At the end of every year, Wine Spectator comes out with their Top 100 Wines of the Year. Once the wines are announced, there typically is a mad dash to obtain these wines. The Wine of the Year instantly becomes very hard to find and goes up in value. Some people say it might be a little over-hyped and there are plenty of good wines not on the list but one thing that can’t be denied is the wines on the list are all high quality wines.  The list contains a nice variety of red wine, white wine, sparkling wine and dessert wine as well as a good balance between imported wine and domestic, including selections outside of California. Oxford Liquor Shoppe has done a good job over the years bringing in these wines, most of the time we have these in stock before the list is announced.  For the last few years we have been posting what wines we have in stock from the current year’s list as well as wines we may have from a previous years list.

Top 100 Wines of 2016

#32 2014 Intrinsic Cabernet Cabernet Columbia Valley $19.99

“Firm in texture, brimming with raspberry, black cherry, violet and herb flavors that come together harmoniously on the finish against refined tannins. Offers presence and persistence. Best from 2018 through 2024.”

#41 2015 Kono Sauvignon Blanc $13.99

#42 2014 Vina Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley Classic Series $9.99

#45 2015 Charles Smith Riesling Kung Fu Girl $12.99

“Tangy and zingy, with lively acidity that balances against gobs of ripe pear and apricot flavors, carrying through the long, lime-accented finish. Drink now through 2020.”

#67 2014 Hahn Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands SLH $19.99

#70 2014 Ravines Riesling Finger Lakes Dry $16.99

#73 NV Korbel Brut California Organic Grapes $14.99

 

#75 2014 Bodegas Godeval Vina Godeval Valdeorras Cepas Vellas $16.99

#76 2011 Carpineto Vina Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva $24.99

Past Glories Still Available

Top 100 Wines of 2015

#16 2009 Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Port Score 93 Price $22.99

“Dense and rich, with amply spiced flavors of ripe dark plum and cherry compote. Mineral notes emerge midpalate, leading to a lush, chocolate-filled finish. A fresh and engaging style. Drink now.”

#21 2014 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Score 93 Price $29.99

“Stylish and generous, exhibiting a complex array of flavors, from white grapefruit and lemon curd to candied ginger, lemon verbena, honeysuckle and lime zest. Achieves elegance, power and refreshment in lovely harmony. Drink now.”

#35 2013 Rombauer Chardonnay Carneros Score 93 Price $38.99

“A creamy-textured, charming style that’s easy to drink yet is deceptively complex and layered, with a mix of vanilla-scented oak and vibrant peach, nectarine, honeydew and apricot flavors. Long on the finish. Drink now.”

#78 2012 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley Score 91 Price $29.99

“Exhibits ripe and juicy yet firm flavors of currant and blackberry amid a gravelly earthiness before finding focus on the finish, where the tannins are chewy, revealing a licorice touch. Drink now through 2025.”

Top 100 Wines of 2014

#16 2012 Two Hands Shiraz Bella’s Garden Score 95 Price $79.99

“Utterly seamless, focused, powerful and elegant, layered with cherry, boysenberry and red plum fruit, revealing glints of coffee, jasmine and cardamom that add extra nuances. Delivers complexity without extra weight. The finish won’t quit. Drink now through 2022.”

#43 2013 Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling Score 91 Price $12.99

“Crisp and sleek, with juicy, expansive nectarine and peach flavors that play against citrusy acidity, finishing with zing and a sense of softness that lets the finish keep singing. Drink now through 2020. 128,806 cases made.“

#54 N.V. Mumm Napa Brut Napa Valley Prestige Score 91 Price $22.99

“Packs in a lot of complexity, with aromas of apple, fresh ginger and rubber that lead to crisp and layered flavors of raspberry and spice. Drink now. 173,000 cases made.“

Top 100 Wines of 2007

#7 Robert Mondavi 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve Score 95 Points Price $102.99

“Weaves together a complex array of ripe, rich currant, anise, smoky oak and black cherry. Dense, concentrated and persistent, with great depth and focus. Ends with an amazingly long, richly flavored finish. Best from 2008 through 2018.”

Top 100 Wines of 2002

#37 Rosemont 1999 Syrah McLaren Vale Balmoral Score 93 Points Price $32.99

“A bit more aristocratic than most Aussie Shirazes, this one strikes a beautiful chord of rich blackberry and currant fruit, hinting at anise and pepper. Has a fleshy frame, with sweet spicy notes darting in and out through the long, harmonious finish. Drink now through 2010. 10,000 cases made.”

Our wine club got together for our Fall meeting and it did not disappoint. We meet 4 times a year to break bread and drink wine. Sometimes we have a theme, other times we don’t. This week’s past meeting there was no theme so people could bring whatever they wanted. It proved to be an interesting assortment of wines. You would be surprised how tough it is to guess the grape when your drinking it blind. It could be quite challenging, especially with even the most popular grapes. This meeting saw 2 whites and 4 reds, which went nice with the buffalo chicken pizza, turkey quesadillas (what else are you suppose to do with leftover turkey), spring rolls and an assortment or cheese and meats.

• 2010 Crowley Pinot Noir Entre Nous – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Tasted blind. This was a pop and pour. Boy did it need a decant because this was an 84 when I first had it. Lot of wet leaves on the nose and a simple wine with short finish. Upon retasting, got some cherry, matchstick, tobacco and earth on the nose. Flavors had plumped up with some cherry, earth and beet. Like a totally different wine. I gave this wine 88 points and it finished 6th on the night. (88 pts.)
• 2013 Lavau Gigondas – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
  Tasted blind. Similar to the first wine, this needed some air to open up. Not as big a difference as the first wine but was noticeably better upon retasting. Aromas of cherry, earth red fruits and licorice led to flavors of cherry, plum and dark red fruits. Ended with a 20 second finish. I gave this wine 90 points and it finished 3rd on the night. (90 pts.) In Stock.
• 2015 Jules Taylor Pinot Noir – New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
  Tasted blind. Decanted for over an hour before serving. Nose of citrus, which is strange for a red wine, tea and cherry. It then had flavors of cherry, green tea, earth and mineral. Closer to Burgundy than anything from the states. Still the citrus nose is pretty unique. I gave this wine 92 points and it finished 2nd on the night. (92 pts.)
• 2013 Robert Mondavi Winery Chardonnay – USA, California, Napa Valley
  Tasted blind. Nose of beeswax, mineral and wet stone. Got some honey, lemon, mineral, stone and melon on the palate. Ended with a 25+ second finish. This one had me stumped. Guessed a Sancerre. Shocked when the bag came off. Never really liked their chardonnay’s before but this was nice. I gave it 92 points an it came in 5th on the night. (92 pts.)
• 2014 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Signature Series Napa County Napa Valley – USA, California, Napa Valley
  Tasted blind. This was a bit closed down initially but opened up with some nice cherry, raspberry and boysenberry aromas. Ended up having a lot going on there. The palate had some flavors of plum, cherry, earth, blackberry and a floral thing going on. Ended with a 30+ second finish. Pegged this as a Sonoma Cab in the $40 range. Everyone was shocked when the bag came off. This was my wine of the night and I gave it 93 points and it finished 4th. Bought a bottle of this a week later just to see if it showed as well and it was just as good. Curious who makes this for them and what the grape source is. (93 pts.)
• 2014 Viña Godeval Valdeorras Cepas Vellas – Spain, Galicia, Valdeorras
  Tasted blind. Nose of tropical fruit, honeysuckle and mineral. More tropical fruit on the palate with lemon, honey, pear and a hint of grapefruit. Nailed this as a Godello. Just a nice wine for the money. I gave this 92 points and it finished 1st overall. (92 pts.) In stock.

The Jules Taylor and Vina Godeval ended up being on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2016.

The world of wine is just as trendy as anything else. Wines become the hottest thing then all of the sudden they’re not. Over the years things like Blue Nun led the rise of Riesling from Germany, California introduced their version of barrel aged Chardonnay as well as the White Zinfandel craze, and more recently Shiraz from Australia had it’s time in the sun. Only the quality of the wine and pedigree of the grape dictate whether it sticks around after it’s hot streak. The current hot trendy wine currently belongs to the Malbec grape from Argentina but the grapes origins come from the old world.

Malbec’s birthplace is in the French region of Cahors. The wine was grown there for several hundred years enjoying great notoriety from the middle ages until the 19th century. The grape, known locally as Cot, had a great reputation for quality and was shipped all over the world. “The black wine” of Cahors rivaled Bordeaux to the Northwest but the region had two devastating events. The first was phylloxera, an insect that attacks grape vines and kills them. Whenever they hit, the vines need to be grafted to American root stock which the insets won’t go after. The second event was a frost that decimated 75% of the regions vines in 1956, effectively wiping them out. It takes years, even decades, to recover from something like that. After that the grape went dormant. The grape is one of the six red grapes allowed in Bordeaux wines but it was never a major player there. It wasn’t until Argentina came along and made the grape it’s own that Malbec became a major player again.

It’s easy to see why Malbec has become so popular over the last 6-7 years. The wines are typically fruit forward, easy drinking and aren’t as heavy or tannic as a Cabernet Sauvignon. Most importantly, the quality is high but the wines are inexpensive which has really fueled it’s popularity. Steak houses can serve it by the glass cheap, offering a tasty compliment to a juicy steak. Argentina has been the epicenter of this movement and it’s the most widely planted grape in the country.They have done some great things with it, including some high altitude vineyards that are some of the highest elevations for vineyards in the world.

With the popularity of Malbec comes other regions trying there hand with the grape. Versions have surfaced from Bordeaux, California, Chile, Washington and of course Cahors trying to get back in the game. I thought it would be fun to pick out three and taste them against each other. Here are the results.

• 2009 Château de Chambert Cahors – France, Southwest France, Cahors
  Nose gravitates more towards the old world with notes of blackberry, kirsch liquor, smoke and violets. Trends more towards the black fruits than the red fruits. Very dark color, almost black with a magenta rim. More blackberry and kirsch liquor on the palate of this along with an earthy note and touch of iron. Finish lasts maybe 20 seconds. Wine will definitely peak your interest in Cahors if your a fan of the grape. (90 pts.)

• 2010 Waterbrook Malbec Reserve – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
  Nose is more fruit forward than the Chambert and you can tell it’s new world. Color on this is very similar to the first wine being almost black. Trends more towards the red fruits with cherry and plum but still get violets and kirsch liquor like the Cahors. Palate is also fruit forward. Really get smacked with it in the beginning with flavors of cherry, plum, kirsch liquor and a earthy note on the finish. Finish lasts about 20 seconds as well on this. (90 pts.)

• 2011 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec – Argentina, Mendoza
  Amazing how different the 3 noses on the 3 wines are. The Catena is the most forward of the 3 wines. Aromas of dark cherry, kirsch liquor, plum and smoke jump out of the glass. Again a very dark wine, almost black in color. The palate is again very forward with flavors of dark cherry, plum, kirsch liquor and a mineral note on the finish. This had the longest finish of the 3 wines as well, going on for about 25-30 seconds. Outstanding quality for the money. (92 pts.)

I have to say this was fun. It was interesting to compare and contrast the three wines plus I love to see diversity in wine. It’s good to see Cahors trying to establish itself back in the quality circle. That wine really opened my eyes to the region. Washington seems like it can do interesting things with the grape although they need to try and keep prices in check to compete. Argentina is certainly doing great things with the grape and I firmly believe that the wines will have some longevity because the quality is clearly there.

Being a sommelier and known as a “wine guy,” people often ask me if you could really tell the difference between a $100 bottle of wine and a $10 bottle of wine. I usually tell them “It depends.” There are so many factors that go into that question. Let’s assume that the price above for each bottle is the actual cost and not discounted. Let’s also assume that the comparison is between two bottles from the same or similar regions. The reason for this is if your comparing a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon  to a Bordeaux they are very different wines. If you have the Napa Valley first, these wines typically have more alcohol and are more fruit forward with bombastic personalities. Following up with the Bordeaux would make it seem too rustic and simply overpowers the wine. Having the Bordeaux first has the opposite effect. A Bordeaux, typically with lower alcohol and more finesse, makes the Napa Valley Cabernet too alcoholic and flabby. So you really need an equal comparison. The last factor is it depends on the taster. If you have someone that doesn’t have that much experience tasting wine try the two bottles they probably aren’t going to see a difference. So the answer would be no. Unless you enjoy wine, I would not advocate spending that much money on a bottle of wine.

So let’s say that the conditions above are met. Now what? Well I believe that there are good bottles of wine at every price point. So there are nice bottles to be had for $10 and there are some bad bottles to be had at $100. So if you picked out your best $10 could it beat a bad $100 bottle? While it’s certainly possible it’s still a long shot. When a winery is making a bottle costing $100, they are aiming for a very high quality level. To bring the 100 point wine rating scale into the picture for a moment, someone buying a $100 bottle may be expecting at least a wine rating of 95 points. Anything below that may be a disappointment. But for a $10 bottle, a really high quality one may get 90 points. So although that may be a nice bottle, especially for the money, it might not be enough to say it is better than the $100 even though it may not reach that 95 point threshold. No don’t get me wrong, there are some bottles that cost $100 that aren’t even hitting that 90 point mark.

My general feeling is that someone who does enjoy wine will be able to tell the difference. They don’t have to be a wine expert either! They really just need to enjoy wine. Well this past weekend I did a little experiment. I have a friend who I get together with every so often and he too loves wine. So of course we crack a few bottles when we get together, typically some really nice stuff. The past couple of times we have been tasting blind. Now if you don’t know what that means there are two different definitions. Single blind means you don’t know the wine but you may know the region, the grape or the vintage. Double blind means you know nothing at all. So for the wines we cracked, we only knew the grape: Cabernet Sauvignon. He said to bring your “A game” so we both picked out two really nice bottles. I then decided to make it interesting by throwing in a $20 bottle I recently had. The $20 bottle was excellent and I thought it would make it difficult to identify in a blind tasting. All wines were decanted for 1 hour. Here are the results:

Wine 1

We both agreed the aromas on this were closed, meaning it was not giving up much. What I did get was some plum and iron. After sitting in the glass for a while the nose started to open up. Tasting this wine was a different story. It had some nice plum, cherry and iron flavors. It certainly had some complexity to it but my friend and I then argued over the finish. I said it lasted about 30 seconds, which to me is long. My friend argued that 30 seconds was not a long finish and it was shorter than the other wines. Overall I gave this wine 92 points and my friend scored it a 90. Interestingly enough, my friend called this out as the ringer before even tasting the other wine!. Since I had it a week or two before, it was pretty easy for my to identify it immediately as well.

Wine 2

This was a much bigger wine than the first one. The nose exploded out of the glass with aromas of blackberry, black cherry and roses. It was much more intense and very much from Napa Valley. The color on this was a very dark red, somewhat similar to wine 1. Drinking this was sheer joy! Favors of blackberry, currant, vanilla and a touch of iron dance across your palate. This was not just a monster wine though. It was beautifully put together that balanced power and elegance. The finish lasted about 45-50 seconds, clearly longer than the first wine. My friend’s impressions were similar to mine. I gave it a 96 and he gave it a 98.

Wine 3

An important distinction between this wine and the other wines was the color. As a red wine ages it gets lighter in color and this one was starting to show some bricking around the rim, a clear sign of age that my friend quickly pointed out. The nose on this also exploded out of the glass with sweet cherry and plum but also showing some more mature aromas of mushroom. Similarly on the palate it had some nice flavors of plum, cherry and blackberry but started showing mature notes mingled in with earth. The finish on this was about as long as wine 2. My friend and I both gave this 96 points.

The Wines

Wine 1 – 2014 Intrinsic Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Washington Release Price $20

Wine 2 – 2012 Lail Cabernet Sauvignon J Daniel Cuvee Napa Valley Release Price $225

Wine 3 – 2004 Opus One Propriety Red Napa Valley Release Price $180

Overall

Tasting the Intrinsic on it’s own was one thing but tasting it next to two high end wines was another. It first got my attention by getting 92 from Wine Spectator. On it’s own it’s a fantastic wine for only $20 and could probably sell for three times it’s price if it came from Napa Valley. My friend is a more experienced taster and it was easy for him to pick this out without even trying the other wines. He actually used deductive reasoning to pick out his wine as well. Since he guessed wine 1 was the ringer and he knew that he didn’t bring an older wine (wine 3), he concluded wine 2 was his. The Lail received a perfect score, 100 points, from Robert Parker. Opus One, when the 1979 vintage was released, was the most expensive wine from Napa Valley at the time. It’s had its ups and downs over the years but the 2004 recently got a 96 from Robert Parker.

Conclusions

This certainly wasn’t highly scientific but it was fun to put the above theory to the test. The less expensive bottle definitely stood out compared to the other two wines. I’d like to do this again but with a larger sample size. It’s pretty safe to say though that on this day the less expensive wine was identified as inferior to the other wines.

Everyone always thinks of Champagne for celebrations. Weddings, birthdays, promotions, but New Year’s Eve is where everyone can get in on the action! We always stock a nice selection of sparkling wine to meet any of your needs. We also offer it chilled for your convenience! Here are 5 great selections we have in house that are perfect for New Year’s Eve!

NV Sigura Viudas Brut Cava $9.99

One of the best values for sparkling wine comes from Spain! Cava is the Spanish equivalent of Champagne but it’s typically a fraction of the cost! This cava offers some delicious flavors for only $9.99! Quality like this in Champagne would start at $40! We have been stocking this for years and it never disappoints! Find out why!

NV Korbel California Sparkling Wine Extra Dry or Brut $12.99 (Connecticut Bottle Minimum)

Always reliable, Korbel is typically widely available and we have it for the CT bottom min, meaning you can’t find it any cheaper than this in Connecticut by state law. If your looking for something that tastes good, is easy drinking, affordable and not have to think too much about, this is the wine for you!

NV Mumm Brut Prestige Napa Valley $19.99

Mumm does an excellent job in their Napa Valley venture of providing a delicious and complex sparkling wine. This is consistently a favorite of Wine Spectator and appeared on their Top 100 Wines of 2014.

Wine Spectator 91 Points

“Packs in a lot of complexity, with aromas of apple, fresh ginger and rubber that lead to crisp and layered flavors of raspberry and spice. Drink now.”

NV Vollereaux Champagne Brut $31.99

When Champagne is done right there is really no better sparkling wine in the world. The Vollereaux is something we have stocked for years and is always on the money. Costs less than both Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot but is better than both in my opinion. Here’s the last time is was reviewed in Wine Spectator.

Wine Spectator 92 points

“Rich and refined, with layers of pear pastry, black cherry, hazelnut, lemon cream, honey and floral notes. A spicy thread of minerality winds through this wine, as does the precise and seamlessly integrated acidity.”

2002 Dom Perignon Champagne Brut $189.99

For those looking for a New Year’s splurge, look no further than the 2002 Dom Perignon. I’ve had this wine several times and it is just an unbelievable Champagne, truthfully one of the best I’ve ever had. 2002 was an excellent year and this one is going to go down as one of the all time greats for Dom Perignon. Other vintages are available. Call for pricing and availability.

Wine Spectator 95 Points

“A rich and smoky Champagne in a graceful package, with a beautiful, fine-grained texture to it and layers of flavor—biscuit, candied lemon peel, coffee liqueur, chamomile, pine, crystallized honey and wood smoke. This is the haute couture of the Champagne world—all about elegance, texture and attention to detail.”

Wine Advocate 96 Points

“The 2002 Dom Perignon is at first intensely floral, with perfumed jasmine that dominates the bouquet. With time in the glass the wine gains richness as the flavors turn decidedly riper and almost tropical. Apricots, passion fruit and peaches emerge from this flashy, opulent Dom Perignon. The wine’s volume makes it approachable today, but readers in search of more complexity will want to cellar this for at least a few years to allow for some of the baby fat to drop off. Geoffroy describes the vintage as very ripe and adds that some of the Chardonnay showed the ill-effects of the hot growing season in the somewhat burned, dehydrated fruit that came in that year.”

Oxford Liquor Shoppe can’t take the stress out of the holidays. But we can take the stress out of finding that perfect bottle of wine. Whether a gift for someone special, something to compliment dinner or just something to sip on, Oxford Liquor Shoppe has what your looking for. Here are some great inexpensive bottles of red wine and one white we have in stock that are great for the holidays! We even tells you what it pairs with!

2013 Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills (H3) Cabernet Sauvignon $13.99

A perennial favorite, The H3 packs big, juicy Cabernet flavors into a fantastic price point. Bottles like this from California cost three times what this costs. A real steal for the money!

Wine Spectator 91 Points

“Supple, focused and distinctive, with a core of ripe plum, currant, sage and floral flavors, mingling effectively and harmoniously on the long, expressive finish. The tannins are nicely shaped. Drink now through 2020.”

Pairs with Steak, Venison, Aged Cheddar Cheese, Lamb

2013 Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon $13.99

Not to be confused with Columbia Crest, Columbia Winery also hails from Washington but presents a different Cabernet Sauvignon. While the H3 has that big upfront fruit, this shows more balance and is made in a more classical style. While still having nice fruit, earthy flavors balance it out to present a nice contrast to the H3.

Wine Spectator 90 Points

“This dense and focused red plays its coffee and mineral-accented blackberry flavors against a blanket of fine tannins, coming together smoothly on the purposeful finish. Best from 2016 through 2019.”

Pairs with Steak, Venison, Aged Cheddar Cheese, Lamb

2013 Meiomi Pinot Noir Monterey-Sonoma-Santa Barbara Counties $19.99

Year in and year out the Meiomi delivers the goods and the 2013 may be the best yet! Big, rich, pure Pinot flavors dance across your palate and are mesmerizing. One of the easiest bottles to drink because the tannins are so soft and it goes down so easy. Unless your an old school idealist, your going to love the Meiomi!

Wine Spectator 92 Points / #20 on Top 100 Wines of 2015

“Rich yet medium-weight, offering an exciting interplay of berry, oak, earth and spice notes, with subtle edges to the blueberry, raspberry, mocha and fresh-turned earth flavors. Ends with an aftertaste of melted black licorice. Drink now through 2020.”

Pairs with Pork, Roast Chicken, Turkey, Salmon

2010 Bodega Classica Hacienda Lopez de Haro Crianza $9.99

Speaking of old world wines, this is classic old world style Rioja! Not the fruit driven wine like the H3, this mixes more mature red fruits with more earthy flavors for a elegant, nuanced wine.

Wine Advocate 91 Points

“The 2010 Hacienda Lopez de Haro Crianza feels quite classical in its style, lightly-colored, with clean red spicy fruit, a touch of leather and a polished, soft palate that makes it very pleasant and easy to drink. At this price level this wine is a steal! Drink 2014-2018.”

Pairs with Pizza, Bolognese Sauce, Parmesan Cheese and Pork

2013 Byron Chardonnay Santa Barbara County $14.99

The list would not be complete without a white wine and figured we should stick to the most popular white grape: Chardonnay. Byron has always turned out beautiful Chardonnay and Pinot Noir but they introduced the Santa Barbara County line a few years ago and it presents a nice entry level price point. This Chardonnay is a great value and if this came from Napa or Sonoma it would cost twice as much! Displaying classic Chardonnay flavors, this uses the right amount of oak to please the people that like it and the people that don’t.

Wine Advocate 90 Points

“A smoking value that’s made in serious quantities, the 2013 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County has classic stone fruits, white peach, white flowers and classy oak/vanilla notes in a medium-bodied, supple, elegant and fruit-forward style. Fermented and aged half in tank and half in neutral barrel, it’s a no-brainer Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming couple of years.”

Pairs with Lobster, Roast Chicken, Brei and Salmon

Stop by the store at 19 Oxford Rd in Oxford, CT to see these and other great selections. Our in house Sommelier can tailor something to your specific needs so come by and say hello!

At the end of every year, Wine Spectator comes out with their Top 100 Wines of the Year. Once the wines are announced, there typically is a mad dash to obtain these wines. The Wine of the Year instantly becomes very hard to find and goes up in value. Some people say it might be a little over-hyped and there are plenty of good wines not on the list but one thing that can’t be denied is the wines on the list are all high quality wines.  The list contains a nice variety of red wine, white wine, sparkling wine and dessert wine as well as a good balance between imported wine and domestic, including selections outside of California. Oxford Liquor Shoppe has done a good job over the years bringing in these wines, most of the time we have these in stock before the list is announced.  For the last few years we have been posting what wines we have in stock from the current year’s list as well as wines we may have from a previous years list.

Top 100 Wines of 2015

#16 2009 Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Port Score 93 Price $22.99

“Dense and rich, with amply spiced flavors of ripe dark plum and cherry compote. Mineral notes emerge midpalate, leading to a lush, chocolate-filled finish. A fresh and engaging style. Drink now.”

#20 2013 Meiomi Pinot Noir Score 92 Price $19.99

“Rich yet medium-weight, offering an exciting interplay of berry, oak, earth and spice notes, with subtle edges to the blueberry, raspberry, mocha and fresh-turned earth flavors. Ends with an aftertaste of melted black licorice. Drink now through 2020.”

#21 2014 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Score 93 Price $29.99

“Stylish and generous, exhibiting a complex array of flavors, from white grapefruit and lemon curd to candied ginger, lemon verbena, honeysuckle and lime zest. Achieves elegance, power and refreshment in lovely harmony. Drink now.”

#29 2014 Tenshen White Santa Barbara County Score 92 Price $19.99

“This is lush and powerful, offering fleshy peach and apricot flavors at the core, with plenty of aromatic highlights, including orange blossom and honeysuckle. The texture is appealingly smooth and mouthwatering, with the complex details gaining momentum on the finish, where this reveals hints of dried spice and matcha green tea. Viognier, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2020.”

#35 2013 Rombauer Chardonnay Carneros Score 93 Price $38.99

“A creamy-textured, charming style that’s easy to drink yet is deceptively complex and layered, with a mix of vanilla-scented oak and vibrant peach, nectarine, honeydew and apricot flavors. Long on the finish. Drink now.”

#36 2013 Bodegas Godeval Valdeorras Viña Godeval Cepas Vellas Score 92 Price $17.99

“This alluring white delivers a broad range of flavors in a pillowy texture, while crisp, well-integrated acidity maintains the focus. Melon, coconut, spice and smoke flavors mingle harmoniously on the plush palate. The mineral element is fresh and long. Godello. Drink now through 2018.”

#38 2012 Solena Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Grand Cuvee Score 92 Price $24.99

“Sleek, lithe and inviting, with juicy cherry, black cherry and gentle spice flavors that glide quickly over polished tannins into a long and vivid finish. This has presence, harmony, depth and persistence. Best from 2016 through 2022.”

#78 2012 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley Score 91 Price $29.99

“Exhibits ripe and juicy yet firm flavors of currant and blackberry amid a gravelly earthiness before finding focus on the finish, where the tannins are chewy, revealing a licorice touch. Drink now through 2025.”

Past Glories Still Available

Top 100 Wines of 2014

#16 2012 Two Hands Shiraz Bella’s Garden Score 95 Price $79.99

“Utterly seamless, focused, powerful and elegant, layered with cherry, boysenberry and red plum fruit, revealing glints of coffee, jasmine and cardamom that add extra nuances. Delivers complexity without extra weight. The finish won’t quit. Drink now through 2022.”

#43 2013 Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling Score 91 Price $12.99

“Crisp and sleek, with juicy, expansive nectarine and peach flavors that play against citrusy acidity, finishing with zing and a sense of softness that lets the finish keep singing. Drink now through 2020. 128,806 cases made.“

#54 N.V. Mumm Napa Brut Napa Valley Prestige Score 91 Price $22.99

“Packs in a lot of complexity, with aromas of apple, fresh ginger and rubber that lead to crisp and layered flavors of raspberry and spice. Drink now. 173,000 cases made.“

#78 2012 Acrobat Pinot Noir Score 90 Price $18.99

“The crisp tannins and sleek structure give the up-front blackberry, currant and floral spice flavors good lift, coming together smoothly on the persistent finish. Drink now through 2016. 38,000 cases made.”

Top 100 Wines of 2008

#65 Bodegas Muga 2004 Rioja Reserva Score 91 Points Price $39.99

“Focused and balanced, this vivacious red delivers black cherry, mineral, mint and citrus peel flavors, with firm but well-integrated tannins and a fresh, floral finish. Drink now through 2012. 4,000 cases imported.”

Top 100 Wines of 2007

#7 Robert Mondavi 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve Score 95 Points Price $102.99

“Weaves together a complex array of ripe, rich currant, anise, smoky oak and black cherry. Dense, concentrated and persistent, with great depth and focus. Ends with an amazingly long, richly flavored finish. Best from 2008 through 2018.”

Top 100 Wines of 2002

#37 Rosemont 1999 Syrah McLaren Vale Balmoral Score 93 Points Price $32.99

“A bit more aristocratic than most Aussie Shirazes, this one strikes a beautiful chord of rich blackberry and currant fruit, hinting at anise and pepper. Has a fleshy frame, with sweet spicy notes darting in and out through the long, harmonious finish. Drink now through 2010. 10,000 cases made.”

Thanksgiving is a holiday centered around food. Easter has the Easter Bunny, Valentine’s Day has romance and Christmas has Santa Claus of course but Thanksgiving is about that turkey. And that turkey is only going in one place! In the store, we get more questions about what pairs with this meal more than any other holiday. Come Christmas time, it is typically about getting a special bottle as a gift. Luckily, Oxford Liquor Shoppe has just what you’re looking for with four great recommendations to pair with your turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes.

Turkey is a rather neutral white meat. It’s not too fatty and pairs with a wide selection of wines. Here are four wines, in stock, that won’t over-complicate things starting from the lightest to heaviest.

1. Mumm Napa N.V. Brut Napa Valley Prestige $19.99

This is Mumm’s Napa Valley operation and it is turning out fabulous, affordable sparkling wines. We have carried this wine for many years and it never disappoints. Sparkling wines are great to pair with foods because they are very versatile so they pair with a wide variety of things. Here the flavors of raspberry and spice pair nicely with the sweeter dishes like candied yams, but compliment a blander meat like turkey just as well.

2. Dr. Loosen 2014 Dr. L Riesling $10.99

This German Riesling is a mainstay for us, and also one of Dave’s favorites. An incredible value for only $10.99, think of this wine similar to what cranberry sauce brings out in that turkey dinner. That mixture of sweetness to stick out between the turnips, mashed potatoes and turkey. The great thing about the Dr. L is it’s amazing consistency throughout the years. Count on flavors of apple and peach but wait for that kick of mineral on the finish, a feature other regions of the world have found hard to replicate in their Rieslings.

3. Byron 2013 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County $14.99

This selection just arrived a month ago. Santa Barbara is quickly becoming the go-to region for delicious affordable California Chardonnays. Byron’s is heavy enough to go perfectly with that turkey, complimenting the meat with flavors of stone fruits and vanilla. The wine is aged half in tank and half in neutral oak barrels, so that the oak doesn’t overpower this wine, thereby wiping out the turkey.

4. Solena 2012 Pinot Noir Grande Cuvee $24.99

I’ve always said that it’s tough to find a good Pinot Noir under $20. The Solena 2012 Grande Curvee Pinot Noir is a little over that, but will deliver on its premium pricing if you’re willing to splurge. Pinot Noir is not a tannic wine, making it one of the only red wines that pair well with lighter white meats. The Solena is juicy with jammy cherry and spice flavors that sing over the more moderate Thanksgiving palette. Oregon is a very hot right now because it is a nice middle ground for lovers of Burgundy and California Pinot Noir.