Best wines of 2018

As we get into the holidays I figured it could be a good time to explore the great bottles that have been opened so far this year.

I’ve found a lot of the best bottles I’ve had have not been even close to the most expensive.

Here are 7:

2005 Nicholas Rossignol Volnay 1er Chevrets
2007 Tor Kenward Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Mast Vineyard
2013 Ramonet Chassagne Montrachet 1er Clos de La Boudriette
2010 Pierre Yves Colin Morey Corton Charlemagne
1990 Krug
1990 Margaux
2001 Rieussec

Some of my favorites this year from a wide spectrum of price points.

Bubbles - Rare 2002 / Schramsberg Reserve 2005 / C. Heidsieck 2005 Rose Reserve
Red - Sena 2016 / 1988 Spring Mountain Cabernet
White - Wagner Caywood East 2017 / Jean-Marc Vincent 1er Montagny 2014
Sticky - Rieussec 2005 / Donnafugata Ben Rye 2016

Mine would be

Pol Roger Winston Churchill 2006&1996

Giacomo Conterno Riserva Monfortino 2010

Montevertine LePergole Torte Riserva 50anni 2013

Bas Phillips Pino Noire Riserva 2014/2010 (Australia)

Coche Dury Montrachet 2005

Giuseppe Mascarello Riserva Ca d’Morissio 2010

Impossible question but I’ll try. Breaking it down by the regions where I drink a critical mass:

Red Burg: 2000 La Tache
White Burg: 1999 Leflaive Montrachet
N. Rhone: 2010 Jamet Cote Rotie ‘Cote Brune’
Champagne: 2008 Veuve Grande Dame Rose (beating out some very good Krug/Dom/Cristal)
QPR: 2014 Kutch SCM / 2015 Lumpp Givry ‘Clos du Cras Long’

Michael, That is an encouraging message(at least to me). Thanks. -Jim

My list so far according to score:

1988 Château d’Yquem
1996 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon
1958 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva
2004 Dom Perignon Champagne
2016 Pax Syrah Sonoma Hillsides
1991 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon
2013 Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvée 3.14
2005 Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie La Chavaroche
2007 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes Mares
2008 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard


The ones that really made a lasting impression (the ones I remembered without looking at the list) were the Levet, Foillard, Borgogno, Allemand, and Yquem.

2003 Jaffurs Melville Syrah
2010 Alban Reva
2016 Domain des Bosquets La Colline
2016 Bedrock Pato

My top 4 scores from this year on CT

My top 10 thus far in approximate order of when consumed rather than quality:

2012 Allemand Reynard
2011 Cappellano Pie Rupestris
1999 Allemand Sans Soufre
2001 Lafarge Les Caillerets
1995 Chave
1999 Verset
2010 Maume Mazis-Chambertin
2014 Montille Corton-Charlemagne
1986 Ducru Becauillou
1985 Laurent Clos de la Roche

Hopefully this list changes over the next month [berserker.gif]

Been an amazing year. I can’t imagine it gets much better than this by year end. Here’s my lucky eight:

2016 Domaine Dujac Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières
2013 Xavier Gerard Côte-Rôtie La Landonne
2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne
1988 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut Rosé La Grande Dame
2008 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Vosne-Romanée
2016 Clos Saint Joseph Syrah Côtes de Provence
2006 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne
2011 Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne

If I were to pick just one: 1970 Taittinger in outrageously good shape. Creamy petillance, rich, spicy, butterscotchy heaven with the teeniest tiniest oxidative note

1981 LdH Tondonia Gran Reserva Blanco
2012 Bedrock Exposition One Weill Vineyard
2015 Bernabeleva Garnacha de Vina Bonita
2001 Climens
1970 Taylor Fladgate
1985 Huet Le Mont Moelleux
Krug 165eme

Was the 2013 Gerard landonne rdy to drink?

2015 Aubert CIX Pinot Noir
2002 Charmes Chambertin Geantet-Pansiot
1993 Charmes Chambertin Claude Dugat
1996 Ermitage L’ermite, Chapoutier
2003 Latour
1990 Montrose
2008 Marcassin Estate Chardonnay

  • 2015 Aubert Lauren
  • 2012 Sine Qua Non Stein Grenache
  • 2015 Outpost True Cab
  • 2015 Carter O.G.
  • 2015 Sassicaia
  • 2016 Pax Sonoma Hillsides
  • 1999 Yquem
  • 1996 Dominus
  • 1997 Insignia

Either my tastes or my budget are much more humble then many here, but so far in slightly descending order

2011 Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncié
2011 Chapelle St. Theodoric Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Guigasse
2014 Arnot-Roberts Syrah, Sonoma Coast
2012 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosemary’s Vineyard
2011 Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Girard

With a shout out to the 2014 Poe Sparkling Rose only had a small taste, but boy was it really good.

Once I put it together its kind of a random list. Several of these were drank on just a couple of nights!

1980 Fabien Coche Pommard VV
2015 Eyrie Pinot Gris Original Vines
2016 Walter Scott Chardonnay Bunker Hill
1970 Produttori Barbaresco Normale
1983 Licht Bergweiler Erben Graacher Domprobst Auslese

I am glad to see that a lot of ppl’s best wine experiences of the year haven’t necc been with “trophy” wines.

1959 Chateau Margaux
2008 Joseph Roty Charmes Chambertin
1996 Armand Rousseau Ruchottes Chambertin
1996 Chateau Lafleur
1998 Jamet Côte Rotie
2011 Rougeard Le Bourg

A few highlights with more time left on the clock…

1969 Sichel Corton Renardes (magnum)
1982 Ch Haut Brion
2001 Rousseau Chambertin Clos des Beze
1976 Ch. d’Yquem
1937 Massandra Collection Madeira
2007 Dm F Mugnier CM Les Amoureuses
1992 Wendouree Cab/Malbec
2005 Ch Rayas

Mostly Champagne, which is where my palate and budget seems to be headed warp speed the past few years. Probably the best wine I had all year has to be that Savart Expression. Simply beautiful and have the dumb luck of one left, too.

2013 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d’Or
2015 Kutch Sonoma Coast PN
2012 Marguet Père et Fils Champagne La Grande Ruelle Ambonnay
2012 Savart Expression Nature Ecueil
2010 Tercero Verbiage (Rouge) Santa Barbara County