I am about to make a Larry "The Wine Guy" early prediction as to what category of wine and its origin will be selected as the #1 Wine Of The Year on Wine Spectator's Top 100 List, due out in December.

 Every wine producing region has "their” year—for example, 2000 and 2005 in Bordeaux, 2000 in Barolo, 1997 and 2007 in Napa Valley. 2008 is Oregon Pinot Noir's year. I must admit, I am an Oregon Pinotphile, but personal preference aside, I have already seen scores of close to near perfect from various producers. The conditions in 2008 were near perfect and the hang time on the vines ideal, so they produced textbook Oregon Pinots. ABC has a fine selection of Oregon Pinots, many of them "Direct to You" like Carlton Cellars, Boedecker Cellars, and Maysara.

 Moe and Flora Momtazi and their family purchased 532 acres in 1997 in the town of McMinnville, on a property that had volcanic soil and was free from any chemicals for 7 years. They are a certified Demeter biodynamic property. What does that mean in plain English? First of all, they are organic, no pesticides. Secondly they cannot adjust sugar levels and most importantly, they have to holistically feed the land with compost that they feel would nurture the vines. In their case, they do that with dandelion greens, Persian tea leaves, chamomile and green tea. If you are a lucky winemaker in Oregon, Moe and Flora might sell you some grapes, however Maysara (Persian word meaning “house of wine”) is their own estate bottled wine.

 Both the 2007 and the 2008 Maysara Jamsheed Pinot Noirs were rated 90 points by Wine Spectator and retail at the time of this writing for $24.99. According to ancient Persian legend, King Jamsheed was able to observe his entire realm by peering into his full wine goblet, hence the name of this bottling. I just sampled the 2008 vintage and now I see what all this hoopla is. Night and day in style from the 2007 offering. Zippy is a good word to use. Bright, cherry, black raspberry fruits attack my mid-palate with the acidity being so dead on that it creates a very persistent, lingering finish. I had delusions of some wild sautéed morels or chanterelles, or a perfectly cooked piece of grilled king salmon. I loved 2005 in Oregon (for you Burgundy fans), but if this 2008 Jamsheed is any indication of what 2008s will taste like from Boedecker (Athena and Stewart Pinots already rated 91 and 92 points by Spectator)or Carlton Cellars or any Oregon producer, then I know my prediction will be right. May I have the envelope please? The #1 Wine of the Year on Wine Spectator's Top 100 List for 2011 is the 2008 ________   ________ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from Oregon. After you taste some of these spectacular wines from that vintage I think you will be able to fill in the blanks!

Larry Baker is the wine consultant in our Pembroke Pines store. You can also see more of his wine writings at his personal website, www.larrythewineguy.net.