With the year drawing to a close, we asked our 2011 TOP|SOMM and Top New Somm finalists to highlight five favorite, impactful new releases from the past year, regardless of price. Selections from each finalist are not listed in any particular order. Price is approximate retail, with importers in parenthesis where appropriate.
Ian Cauble (The Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay, CA) TOP|SOMM 2011
Desi Echavarrie (French Laundry, CA) Top New Somm 2011
Wow...thank goodness we got a few New World wines up there! The first few folks had me worried... Awesome rec's, lots of fun. Saw a few that I absolutely love, too! Georges Laval is remarkable - in Europe, those wines beat Selosse for prices garnered. But, 'tis the ones I haven't heard of that I can't wait to try...thanks for the illumination, all.