Winery's 2004 Merlot

Top 5 White Wines

Kistler Vineyard's 1999 Chardonnay
Chehalem Winery's 2006 Pinot Gris Reserve
Schug Winery's 2006 Sauvignon Blanc
St. Supéry Winery's 2006 Moscato
Ferrari Carrano Winery's 2003 Fiorella Chardonnay

Top 5 Sparkling Wines

Carpene Malvolti NV Prosseco DOC Extra Dry
Korbel Winery's 2007 Reisling
Perrier-Jouët NV Grand Brut
Scharffenberger Cellars's NV Cremant
(not surprising) Veuve Clicquot NV Brut "Yellow Label" Champagne

Top Dessert Wines

Arrowood Winery's 2005 Late Harvest White Riesling
Icardi Winery's 2007 Brachetto D'Aqui