So it's getting to be that time again. The wine boards are buzzing with questions about what the Wine Spectators wine of the year might be. traditionally the WOTY tends to get a 25% bump in price over night as the crowds vie for the remaining bottle languishing on retailers shelves.

For fun lets take a look at the wines of the year that have come before and see if we can't figure this out.

Lets go back 10 years to


1998 - 1995 Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou 97pts $50
1999 - 1996 Ch. St. Jean Cinq Cepages Sonoma 95pts $50
2000 - 1997 Antinori Solaia 98pts $115
2001 - 1998 Ornellaia 96pts $110
2002 - 1998 Guigal Chateauneuf 93pts $30
2003 - 2001 Paloma Spring Mountain Merlot 95pts $45
2004 - 2001Ch. Rieussec Sauternes 100pts $80
2005 - 2002 Joseph Phelps Napa Valley insignia 96pts $150
2006 - 2001 Casanova di Neri Brunello 97pts $70
2007 - 2005 Clos Des papes - 98 pts, $80,

So it has been a full 10 years since bordeaux has been the WOTY. In the preceding 10 years Bordeaux grabbed the top spot 3 times. It is certainly over-due.

If one looks at the picks they follow a bit of an order, with the occasional exception. The wines are high scoring, but not neccessaly the top scorer of the year. The pricing is generally reasonable, and production is ample.

In almost every year the WOTY is part of the story of the year. If we look back it is easy to see the what the hot regions were.

1995 Bordeaux, 1997 Tuscany, 1998 Tuscany, 1998 Southern Rhone, 2001 Sauternes, 2002 Napa Cabs, 2005 Southern Rhones.

The story of this year was undoubtedly: 2005 Bordeaux. Actually the hype for this amazing vintage began so early that it just might qualify as the story of 2007 as well!

So 2005 fits the profile and is due for the top spot. The Chateau generally produces tens of thousands of cases so they fit the availability parameter as well. I am not a subscriber to the Spectator but I do get to see it now and again and it would be very difficult to miss some of the scores. For example, 2005 Pontet Canet has been a wine that has established a new benchmark for this Chateau. All the major critics are extolling the wines virtues and the spectator gave it 96 pts. About the 10 year average for WOTY.

http://www.snooth.com/wine/chateau-pontet-canet-pauillac-2005-10/

So is that my prediction? Well yes and no.

It is the wine that should be the WOTY. It is fabulous, readily available, and at about $130 a bottle in line with previous selections but this year may not follow the script.

Two things to take note of would be; the slightly higher average scor of the most recent Wines of the year. Is 96pts enough this year or will the Spectator have to dig deep for a 98 pointer? Very possible.

The other wild card is the economy. It may make alot of sense to simply find the best qpr (quality price ratio) wine of the year and give the economy it's due by annointing that wine as WOTY. Likely, perhaps not but probably a smart move. What would that be? Very probably still Bordeaux, it's time

The 2005 Clos des Jacobins may not make the cut with it's 94 pts. but at around $60/btl it is a qpr knock out. http://www.snooth.com/wine/chateau-clos-des-jacobins-2005/

For me, the 2005 Bordeaux of the year was the Boyd-Cantenac. Not the most powerful or 'best" wine I've tried from the vintage, and only 92 points from the Spectator but classic Bordeaux. It's limited production of about 6,000 cases a year can make it hard to find but it is worth the effort if youa re looking for classic Bordeaux.

http://www.snooth.com/wine/boyd-cantenac-2005/

So where does that leave us? I think it brings us right back to the 2005 Pontet Canet.

I can wait to find out but it will be interesting to see how close I am!