>>151475796
Before I present the highly anticipated WINE OF THE YEAR, we will review a few wines that I thought were special in one way or another.
>Baudry Chinon Croix Boissee 2021 (Cabernet Franc, Loire Valley $58, TdF Stage 9)
Interestingly there is maybe no wine on the list that affected me more than this one. I was a little lukewarm on my initial review, but this bottle seemed to resonate with me the more I thought about it. It was so elegant, so transparent, such a beautiful expression of terroir. I have actually become a Baudry fanatic since this bottle. I highly recommend his wines - this bottle is his top cuvee but he has interesting cab francs at all prices.
>Terrevive Bergianti Rosato Brut NV (Lambrusco, Emilia-Romagna, Giro Stage 12, $26)
I've never had a Lambrusco that was so wild, so interesting, so ever-changing in the glass. Crazy good. I had always thought of Lambrusco as sort of being a cheap bistro wine, but this was truly great.
>Mas de Boislauzon Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Tintot 2015 (Chateauneuf-du-Pape, $88, Paris-Nice Stage 6)
This was one of the most intense, most no-holds-barred wines I had this year. Just crazy complex, rich, deep, profound. At 10-years-old it was at least 10-15 years too young. I ended up buying a few more 2015 and 2016 to stash in the cellar.
>Cisteller Malvasia de Stiges 2022 (Malvasia, Barcelona, Volta Catalunya Stage 4, $42)
A sneakily profound white. If this were made in France, it would be $100+/bottle. Complex, evolving, balanced. Beautiful texture and minerality.