2010 Wine Spectator top-100 countdown

[Andy Velebil]

It's that time again and 8-10 have been released today. Coming in at #9 was a Douro wine...

9. CARM Douro Reserva 2007

Lets see if anymore make it into the list....

[Roy Hersh]

Is any of the CARM being sold in the USA?

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

CARM is available here in Edmonton, terrific portfolio at DeVines.

[Andy Velebil]

Is any of the CARM being sold in the USA?

No idea, but I've never seen it for sale.

Ok, a wine searcher check shows a couple places on the east coast for the upper end stuff. Not exactly an easy to find wine considering, at least I think, one of Spectators requirements to be in the top 100.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

The `07 is $36 Cdn. Regular flights to Edmonton from most northern US centers!!!!! Bring snow shovel and dog team.

[Andy Velebil]

Is any of the CARM being sold in the USA?

And I should add, this is a major pet-peeve of mine in that WS picks these wines without any regard to their availability, even though they say that is one of their qualifying factors. Some are wines that are mail-order only from the winery (mostly mailing lists) and/or wines that are so limited in their distrubution that they are all but impossible to find long before their list even comes out. So IMO, what's the point of even putting them on a list if they are no longer available or not even readily available in retail to begin with?

This annual list, which debuted in 1988, reflects significant trends, spotlights successful regions and recognizes outstanding producers. In 2010, we reviewed more than 15,800 new releases from around the world in blind tastings. More than 3,900 of these wines earned outstanding or classic ratings (90 points or higher on our 100-point scale). We narrowed the list down based on four criteria: quality (represented by score); value (reflected by release price); availability (measured by cases made or imported); and an X-factor we call excitement. But no equation determines the final selections: These choices reflect our editors’ judgment and passion about the wines we tasted.

[Andy Velebil]

The `07 is $36 Cdn. Regular flights to Edmonton from most northern US centers!!!!! Bring snow shovel and dog team.

Can't you just meet me at the airport with bottles in hand

[Andy Velebil]

Well it seems someone figured out how to crack their hidden picture codes, figured out the wines, and got their pictures too I think WS needs to work on their on-line security.

No more Douro wines/Ports in the top 10 though

OK, so my customer cracked the code. He actually got bottle shots to appear. It looks like this is the Top 5.

5- Altamura Cab 2007
4- Revana Cab 2007
3- Peter Michael Ma Belle Fille 2008
2- Two Hands Bella's Garden 2008
1- Saxum James Berry 2007

http://wineberserkers.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34461

[Moses Botbol]

Is any of the CARM being sold in the USA?

I just had a bottle a few weeks ago for $14. Decent, but I prefer a more rustic style Douro.

Is any of the CARM being sold in the USA?

No idea, but I've never seen it for sale.

Ok, a wine searcher check shows a couple places on the east coast for the upper end stuff

Remember I called you from the liquor store that was selling it to see if you tried it before

[Andy Velebil]

Remember I called you from the liquor store that was selling it to see if you tried it before

I told you to buy it!

[Moses Botbol]

Remember I called you from the liquor store that was selling it to see if you tried it before

I told you to buy it!

I did and... I don't think I would go looking for it again if you know what I mean. I prefer more rustic Douros. Not much terrior with Carm and at $14 I can think of many wines from Portugal I would rather buy.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

$14 US for the Carm? Surely that is the price for the entry-level red.
I just paid $36 for the Reserva!

[Andy Velebil]

$14 US for the Carm? Surely that is the price for the entry-level red.
I just paid $36 for the Reserva!

yes he got the regular one, not the Reserva

[Daniel R.]

is this list only for table wine? if not what about the DOW 100 pointer?

[Andy Velebil]

is this list only for table wine? if not what about the DOW 100 pointer?

I know they've done some Ports in the past. And this exact question was raised on another wine forum, with some people theorizing that since Suckling reviewed it and he's no longer at WS they didn't chose it. Of course that is pure speculation on their part. Although when the full 100 list comes out monday and if there are no wines on it that Suckling reviewed, then we'll know.

[Eric Ifune]

The WS Top 100 are not the highest scoring wines, but the favorites of the editors. From what I gather, they get together and hash out the list. I'm doubtful that Suckling was at that meeting so there wasn't anyone to argue for his favorites.

[Andy Velebil]

The whole top 100 was released today and a couple of Douro wines and one Port made the list.

#9 2007 CARM Reserva Douro

#14 2007 Dow's Vintage Port

#22 2007 Quinta do Vallado Reserva Douro

[Daniel R.]

The WS Top 100 are not the highest scoring wines, but the favorites of the editors. From what I gather, they get together and hash out the list. I'm doubtful that Suckling was at that meeting so there wasn't anyone to argue for his favorites.

Thanks!

[Scott Kipping]

At a quick glance 6 Washington wines and 4 Oregon wines. So 10% is all right. I am continuing to stock up on both these regions wines, with heavy emphasis on Washington because of pricing.

[Moses Botbol]

I sas the Carm Grand Reserva yesterday for around $38. How does this compare the Reserva?