This year’s Expo was a very nice experience; however there were only a few real highlights.  This may be due to the hit that the wineries have taken due to the economic slow-down, but I was hoping to see a few more talented producers.  In years past there was a far larger proportion of talent versus average.

With that being said, there were some serious standouts, some available during the trade hours and some available to the public.  Here are some of my favorites that decided to share their wines with us this year:

Continuum Estates (St. Helena)

Timothy and his son Carlo Mondavi (Carlo pictured below) were on hand to share their uniquely crafted 2006 blend with us during the trade hours.  Timothy had to run along to do a seminar, however Carlo was gracious with his time and interest in those he spoke with.  This is one location I certainly plan on visiting during our visit to Napa/Sonoma this spring.  Will they make the cut as our Anniversary wine?  Considering the quality of their 2006, I think there is a great chance.

Truchard (Carneros)

Back in November I had a chance to briefly meet Tony and Jo Ann Truchard (pictured below) when they were presenting their wines during the Truchard wine dinner we put on at Stonehedge Inn & Spa (for this year’s Stonehedge Inn Wine Dinner calendar and guest speakers, click here).  They are a wonderfully delightful couple who just happen to create wonderful value wines.  From their crisp, lightly oaked Chardonnay to their bold Cabernet and Syrah, they had by far the most impressive line-up at the Expo.  I highly recommend their wines to anyone for any occasion.

Marriam Vineyards (Sonoma)

This was my first experience with Mirriam’s wines and the wines and owner, Peter Marriam (pictured below), certainly impressed.  To be more specific, their Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon were impressive, however it was their Cabernet-style Merlot that won me over.  The structure and tannins provided a wonderful backbone for the ripe fruit.  This is a Merlot that even Myles from Sideways would not pass on.

Amizetta (St. Helena)

This winery was a wonderful revelation.  I have never had the opportunity to experience their wines in the past; however they are certainly on my radar as of this moment!  The two wines that I tasted were terrific representations of old world wine making at its best.  Their Complexity Estate Red Wine is a wonderful Bordeaux blend that was velvety due to the Merlot and Cabernet Franc, yet had the power from the ripe Cabernet Sauvignon to make this both a sipper and a food wine.  Yet it was their medium/heavy Estate Cabernet that left a lasting impression.

Allegrini (Fumane di Valpolicella)

This was another gem that was offered during trade hours by a local Massachusetts distributor.  One of the wines they highlighted was the Amarone and it did not disappoint.  For those of you who enjoy food friendly Chiantis, take a step back and pick up a nice bottle of Amarone.  You will be dazzled.  Allegrini is a particularly solid producer who has a coveted position in the Italian section of the Stonehedge Inn’s wine list.

After looking at the experience that these wineries provided, I am not as disappointed as I was when I started this piece, although I would like to see the Expo organizers attempt to lure more solid producers in for the public hours.

Did you attend the Boston Wine Expo?  What were some of your favorites?