For me 2009 was a big year of great wine tasting, drinking and celebrating with friends and family. I felt that I cemented some loose ends in my wine knowledge while at the same time discovered that I (and most everyone) was merely at the beginning of a great journey through the wine world. I shared many a great, and some not so great, glass of vino, whether it was here in the Bottega, out at a local restaurant, at our wedding dinner in Italy or simply, and most often, at home around the table with a couple friends and a nice meal. Picking the “Top Five” wines of the year is a difficult and in some ways unrealistic task, so I simply looked back at the first five wines that brought a smile to my face when I thought back about them. Here’s the list:

2004 Paolo Bea, Arboreus Bianco – We opened this at our Paolo Bea/Sagrantino Abbondanza in the spring. Quite possibly the best white wine I’ve ever had (so far), epic.

2007 Monteforche, Cassiara Bianco – This was a great discovery from this tiny northern Italian estate. I loved how it is fresh and aromatic while still has lots of weight and minerals. This was open almost every time I cooked risotto at home!

2007 Camillo Donati Lambrusco (et. al) – The moment I tasted this lambrusco I knew it was something special. Rugged and old school, this is dark and brooding, just the way I like it. Get real!

2007 Panevino, ‘Ogu – I had been searching for a Sardinian wine that was other worldly, ‘Ogu delivered in spades. This guy has a 350 year old sourdough starter; his wine is equally as rare and unique.

1984 Antonio Cerri, Boca – This was a great experience, the first U.S. tasting of the historic wines of the late Antonio Cerri with Christoph Kunzli, the current owner of the tiny Le Piane estate in Alto Piemonte. Magic in a glass; it was like I got to meet Mr. Cerri right there at the table.

*Very honorable mention(s): Occhipinti SP68, Dom. De Belliviere Rouge-Gorge, and Edmund Vatan Sancerre “Clos de Neore”.