OK, so much for suspense… she did it again.

I was just watching some of the 2010 Winter Olympic coverage of Shaun White’s repeat gold medal performance in Halfpipe. After he had already likely secured his second consecutive gold medal in this event with a nearly flawless first run, he executed his Double Flip McTwist 1260 at the end of his second run as the icing on the cake to remove any doubt. As the commentator mentioned “We wouldn’t keep expecting so much from Shaun White if he didn’t keep exceeding our expectations”. I was thinking how brilliant this kid is at what he does and he just keeps getting better. Now back to work writing about the Winemaker of the Year and I realize the story here has some parallels to “The Flying Tomato”.  Clearly talented very early, established themselves with a breakout year in 2008 and then came back in 2009 and created even more outstanding wines. 

As many of you have already seen from my earlier post for the 2009 Top25 List, there were more Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon than anything else. There are several reasons for that and I will address them on the other thread but as far as Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are concerned it is a time of exceptional quality. The Top25 list is always my ‘short list’ for announcing the Winemaker of the Year so if you have already read that it should be no surprise that this year’s winner is the same as last year - Celia Welch. But here is where the Shaun White comparison helps, the Double McTwist 1260… 

In 2008, Welch took top honors based on producing three wines that made the list:

• 2005 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon; DW 98
• 2005 Lindstrom Cabernet Sauvignon; DW 98
• 2004 Rocca Cabernet Sauvignon; DW 94

In 2009 she had other wines to add to the mix; Buccella, where she succeeded Mark Herold as of the 2006 vintage, along with her own project, 2006 Corra Cabernet Sauvignon. Two of the three wines from 2008 were again recognized in the 2009 list, but with two vintages of Buccella, and Corra also making the list, she had her name on five Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a pair of vintages of Buccella Merlot - nearly 30% of the list. 

• 2006 Corra Cabernet Sauvignon; DW 97
• 2006 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon; DW 96
• 2007 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon; DW 96
• 2006 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon; DW 95
• 2006 Lindstrom Cabernet Sauvignon; DW 93+
• 2007 Buccella Merlot; DW 96
• 2007 Buccella Merlot; DW 95+

She may have been able to repeat on just the strength of three wines, even though 2006 Winner, Kenneth Juhasz had three wines, and 2005 Winner, Abe Schoener had a pair, as did list rookie, Nigel Kinsman. If that isn’t enough reason for Welch to repeat click here.

I have followed Celia’s career since the late ’90s and wrote the first reviews on the premiere vintages of Corra and Scarecrow. What is ahead for her? Parker has given Celia her first 100 point score for 2007 Scarecrow and he also loved Keever and Corra from that vintage. I haven’t tasted any of those wines yet, but the year is still young and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a triple flip, inverted McTwist 1440 this time next year.