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The Top 100
Dec 31, 2012

The Top 100

The diversity of the Top 100 attests to the high quality of wines globally. While classic regions performed well, emerging regions such as Argentina, Greece, New Zealand and South Africa made their marks by offering fine quality for price.

FREE Wine Charts:

Champagne: A free chart offers an alphabetical list of all Champagne wines reviewed for the tasting report in this issue.

American sparkling: A free chart offers an alphabetical list of all American sparkling wines reviewed for the tasting report in this issue.

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Cover Stories

The Top 100

The Top 100

During the course of the year, Wine Spectator editors blind-tasted more than 17,000 new …
Dec 31, 2012
Wine of the Year

Wine of the Year

The Schafer Vineyards Relentless Napa Valley 2008 is a prime example of the ever-widening path that …
Dec 31, 2012
Top 100 at a Glance

Top 100 at a Glance

Wine Spectator 's Top 100 At A Glance (in PDF Format).
Dec 31, 2012
Profiles of Wines Nos. 2 to 100

Profiles of Wines Nos. 2 to 100

Wine Spectator 's profiles of the top 100 wines from numbers 2 to 100.
Dec 31, 2012
Top 100 by Region and Variety

Top 100 by Region and Variety

Wine Spectator 's Top 100 wines by region and variety.
Dec 31, 2012
Wines of the Year 1988 to 2011

Wines of the Year 1988 to 2011

Wine Spectator 's Wines of the Year 1988–2011 (in PDF Format).
Dec 31, 2012
10 Years of Top 10s

10 Years of Top 10s

Wine Spectator 's 10 Years of Top 10s (in PDF Format).
Dec 31, 2012
Classic-Scoring Wines of 2012

Classic-Scoring Wines of 2012

Wine Spectator 's list of classic-scoring wines reviewed in 2012 (in PDF format).
Dec 31, 2012
Tasting Notes for the Top 100 Wines

Tasting Notes for the Top 100 Wines

Wine Spectator 's 2012 Top 100 Tasting Notes (in PDF Format).
Dec 31, 2012

Tasting Reports

Rosé’s Rising Appeal

Rosé’s Rising Appeal

It's time to think pink when it comes to domestic sparkling wine. Rosés are among the most exciting …
Dec 31, 2012
Beyond the Bubbles

Beyond the Bubbles

France's Champagne region has worked hard to establish itself as a symbol of luxury and celebration…
Dec 31, 2012
Past and Future

Past and Future

Family and tradition still anchor the four flourishing Champagne houses of Chartogne-Taillet, …
Dec 31, 2012
Champagne Alphabetical Listing

Champagne Alphabetical Listing

Wine Spectator 's Champagne alphabetical listing.
Dec 31, 2012

Features

A Wine Lover’s Library

A Wine Lover’s Library

Wine Spectator editors review recent reads, including personal memoirs and a must-have encyclopedi…
Dec 31, 2012
Party Perfect

Party Perfect

The holiday season offers plenty of opportunities for celebration. And with these joyfully hectic …
Dec 31, 2012
The View from Vail

The View from Vail

As one of the biggest and most popular ski resorts in the United States, Vail, Colo., has naturally …
Dec 31, 2012
The 100 Outstanding Values of 2012

The 100 Outstanding Values of 2012

There's no reason to skimp on quality when your budget calls for bargain-priced wines. While Wine …
Dec 31, 2012
The Biggest Bargains: High-Production Values

The Biggest Bargains: High-Production Values

Wine Spectator 's Biggest Bargains: High-Production Values (in PDF Format).
Dec 31, 2012
2012 New World Wine Experience

2012 New World Wine Experience

For the first time in the history of the Wine Experience, Wine Spectator brought the annual …
Dec 31, 2012
The Top Wines of 2011

The Top Wines of 2011

Dec 31, 2012
California Rhône Reds

California Rhône Reds

Two things were instantly apparent when Wine Spectator senior editor James Laube led a panel of …
Dec 31, 2012
The Art of Krug Champagne

The Art of Krug Champagne

Olivier Krug, the sixth-generation managing director of his family's Champagne house, confronted a …
Dec 31, 2012
Exploring Biodynamics

Exploring Biodynamics

Biodynamics comprises a set of agricultural methods developed by Austrian philosopher Rudolf …
Dec 31, 2012
Four Chefs Match Food and Wine

Four Chefs Match Food and Wine

In an L.A.-style food-and-wine smackdown, Wolfgang Puck defended his home turf from fellow …
Dec 31, 2012
Matt Kramer’s Subtle Australia

Matt Kramer’s Subtle Australia

When Wine Spectator columnist Matt Kramer introduced this seminar, he explained to the audience …
Dec 31, 2012
An Evening of Celebration

An Evening of Celebration

After a packed schedule of tastings and seminars, Wine Spectator 's Wine Experience attendees met …
Dec 31, 2012
2012 World Wine Experience Wine Stars

2012 World Wine Experience Wine Stars

This year's Wine Spectator 's "Wine Stars" series—seminars highlighting an exceptional wine …
Dec 31, 2012
The Best of Italy

The Best of Italy

With the great diversity that Italy's wine regions have to offer, the Wine Experience seminar "The …
Dec 31, 2012
Palate Test: A Blind Tasting

Palate Test: A Blind Tasting

At Wine Spectator , all new-release wines are reviewed in blind tastings. It's the best way to …
Dec 31, 2012

Grapevine

<em>Wine Spectator</em> Auction Index Falls in Third Quarter

Wine Spectator Auction Index Falls in Third Quarter

The Wine Spectator Auction Index, which tracks sales at fine wine auctions in the United States, …
Dec 31, 2012
After Manchego

After Manchego

Spain's cheese revolution has even affected Spanish consumers, many of whom had long been familiar …
Dec 31, 2012
How to Taste

How to Taste

Can you taste chocolate with the same refinement and attention to detail you bring to your favorite …
Dec 31, 2012
French Hemp Winery Is No Joke

French Hemp Winery Is No Joke

When planning a new winery for Château Maris in southern France's Languedoc region, Robert Eden …
Dec 31, 2012
Winemaking Takes the Big Plunge

Winemaking Takes the Big Plunge

Winemaking doesn't normally require a snorkel, but underwater experiments in Europe may have …
Dec 31, 2012
Rudy Kurniawan Accuses FBI of Illegal Search

Rudy Kurniawan Accuses FBI of Illegal Search

New details have emerged about the FBI's arrest of accused wine counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan. His …
Dec 31, 2012
Wine and the City

Wine and the City

Chris Noth may be most recognizable for his roles on HBO's Sex and the City and CBS's The Good …
Dec 31, 2012
Another Strong Year for V Foundation

Another Strong Year for V Foundation

The annual V Foundation Wine Celebration kicked off another strong year on Saturday, Aug. 4, with a …
Dec 31, 2012
Fruit-filled Reds, Savory Whites and German Rieslings

Fruit-filled Reds, Savory Whites and German Rieslings

Wine Spectator 's Bruce Sanderson selects a collection of outstanding values: spicy, fruity reds, …
Dec 31, 2012
Champagne Cocktails

Champagne Cocktails

You've overstocked on Champagne for midnight toasting at your big New Year's Eve soiree. But what …
Dec 31, 2012
At Home With Rajat Parr

At Home With Rajat Parr

Rajat Parr may be famous for his work as a sommelier, but cooking is his true passion. Born in …
Dec 31, 2012
Cos-d’Estournel CEO to Depart

Cos-d’Estournel CEO to Depart

Jean-Guillaume Prats, CEO of second-growth Château Cos-d'Estournel, has announced his departure …
Dec 31, 2012
Santa Barbara Vintner Dead in Mysterious Incident

Santa Barbara Vintner Dead in Mysterious Incident

A Santa Barbara County vintner is dead, and authorities, including the FBI, are trying to figure …
Dec 31, 2012
In Brief

In Brief

Helen Keplinger, one of Napa Valley's rising stars, is no longer at Bryant Family Vineyard, where …
Dec 31, 2012

Departments

Soft-Cooked Egg and White Burgundy

Soft-Cooked Egg and White Burgundy

Madrona Manor, perhaps the premier inn in Sonoma, has retained chef Jesse Mallgren for 13 years, …
Dec 31, 2012
Parting Thoughts on 2012

Parting Thoughts on 2012

Each year provides us with a fascinating range of new wines and regions to explore. While this …
Dec 31, 2012
My Wines of the Year

My Wines of the Year

For most of us, Wine Spectator 's Matt Kramer included, wine tasting is an exercise in impressions…
Dec 31, 2012
Letters

Letters

Wine Spectator readers weigh in on the New World Wine Experience, the successes and shortcomings …
Dec 31, 2012

The Buying Guide

The Buying Guide for this issue is available here.

TOP 100 WINES OF 2012 What makes a wine a member of this exclusive club? Find out as Wine Spectator's senior editors discuss this year's Top 10 wines in a video series. Plus, get a printable list of the full Top 100.

OUTSIDE THE BOTTLE Our newest guest blogger is Talia Baiocchi, a New York-based wine writer for Eater.com. We think you'll enjoy her savvy and provocative perspective on wine, restaurants and culture, which will appear weekly, exclusively at WineSpectator.com.

HOLIDAY PARTY IDEAS We've got you covered through the New Year! Wine Spectator editors recommend well-rated, affordable sparkling wines, plus reds and whites, for the festivities. Plus, great new recipes and gifts for the wine lovers on your list.

VINTAGE REPORT CARD Get an early look at the expected quality in key regions in the Northern Hemisphere.


650+ WINE-FRIENDLY RECIPES Discover great holiday dishes, from party snacks to hearty feasts to sophisticated entrées. Search our recipe database by food type, matching wine type or ingredient.

GIFT IDEA Share WineSpectator.com with your wine-loving friends and family members through a gift membership, for only $49 a year. Among the great benefits they will enjoy:

  • Wine Ratings: Search more than 273,000 wine reviews, also available on Wine Spectator Mobile for smartphones.
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  • Cellar Management Tool: Create shopping lists, track purchases and check collectible wines' value with the Personal Wine List.
  • Advance, Insider and Tasting Highlights: Get early notice on our editors' most exciting wine finds from their latest tastings.

ADD YOUR OWN RATINGS If you use the Personal Wine List to track your wine collection and record tasting notes, now you can also rate the wines you've tasted, so it's easy to remember your favorites. Or you can hand out star reviews as you look them up in our Wine Ratings Search. All rated wines will automatically be saved to a convenient My Wine Ratings list for future reference.

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