To tag along with my Fave Red Wines of 2009, here are my star whites from this past year:

• Man Vintners Chenin Blanc – $9
• Minini Orvieto – $9
• Le Chat Rouge Chardonnay – $11
• Starborough Sauvignon Blanc – $12ish?
• Luna Argenta Prosecco (bubbly) – $12
• Kiona Vineyards Riesling – $12
• Cavas Hill Brut Rose Reserva Artesania Cava (bubbly) – $12
• Borgo Boschetto Pinot Grigio – $13
• Terra Antiga Vinho Verde – $13
• Pascual Toso “Toso” Brut (bubbly) – $13
• 071 Prosecco Veneto (bubbly) – $14
• Villa Cornaro Prosecco – $14 (this is the bubbly that went with Wyatt’s marriage proposal!)
• Fonty’s Pool Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon – $14
• Fonty’s Pool Chardonnay – $16
• Holly’s Garden Pinot Gris – $20
• Wolf Mountain Vineyards Plenitude Chardonnay-Viognier blend – $20
• Wolf Mountain Blanc de Blanc Brut (bubbly) – $25

Now that we’re a couple of months into 2010, I took a look back at the wines I tried in 2009 and present to you my list of Favorite Red Wines of 2009! Fave 2009 Whites coming soon!

• Pine & Post Cab Sauv – $9
• Simonnet-Febvre Pinot Noir – ~ $10
• Finca el Origen Malbec – $11
• Lucky Star Pinot Noir - $9
• Mark West Sonoma County Pinot Noir – $12
• Memo Montepulciano – $11
• Morande Pionero Pinot Noir – $10
• Spellbound Petite Syrah – $13
• Alexander Valley Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – $?
• Angeline Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – $14
• Oyster Bay Pinot Noir – $15
• G5 Puerta Bonita Garnacha – $15
• Eos Estate Zinfandel and Petite Syrah – $15ish? and $16
• Bliss Cab Sauv – $15
• Chateau Fantin Bordeaux Superioeur – $16
• Big Fire Pinot Noir – $18
• Poppy Pinot Noir – $16
• Rivola Sardon de Duero Cab Sauv – $17
• Vina Robles Cav Sauv – ~ $18
• Le Signal Domaine Ligneres Carignan – $19
• Murphy-Goode Cab Sauv – $20
• Wirra Wirra Church Block Cab Sauv – $20
• Chateau Robin Cotes De Castillion – $22
• Louis M. Martini Cab Sauv – $15-$20
• L’Oustal Blanc Minervois – $21
• Twenty Rows Cab Sauv – $23
• Oberon Cab Sauv – $24
• Molnar Family Pinot Noir – $26
• Douglas Green Shiraz Reserve – $20ish?
• Obsidian Ridge Cab Sauv – $29
• Patricia Green Pinot Noir – $30
• Hartford Zinfandel – $30
• Chateau Rollan de By Medoc – $30
• Louis Latour Domaine de Valmoissine Pinot Noir – $??
• Anne Amie Pinot Noir – $??

Willamette, Oregon often delivers some fabulous wines, especially Pinots. Unfortunately, this one didn’t measure up, and neither did the dinner that went with it.

The wine seemed very light and watered down, and none of the flavors seemed fused together. It just didn’t deliver on flavor, texture, or balance.

Origin: Willamette, Oregon
Where: Smyrna WOB
Price: approx $20
Next time: I’ll pass.

Big Fire Pinot Noir

Since I first had this wine at Canoe about four years ago (my dad and I split a bottle about a year after I graduated from Emory!), this has been a personal favorite! Of course, I’m a sucker for the interesting mix of type faces on the label as well as the bold design. Usually, a great label design equals the worst wine imaginable — thankfully, not in this case.

http://www.rstuartandco.com/

This wine is simply delectable. Everything you’d want and expect from a pinot. Medium bodies and fruity complexity with depth. Very drinkable, not too acidic or too many tannins… very smooth.

Upon checking out their website, the wine lives up to their talk. One of their “house rules” is:

A little wood goes a long way. No need to mask great fruit with too much new oak.

Exactly.

In addition, they’re a fan of the screw cap. I know some people are traditionalists… However, it is SO NICE when you get ready for a glass of wine and you don’t have to go hunting for the wine opener. Or if you’re like me, I’ve broken three rabbit wine openers in the past three years and have finally switched back to the waiter’s variety (thanks to the generous folks over at Highland Wine & Crystal… more great info on them soon!). Or you’ve arranged for a fun, romantic picnic… but you forgot the wine opener! Or you finally get it open… and it’s corked. Needless to say the screwcap is practical from a wine health and integrity standpoint as well as ease of opening standpoint. How could you possibly go wrong? I’m hoping to see more wineries switch over to the screwcap as time progresses.

Origin: Yamhill Valley, Oregon

Where: Smyrna WOB, approx $16-$18

Next time: Get a case!

Erath Pinot Noir

Origin: Dundee, Oregon (Willamette)

“Grapes from the EARTH, wines from the HEART… ERATH.”

www.erath.com

Luscious aromas of ripe strawberries, vanilla, graham, and a sinful hint of caramel. Bright flavors of red currant, raspberry and orange peel.

I absolutely love the “Wine History” section from the winery’s wine notes online — this completely sums up what I love best about Pinot Noirs:

The ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir is the cornerstone of the Earth wine portfolio. A blend of different vineyard sites from Oregon, this wine is a fruit forward, ready-to-drink style of Pinot Noir designed to highlight the varietal’s best characteristics. Our goal with this wine is simple – make the best Pinot Noir in the world for under $20.

Where: Smyrna WOB; $15.99

Unfortunately, after all my initial research about the wine, which made it sound so promising, the wine itself didn’t live up to my expectations. It wasn’t as light and refreshing as I was hoping, and it seemed to have a slight amount of mustiness and earthyness to it that just didn’t mesh well, in my opinion. Overall, it was “just okay” but I had certainly hoped for more.

Next time: I’ll pass.

Angeline Pinot Noir

Origin: Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, California

Where: Smyrna WOB, $14.99 bottle

Label: Angeline Pinot Noir is sourced from vineyards located in the cooler regions of Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Coastal influences prouce a classic velvety Pinot Noir with delicate aromas, balanced acidity and fresh, ripe berry flavors.

Mark West Pinot Noir

Origin: Sonoma County, California

Where: Smyrna WOB, $$11.99 bottle

This Mark West Pinot turned out to be a little gem! The price range was just right for me, and the taste exceeded expectations. Upon visiting their website, I’m even more in love! The theme of the site is Pinot for the People! Seriously… I love it! Pinots are often overpriced and not worth it but the good ones are my favorite grape and I love being able to easily find some economical bottles that taste delicious. Needless to say, the theme appeals to me on so many levels! I encourage you to go check out Derek Benham and Alex Cose and their Pinot for the People Revolution! Here’s a little snippet:

For too long we have waited for affordable Pinot. For too long we have endured Merlot. For too long we have simply been denied the choice. … We demand rich, fruit-inspired, easy-drinking wine worthy of the Thanksgiving table and affordable enough to serve with tonight’s pizza.

Their wine notes are also mouth-watering!

Brilliant and bright, the wine’s garnet color suggests its weighty characteristics. Heady aromas of black raspberry jam, cranberries, dried cherries and dried herbs intermingle with oak notes of nutmeg and a hint of smoke. Expansive and silky with cherry and raspberry suggestions, the wine lingers on the palate.

Next time: Get a glass!

Artazuri

My mom isn’t a big wine drinker but she does like White Zinfandel and Rose… so when she came to visit, I figured I could handle a bottle of Rose much better than WZ! Too bad, we ended up never even opening it, so I had to try it on my own.

Artazuri Rose was a nice surprise for me. I’m not a huge rose fan, but this was a nice slightly sweet, but crisp and refreshing wine.

The winery is from Spain, in an area that focuses primarily on Grenache.

http://www.artadi.com/uk/ and http://europeancellars.com/

Where: Smyrna WOB; $9.99 bottle

Origin: Navarra, Spain

Next time: Get a glass!

Byron Pinot Noir

I bought this wine in memory of my grandpa, whose first name was Byron. According to the label, this winemaker was the first commercial vineyard planted in Santa Barbara County, back in 1964. Pretty cool!

Origin: Santa Barbara County, California

Where: Smyrna WOB; $19.99 bottle

Unfortunately, this wine was nothing what I was hoping for. This past week has not been a successful wine-tasting week… lots of “I’ll pass” on these Pinots that lack the light-medium, punchy fruit-forward flavor that I’m looking for. Oh well, at least I won’t be craving this $20 bottle.

Next time: I’ll pass.

Veramonte Reserva Pinot Noir

Origin: Casablanca Valley, Chile

Where: Smyrna WOB, $15.99 bottle

Tried this one last week — it was good, not spectacular. Spicier than I expected it would be for a Pinot.

Next time: I’ll pass.