31 Achával-Ferrer
Malbec Mendoza Finca Altamira 2003 96 / $85 • Argentina
A pair of Italians and a pair of Argentineans partnered to form this small winery, which has risen to the pinnacle of quality in Argentina. The Finca Altamira vineyard, including 10 acres of ungrafted Malbec ranging from 50 to 80 years old, is the site used in this stunning red, the highest scorer yet from Argentina. 715 cases made.
32 Rosemount
GSM South Australia 2001 93 / $30 • Australia
Rosemount introduced GSM in 1994, aiming to emulate a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and it has scored well almost every year. The 2001 is a blend of 48 percent Grenache, 45 percent Syrah and 7 percent Mourvèdre from McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Langhorne Creek. The 2001 vintage was unusually hot, but the best wines, like the GSM, show fresh fruit flavors and chewy texture. 4,000 cases imported.
33 Columbia Crest
Walter Clore Private Reserve Columbia Valley 2002 93 / $35 • Washington
Named for Walter Clore, a university researcher and a pioneer of the Washington wine industry, this is a blend of 63 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 37 percent Merlot. Half of the grapes come from Horse Heaven Hills and the rest from the Wahluke Slope, both in Columbia Valley. The 2002 growing season got off to a late start, but warm days got the fruit ripe and cold nights kept it balanced. Winemaker Ray Einberger aged the wine for two years in French oak. 5,250 cases made.
34 Buehler
Zinfandel Napa Valley 2003 93 / $15 • California
Buehler makes great, affordable wines across the board. This red is Napa Valley Zinfandel at its best-elegant, supple and peppery. It was made entirely from estate hillside vineyards and 33-year-old vines that produce about 2.5 tons an acre. Five percent Petite Sirah adds color and structure. Winemaker David Cronin aged this Zinfandel for 14 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels. 1,200 cases made.
35 Château Lagrange
St.-Julien 2002 92 / $25 • Bordeaux
Lagrange remains one of the most consistently outstanding producers of Bordeaux for the money. Only the top châteaus made outstanding wines in the 2002 vintage, which saw a deluge of rain in August and less-than-perfect weather during the harvest. Yet Lagrange worked hard in its 280 acres of vineyards to produce the best possible grapes. 54 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 percent Merlot and 13 percent Petit Verdot. 23,000 cases made.
36 Penner-Ash
Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2003 93 / $40 • Oregon
Lynn Penner-Ash headed the winemaking at Rex Hill for 14 years before leaving in 2002 to focus full time on her own label, which she and her husband, Ron, started in 1998. Typically cool Oregon was blazing hot in 2003, and Penner-Ash blended grapes from eight different vineyards and aged the wine for 10 months in French oak to create a supple Pinot with dense flavors. 2,500 cases made.
37 Shafer
Relentless Napa Valley 2002 94 / $62 • California
Relentless was created as a tribute to Shafer winemaker Elias Fernandez‘s tenacity. Since this Syrah‘s introduction with the 1999 vintage, every bottling has earned at least 91 points. With the 2002, Fernandez demonstrates his blending capabilities; the wine is 80 percent Syrah and 20 percent Petite Sirah. Fernandez gets the grapes from a small ridge-top estate vineyard just south of Stags Leap District. 2,500 cases made.
38 Orin Swift
The Prisoner Napa Valley 2003 92 / $25 • California
This red is an unusual blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Charbono. Winemaker Dave Phinney, who started the brand in 1998, first created this blend in 2000 in an attempt to tone down some ripe Zinfandel and pump up some lean Cabernet. Orin Swift is a combination of Phinney‘s father‘s middle name, Orin, and his mother‘s maiden name. This wine is made with purchased grapes. 4,500 cases made.
39 Matua
Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Paretai 2004 93 / $17 • New Zealand
Brothers Bill and Ross Spence started Matua in a tin shed outside Auckland in 1974, bottling one of New Zealand‘s first Sauvignon Blancs. They still run the winery, though it was bought by Foster‘s a few years ago. Paretai is the winery‘s top Sauvignon, produced from fruit grown on the north side of Marlborough‘s Wairau River, where near-ideal weather conditions in 2004 delivered vivid wines. 1,000 cases imported.
40 Two Hands
Shiraz Barossa Valley Bella‘s Garden 2003 94 / $55 • Australia
The two hands behind the winery are Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz, two Adelaide businessmen who began buying grapes from multiple vineyards in 2000 and have enjoyed success ever since. Bella‘s Garden is a blend of four different Barossa vineyards in 2003. For this vintage, winemaker Matt Wenke used less new oak overall and a higher proportion of French barrels. 1,200 cases imported.
