Vintage Guides – Decanter https://www.decanter.com The world’s most prestigious wine website, including news, reviews, learning, food and travel Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:12:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2019/01/cropped-Decanter_Favicon-Brand-32x32.png Vintage Guides – Decanter https://www.decanter.com 32 32 Barbaresco 2020: Vintage report & 50 wines tasted https://www.decanter.com/premium/barbaresco-2020-vintage-report-50-wines-tasted-501352/ Wed, 05 Apr 2023 10:48:22 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=501352 BARBARESCO

A very good, and approachable vintage in 2020...

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BARBARESCO

Clear skies, crystal-clear rivers and clean air: the 2020 vintage started while the world was in lockdown. Going to work in the vineyards was one of the few permissible activities at the time (lucky vignaioli!).

The most genuine producers confess to having taken extraordinarily good care of their vines during the Covid pandemic like never before. No fairs, no visiting importers, no tastings.

Barbaresco wines from 2020 emerged as graceful with unexpected, sweet tannins.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Barbaresco 2020 wines


Barbaresco 2020 vintage rating: 4/5

‘Given its more approachable style, it is not likely to be a favourite vintage among classic Barbaresco lovers… But in the best examples there is volume, lushness and balance’



Tasting notes and scores for Aldo’s top Barbaresco 2020 wines:

The following wines all scores 93 points or above


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Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2019: vintage report and 30 wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/willamette-valley-pinot-noir-2019-vintage-report-and-30-top-wines-497461/ Fri, 31 Mar 2023 12:00:56 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=497461 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2019
Kalita Vineyard

Top PInots from Oregon's top AVA…

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Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2019
Kalita Vineyard

After a stretch of warm years from 2014 to 2018, the 2019 vintage was cool and wet in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Many winemakers welcomed a return of conditions more common a decade ago, emblematic of the elegant wines that have buoyed the region’s global reputation.


Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of 30 Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs from the 2019 vintage



Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2019: 30 top wines to try


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Barolo Riserva 2017: vintage report and 26 recommendations https://www.decanter.com/premium/barolo-riserva-2017-vintage-report-and-26-recommendations-500497/ Fri, 24 Mar 2023 12:01:18 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=500497 Barolo Riserva 2017

‘If there is a specific justification for the more austere character of a wine, it can be found in the vintage – and 2017 was that kind of vintage,’ says Aldo Fiordelli

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Barolo Riserva 2017

Austerity is not all the same: Nebbiolo is more austere than Pinot Noir and Sangiovese; Barolo is more austere than Barbaresco; the stern texture of Monforte and Serralunga is different from that of the village of Barolo, which itself is different from La Morra.

Austerity aside, Barolo Riserva are also less ready to drink, mostly due to their traditionally higher extraction. However, if there is a specific justification for the more austere character of a wine, it can be found in the vintage – and 2017 was that kind of vintage.


Scroll down to see the top-scoring Barolo 2017 Riserva wines


View all 26 Barolo 2017 Riserva from Aldo’s vintage report

View the score table with all 165 Barolo 2019 & Barolo 2017 Riservas from Aldo’s report


The 2017 vintage


Top-scoring Barolo Riserva 2017 wines

The wines below all scored 96 points or above 


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Barolo 2019: vintage report & 139 recommendations https://www.decanter.com/premium/barolo-2019-vintage-report-139-recommendations-499736/ Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:24:54 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=499736 Barolo-2019-report

Five out of five stars for this classic vintage...

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Barolo-2019-report

Barolo 2019 vintage rating: 5/5

Good distribution of rainfall throughout the long growing season, with a warm spring, a scorching end to July which led to sunburnt grapes in some vineyards, and a hailstorm in September which mostly affected vines in La Morra. October was drier, with mild days and cool nights. Comparisons to the very structural 2013 vintage have been made by more than one producer.


Scroll down to see the top-scoring Barolo 2019 wines


The 2019 vintage

The adjective ‘classic’ can only partly be intended, as it is in Bordeaux, to indicate wines that are less concentrated. Here in Barolo, ‘classic’ refers to traditional, old-fashioned or even old-school styles – a ‘classic’ vintage is more austere than supple.


Barolo 2019: Top-scoring wines

The following 25 wines all scored 96 points or above

View the score table with all 165 Barolo 2019 & Barolo 2017 Riservas from Aldo’s report


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Pessac-Léognan & Graves 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/pessac-leognan-graves-2020-in-bottle-overview-plus-top-scoring-wines-499649/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 11:06:20 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=499649 Pessac-Léognan & Graves 2020
A selection of 11 red and white wines from the Pessac-Léognan region were showcased in this masterclass, these included: Domaine de Chevalier, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan 2012
Château Couhins-Lurton, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan 2009, Château Latour-Martillac, Pessac-Léognan 2008 Château Olivier, Pessac-Léognan 2003, and Château Smith Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan 2010.

Tasting notes and scores for the top-performing Pessac-Léognan & Graves 2020 wines...

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Pessac-Léognan & Graves 2020
A selection of 11 red and white wines from the Pessac-Léognan region were showcased in this masterclass, these included: Domaine de Chevalier, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan 2012 Château Couhins-Lurton, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan 2009, Château Latour-Martillac, Pessac-Léognan 2008 Château Olivier, Pessac-Léognan 2003, and Château Smith Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan 2010.

Complicated weather conditions tested winemakers in the vineyards and cellars in Pessac and Graves in 2020 with a mainly dry and warm growing season saved by crucial rains in August.

The vintage produced structured, supple and generous red wines by producers who picked at the right time and exhibited a light touch in the winery. The best white wines have ripe, exotic fruit touches balanced by freshness and crisp acidity.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Pessac-Léognan & Graves 2020 in-bottle wines


Average yields for Pessac-Léognan in 2020 were 34.6hl/ha, lowers than 2018 at 36.9hl/ha and 2019 at 47.2hl/ha with a 10-year-average of 40.5hl/ha.


SCORE TABLE: top-scoring 349 wines with 92 points or above

Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines

St-Estèphe 2020Margaux 2020 | St-Julien 2020| Pauillac 2020 | Pessac & Graves 2020 | St-Emilion 2020 |  


See all Bordeaux 2020 in-bottle wines in score order


See tasting notes and scores for the top Pessac-Léognan & Graves 2020 in-bottle wines

The following wines all scored 94 points or above. 


Related articles

Bordeaux 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines

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Margaux 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/margaux-2020-in-bottle-overview-plus-top-scoring-wines-499589/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 09:23:59 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=499589 Margaux 2020
Château Dauzac.

Tasting notes and scores for the top-performing Margaux 2020 wines...

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Margaux 2020
Château Dauzac.

A strong showing for Margaux in 2020 that battled with difficult growing conditions like much of the Left Bank, with estates battling with climatic extremes and dealing with drought the best they could.

Estates on clay-gravels performed well and those that harvested grapes at full maturity from the middle of September were generally successful.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Margaux 2020 in-bottle wines


Careful extraction was also necessary in 2020, so calm and relaxed vinifications were also key to attaining elegance with no harshness.


SCORE TABLE: top-scoring 349 wines with 92 points or above

Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines

St-Estèphe 2020| St-Julien 2020| Pauillac 2020 | Pessac & Graves 2020 | St-Emilion 2020 | Pomerol 2020


See all Bordeaux 2020 in-bottle wines in score order


See tasting notes and scores for the top Margaux 2020 in-bottle wines

The following wines all scored 93 points or above. 


Related articles

Bordeaux 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines

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St-Emilion 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/st-emilion-2020-in-bottle-overview-plus-top-scoring-wines-499547/ Thu, 16 Mar 2023 15:06:12 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=499547 St-Emilion 2020
Château Pavie.

Tasting notes and scores for the top-performing St-Emilion 2020 wines...

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St-Emilion 2020
Château Pavie.

A large number of extremely good quality and exciting wines from St-Emilion in 2020 from estates on water-retaining soils that gave enough nourishment to the vines at critical times. The best are extremely aromatic with floral and ripe fruit scents, richly concentrated and deep cores with silky smooth, well-integrated tannins.

The less successful wines however show austerity, tightness and lean harsh tannins and / or extremely high alcohols with some above 15% and even 15.5% ABV.  Harvesting at the right time and careful extraction were key here in 2020.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top St-Emilion 2020 in-bottle wines


Average yields in St-Emilion in 2002 were 36.7hl/ha, lower than 2018 at 39.7hl/ha and 2019 at 43hl/ha with a 10-year-average of 39.1hl/ha.


SCORE TABLE: top-scoring 349 wines with 92 points or above

Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines

Margaux 2020 | St-Julien 2020| Pauillac 2020 | Pessac & Graves 2020 | St-Emilion 2020 | Pomerol 2020


See all Bordeaux 2020 in-bottle wines in score order


See tasting notes and scores for the top St-Emilion 2020 in-bottle wines

The following wines all scored 95 points or above. 


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Bordeaux 2020 in-bottle: photo gallery

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Pomerol 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/pomerol-2020-in-bottle-overview-plus-top-scoring-wines-499569/ Thu, 16 Mar 2023 14:28:02 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=499569 Pomerol 2020

Tasting notes and scores for the top-performing Pomerol 2020 wines...

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Pomerol 2020

Characterful, structured, opulent and balanced wines comprise the best from Pomerol in 2020. The deep clay and gravel with clay terroirs worked best in the hot and dry conditions that saw 55 days with no rain.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Pomerol 2020 in-bottle wines


Average yields in Pomerol in 2020 were 39.8hl/ha, above 2018 at 36.2hl/ha but lower than 2019 at 43hl/ha with a 10-year-average at 37.7hl/ha.


Top 8 Pomerol 2020 wines:

Château Trotanoy, 100 points
Petrus,  100 points
Château La Fleur-Pétrus, 99 points
Château L’Évangile, 98 points
Château La Conseillante, 98 points
Château Lafleur Pomerol, 98 points
Vieux Château Certan, 98 points
Château Le Pin Pomerol, 97 points


SCORE TABLE: top-scoring 349 wines with 92 points or above

Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines

St-Estèphe 2020Margaux 2020 | St-Julien 2020| Pauillac 2020 | Pessac & Graves 2020 | St-Emilion 2020 |  


See all Bordeaux 2020 in-bottle wines in score order


See tasting notes and scores for the top Pomerol 2020 in-bottle wines

The following wines all scored 94 points or above. 


Related articles

Bordeaux 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines

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St-Estèphe 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/st-estephe-2020-in-bottle-overview-plus-top-scoring-wines-499638/ Thu, 16 Mar 2023 13:42:44 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=499638 St-Estèphe 2020
Château Cos d'Estournel.

Tasting notes and scores for the top-performing St-Estèphe 2020 wines...

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St-Estèphe 2020
Château Cos d'Estournel.

Concentrated, plush, finessed and aromatic, St-Estèphe delivered some excellent wines in 2020 with the cool, clay, limestone and grave soils playing a part in the vines ability to deal with the intense summer heat and drought conditions.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top St-Estèphe 2020 in-bottle wines



SCORE TABLE: top-scoring 349 wines with 92 points or above

Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines

Margaux 2020 | St-Julien 2020| Pauillac 2020 | Pessac & Graves 2020 | St-Emilion 2020 | Pomerol 2020 


See all Bordeaux 2020 in-bottle wines in score order


See tasting notes and scores for the top St-Estèphe 2020 in-bottle wines

The following wines all scored 92 points or above. 


Related articles

Bordeaux 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines

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St-Julien 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/st-julien-2020-in-bottle-overview-plus-top-scoring-wines-499772/ Thu, 16 Mar 2023 13:41:26 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=499772 St-Julien 2020
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou.

Tasting notes and scores for the top-performing St-Julien 2020 wines...

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St-Julien 2020
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou.

Stylistically St-Julien managed to produce classic, rich, opulent and fresh wines in 2020.

The average yield for St-Julien was 34.2hl/ha. In 2018 it was 42.6hl/ha, and in 2019 45.5hl/ha with a 10-year-average of 41.8hl/ha. Estates with vines nearer the Gironde faired better in terms of quantity than those further inland.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top St-Julien 2020 in-bottle wines



SCORE TABLE: top-scoring 349 wines with 92 points or above

Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines

St-Estèphe 2020| Margaux 2020 | Pauillac 2020 | Pessac & Graves 2020 | St-Emilion 2020 | Pomerol 2020


See all Bordeaux 2020 in-bottle wines in score order


See tasting notes and scores for the top St-Julien 2020 in-bottle wines

The following wines all scored 90 points or above. 


Related articles

Bordeaux 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines

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Pauillac 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/pauillac-2020-in-bottle-overview-plus-top-scoring-wines-499579/ Thu, 16 Mar 2023 13:39:51 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=499579 Pauillac 2020
Château Latour.

Tasting notes and scores for the top-performing Pauillac 2020 wines...

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Pauillac 2020
Château Latour.

The appellation was extremely marked by the hot weather and drought conditions creating – in general – small but juicy berries with thick skins and high levels of tannins. Although there was large variability in grape size within vineyards let alone across the entire appellation with localised rainfall in April and August causing heterogeneity.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Pauillac 2020 in-bottle wines


Pauillac saw an average yield of 37.4hl/ha in 2020, lower than 2018 at 38.5hl/ha and 2019 at 46.7hl/ha.


SCORE TABLE: top-scoring 349 wines with 92 points or above

Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines

St-Estèphe 2020Margaux 2020 | St-Julien 2020| Pomerol 2020 | Pessac & Graves 2020 | St-Emilion 2020 |  


See all Bordeaux 2020 in-bottle wines in score order


See tasting notes and scores for the top Pauillac 2020 in-bottle wines

The following wines all scored 94 points or above. 


Related articles

Bordeaux 2020 in bottle: overview plus top-scoring wines

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Spring Mountain Vineyard: producer profile & 10 wines to try https://www.decanter.com/premium/spring-mountain-vineyard-producer-profile-10-wines-to-try-495221/ Fri, 17 Feb 2023 08:00:55 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=495221 Spring Mountain Vineyard
Spring Mountain Vineyards

Exploring the history and wines of this remarkable property...

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Spring Mountain Vineyard
Spring Mountain Vineyards

The emergence of Spring Mountain Vineyard, an early, important winery in the story of Napa’s rise as a world-class wine-growing region, begins with the late Knight Michael Robbins.

In 1963, the Iowa-born Korean War veteran and San Francisco real estate mogul purchased a Victorian house in St. Helena, California, west of Highway 29, and established Spring Mountain Vineyard (later, it would become the home of St. Clement).

Robbins released his first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1969. In the following decades, Spring Mountain Vineyard began developing a reputation for producing excellent, award-winning wines capable of ageing gracefully for many decades.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for 10 wines from Spring Mountain Vineyard



Spring Mountain Vineyard: scores and notes for 10 wines


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Top 10 Brunello di Montalcino 2018 wines to drink in 2023 https://www.decanter.com/premium/top-10-brunello-di-montalcino-2018-wines-to-drink-in-2023-495860/ Mon, 13 Feb 2023 07:44:10 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=495860 Cypress trees against evening sky in Montalcino

The wines on this list are approachable enough to enjoy this year...

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Cypress trees against evening sky in Montalcino

One of 2018’s signatures is its approachability. As such, there is plenty of choice for drinking in 2023. In some cases, these represent delightful wines without sufficient structure for ageing and will be best in the near-term to enjoy their radiant freshness.


Tasting notes and scores for 10 approachable Brunello di Montalcino 2018 wines


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Top-value Brunello di Montalcino 2018: the 10 to buy https://www.decanter.com/premium/top-value-brunello-di-montalcino-2018-the-10-to-buy-495862/ Wed, 08 Feb 2023 07:44:08 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=495862 value Brunello di Montalcino 2018

10 of the best-value Brunellos from the newly released 2018 vintage...

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value Brunello di Montalcino 2018

See our score table for all of Michaela’s Brunelo di Montalcino 2018 tasting notes, plus 2017 Riserva & late-release wines


Value and Brunello are not necessarily two concepts that go hand in hand, however the price band for the denomination is large and the overall quality is high. This opens the playing field for those ‘entry price’ Brunello to be considered under these terms – think examples under £70 that make you feel that your money was well spent, especially after they have been cellared for a few years.


Best-value Brunello di Montalcino 2018 wines: top 10


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Brunello Riserva 2017 & late releases report: 17 wines to buy https://www.decanter.com/premium/brunello-riserva-2017-late-releases-report-17-wines-to-buy-495850/ Tue, 07 Feb 2023 07:46:27 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=495850 Le-Potazzine-looking-toward-Montalcino
Le Potazzine looking towards Montalcino.

2017 Riservas, plus late-release Riserva and annata wines...

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Le-Potazzine-looking-toward-Montalcino
Le Potazzine looking towards Montalcino.

See our Brunello 2018 & Brunello 2017 Riserva (plus late releases) score table

Read Michaela’s Brunello di Montalcino 2018 vintage report


When I arrived at Montalcino’s ‘Benvenuto Brunello’ tastings of the new releases, I was not expecting to taste many Riserva. Sabina Sassetti at Pertimali echoed many of her peers’ reasonings: ‘We only produce Riserva in the best vintages, which generally correspond with those that the consortium awards five stars’ – 2017 was granted four stars.

While the torrid, dry vintage did yield concentrated wines with substantial structure, fully mature flavours and dry tannins did not bode well for lengthy cellaring. ‘2017 isn’t a vintage for ageing; instead, it is for drinking soon,’ concurred Bernardino Sani at Argiano. The focus for many estates was on making the best possible annata Brunello.


Scroll down to see all 17 recommended Riserva and late-release Brunellos


So, it was to my surprise that a generous set of Riserva were on display – 35 in total – yet after tasting through them all, I can honestly say that only a small handful truly distinguished themselves.


Brunello Riserva 2017 & late releases


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Brunello di Montalcino 2018: full report plus top-scoring wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/brunello-di-montalcino-2018-full-report-plus-top-scoring-wines-495833/ Mon, 06 Feb 2023 07:23:09 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=495833 Brunello di Montalcino 2018
Looking north from the town of Montalcino in November 2022.

A vintage full of surprises. See Michaela's notes & scores for 100 Brunello 2018 wines...

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Brunello di Montalcino 2018
Looking north from the town of Montalcino in November 2022.

Brunello di Montalcino 2018 vintage rating: 3.5/5

Cooler than average with rain throughout and showers close to harvest. Quality and style vary but wines are generally mid-weight with slender structure offering near to midterm ageing. The best are elegant, fresh and expressive.


‘Although location was certainly a factor, the vintage really came down to producer.’


What a difference a year makes! Entering Montalcino’s medieval Sant’Agostino Cloister for Brunello’s annual release, my sense of déjà vu quickly disappeared as I tasted through the 2018s. These wines are nothing like the brawny 2017s – Brunellino (‘little Brunello’) was the expression being bandied around by the Italians.

2018 vintage explained


Brunello 2018 & Brunello 2017 Riserva (plus late releases) score table


Michaela’s top Brunello di Montalcino 2018 wines: 95 points & above


See our Brunello 2018 & Brunello 2017 Riserva (plus late releases) score table


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Top Nuits-St-Georges 2021 en primeur wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/top-nuits-st-georges-2021-en-primeur-wines-496881/ Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:53:38 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=496881 Nuits-St-Georges 2021

Where to look for the best Nuits-St-Georges 2021 wines...

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Nuits-St-Georges 2021

Best Producers:

Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair
Domaine des Perdrix
Domaine Henri Gouges
Domaine de l’Arlot


Scroll down for tasting notes and scores for Charles’ top-scoring Nuits-St-Georges 2021 wines


Nuits-St-Georges was generally less severely impacted than many neighbouring villages by the weather conditions in 2021.


See tasting notes and scores for Charles Curtis MW’s top-scoring Nuits-St-Georges 2021 wines:


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Burgundy 2021 en primeur: full report and top-scoring wines

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Burgundy 2021 en primeur: where to find value https://www.decanter.com/premium/burgundy-2021-en-primeur-where-to-find-value-496129/ Wed, 01 Feb 2023 07:00:51 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=496129 Value Burgundy 2021 en primeur
Domaine A&P de Villaine at Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise

Top value wines from Burgundy's 2021 vintage...

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Value Burgundy 2021 en primeur
Domaine A&P de Villaine at Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise

In the past several years, ‘Burgundy’ and ‘bargain’ have seldom appeared in the same sentence. Despite the price escalation, finding value is eminently possible even in the current market of tiny supply and surging demand.

One possibility is to explore regional appellation wines that receive just the appellation ‘Bourgogne’.


Scroll down for tasting notes and scores for Charles’ top-scoring ‘value’ Burgundy 2021 wines


This appellation is nominally at the lowest rung of the quality ladder, but even the most celebrated domaines produce a Bourgogne (although some are quite expensive). If you search, however, you will find superstar domaines producing a wine of great value that spectacularly over-delivers at this level, such as Hudelot-Noëllat Bourgogne Pinot Noir or Michel Niellon Bourgogne Chardonnay.

Some producers farm the less-expensive vineyards at high elevations above the main slopes of the Côte d’Or known as the Hautes-Côtes. These are also included in the regional category as Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits.

These appellations can also provide exquisite quality wines that are also exceptional value, such as the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Au Bout du Monde from Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey and the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Corvée de Villy from Thibault Liger-Belair.

Hautes Côtes de Beaune. Credit: Vins de Bourgogne

Another type of regional appellation that should not be overlooked is Bourgogne Aligoté. This white wine grape is widely undervalued since it can produce spectacular wines of concentration, depth and structure in the right hands.

The fruit character is more tangy grapefruit and tarragon than Chardonnay’s ripe apple and white flowers, but the lively acidity and breadth on the palate make this a wine of intense pleasure with food.

Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise is the only village-level Aligoté, yet the grape is grown widely. Marsannay-based Sylvain Pataille is one of the flag-bearers for this grape and he makes several delicious versions, but his Clos du Roy (from a vineyard in Chenôve) is our current favourite.

A bit of searching can land the thirsty collector delicious wines from top domaines that are accessible on release but will also continue to improve with five years or more in the cellar. If you’ve been thinking that ‘everyday Burgundy’ is an oxymoron, these are definitely wines to explore.



See the score table listing Charles’ top Burgundy 2021 wines all scoring 94 points or above

See all 700 Burgundy 2021 tasting notes and scores

Quick links:

See further analysis and top-scoring wines of the following areas:

Morey-St-Denis | Chambolle-Musigny | Gevrey-Chambertin | Pommard and Volnay | Vosne-Romanée | Meursault | Chassagne and Puligny-Montrachet


See tasting notes and scores for Charles Curtis MW’s top-scoring ‘value’ Burgundy 2021 wines:


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Burgundy 2021 en primeur: full report and top-scoring wines

The post Burgundy 2021 en primeur: where to find value appeared first on Decanter.

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Top Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet 2021 en primeur wines https://www.decanter.com/premium/top-chassagne-montrachet-and-puligny-montrachet-2021-en-primeur-wines-496790/ Tue, 31 Jan 2023 09:40:08 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=496790 Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet 2021
Puligny-Montrachet.

The best wines to seek out in 2021...

The post Top Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet 2021 en primeur wines appeared first on Decanter.

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Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet 2021
Puligny-Montrachet.

Best producers:

Domaine Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey (Chassagne)
Domaine Paul Pillot (Chassagne)
Domaine Blain-Gagnard (Chassagne)
Domaine Lamy-Caillat (Chassagne)
Domaine Michel Niellon (Chassagne)
Domaine Jean Chartron (Puligny)
Domaine Alvina Pernot (Puligny)


Scroll down for tasting notes and scores for Charles’ top-scoring Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet 2021 wines



See the score table listing Charles’ top Burgundy 2021 wines all scoring 94 points or above

See all 700 Burgundy 2021 tasting notes and scores

Quick links:

See further analysis and top-scoring wines of the following areas:

Morey-St-Denis | Chambolle-Musigny | Gevrey-Chambertin | Pommard and Volnay | Vosne-Romanée | Meursault


See tasting notes and scores for Charles Curtis MW’s top-scoring Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet 2021 wines:


Related content

Burgundy 2021 en primeur: full report and top-scoring wines

The post Top Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet 2021 en primeur wines appeared first on Decanter.

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Louis Roederer: late-release vintage vertical https://www.decanter.com/premium/louis-roederer-late-release-vintage-vertical-494697/ Sat, 28 Jan 2023 08:00:26 +0000 https://www.decanter.com/?p=494697 Louis Roederer Late Release Vintage

Sumptuous, aged Champagne...

The post Louis Roederer: late-release vintage vertical appeared first on Decanter.

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Louis Roederer Late Release Vintage

Champagne Louis Roederer, one of the most forward-looking estates in Champagne, also learns from looking back.

The arrival of not one but five late-release vintage Champagnes from the 1990s redefines both heritage and vision, and reinforces the enduring style of the house’s vintage Champagnes.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for five Louis Roederer late-release vintage Champagnes



Tasted and rated: Five Louis Roederer Late Release Vintage Champagnes

Prices quoted are for 75cl bottles.


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The post Louis Roederer: late-release vintage vertical appeared first on Decanter.

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