The Auswine Forum

I drew up a list of my wines of the year in another wine forum and I thought I would share it here and hopefully prompt others to share theirs with the rest of us. So here they are:

Sparkling: 2008 Benjamin Bridge Brut Reserve, Nova Scotia, Canada
Red Wine: 1978 Chateau Gloria, St Julian
Runner up: 1992 d'Arenberg D'Arry's Original, McLaren Vale, Australia
White Wine: 1995 Tyrrell's Vat 47 'Pinot Chardonnay', Hunter Valley, Australia
Rose: 2012 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Blanc, Oeil de Pedrix, Bruggioni Vineyard, Sonoma County, USA
Sweet: 2000 Patricius Tokaji Aszu 6 Puttonyos, Hungary
Fortified Wine: 1988 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port
Budget Rose: 2016 Santa Rita Limited Release Rose, Chile
Budget White: 2015 Altavins 'Almodi Petit', Terre Alta, Spain
Honourable Mention: 1998 Hamilton 'Marion Vineyard' Grenache Shiraz, Adelaide, Australia

Comment: Not much reason to pop Champagne this year but the Benjamin Bridge on New Year's Eve beat out the Christmas Day's aged NV Roederer. Amazing structure and poise in the Benjamin Bridge and still very youthful, the winery itself suggesting a drinking window between 2020 and 2030. It's hard to beat a fine old mature Bordeaux and 1978 Gloria at 42 years was delightful. Two Australians, d'Arenberg and Hamilton's, though not as old, and both Shiraz/Grenache blends, showed that with proper age they can shine. The Hamilton gets an honourable mention because not only was in contention but is unique in that the vineyard lies within the City of Adelaide in the suburb of Marion. Tyrrell's Vat 47 was a pioneer in Australian Chardonnay and this bottle was a testament to how it should be made. Belle Glos' Pinot Noir is notoriously big and over ripe but their single vineyard rose Oeil de Pedrix may be the gem in their portfolio. We don't drink enough Tokaji and Port and the 2000 Patricius and 1988 Guimaraens were a reminder of why we should drink more.

Cheers ..................... Mahmoud.

PS: Usually the budget category is a red and white but I really didn't have a budget red and so I posted my budget rose.

Apologies for copying my post from another forum - but I've added a photo!

My wines of the year were tasted in close succession, but in first place: Opus One 1999. Second Place: Mouton Rothschild 2004. Third Place: Trimbach Gewurztraminer SGN 2001. All enjoyed over one incredibly memorable pre-COVID dinner at Hawksmoor in London. Maybe the occasion had something to do with it, but this was one of the (for me) rare occasions where big wines lived up to their hype.


Honorable mentions, as great value discoveries during 2020:
White - Tardieu Laurent Les Becs Fins Cotes du Rhone Blanc
Red - Mayu Carmenere Appasimento

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Here's mine...

Sparkling: 2010 Hanging rock Sparkling Shiraz - It had been a while between sparkling reds. Had this with American BBQ and it did a great job of cutting through the fattiness of the meat
Red Wine: 2011 Flametree Jeremy John Cabernet Malbec - Made in tribute to their winemaker who died in car accident. Full bodied serious and a worthy tribute.
Runner up: 2009 Kooyong Meres Pinot Noir - A few years this was stern and pretty unforgiving, but this had transformed and was utterly delicious
White Wine: 2015 Fighting Gully Road Aquila - I didn't know much about this apart from some good press on Fighting Gully Road, directed mostly towards their reds, so this was a mighty fine surprise.
Rose: 2018 Domenica Nebbiolo Rose - could have been the 2019 but I think I slightly prefer the 18. Everything I want in a rose.

Fortified Wine: 1998 Grahams Malvedos Vintage Port - A slim year for port for me, being separated from most of my port collection by a lockdown. This was one I had at home and it was significantly better than the other couple I these I have previously consumed.
Fortified Runner up : Morris Old Premium Rare Tawny - I believe this was a one off release. Australian Tawny doesn't usually excite me that much but this, while still a little sweeter than Portuguese tawny, had complexity and depth that was impressive.

Honourable Mention: 2008 Juniper Cabernet - Just before Christmas I opened four Cabernets for staff and regulars at my local and this was the best of a good bunch and was thoroughly enjoyed by all

In no particular order:

2012 Chatto Wines Isle Pinot Noir
2010 Chateau Mont-Redon Châteauneuf du Pape
2012 Olivier Pithon Côtes du Roussillon ‘Cuvée Lais’
2012 Josef Chromy Chardonnay ‘Zdar’
2017 Cherubino Chardonnay Gingin Clone
2017 Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Blanc
2006 Clos Triguedina ‘The New Black Wine’

Looking at my notes, it seems I have rated 9 wines at 94pts and nothing above that. If I had to shade it to the half points, I would probably go with the 2002 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Millenium Reserva Pesquera as my no 1 pick.

• 2017 Yves Boyer-Martenot Meursault Les Tillets - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault (1/1/2020)
• 2016 Dominio de Anza Rioja Edicion Especial Limitada - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (1/11/2020)
• 2008 Philip Shaw Shiraz No. 89 - Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange (2/27/2020)
• 2006 Wolf Blass Black Label - Australia, South Australia (2/27/2020)
• 2011 Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore L'Alberello - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore (3/7/2020)
• 2002 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Millenium Reserva Pesquera - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (4/3/2020)
• 2017 Domaine de la Charbonnière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale Les Hautes Brusquières - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/20/2020)
• 2016 Pago de los Capellanes Ribera del Duero Reserva - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (11/2/2020)
• 2008 Domenico Clerico Barolo Percristina - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (12/26/2020)

Wine of the Year: 2017 Orbel Grosse Lage Reisling, W.E.Frank
Red Wine of the Year : 2017 Vielles Vignes, Chinon, Phillippe Alliet
Sparkling: Rose de Maturation, Larmandier-Bernie
Off dry: 2011 Schwarzhofberger Kabinett, Egon Muller
Funky/Fortified: 2015 Yellow Chardonnay, Denton (2020 Release)

asajoseph wrote:Apologies for copying my post from another forum - but I've added a photo!

My wines of the year were tasted in close succession, but in first place: Opus One 1999. Second Place: Mouton Rothschild 2004. Third Place: Trimbach Gewurztraminer SGN 2001. All enjoyed over one incredibly memorable pre-COVID dinner at Hawksmoor in London. Maybe the occasion had something to do with it, but this was one of the (for me) rare occasions where big wines lived up to their hype.


Honorable mentions, as great value discoveries during 2020:
White - Tardieu Laurent Les Becs Fins Cotes du Rhone Blanc
Red - Mayu Carmenere Appasimento

[url=https://ibb.co/m5TXn9f][img]https://i.ibb.co/CK8MjbR/DA9-FD503-16-BD-4-A ... B62-EE.jpg[/img][/url]

I always liked the Monday night byo at Hawksmoor, though some of their restaurants are better than others. Sunday’s at Mash were pretty good too

Honourable mentions..
2002 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz
2004 Taylors St Andrews Shiraz
2015 Domenica Nebb (Beechworth)
2002 Grosset Pinot Noir
2005 Wendouree Cab Mal

drum roll...

1978 Wendouree Pressings. So alive with fruit and freshness for its age. A real wine experience.
Absolutely stunning and gets my 2020 vote as WOTY.

Sparkling : Roederer Cristal 2008
Runner Up : Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Millenaires 1995

Red Wine : Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-St-Vivant 2011
Runner up : Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze 2010

White Wine : Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet 2017
Runner up : Carolyn Morey Criots Batard Montrachet 2018

Vin Jaune : Domaine de Cavarodes Vin Jaune 2010
Sweet : Chateau D’Yquem 1976
Fortified Wine : Seppelt 100 Year Para 1882

Budget Red : Hughes Beguet Ploussard 2018
Budget White : Picardy Chardonnay 2017

Honourable Mention : 1970 Lindemans Hunter River 'Chablis' Bin 3875 and 1980 Chateau Margaux Pavillon Blanc. Two lovely and characterful old whites punching well above expectations of age and vintage.

Comment : 2020 sucked in so many ways, but still worked out well for drinking good wine with good friends!! Here’s to 2021 !

Mike Hawkins wrote: I always liked the Monday night byo at Hawksmoor, though some of their restaurants are better than others. Sunday’s at Mash were pretty good too

It was responsible for quite a few dusty Tuesday mornings - not always a great start to the week!

Two wines really stand out in 2020 for me. Mainly because they were so much better than expected and thus were a revelation and were the most emotional and memorable wines for me.

Feb 2020: 1995 Dm Chevillon NSG Les Cailles. Absolutely everything you could want in a mature burg, just wonderful fragrant and long, delicious and full of fruit and life and complexity.
Oct 2020: 1990 Frescobaldi Montesodi Chianti Rufina Riserva: A mind blowing example of a Chianti just absolutely rocking after 30 years. So much to love in this wine, it was an absolute star amongst a 1990 tasting that including 1990 Grange, HOG and Leoville Les Cases. Everyone was amazed. The glory of old Chianti indeed.

Most of my wine groups were on hiatus for most of 2020, so I tasted significantly fewer high end wines. Despite this, I still had some awesome wines, most of them in December when my wine groups resumed. Looking back at my notes, here are the winners.

White: 2010 Coche-Dury Meursault Blanc
Champagne: NV Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Brut Tradition
Pet Nat: 2019 Sassafras Ancestral
Rose: Bel Colle Rosato 2018
Red: 1982 Chateau Cheval Blanc
Red Runner Up: 2006 Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques
Red Honourable Mention: 2006 Terre Nere Etna Rosso Don Peppino
Aussie Red: 1995 Penfolds Grange
Sparkling Red: NV Primo Estate Joseph Sparkling Red - 2014 Disgorgement
Sweet: 2001 Chateau Pierre-Bise Coteaux du Layon-Beaulieu L'Anclaie
Fortified: Morris CHM Rare Liqueur Muscat

Champagne: Selosse Cote Faron 2004 Disgorge
White: 2014 JeanMarc Pillot Chevalier Montrachet
Red: 2009 Cardinale

hmmmm... slow year wine wise with not many tastings/dinners on but..
Best bubbles ; 1999 Taitinger Comtes BdB
Riesling: 2010 Prophets Rock, Central Otago/ 1999 Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt Josephschofer Spatlese
Chardonnay: 2008 Kumeu River Hunting Hill
Rose: 2020 Sorrenberg
Pinot: 2011 Prieure Roch Le Clou, Ladoix
Red Blend: 2010 Charles Melton Nine Popes
Desert: 2010 Chateau Doisy Daene

Scotty vino wrote:
drum roll...

1978 Wendouree Pressings. So alive with fruit and freshness for its age. A real wine experience.
Absolutely stunning and gets my 2020 vote as WOTY.

I had a 1985 model of this many years ago and had the same reaction.

My wines of the year.

Semillon: 2007 Rockford Local Growers
Chardonnay: 2018 Sorrenberg
Sparkling: 2011 Apogee Deluxe Vintage late disgorge
Shiraz: 2006 Rockford SVS Hoffman
Grenache: 2019 Vanguardist Grenache MVG
Cabernet Sauvignon: 2010 Silver Oak Napa Valley
Red Blend: 2018 Blue Poles Reserve Allouran (a clean skin.... not the labelled Deux Ecus)

sparkling: 1997 Anderson Pinot/Chardonnay - last one, bugger!
red: 2003 Paringa Reserve Shiraz
white: 2012 Paulett Antonina Riesling
budget red: 1990 Rosemount Estate Museum Release Cabernet Sauvignon
budget white: 2015 Tahbilk Viognier
$10 red: 2010 Nillahcootie Estate Merlot
$10 white: 2010 Leeuwin Estate Siblings Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc
Beer: an accidental release of a Mornington Peninsula Brewery porter, aged in a Chief's Son Whisky barrel. On tap for only one day - when it was realised that it was actually a blend of porter and imperial stout.

TiggerK wrote:Honourable Mention : 1970 Lindemans Hunter River 'Chablis' Bin 3875 and 1980 Chateau Margaux Pavillon Blanc. Two lovely and characterful old whites punching well above expectations of age and vintage.

I am a huge fan of old wines that seemingly ought to be well past it but are not, and often they are from the least likely vintages. The 1980 vintage was not good and the reds basically written off so it is amazing that a dry white should last for 40 years, even it from Chateau Margaux. I don't know what 1970 was like in the Hunter Valley but regardless it's a 50 year old white. That's why I say forget the vintage buy the producer.

brodie wrote:Oct 2020: 1990 Frescobaldi Montesodi Chianti Rufina Riserva: A mind blowing example of a Chianti just absolutely rocking after 30 years. So much to love in this wine, it was an absolute star amongst a 1990 tasting that including 1990 Grange, HOG and Leoville Les Cases. Everyone was amazed. The glory of old Chianti indeed.

So very glad to hear that this is doing so well as I have a pair of them. I have always maintained that the old Castello di Nipozzano, the regular riserva from Frescobaldi, were eminently cellerable, a 1962 being my wine of the year just two years ago.

Ozzie W wrote:Red: 1982 Chateau Cheval Blanc.
Sparkling Red: NV Primo Estate Joseph Sparkling Red - 2014 Disgorgement.

I have heard good things about the 1982 Cheval Blanc, though I never got a chance to taste one. It used to be, along with the 1947, our throwaway line - "I was going to bring an '82 Cheval Blanc but didn't think it would go well with tonight's dinner".

I'm curious, the Primo Estate sparkling had six years aging post disgorgement, was it still primary in character or had it developed tertiary notes.

Mahmoud.

Mahmoud Ali wrote:

Ozzie W wrote:Sparkling Red: NV Primo Estate Joseph Sparkling Red - 2014 Disgorgement.

I'm curious, the Primo Estate sparkling had six years aging post disgorgement, was it still primary in character or had it developed tertiary notes.

This wine is a complex concoction. It contains Shiraz from every vintage since the 80s as well as some vintages from the 60s and 70s. Every year since 1991 they've added also a hogshead (2600L) of Moda Cabernet Merlot. And if that's not enough, each year it's also blended with a mixture of Aussie fortified wines. A tirage is completed only every 18-24 months. As a result, there's primary and tertiary notes all intertwined. I first tried the 2014 disgorgement in December 2015 and it has continued to develop in the bottle.

That was my last bottle of the 2014 disgorgement. I have a few bottles of 2016 disgorgement in the cellar.

A really lean year 2020. To be honest imported Heineken 500ml tinnies round the campfire was hard to beat.

82 Wynns JR and 97/98 Lindies Pyrus were fantastic. Got to try about 6-8 different Riesling Freaks which were all superb and the Travis Earth's 2017 BV shiraz was monumental.

Cheers Craig