Highlights from the 2009 "Top of the List" tasting at City Winery

Ok, so here are the best wines I found at this marvelous tasting. No pictures, and notes must be brief; try them yourselves to find out why I chose them! This is also one of the few times I'll exceed my $30 retail limit on wines posted, simply because this event featured some truly remarkable wine:

Spy Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2008
Domaine Faiveley Montagny, 2007
Schug Carneros Pinot Noir, 2007
WillaKenzie Estate Willamette Pinot Noir, 2007
Cristom Willamette Sommers Reserve Pinot Noir, 2006
Dow's Vintage Port, 1985
Warre's Porto 10 Year Old Tawny Otima
E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage, 2005
Joseph Carr Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006
Dominus Estate Napa Valley Napanook, 2005
Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay, 2006
Domaine Serene Willamette Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir, 2006
Pio Cesare Barbera d'Alba Fides, 2006

It is also worth noting that many of these wineries were pouring earlier vintages of certain brands or appellations for perspective; at times I was comparing 2005-2006 Pinot Noir or Merlot (or Cabernet or whatever) to a much older rendition: 1982, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1996, and so on. Unbelievable. All of these wines showed gripping intensity, complexity, balance and integration, demonstrating the potentials of the varietals and terroir. Find them. Drink them.