WsOTY--2025 Edition and your Discovery of the Year--TABULATIONS COMPLETE

OK all. I had 774 entries to work with, a little bit off of last year’s record 900+ number. Last year, 2001 D’Yquem carried away top prize with 06 Krug Clos de Mesnil in 2nd and Selosse Initial (various disgorgements) and 13 Cristal tied for third.

And my early-line look held. 2025’s winner, with 6 votes is 1982 Chateau Pichon-Comtesse As far as I can tell, in 12 years of doing the tabulations, this is the first time a red Bordeaux has taken the crown

Tied for second with 5 votes each are Krug 168 and…2013 Cristal so the 13 Cristal moves up a spot.

I will make mention of the 2005 Coche-Dury Meursault Rougeots, the 17 Leflaive Chevy and 20 Leflaive BBM which all garnered 4 votes apiece, along with 08 Krug and 13 Rousseau Clos St. Jacques

In terms of overall house votes, Rousseau is at 30, just edging out Krug with 29. DRC is third with 22. The other houses picking up 6 or more votes on the whole are as follows:

Cedric Bouchard, 8 votes
D’Yquem, 15
Pichon-Comtesse, 8
Rayas, 9 votes
Coche-Dury 10 votes
Leflaive, 16–strong showing for them
Dujac, 9 votes
Ganevat, 6
Hubert Lignier, 8 votes
Huet 8
Mugnier 10
Drouhin, 11
Keller, 12 votes—I believe the highest non-burg, non-champagne house
Leroy, 9 votes
Mugneret-Gibourg, 17
Raveneau, 18 votes–best-ever showing for them for sure
Roederer, 7 votes
Roumier, 13
Salon 10
Taittinger 8
Vega Sicilia, 7

On the short side…it’s a good thing that Pichon-Comtesse came away with the top prize. The rest of highlight red Bordeaux? One each for Lafite and Mouton. 2 for Latour. No Angelus. No Ausone. No Cheval Blanc. One La Mission. No Lafleur. Quite something. No Egon Muller this time around, no Zind-Humbrecht or Prager either. No Emidio Pepe wines listed and not a lot of Brunello in general.

On this continent, only one vote for Rhys this year. Scarecrow and SQN garnered a couple votes and even one Screaming Eagle this time. Bryant and Bond and Realm were minimally represented. Only two ports total—a 48 Taylor Fladgate and a 31 Nacional. One Rivers-Marie. And, oddly, only 2 Ridge wines and no Montebello this year.

Again, much thanks to everyone for contributing. My OP is below

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Thanks to all for their patience with me in waiting for the annual thread to be posted :grin: I’m 9 days late from my usual start time!

It’s so entrancing to me that so many of my WsOTY this year are in the category of wine I used to hate—Riesling. Now I clearly don’t. I’m still missing some that I have to gather, for sure.

WOTY (I don’t think I’ve nominated it in a prior year, and if so, oh well, it’s clearly been long enough) was the 2010 Argiano Brunello Riserva. From June:

It’s been 5 years since I’ve tasted this. It has always promised superstar performance and today it started to enter into that nova range. Gorgeous fireworks on the bouquet and on the palate, what has happened is the purity of the vintage has now come into some focus, along a string of cranberry, plum and cocoa dust. The expressiveness of this is unreal (slow-oxed for most of a day and decanted for 3 hours) and it is, I think, the best Brunello I’ve ever had. 98+ I have one more of these treasures and I will do my best to wait another 5-8 years to see if it gets to perfection.

2020 Hidden Bench La Brunante
2022 Domaine Roulot Bourgogne Blanc
2001 Trimbach CFE VT Riesling (95)
1999 Chateau Musar
2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne
1966 Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste
2001 Chateau Climens
1976 Schloss Eitz Eltviller Sonnenberg Riesling TBA
2003 Ramey Diamond Mountain Cab
2019 Willi Schafer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #5
2010 Argiano Brunello Riserva (98+)
2008 Zind-Humbrecht Clos Jesbal Pinot Gris SGN Trie Speciale
2023 Jasud Own Rooted Cab (barrel sample)
2023 Kelly Mason Pinot Noir
2014 Kutch Santa Cruz Chard
2019 Claude Dugat Gevrey Chambertin La Marie
1998 Marchesi di Baroli Barolo Cannubi
2016 Huet Cuvee Constance (94+)
2013 Talenti Pian di Conti Brunello Riserva (93)

The discovery is a tie between Kelly’s Pinot—I’m super-picky about Ontario pinot and hers put me in mind of a theoretical mix of Gevrey and Vosne—and the rediscovery of how much I love 76 TBAs or Eisweins if I get the chance to taste one.

Have at it—I will do the usual tabulation exercise at the end of the year.

Kwa Heri

Mike

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Have a few big wines on deck before New Years, but so far the front runners have to be

White:

  • Raveneau Clos 20
  • Coche Meursault 08

Red:

  • La Tache 17
  • Rayas 11
  • Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Red Label 14

Wines of the year were both on the same night - 2002 Hudelot Noellat Romanee St Vivant and 2000 G. Conterno Monfortino. Many other amazing wines, but a 2002 Anne Gros Richebourg is another standout.

Discovery of the Year - is that I didn’t have any major discoveries. For me this has been a year of continued consolidation and focus on producers and regions that I love and have loved for some time. So perhaps my discovery is more a moment of self-awareness and acceptance. In 2025 I didn’t buy those wines that I have noticed that I don’t pluck off the shelf to drink. They’re good wines, but not wines my palate calls for. So 2025 saw zero purchases from old stalwarts like Bordeaux and California.

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Lots of wines this year:

WOTY: 1999 DRC RC
Discovery of the year: gros frere ech/riche

Other wines:

1972 Leroy Musigny
1969 Leroy Clos Vougeot

2000 LT
2010 LT
2007 LT
2002 LT

2015 DRC RC

2008 DRC RSV

2001 DRC GE
2019 DRC GE

2012 DRC Riche
2001 DRC Riche
2010 DRC Riche

1971 Roumier BM
1999 Roumier BM
2001 Roumier BM
2002 Roumier BM
2007 Roumier BM

1999 Rousseau Chambertin
2010 Rousseau Chambertin
2007 Rousseau Chambertin
2017 Rousseau Chambertin

1998 Rousseau CSJ
2009 Rousseau CSJ
2013 Rousseau CSJ
2017 Rousseau CSJ

1998 Rousseau Ruchottes
2008 Rousseau Ruchottes
2014 Rousseau Ruchottes

1996 Lignier CDLR
2008 Lignier CDLR
2018 Lignier CDLR
2019 Lignier CDLR

2012 Hudelot RSV
2009 Hudelot Suchots
2022 Hudelot RSV

2000 MG CV
2001 MG CV
2022 MG Ruchottes
2022 MG CV
2021 MG Ech

2015 Fourrier Mayorezes

2021 Guyon Ech

2001 Trapet Chambertin

2017 JM Millot Suchots
2017 JM Millot GE

2007 Gros Frere Ech
2007 Gros Frere Riche

1988 Krug
2008 Krug Clos de Mesnil
2008 Krug
Krug 168
Krug 169

1969 Yquem
1975 Yquem
1988 Yquem
1989 Yquem
2001 Yquem

1990 Salon
1996 Salon
1997 Salon
2002 Salon

2013 Cristal

2020 PVG Montrachet

2017 Leflaive Chevalier
2020 Leflaive BBM

Probably forgetting some.

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Some very good wines this year, so there’s some stiff competition, but if I were pushed I’d say (by style and region):

White Burgundy: Guffens-Heynen, Les Hauts de Vignes 2000
Dry Riesling: Keller, Hipping 2018 (or Georg Breuer, Berg Schlossberg 2004)
Non-dry Riesling: Keller, Schubertslay Kabinett Alte Reben 2018
Other White: Comando G, El Tamboril Blanco 2022

Red Bordeaux: Gruaud Larose 1945 (or 1926 Haut Brion)
Red Burgundy: Christies labelled 1923 Volnay (or Beaudet, Clos de Vougeot 1917, or Leroy, Vosne PC Aux Genaivrieres 2014)
Red Elsewhere: Comando G, Rumba al Norte 2021

Rose: Keller, FR 2022
Champagne: Ulysse Collin, Les Roises 08 Base (or Krug 1955)
Sweet: d’Yquem 1967 (or Keller, Kierchspiel Trockenbeerenauslese 2008)

Discovery of the year: Jules Brochet

I just realised almost all of these were all drunk at home, with, before, or after dinner (or in a few cases lunch).

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Not the craziest year here. Got a tasting in Seoul this Thursday so lets see what happens.
Again been a great year meeting berserkers in NYC, Amsterdam and as always in Copenhagen. New friends and winemakers in Jura. Going to be spending a lot of time in Europe next year so I’ll be looking forward to expanding my horizon in Venice, and Paris, where we’ll be a month or two for work.

White, oxy and macerated:
Labet Varrons Chardonnay 2022
Overnoy/Houillon Cire Gris 2011
Overnoy Cire Jaune 1996
Labet Vin Jaune 2015
Keller Hubacker 2020 & 2018
Schueller Pfersigberg GC 1999
Ganevat Grand Teppes VV 2016

Red:
Dujac CSD GC 2002
Meo Camuzet Clos de Vougeot GC 2005
Overnoy Cire Rouge Ploussard 1990
Overnoy Cire Rouge Ploussard 1992

Rose
Pataille Fleur de Pinot 2021
Marc Tempe Furstentum 2009
L’Anglore Tavel Vintage 2020

Sweet:
Ganevat Vieux Macvin

Biggest discovery;
Vallee Moray & Clos des Plantes

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Michael,

I know you save your times to enjoy wines to occasional moments - you’re not waiting it on pedestrian wines gets surprisingly many wines into those treasured occasions.

Congratulations on a year well done with decent wines :wine_glass::clinking_glasses:

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Nice Mike and thanks for opening the annual contemplating.

Many years ago the regular 2010 Brunello was on sale in a German grocery chain - think I bought about six bottles for €15 / bottle. Liked them quite a bit, wish I bought more and when they were back on sale the shelves were unfortunately lined up with the 2011s - they were overpowered by the oak and a lot less interesting.

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:two_hearts: :two_hearts: :two_hearts:

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I don’t drink the quality of wines that a lot of you all do. I also don’t drink much in general but here are the wines that I found to be the most impressive this year:

Red:

2022 Pichon Baron - WOTY
2017 Rousseau Cazetiers
2022 Pichon Lalande
2022 Ridge Lytton Springs
2021 Barthod CM Les Charmes
2017 Hubert Lignier Morey St Denis VV 1er Cru
2009 Jamet Cote Rotie
2009 Saint Prefert Charles Giraud
2007 JM Millot Echezeaux

White:

2022 Smith Haut Lafite Blanc
2006 Chave Hermitage Blanc

Sparkling/Champagne:

Krug 171e
2021 Famille Mousse L’orage

Discovery of the year was the Barthod Bons Batons. Everyone already knows about it, but it was introduced to me here and it was such a lovely surprise/treat.

Really am appreciative to everyone here for answering all my questions and introducing me to new things, particularly RE Burgundy.

Edit to add the awesome ‘17 Rousseau Cazetiers from Christmas

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Thanks! Yeah I’ve went to several wine weekends with 50+ bottles opened, gotten to taste a lot of good stuff.

You know, you could just pick your actual wines of the year (maybe top 3-10?) like most people here rather than showing off all the expensive bottles you drank… :roll_eyes:

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2025 felt like the year my wine hobby turned from occasional dabbler to enthusiastic amateur. All my favorites this year were white…maybe the reason my cellar is mostly red is because I can’t keep my hands off the whites…

Pierre Girardin Batard-Montrachet 2020 (WOTY)
Dominio del Aguila Albillo Vinas Viejas 2020
Krug 162

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That’s a fraction of the expensive bottles I drank this year. It’s the ones I thought were memorable.

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Always looking forward to this thread, Mike :slight_smile:

One of the rare years (for me) where reds outshone whites and Champagne…

Champagne
Selosse Substance ('24 disgorgement)
1988 Dom Perignon
2008 Krug

White
2003 Ganevat Vignes de mon pere
2004 Lopez de Heredia Tondonia Gran Reserva
2014 Overnoy Chardonnay

Red
1982 Pichon Lalande (WOTY)
2010 Rayas
2010 La Tache

Discovery of the year
Bodegas Frontonio
Dureuil-Janthial VVs
Jeremy Carteret

Unfortunately, I also had a heartbreaking streak of corked or faulty bottles, including 1990 Overnoy Poulsard, 2004 Xavier Caillard Rouge, two Haart white labels, and 1988 Juge :cry:

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Ok, I will play…

Champagne
2002 Clos de Goisses
(I’m sure there were other great champagnes, I just can’t recall off the top of my head right now and this was a great recent one)

White
2014 Ganevat Marnes Bleues
2021 Coche-Dury Meursault
2008 Vatan Sancerre Clos La Neore
Countless German Rieslings which I take for granted and would take too long to list here

Red
1990 La Tache
1982 Pichon Lalande
1999 G. Mascarello Monprivato (a step down from the first two, but probably my favorite non-French red wine this year–again off the top of my head)

Dessert
1990 Foreau Moelleux Reserve
1988 Yquem (I preferred the Foreau)
1955 Suduiraut
1976 Schloss Eitz Eltviller Sonnenberg Riesling TBA (saw this on Mike’s list; this was an awesome wine! I’m glad I have a '76 Eltz Auslese)

Discoveries (for me, at least)
Maison Maenad
Antoine Lienhardt
Thomas Batardiere

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WOTY:
2004 Lopez de Heredia Tondonia Gran Reserva Blanco - An incredible treat, hopefully will get the chance to revisit several times in the decades to come

Hon. mention:
2005 Lignier Clos de la Roche - Expanded my horizon of what Pinot Noir could taste like
2021 Fornerol Cote de Nuits Villages Blanc - The first (and only) white Burg I’ve tasted that seemed worth it
Hofgut Falkenstein Kabinett - Can’t name a specific bottle, but all I’ve tried nailed what my palate desired

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Cool I think that was the first Hubert/laurent vintage.

I’ve had many wonderful wines this year, a glorious trip to Oregon, a ton of well aged bordeaux, and a nice uptick in Burgundy which I intend to continue because I hate my personal finances. But I just love champagne so much, and amazing bottles of champagne are a wonderful treat.

2008 Krug (a recent entry! My this has evolved into a brilliant wine)
2013 Cristal (pre gaming before Kendrick Lamar, along with a killer 2013 Tatty Comtes)
2016 Bereche Ay Grand Cru (just chatting with Kelley Fox, one of my wine joys of the year)

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Kind of a narrow range, don’t you think?

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