GRAPE TREE STAFF TOP TEN OF 2008: COREY

[Corey is our resident science teacher/francophile out at our Fort Thomas location. Far and away one of the funniest people I've ever known, his wry wit has been a hit with our customers. Here Corey selects his favorites with his usual unexpected take on things.]

Here be my Top 10:

Honorable Mentions:

Honorable Mentions for these two wines that we unfortunately will no longer carry.

Chateau Lepine => By far and away the best Bordeaux we carried for under 20 bucks.

Venta la Ossa => I love La Mancha tempranillos for their finish, and this was an exquisite example.

The Top Ten:

(10) Gysler Silvaner Halbtrocken => Wonderfully clean and crisp, absolutely perfect for sushi.

(9) Michele Picard Vouvray => I love chenin blanc from the Loire Valley, and this is a very nice and economical example of one. Good stone fruit and a touch of honey on the finish.

(8) Garnacha de Fuego => Old vine grenache from Spain, with spice notes to accompany Cajun, Thai, or any other spicy food.

(7) Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier => I was at a dinner party at the Mount Adams Fish House, and was asked to recommend a white wine for everyone to share. All 12 people had ordered a very different fish dish, and this went with every one of them. A great find!

(6) Zisola Nero d’Avola => The only Italian (really Sicilian) on my list. Layer after layer to this wine, I would age it a few years.

(5) Borsao Red Wine => 75/25 blend of Grenache/Tempranillo, one of the best 7 dollar investments you can make in the wine world.

(4) Solanera => I use this wine as a bridge wine for people willing to explore out of California Cab and into Spain. It is Cab and Monastrell, with the fruit notes of a Napa Cab and the muscle of Monastrell. Does anyone remember the Disney movie Fantasia and the ballerina hippos? That’s what this wine encompasses…grace and power.

(3) Telegramme CDP => A rather “economical” (relatively) look at Chateauneuf du Pape with amazing depth and dark fruit notes, with the correct amount of earth for a French wine.

(2) Yellow Jersey Pinot Noir => I took the leap! I admit I was hesitant about a wine in a plastic bottle, but I made this my #2 wine for its surprise factor. I challenge anyone…pour this into a decanter and serve it to people without showing them the bottle. Tell them it’s a Pinot Noir, and ask them their opinion. Then tell them that it’s only 11 dollars and ask them their opinion again. Finally, show them the bottle. There is absolutely NO plastic taste, and if this came in a glass bottle it would have been over 20 dollars. By saving on shipping, the price is so much more affordable, giving us one of the best QPRs in the store. Note to those not familiar with wine lingo – QPR is Quality to Price Ratio. So long story short, don’t be a weenie about the plastic bottle and try this!

(1) Gaudium Gran Vino by Marques de Caceras => Simply sexy. If you buy this wine for me I will be your bestest friend.