ITALY IN THE PRESTIGIOUS "TOP 100" 2012 OF THE INFLUENTIAL AMERICAN MAGAZINE "WINE SPECTATOR", WEIGHING IN LIGHTER THAN 2011 ... BUT REPRESENTED BY 16 (20 in 2011) AWARD-WINNING WINES, 7 FROM TUSCANY AND 5 FROM PIEDMONT...

Italy, in the prestigious "Top 100" 2012 the influential American magazine "Wine Spectator", weighs less than in 2011, but is still well represented with 16 wines out of 100 (there were 20 in 2011), in what represents an elite group of wines in the U.S. market and worldwide (100 out of 17.000 samples), since it not only takes into account quality (the score should be above 90/100), but also price (the average is 46 dollars), availability on the market and an "X factor" that can be "the enthusiasm generated by a producer considered a rising star, or a reference point for the region”. In a ranking dominated by the United States (at number 1 Relentless Napa Valley 2008 of Shafer Vineyards), the only Italian in the top ten, in position number 9, is Brunello di Montalcino 2007 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona (but there’s a little bit of Italy also in number 10, Malbec Mendoza Finca Bella Vista 2010 of Achával-Ferrer, as the winemaker of the Argentinean winery is the Italian, Roberto Cipresso).
There are 15 other Italian wines in the standings (7 from Tuscany, 5 from Piedmont, 2 from Campania, one each from Trentino and Veneto). At number 17, Barbaresco 2007 Punset; number 24, Barolo Gavarini Chiniera 2008 Elio Grasso; 25, Flaccianello 2009 Fontodi. In position number 31 the Chianti Classico Riserva 2009 Castello di Monsanto Chianti followed by the 2010 Folonari, at number 41. Position number 44 for the 2007 Barolo Monprivato of Giuseppe Mascarello & Figlio, followed by number 46, Veneto Bianco San Vincenzo 2010 by Roberto Anselmi, and number 47, Barbera d'Asti Superiore Le Orme 2009 by Michele Chiarlo, and at number 49, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Leone d’Oro 2009 of the Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano. In the second half of ranking at position number 52, Vigneti delle Dolomiti Rosso Alta Luna Phases 2009 di Cavit, at number 66, Barbera del Monferrato Maraia 2011 by Marchesi di Barolo, and at number 69, Greco di Tufo 2011 Devon by Antonio Caggiano. Rounding out the "team" of Italian wines Brunello di Montalcino 2008 Collesorbo at number 81, Ilatraia Maremma Toscana 2010 by Brancaia at number 86 and Aglianico Irpinia 2008 by Donnachiara at number 100.
Although awarded fewer labels than in 2011 and other years, the "Top 100" 2012 confirms, first, the passion of Americans for Italian wines (with Italy leading volumes and values among foreign wines in the U.S., ed.), and second, the fact that quality granted to competitors from all over the world (not only in France) should be looked at more carefully. The awards, however, especially in a difficult economic period for everyone, are an encouragement to do better, "It is an important result”, says producer Paolo Bianchini, co-owner with his sister Lucia of Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona, number one of the Italian wines, “that confirms our work and dedication to Brunello di Montalcino and the territory. Receiving appreciation creates new motivations and urges us to do better especially in these times of recession”. Anna Abbona, who together with her husband Ernesto, heads the Piedmont brand Marchesi di Barolo, also says, "we are pleased because the U.S. market is crucial. But I think awards like this are never by chance, but rather the result of work that we are all committed to, to the maximum. We travel a lot”, she told WineNews, as she had just landed in Belgium, “because today it is essential, so from now to the end of the year I have 3 more trips to make. But these are important signals that encourage us to give more and more”. 
Info: www.winespectator.com 



Focus - Wine Spectator 2012
 Top 100 Position – Points - Price - Wine
 1 - 96 - $60 - Shafer Relentless Napa Valley 2008
 2 - 95 - $41 - Château de St.-Cosme Gigondas 2010
 3 - 95 - $69 - Two Hands Shiraz Barossa Valley Bella’s Garden 2010
 4 - 98 - $128 - Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2010
 5 - 96 - $60 - Château Guiraud Sauternes 2009
 6 - 95 - $105 - Château Léoville Barton St.-Julien 2009
 7 - 94 - $40 - Shea Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Shea Vineyard Estate 2009
 8 - 94 - $45 - Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley Reserve 2009
 9 - 94 - $60 - Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 2007
 10 - 95 - $120 - Achával-Ferrer Malbec Mendoza Finca Bella Vista 2010
 11 - 95 - $55 - Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley 2009
 12 - 97 - $58 - Domaine St.-Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Auguste Favier Réserve 2010
 13 - 95 - $55 - Quinta do Vallado Touriga Nacional Douro 2009
 14 - 94 - $32 - Maysara Pinot Noir McMinnville Estate Cuvée 2009
 15 - 94 - $48 - Alban Syrah Edna Valley Patrina Alban Estate 2009
 16 - 96 - $66 - Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneufdu-Pape 2010
 17 - 95 - $40 - Punset Barbaresco 2007
 18 - 96 - $70 - Argyle Extended Tirage Willamette Valley 2002
 19 - 96 - $70 - Booker Syrah Paso Robles Fracture 2010
 20 - 95 - $75 - Poças Junior Vintage Port 2009
 21 - 97 - $85 - Saxum James Berry Vineyard Paso Robles 2009
 22 - 96 - $75 - Cayuse Syrah Walla Walla Valley Cailloux Vineyard 2009
 23 - 96 - $95 - Château Canon-La Gaffelière St.-Emilion 2009
 24 - 95 - $57 - Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera 2008
 25 - 96 - $119 - Fontodi Colli della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello 2009
 26 - 94 - $55 - Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains 2009
 27 - 96 - $95 - Château Peby Faugères St.-Emilion 2009
 28 - 93 - $24 - Calera Pinot Noir Central Coast Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Vintage 2010
 29 - 94 - $56 - Switchback Ridge Merlot Napa Valley Peterson Family Vineyard 2009
 30 - 92 - $20 - Schild Shiraz Barossa 2010
 31 - 92 - $25 - Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2009
 32 - 93 - $32 - Hamilton Russell Chardonnay Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 2010
 33 - 91 - $12 - Can Blau Montsant Blau 2009
 34 - 93 - $29 - Bertrand Stehelin Gigondas 2010
 35 - 92 - $18 - Romero & Miller Rioja Rentas de Fincas Reserva 2005
 36 - 93 - $17 - Domaine de l’Olivette Bandol 2008
 37 - 93 - $30 - Schloss Vollrads Riesling Spätlese Rheingau 2010
 38 - 90 - $13 - M. Chapoutier Côtes du RoussillonVillages Les Vignes de Bila-Haut 2010
 39 - 92 - $20 - Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Gris Alsace Les Princes Abbés 2010
 40 - 93 - $24 - Eberle Syrah Paso Robles Steinbeck Vineyard 2010
 41 - 90 - $9 - Folonari Chianti 2010
 42 - 90 - $11 - Charles & Charles Rosé Columbia Valley 2011
 43 - 91 - $18 - Château de la Greffière Mâcon-La Roche Vineuse Vieilles Vignes 2010
 44 - 96 - $125 - Giuseppe Mascarello & Figlio Barolo Monprivato 2007
 45 - 90 - $12 - Georges Vigouroux Malbec Cahors Pigmentum 2010
 46 - 90 - $13 - Roberto Anselmi Veneto White San Vincenzo 2010
 47 - 90 - $15 - Michele Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti Superiore Le Orme 2009
 48 - 92 - $20 - Guy Saget Vouvray Marie de Beauregard 2010
 49 - 92 - $24 - Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Leone d’Oro 2009
 50 - 96 - $125 - Marcassin Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Marcassin Vineyard 2006
 51 - 90 - $18 - Bodega Norton Malbec Mendoza Reserva 2010
 52 - 90 - $14 - Cavit Vigneti delle Dolomiti Red Alta Luna Phases 2009
 53 - 92 - $20 - Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2011
 54 - 90 - $16 - Bodegas Atalaya Almansa La Atalaya 2009
 55 - 91 - $17 - Jean Perrier & Fils Savoie Apremont Cuvée Gastronomie 2011
 56 - 91 - $18 - Pewsey Vale Riesling Eden Valley Dry 2011
 57 - 91 - $22 - Descendientes de J. Palacios Bierzo Pétalos 2010
 58 - 91 - $22 - Perrin & Fils Vinsobres Les Cornuds 2010
 59 - 91 - $23 - Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Province 2011
 60 - 96 - $135 - Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2009
 61 - 92 - $28 - Bodegas Beronia Rioja Gran Reserva 2004
 62 - 91 - $19 - Viña Ninquén Syrah Colchagua Valley Antu 2009
 63 - 93 - $29 - Neyers Chardonnay Carneros 2010
 64 - 90 - $17 - Domaine Lafond Tavel Roc-Epine 2011
 65 - 92 - $29 - Nikolaihof Grüner Veltliner Qualitätswein Trocken Wachau Hefeabzug 2010
 66 - 90 - $12 - Marchesi di Barolo Barbera del Monferrato Maràia 2011
 67 - 94 - $32 - Dr. Loosen Riesling Spätlese Mosel Wehlener Sonnenuhr 2011
 68 - 92 - $25 - Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley Cuvée Alexandre Apalta Vineyard 2010
 69 - 92 - $25 - Antonio Caggiano Greco di Tufo Devon 2011
 70 - 92 - $31 - Château Latour-Martillac Pessac-Léognan 2009
 71 - 91 - $24 - Waterbrook Merlot Columbia Valley Reserve 2009
 72 - 93 - $35 - Turley Zinfandel Paso Robles Pesenti Vineyard 2010
 73 - 90 - $15 - Bodegas Valdemar Rioja White Conde de Valdemar Finca Alto Cantabria 2011
 74 - 93 - $38 - Iron Horse Brut Green Valley of Russian River Valley Classic Vintage 2007
 75 - 91 - $25 - Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Reserva 2005
 76 - 93 - $42 - Austin Hope Syrah Paso Robles Hope Family Vineyard 2010
 77 - 93 - $44 - Belle Glos Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Clark & Telephone Vineyard 2010
 78 - 93 - $45 - Rust en Vrede Stellenbosch 2008
 79 - 93 - $45 - Evening Land Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills Seven Springs Vineyard 2010
 80 - 96 - $145 - Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Family Estate Grown 2009
 81 - 93 - $48 - Collosorbo Brunello di Montalcino 2007
 82 - 90 - $16 - Emilio Lustau Amontillado Jerez Dry Los Arcos Solera Reserva NV
 83 - 92 - $32 - Morgan Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Twelve Clones 2010
 84 - 93 - $50 - Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne NV
 85 - 93 - $49 - Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Eastside Road Neighbors 2009
 86 - 94 - $60 - Brancaia Maremma Toscana Ilatraia 2010
 87 - 90 - $18 - Concha y Toro Chardonnay Limarí Valley Marqués de Casa Concha 2010
 88 - 92 - $32 - Dominio de Atauta Ribera del Duero 2008
 89 - 92 - $40 - Honig Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009
 90 - 90 - $15 - Skouras Moscofilero Péloponnèse 2011
 91 - 93 - $58 - Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2010
 92 - 94 - $85 - Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009
 93 - 96 - $150 - Château Lynch Bages Pauillac 2009
 94 - 95 - $150 - Ridge Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains 2009
 95 - 90 - $20 - Veramonte Primus The Blend Colchagua Valley 2009
 96 - 94 - $75 - Pahlmeyer Merlot Napa Valley 2009
 97 - 91 - $27 - Claude Riffault Sancerre Les Boucauds 2011
 98 - 94 - $90 - Mollydooker Shiraz McLaren Vale Carnival of Love 2010
 99 - 90 - $22 - Nobilo Pinot Noir Marlborough Icon 2010
 100 - 90 - $20 - Donnachiara Aglianico Irpinia 2008