For the First Time, California Puts More Wines in Top 10 Than France

Five Napa Valley wines and one from Washington State are among the world’s top 10, according to the latest annual list by an internationally respected wine journal.

The list of the 100 greatest wines ranked by quality and price by the Wine Spectator marks the first time in the magazine’s three-year survey that California wines have outnumbered French ones in the top 10.

Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Private Reserve 1986, $30, topped the list, followed by the $50 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Special Selection 1985. Caymus was rated No. 1 last year for its 1984 Special Selection.

Other Napa Valley wines in the top 10 were: $60 Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, Martha’s Vineyard 1985, No. 5; $68 Opus One Napa Valley 1987, No. 6, and $36 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 1987, No. 9.

Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, at $18.50, was in 10th place. It was the first time a Washington State wine broke into the top 10.

The Wine Spectator put two French wines among the top 10. Chartron et Trebuchet Chassagne-Montrachet Les Morgeots 1988, $34, was No. 3, and Daniel Rion Nuits-St.-Georges Les Vignes Rondes 1987, $35, was No. 7.

Italy’s $36 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino 1985 was No. 4, and Germany’s $24 Joh. Jos. Prum Riesling Spatlese Wehlener Sonnenuhr (Cask 2) 1988, was No. 8.