Wine Spectator’s 2008 Top 100
Wine Spectator is a magazine that is devoted to wine. It was originally founded as a newsprint tabloid in 1976 by Bob Morrisey, before being sold to Marvin R. Shanken three years later. Nowadays, Wine Spectator is well-known for its wine tasting scores, which have an important influence for a wine value. Every year, from their four offices (3 in the
Wine tasting is set up in a very professional way. They have private rooms only for wine tasting. The wines are organized in flights of 20 – 30 bottles of wines, with for only information varietals, appellation, vintage or region. Bottles are coded and all corks are removed, just ready to be drunk! Then tasters directly write their note, score and recommendation in their data base after tasting the wine. The quality of the wine is the most important factor for a wine to be rated. Then additional comments can be made, even though this will never influence the score.
To confirm their score, editors can taste the same wine frequently from new bottles.
After the tasting, Wine Spectator uses a 100-point scale to reflect their impressions:
- 95-100 Classic: a great wine
- 90-94 Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style
- 85-89 Very good: a wine with special qualities
- 80-84 Good: a solid, well-made wine
- 75-79 Mediocre: a drinkable wine that may have minor flaws
- 50-74 Not recommended
Since March 2008, Wine Spectator gives a range of marks (for example 85-88), that indicates a preliminary score. This fits much better to value differences between wines, and to give people better information in their buying decision.
Wine Spectator also has “Special Designations” as following:
- Highly Recommended: "The issue's most impressive wines. Includes top-scorers and wines that represent optimal purchases based on their combination of score, price and availability."
- Collectibles: "Wines that will improve most from additional bottle age and that show the greatest potential to gain in value."
- Best Values: "Wines with good scores, modest prices and wide distribution."
- Smart Buys: "Wines that deliver fine character at affordable prices and that are broadly available."
Each year Wine Spectator publishes its “Top 100 Wines”. It represents their 100 most exciting and best-tasted wines, according to their editors’ notes, rank and analysis.
Yangjiu.com is proud to distribute 3 wines among those 100 top wines of the year.
« Really dense and locked up now; this is packed with dark fig, currant and blackberry fruit shrouded by layers of tar, hot stone, bittersweet licorice and espresso. The long, dense finish has a great tug of iron buried within it. Best from 2011 through 2030. 15,000 cases made.”
Rating: 95, Wine Spectator, Apr 30, 2008
Perrin & Fils Gigondas La Gille 2005, Rank 39
« Dark and smoky, with alluring cocoa powder, mesquite and bacon fat notes leading the way for rich black currant, melted licorice and espresso. The long, smoldering finish shows a nice wild side. Impressive now, but better with some cellaring. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2014. 3,000 cases made.”
Rating: 93, Wine Spectator, Sep 30, 2008
Louis Latour Marsannay 2005, Rank 58
“Lean and solidly built, despite its ripe cherry notes up front. Tannins and acidity dominate now, but this has a stony character and length, with loads of mineral on the aftertaste. Best from 2010 through 2020. 8,000 cases made.”
Rating: 90, Wine Spectator, Feb 29, 2008
