A very happy and healthy 2026 to all followers of this educational wine & food Blog. Hope the New Year ahead will have some wonderful memorable experiences for all of you. Reflecting back on last year your scribe was fortunate to enjoy many outstanding wines most worthy of a near perfect score or at least in the high nineties. Most of them were spotlighted on your IWFS Blog. Thought it might be fun to pick out an unranked Top Ten for you with some other contenders thrown in as well. You can obtain more detailed information on all these wine listed by using the Search engine on blog.iwfs.org. Here goes:
SPARKLING; This has to go to the unique classic old vines Champagne of still youthful 2012 BOLLINGER VIEILLES VIGNES FRANCAISES BLANC DE NOIRS. Close runner-up was the fantastic vintage 2008 ROEDERER CRISTAL.
CHABLIS: A tie between two structured LES CLOS GRAND CRU from the outstanding vintage of 2014 by DOMAINE CHRISTIAN MOREAU & DOMAINE WILLIAM FEVRE. Also an excellent 2008 VAULORENT PREMIER CRU DOMAINE WILLIAM FEVRE.
WHITE BURGUNDY: Amazing balanced 2014 MEURSAULT PERRIERES BOUCHARD PERE still improving plus their presently perfect drinking 2010. Medal to the lovely 2014 CHASSAGNE MONTRACHET LES CAILLERETS CAROLINE MOREY.
DESSERT: Remarkable at age 50 the 1976 HUGEL GEWURZTRAMINER SELECTION DE GRAINS NOBLES (Selection FUT 20 par Jean Hugel) and the rich 1990 CHATEAU D’YQUEM SAUTERNES.
PORT: Many mature VINTAGE PORTS from 1970, 1966, and 1963 plus old delicious diverse TAYLOR TAWNY but very special fifty-five year old 1970 QUINTA DO NOVAL NACIONAL.
RED BURGUNDY: Gold to DOMAINE MEO-CAMUZET for sublime 2003 RICHEBOURG GRAND CRU and Silver to their elegant 2005 VOSNE-ROMANEE AUX BRULEES.
RHONE: The tasty smooth blackberries of 1990 HERMITAGE LA CHAPELLE DOMAINE PAUL JABOULET brings back fond memories of their legendary 1978 and 1961. Some classic CHAVE.
CANADA: World-class wines led by so many wineries, but a standing ovation for 2020 OCULUS MISSION HILL FAMILY ESTATE, CHECKMATE CHARDONNAY, and MARTIN’S LANE RIESLING & PINOT NOIR.
WHITE BORDEAUX: Many excellent entries led by ripe 2015 CHATEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE BLANC, dependable 2011 DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER BLANC, and classy LA CLARTE DE HAUT-BRION.
RED BORDEAUX: Fortunate to try a plethora of Bordeaux Château verticals and vintage horizontals during 2025. Difficult to pick a winner among so many worthy candidates. Perhaps at the top of a long list are 1989 PICHON BARON, 2000 LYNCH BAGES (matched 2000 Petrus), 1986 LEOVILLE BARTON, AND PICHON LALANDE & LEOVILLE LAS CASES (BOTH IN 1996 AND 1990), classic 1986 MOUTON, and young impressive 2022 MARGAUX. Lots close by with 1970 PALMER, 1986 & 1982 GRUAUD LAROSE, 2000 DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU, 2000 SMITH HAUT LAFITTE, 1982 GRUAUD LAROSE, 1986 & 1982 TALBOT … What was your most memorable wine consumed in 2025?
You might also like:
 |
 |
 |