Best wine memories of last year by Mark!

2008 was a year full of wine, in fact, chock full of wine. So chocky that I actually cannot remember most of the bottles consumed... Of course this is to be expected when you taste so much wine every week but then there are always the truly great wines that upon first smell or taste assume a permanent position in your mind. It is narcissistic, of course, but sometimes tasting wine can feel a little like looking in a mirror, and when you see something you like you tend to remember. So without further ado, my list of ravishing, captivating, sensual, tasty wines of 2008: 2005 Terlano Pinot Bianco Vorberg Riserva - outstanding acidity and mineral component with great length, I grabbed a few for my tiny cellar. This is a really a time machine wine, that is, a wine that make me want a time machine so I can travel back and forth drinking old vintages and aging new ones. Man, I really want a time machine. 2001 Inama Soave "Vigneti Di Foscarino" - A bottle that I sold to a customer a couple years ago showed up mysteriously with "Italian white 20" written on the front in marker ended up being mine. Just when I was sure it was past its prime and would end up being dumped out, I popped the cork and discovered it was magical. Flowers, honey, and lemons. wish I had more... 1999 Pichon-Longueville - A beautiful wine that took several hours to open up, revealing layer after layer that was enchanting and intriguing. A nice insight into the world of the Bordeaux collector. 2004 Le Fonti Chianti Classico Riserva- one more bit of proof that 2004 was a great year and that I should have bought more. This took about 5 hours to open up without a decanter. Great acidity, depth and persistence of flavor with a refreshing finish that begged for pork loin. 2004 Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva "Rancia"- I had the opportunity to taste the 04 before I even had a chance to buy any which was really annoying because it rocked the house. I am now sure that I have had many more compelling wines from Chianti Classico than Brunello- does that even make sense? Whatever, I like, liked it. 2006 Librandi Ciro Bianco- I never expected this wine to be this good. I love the Ciro Rosso from Librandi, but this blew my mind. It was like drinking a great Fiano di Avellino with a little bottle age. All honey and floral aromatics on the nose with a little nuttiness and, of course, plenty of acidity...perfect for, say, arancini. 1971 Huet Vouvray "Clos du Bourg"- part of an insane, half remembered dinner that included 3 wines that were cumulatively 90 years old. The cork was black and looked like huitlacoche and the fill was low but the wine was beautiful. Absolutely singing. Totally ridiculous. Made me feel like a child on a swing for the first time. NV Mionetto Sergio Rose- a nearly perfect food wine- extra dry in style with bright bouncy fruit and crisp acidity. I think I am going to arrange to have this one come out of the faucets. 2006 Ceci Lambrusco "La Luna"- I have repeatedly told customers that this might be my favorite wine ever, a pretty bold claim since I hate favorites in general. I like to think of this a Italian wine in its purest sense, you have acidity, pure, unoaked fruit and bubbles that make you want to eat a pile of food. My only complaint is that it makes your mouth look like you have been eating fountain pens all day. 2005 Biondi "Outis" Etna Rosso- this was a revelation for me, tasted among 200 other Italian wines, it made everything else shrink away and stood alone like a beacon shining in the night, or something. Actually, just really interesting, earthy, scary wine. 2007 Ca Dei Frati "I frati" Lugana- another wine that make me salivate just by thinking about it. This is another time machine wine, but I can settle for decanting it for young drinking. Chock full of minerals, acidity, and layers of fruit- very chocky indeed. I bought a couple bottles so we will see how the wine ages. One reason I hate "favorite" lists is because I never really have favorites, just things that I like at the moment. So let's just say that for now, I really REALLY enjoyed drinking those wines last year and I can't wait to see what will make the list next year.td>

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