Wine Spectator's top ten 2012's tasted

#10 2010 Achával-Ferrer Finca Bella Vista Malbec:
Deep ruby. Fruity, sweet, red berries nose, easy going, quite intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, acidity seems to live it's own life above the fruit, not that complex, good length. 88

#9 2007 Ciacci Piccolomino d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino:
Bright ruby, garnet rim. Red berries, touch of anise, fruity nose, quite easy going. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, bit easy going, good length. Warm finish. 87

#8 2009 Beringer Knights Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon:
Ruby. Cassis, bleberries, vanilla, quite sweet and ripe nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, warm and fruity, oaky palate, rich, good length. 88

#7 2009 Shea Willamette Valley Shea Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir:
Ruby. Red berries, fruity, rich, intense, oaky notes, not easy to see the grape influence here. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, rich and ripe and then very oaky, edgy oaky on the palate, good length. 89

#6 2009 Château Léoville Barton:
Deepish ruby. Scented, cassis, floral, scented, elegant nose, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, tight, textured, even a bit grippy at the moment, really need time in the cellar. Long. 95

#5 2009 Château Giraud:
Golden. Apricots, fruity, intense, vanilla, pineapples, not quite as open as last bottle. Fresh acidity, fruity, fresh and lively, quite rich, almost smooth mid palate, long finish. 94

#4 2010 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape:
Deepish ruby. Ripe, rich, intense and fruity nose, jammy red berries and alcohol. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, sweet and alcoholic, warm finish, sweet aftertaste. Not unbalanced, but not that complex and feels as sweet as coke without fizz. 88

#3 2010 Two Hands Barossa Valley Bella's Garden Shiraz:
Deep ruby. Ripe, rich, fruity, intense, jammy, liquorice, plums and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe and quite high tannins, bit weird lemony feel, acidified? Fruity finish, leather and pepper. 89

#2 2010 Château de St.- Cosme Gigondas:
Deepish ruby. Herbal and nettle notes below ripe fruit, sweet plums and blackberries nose. Medium acidity that seems to kick in more later, tannic backbone, intense fruit, but some unbalance. Bit biting, bit green with some very ripe notes, and alcohol comming forth. 86

#1 2008 Shafer Relentless Napa Valley:
Deep ruby. Ripe, rich, fruity, plums, jammy, cassis nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich, fruity, fairly lively, sweet and a bit big, good length. 89