Travel + Leisure Lists The Best Golf Wines

Travel + Leisure Golf
March 2007

What do Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Mike Weir and Arnold Palmer have in common? Besides being among golf's elite group of major champions, they all market labels of wine rated above par. Ray Isle, senior editor at Food & Wine, recently tasted the best wines of the golfing world for Travel + Leisure Golf. In the end, Greg Norman Estates Reserve Shiraz 2000 came out on top, scoring a 93 on Isle's 100 point scale.

 

Greg Norman Estates Reserve Shiraz 2000
$45 • Score: 93
Padthaway, Australia
Tasting Notes: Potent blackberry jam on the nose and lots of juicy blackberry fruit ending on a black-coffee note. Powerhouse shiraz. Impressive stuff.

 

Ernie Els Bourdeaux-style blend 2003
$90 • Score: 92
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Tasting Notes: Blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petite verdot and malbec. Tobacco-y aroma and brooding dark fruit. Will be superb.

 

Mike Weir Estate Icewine Vidal 2005
$42 • Score: 92
Niagara Peninsula, Canada
Tasting Notes: Succulent, gorgeously rich dessert wine: viscous texture, intense peach and honeysuckle aromas and flavors that recall super-ripe golden apples.

 

Nick Faldo Shiraz 2003
$15 • Score: 91
Coonawarra, Australia
Tasting Notes: Classically Coonawarra: a touch of eucalyptus/menthol overlaid on bright, juicy raspberry fruit.

 

Commissioners Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
$44 • Score: 91
Dry Creek Valley, California
Tasting Notes: Cherry cider aroma; seriously ripe vintage. Big, lush cabernet that's full of super-ripe black plum flavor.

 

Champions Select Zinfandel 2004
$24 • Score: 90
Dry Creek Valley, California
Tasting Notes: Jammy, with a hit of cinnamon when you sniff it. Tastes like a rich boysenberry liqueur.

 

Greg Norman Estates Sparkling Chardonnay/ Pinot Noir (nonvintage)
$15 • Score: 90
Australia
Tasting Notes: Crisp, zesty sparkler. Apple scent and lemony flavor.

 

Commissioners Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
$60 • Score: 89
Napa Valley, California
Tasting Notes: Black cherries and some seriously tough tannins. Needs time.

 

David Frost Wines Par Excellence Meritage 2002
$45 • Score: 89
Paarl, South Africa
Tasting Notes: Ruddy black-red color, with the scent of black currants and a firm tannic structure. Spicy on the end from the cabernet franc in the blend.

 

Commissioners Private Reserve Chardonnay 2004
$38 • Score: 88
Sonoma County, California
Tasting Notes: Intense, spicy-vanilla French oak up front followed by creamy lemon curd and apple flavor. Full-throttle California chardonnay, if a bit over the top.

 

Mike Weir Estate Chardonnay 2005
$16 • Score: 88
Niagara Peninsula, Canada
Tasting Notes: Zesty, cool-climate chardonnay with refreshing lemon curd flavors and a touch of vanilla oak.

 

Greg Norman Chardonnay 2004
$13 • Score: 88
Victoria, Australia
Tasting Notes: Aussie chardonnay: ripe pineapple aromas, rich tropical fruit flavors and spicy oak notes.

 

Champions Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
$30 • Score: 87
Alexander Valley, California
Tasting Notes: Red currant fruit with a touch of bell pepper. A little austere and leafy.

 

Greg Norman Pinot Noir 2004
$15 • Score: 86
Santa Barbara, California
Tasting Notes: Cherry-berry aromas and some sweet berry fruit. Not complex, but pleasant for the price.

 

Arnold Palmer Chardonnay 2004
$15 • Score: 84
California
Tasting Notes: Simple, quaffable chardonnay. Ripe pineapples and apricots. A little bland and fat.