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Okay, you couldn’t keep your eyes off the list, even though it is forbidden.
We know what you mean. The editors and staff at The Wine Report can’t resist a list
either. And that, in part, is why we compiled this record of the top 50 wines we tasted
in the year 2004. We want you to know about them, but we also know many of you love
buzzing through these collections to see how “your” wine did. Or maybe you just like
complaining about how wrong a wine magazine can be?

Enjoy the list, but we caution you to proceed carefully. The truth is, there is no No. 1
or No. 50 wine. Taste is very personal. Our No. 1 wine might not even register on
your listing. And your list is the most important one.

So don’t make our list your list! In fact, don’t think of it as a list at all — think of it more
as an invitation for you to explore these wonderful wines. The only thing that qualifies
us to put such a list together is that we taste and evaluate a lot of wine.

But we don’t mean to completely diminish the value of this compilation or the wines on
it. They are top-notch wines, and we believe that most of them will garner more than
just an indifferent shrug from you.

To put the list together, our wine-tasting staff reviewed their tasting notes and the
tasting notes of our panel members. We also considered intangibles such as price,
availability and the “X Factor”—that certain special something in a wine that speaks
to you. Taste, aroma and food compatibility naturally played a role, too. The score
the wine received played only a minor role. Be assured, there was quite a bit of
debate before we finally settled on the rankings on the following
pages. As we said, taste is personal.

So, we offer you this top-50 list. We hope you enjoy. But if you don’t, remember:
We warned you. — Gil Kulers

1. 2001 Peju Province Cabernet Franc (Napa Valley) $35

2. 1999 Rodney Strong Vineyards, Alden Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon (Alex. Valley, Calif.) $30

3. 2001 Smith-Madrone Riesling (Napa Valley) $15

4. 2002 Foley Estates, Block 5C Dijon Clone 667, Pinot Noir (Santa Rita Hills, Calif.) $45

5. 2002 Paul Pillot, Les Mazures, Chassagne- Montrachet,
(Burgundy, France) $37

6. 2003 Georges Duboeuf, Julienas, (Beaujolais, France) $12

7. 1998 Cavallotto, Bricco Boaschis, Barolo, (Italy) $28

8. 1999 Prunotto Barolo, (Italy) $49

9. 2000 Catena Zapata, Alta, Cabernet Sauvignon
(Mendoza, Argentina) $55

10. 2002 King Estate Winery Pinot Gris (Oregon) $15

11. 1999 Moccagatta, Bric Balin, Barbaresco, (Italy) $33

12. 2000 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir (Oregon) $45

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