Ric’s Most Memorable Wines of 2010

Here goes Ric’s choices, based on the 55 new posts in 2010…

Best Unaffordable Red: 1995 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru. Like I said last year, a great burgundy beats everything hands-down. Thanks, Danny.

Best Affordable Red: 1990 Ch Chasse-Spleen (thanks, Hiok). Who would have thought that a Moulis en Medoc can resemble a Haut-Brion? Another deserving winner would be the 1985 Dominus proprietary red…if you can find it. Thanks, PS.

Most Memorable Red: 1998 Ch Ausone and 2003 Pingus, for the wrong reasons: they are the two most expensive bottles that I’ve ever purchased just for the express purpose of drinking; we drank them far too young; they are bloody over-priced.

Best Value Red:  2005 Ch D’Aurilhac, followed closely by the 2005 Ch D’Escurac, both at similar price points of only SGD27, but drinking like classified growths.

Most Disappointing Red: 2001 Beringer Private Reserve cabernet sauvignon. I think Dominus is the best bet for California reds. Period.

Worst Red: 2007 Fontant de France cabernet. Not acceptable to be served on board Singapore Airlines. The 2000 Ch Mouton (not Rothschild!) and the 2005 Domaine Louis Latour Beaune Vignes Franches 1er Cru come close as well in mediocrity.

Best Unaffordable White: None. I don’t have deep pockets, but I don’t think I drank any that I’d consider unaffordable.

Best Affordable White: 2002 Leeuwin Estate Art Series chardonnay (if you can find it…thanks, K), proving that this wine is really a match for the best chardonnays. Close behind is the 2007 Peter Michael Mon Plaisir chardonnay.

Most Memorable White: I’ll opt for a bubbly here, the 1990 Dom Perignon, at the final blowout at Iggy’s, sharing the stage with Ausone and Pingus. Thanks again, Danny boy.

Best Value White: 2007 Dog Point Section 94 sauvignon blanc, that just pipped the 2009 Grosset Polish Hill riesling, both similarly priced at SGD46.

Most Disappointing White: 2007 Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon-Milly-Lamartine. Worse, it’s over-priced.

Worst White: None, really.

I must thank all friends and contributors who had so unselfishly made available these wines for tasting. Bon vin et merci beaucoup!