Sixteen Italian Wines among Wine Spectator's Top 100
Loris Scagliarini - December 31, 2004

As they do every year, Wine Spectator's editors, selected the Top 100 wines from among over 12,500 entries worldwide tasted during 2004. This year's list included 16 Italian wines. Tuscany is at the top with eight labels represented, followed by Piedmont with three, Veneto with two, and Abruzzo, Campania and Sicily with one wine each.

According to the editors, these Top 100 are the most exciting wines of the year, based on three criteria: high score, large production and value pricing. This explains how a wine with a perfect score of 100, such as Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Toscana Masseto 2001, is listed lower than Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Flasc 2000, which scored 98 points. Just take a look at the release prices: $250 for the Massetto compared to $105 for Scavino's Barolo.

Another noteworthy piece of information is that only five wines are quoted above $100 per bottle. In addition to the two Italian wines already mentioned, there are two California wines: Peter Michael Les Pavots Knights Valley 2001, 98 points, $115 per bottle, in fifth position between Scavino and Ornellaia, and Pride Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve 2001, 96 points, $115 per bottle, in 46th position. The fifth is France's Château Lafitte Rothschild Pauillac 2001, 96 points, $155 per bottle, in seventh position.

As Gianfranco Tachis said recently in Florence, some Italian quality wines have inflated price tags. Though the wines are excellent, Tachis believes that overpricing is responsible for the current market crisis, at least partially. If we compare the Château Rieussec Sauternes 2001, at the top of Wine Spectator's list with 100 points, that sells for $80 per bottle, we may agree with him. The Château Rieussec and Tenuta dell'Ornellaia are the only two wines on the list that scored the perfect 100 points in the list.

As expected, American wines dominate the list with 33 labels, followed by France with 18, Italy with 16, Australia with 10, Spain with 7, South Africa with 4, Chile and Argentina with 3, Germany with 2, and Portugal, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Hungary with 1 wine each.

The Top 100

1. Chateau Rieussec Sauternes 2001 – France
2. Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta Colchagua 2001 – Chile
3. Numanthia-Termes Toro Termes 2002 – Spain
4. Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric del Flasc 2000 – Italy
5. Peter Michael Les Pavots Knights Valley 2001- US
6. Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Toscana Masseto 2001 – Italy
7. Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 2001 – France
8. Greg Norman Estates Shiraz South Eastern Australia Reserve 1999 – Australia
9. Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes 2001 – France
10. Fontodi Colli della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello 2001 – Italy
11. Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma County Sonoma 2002 – US
12. Lewis Alec's Blend Napa Valley 2002 – US
13. Piper-Heidsleck Brut Champagne 1995 – France
14. Staglin Chardonnay Rutherford 2002 – US
15. Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Brunello di Montaicino Castelgiocondo 1999 – Italy
16. Vina Almaviva Puente Alto 2001 – Chile
17. Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2002 – US
18. Chateau Souverain Chardonnay Sonoma County 2002 – US
19. Ponzi Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2002 – US
20. Quinta do Vale Meao Douro 2000 – Portugal
21. Glen Carlou Chardonnay Pearl 2002 – South Africa
22. Beringer Chardonnay Napa Valley Sbragla-Limited Release 2002 – US
23. Chateau Gulraud Sauternes 2001 – United Kingdom
24. Leeuwin Chardonnay Margaret River Art Series 2001 – Australia
25. Beaux Freres Pinot Noir Willamette Valley The Beaux Freres Vineyard 2002 – US
26. Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Don Melchor 2000 – Chile
27. Elderton Shiraz Barossa Command 2000 – Australia
28. Green Point Shiraz Victoria 2002 – Australia
29. Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 1999 – Italy
30. Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Reserve 2001 – US
31. Domaine Charvin Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2001 – France
32. Viticcio Chianti Classico Riserva 2001 – Italy
33. Cougar Crest Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2002 – US
34. Araujo Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley Eisele Vineyard 2002 – US
35. Henri Bourgeois Pouilly-Fume La Porte de L'Abbaye 2002 – France
36. Marques tie Grinon Syrah Vino de Mesa tie Toledo Dominio de Vaidepuse 2001 – Spain
37. Chateau Cos-d'Estournel St Estephe 2001 – France
38. Torbreck The Strule Barossa Valley 2002 – Australia
39. Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino 1999 – Italy
40. Azelia Barolo Bricco Fiasco 2000 – Italy
41. Rosenblum Zinfandel Paso Robles Richard Sauret Vineyard 2002 – US
42. Worthy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Sophia's Cuvee 2001 – US
43. Pago de los Capelianes Ribera del Duero Crianza 2001 – Spain
44. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2004 – New Zealand
45. Penfolds Shiraz Barossa Valley RWT 2001 – Australia
46. Pride Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve 2001 – US
47. Alban Syrah Edna Valley Reva 2001 – US
48. Falset-Marca Montsant Castell de Falset 2000 – Spain
49. Domaine Templer Bandol 2001 – France
50. Truchard Chardonnay Napa Valley Cameros 2002 – US
51. Two Hands Shiraz McLaren Vale Angel's Share 2003 – Australia
52. Columbia Crest Merlot Columbia Valley Grand Estates 2001 – US
53. Bodegas Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Mendoza Reserve 2002 – Argentina
54. San Fabino Calcinaia Chianti Classico Cellole Riserva 2001 – Spain
55. Columbia Cabernet Sauvignon Yaldma Valley Otis Vineyard David Lake Signature Series 1999 – US
56. Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District 2002 – US
57. Chateau Dereszia Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos 2000 – Hungary
58. Chateau Giscours Margaux 2001 – France
59. Fairview Goat-Roti Western Cape 2002 – South Africa
60. Ca'Blanca Barolo 2000 – Italy
61. Tamarack Firehouse Red Columbia Valley 2002 – US
62. Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valfey 2002 – US
63. Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Southing 2002 – US
64. Castallo di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2000 – Italy
65. Allegrini Verona Palazzo della Torre 2000 – Italy
66. Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Alsace Les Princes Abbes 2000 – France
67. Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza 2002 – Argentina
68. Chateau Ste Mechelle-Dr Loosen Riesling Columbia Valley Erolca 2003 – US
69. Chateau Haut-Bages-Liberal Pauillac 2001 – France
70. Van Duzer Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Estate 2002 – US
71. Warwick Three Cape Ladies Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 2001 – South Africa
72. Chateau Montus Madiran 2001 – France
73. Wolf Blass Shiraz Barossa Gold Label 2002 – Australia
74. Buehler Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2001 – US
75. JohJos Prum Riesling Kabinett Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Wahlener Sonnenuhr 2002 – Germany
76. Sebastiani Chardonnay Sonoma County Appellation Selection 2001 – US
77. Bodegas Palacio Rioja Cosme Palacio y Hermanos 2001 – Spain
78. Valentin Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon San Rafael Famiglia 2002 – Argentina
79. Chateau Langoa Barton St-Jullen 2001 – France
80. Chalone Syrah Chalone 2002 – US
81. Josef Leitz Riesling Spatiese Rheingau Rudesheimer Magdalenenkreuz 2002 – Germany
82. Scala Del Priorat Cartoixa Reserva 2000 – Spain
83. La Chablislenne Chablis Premier Cru Grand Cuveee 2002 – France
84. Waterbrook Mélange Columbia valley 2003 – US
85. Villa Mt Eden Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley Bien Nacido Vineyard Grand Reserve 2001 – US
86. La Valentina Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2002 – Italy
87. Michele Chiarlo Barolo Tortoniano 2000 – Italy
88. Kenonkop Paul Sauer Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 2000 – South Africa
89. Inama Soave Classico 2002 – Italy
90. Domaine des Baumard Savennieres Clos du Papillon 2001 – France
91. Lucien Crochet Sancerre Le Chene 2002 – France
92. Dornaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee 2001 – France
93. Rosemount Chardonnay Hunter Valley Show Reserve 2002 – Australia
94. Cusumano Insolia – Chardonnay Sicilia Angimbe 2002 – Italy
95. Peter Lehmann Shiraz Barossa 2002 – Australia
96. Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina Sannio 2003 – Italy
97. Gloria Ferrer Brut Sonoma County NV – US
98. Argyle Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2002 – US
99. Georges Duboeuf Moulin-e-Vent Domaine des Rosiers 2003 – France
100. Acacia Pinot Noir Napa Volley-Cameros 2002 – US

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