List Your Best Wines of 2013

[Jay60A]

1) Penfolds Bin 90A 1990

daylight ...

2) Rockford BP 1998 or Howard Park Cabernet Merlot 1994 (now Abercrombia)

[gap]

Not in any order:

Kersbrook Hill 2008 Adelaide Hills Shiraz
Robert Channon Wines 2013 Granite Belt Verdelho
Chateau Tanunda 2009 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz
Pressing Matters 2012 R0 Riesling
Ballandean 2012 Viognier
Audrey Wilkinson Vin de Vie

That's 6. Linfield Road 2011 Grenache should be there too, as should nearly any sticky from the Granite Belt.

I could list another 15 that I reckon are outstanding.

[simon1980]

I thought it appropriate to get this thread cracking again! Here we go:

Young Shiraz: Head Contrarian 2012 (Ruggabellus Archaeus 2012 and The Story Henty Shiraz 2010 just behind)
Old(er) Shiraz: Rockford Basket Press 1998 (also, although not very old…but I adored the Marius End Play 2008…and am constantly looking for more…)
Young Pinot: Eldridge Estate 2010 (very hotly contested…with Mayer The Doktor 12, Chatto 12, many Giant Steps and Moondarra Conception 10 all right up there).
Old(er) Pinot: Hurley Homage 2005 (by a long way)
Cabernet: Leoville Barton 2002 (I know, rubbish vintage, but this was an absolute delight)
Young White: Seppelt Drumborg Riesling 2012 (special mention Pikes 2012 at $16/bt)
Old(er) White: Peter Lehmann Wigan Riesling 2004 (Tyrrells Stevens Sem 2005 a close 2nd)
Champagne: Bollinger 2002 (with a rare grower wine called Henri Chauvet Adonis 2008 a close 2nd)

simon1980

[Mike Hawkins]

From one special dinner
1990 Trimbach Clos st hune Riesling - perfect
1995 Guigal La Landonne- complex, will mature gracefully for a long time
1989 Ch D'yquem - there is a reason this is at the top of the tree....
1970 Fonseca

1989 Chave Hermitage
NV Morris 120 anniversary very old tawny port; love the style of Morris, usually the tokay, but this was awesome

Nice work! Some stupendous wines there

[Chuck]

1) Penfolds Bin 90A 1990

daylight ...

2) Rockford BP 1998 or Howard Park Cabernet Merlot 1994 (now Abercrombia)

Penfolds Bin 90A
There have been so many exceptional comments on this wine over the years (including mine as the best wine I have every had) will it end up rivaling the legendary 1962 Bin 60A in 20-30 years? Getting close will be a major feat in itself. It's still around $300 at auction which is less than 50% of current Grange prices. Tough decision.

Carl

[Mike Hawkins]

1) Penfolds Bin 90A 1990

daylight ...

2) Rockford BP 1998 or Howard Park Cabernet Merlot 1994 (now Abercrombia)

Penfolds Bin 90A
There have been so many exceptional comments on this wine over the years (including mine as the best wine I have every had) will it end up rivaling the legendary 1962 Bin 60A in 20-30 years? Getting close will be a major feat in itself. It's still around $300 at auction which is less than 50% of current Grange prices. Tough decision.

Carl

Its one of the best Aussie wines I've ever had- 5 of 6 so far have been superb. When it came out it was at the time ridiculously expensive ($90 IIRC). Now it seems so cheap! Peter Gago seems to think the 2004 Bin 60a will be better, but I'm not so sure.

Mike

[n4sir]

My top ten for 2013:

1989 Peter Lehmann Stodart Trophy Cabernet Malbec Merlot Shiraz (magnum)
1990 Henschke Hill of Grace (magnum)
1982 De Bortoli Noble One
1985 Dom Pérignon
1975 Quelltaler Wyatt Earp Vintage Port
NV Berri Estates Olde Madeira
1978 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia
2010 Penfolds Bin 169
1998 Yalumba Signature (magnum)
1998 Orlando Jacaranda Ridge



Cheers,
Ian

[Eurocentric]

I don't seem to have the memory I used to. Probably been spoiled by my generous wine-drinking buddies.

Had some memorable wines at a dinner we organised at Tetsuya's to crack a group purchase 1993 Henri Jayer Vosne Romanee 1er cru Cros Parentoux. It lived up to the hype: sublime. At the same night a 2006 DRC Echezeaux stunned me for its beauty (just as a 2009 was underwhelming).

I'm sure my friends will be mortified but nothing else stands out as much as those two, not really surprisingly!

[ticklenow1]

Same as last year - the 1991 Wynns Centenary. I've had it 3 times now and it is simply amazing. Even at current auction prices, it's a steal.

Some honourable mentions include in no particular order:

2005 Marius Symphony - Stunning
2008 Marius Endplay - Surprising
2001 Mount Mary Chardonnay - Pick of the Whites
2004 Greenock Creek Grenache - My go to wine
2004 Burge Family Homestead - Stunning
2009 Gomersal Shiraz - pick of the young reds and great VFM
2006 Cape Mentelle Chardonnay - 2nd best white of the year
2003 Greenock Creek Apricot Block Shiraz - lovely and a triumph for the vintage
2002 Greenock Creek Cabernet - Amazingly well balanced
2002 Rockford Basket Press - Love this and drank plenty of it at the Black Magnum Dinner
2002 Rockford Rifle Range - I really rate the Rifle range from good vintages
1994 Cyril Hensckhe - took a while to open up, but once it did - Wow!
1996 Rockford Basket Press - Nothing else needs to be said about this - a classic
1991 Seppelt Sparkling Burgundy - Probably my surprise wine of the year, din't think I would enjoy it so much
1999 Rockford SVS Hoffmans - A real treat to drink

Not a huge year of drinking blockbusters like last year, but next winter I have a good selection of reds I can't wait to get into.

Wishing everyone on this board and their families a very happy New Year.

Cheers
Ian

[DJ1980]

Happy (almost) New Year to everyone.

First post having just found this forum

Had a massive swing in favorites this year compared to what would have been at my top last year. Really getting into my Champagne and Rioja. A lot more French this year too. Had a MASSIVE year for wine, and was lucky enough to tick a lot of "bucket list" wines off.

Most memorable:

1962 Penfolds Bin 60A
1996 Krug
1990 Krug
2006 Domaire Du Pegau Chateauneuf Du Pape
2010 Wynns John Riddoch
2005 Remirez de Ganuza Trasnocho
2010 Cullen Kevin John
Campbells Merchant Prince Rare Rutherglen Muscat

[Panda 9D]

While this may change after tonight's offline, these are my top wines for 2013.

1982 De Bortoli Noble One
1978 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia (copied and pasted from Ian's list so I wouldn't have to type it )
2005 DRC Romanee St. Vivant
2011 Marcel Lapierre Morgon (no sulfites version.. roll your eyes all you like!)
2012 Yangarra Roussanne
NV Jaques Selosse Exquise Demi-Sec
2009 Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler Bernkasteler alte Badstube am Doctorberg Riesling Spatlese (I hate the names of these wines)
2008 Jaques-Frederic Mugnier Nuit-Saint-Georges Clos des Fourches
2010 Two Hands Zippy's Block Shiraz
2010 Providence Kuwata Vintage Private Reserve

Wines notable for not making the top 10 include 2000 DRC Echezeaux, 1988 Lafite and 1988 Latour. BOO!

[dave vino]

1888 Seppelt Para Liquer
1990 Penfolds 90A
2011 Sylvain Cathiard Malconsorts
2000 Tua Rita Redigaffi
1982 Ch. Mouton Rothschild
1999 Vega Sicilia Unico
1995 Ch. Lafite
1944 Seppelt Sparkling Burgundy (Colin Preece)
1975 Penfolds Grange
2005 Sine Qua Non Grenache Atlantis Fe2O3~2a, b & c

[TiggerK]

13 for 2013. Couldn't narrow it down any further than this! Thanks to all who have contributed to a truly amazing year of fantastic wines in the best possible company. Happy New Year and wishing all of you a safe and enjoyable 2014.

2002 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne
1992 Dom Perignon

1944 Seppelt Sparkling Burgundy

1959 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling feine Auslese
2000 Domaine Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet

1929 Joseph Drouhin Clos Vougeot
1919 Leon Rigault Vosne-Romanée

1990 Penfolds Bin 90A, Cab/Shiraz
1964 Chateau Cheval Blanc
1982 Château Mouton Rothschild
1982 Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo

1975 d'Yquem
1888 Seppelt Para

[Luke W]

Best wine for 2013 was a Wynns Centenary 1991 had last nite. Stunning wine that just seems to keep evolving. Following this Marius Endplay 08 and Symphony 05 we had at the last offline, a 1997 RWT, a Rockford Black and BP (both 01), a 2008 R Wines FU, a 2008 389, and a 1991 Peter Lehmanns Clancy's!

[phillisc]

Must be joining the ranks of the BOF brigade....(boring old farts)...New years eve, bar humbug and and all that!!
If its any consolation brought in the year with...2 Heinekens!!! Wow, really travelling well there Craig .

Cheers to all.
Craig.

[mjs]

1) Penfolds Bin 90A 1990

daylight ...

2) Rockford BP 1998 or Howard Park Cabernet Merlot 1994 (now Abercrombia)

Penfolds Bin 90A
There have been so many exceptional comments on this wine over the years (including mine as the best wine I have every had) will it end up rivaling the legendary 1962 Bin 60A in 20-30 years? Getting close will be a major feat in itself. It's still around $300 at auction which is less than 50% of current Grange prices. Tough decision.

Carl

Stocks originally purchased not long after this was first released have dwindled, so I've been making a point of picking up the odd bottle here and there at auction in the last 12 months. Always around the $290-$300 + commission. A superb wine, much better value than Grange imo. Avatar says it all

[Diddy]

1) Penfolds Bin 90A 1990

daylight ...

2) Rockford BP 1998 or Howard Park Cabernet Merlot 1994 (now Abercrombia)

Penfolds Bin 90A
There have been so many exceptional comments on this wine over the years (including mine as the best wine I have every had) will it end up rivaling the legendary 1962 Bin 60A in 20-30 years? Getting close will be a major feat in itself. It's still around $300 at auction which is less than 50% of current Grange prices. Tough decision.

Carl

Stocks originally purchased not long after this was first released have dwindled, so I've been making a point of picking up the odd bottle here and there at auction in the last 12 months. Always around the $290-$300 + commission. A superb wine, much better value than Grange imo. Avatar says it all

What's the provenance like on the Bin 90s at auction?

[Mike Hawkins]

Best reds

1982 Henschke Mt Edelstone
1991 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz
1990 Lynch Bages
1971 Penfolds Bin 389
1986 Penfolds St Henri

Best Champers

1996 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne
1995 Dom Perignon Oenotheque
2002 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne
1990 Cristal
1996 Vilmart Cuvee Creation

[Michael McNally]

and a 1991 Peter Lehmanns Clancy's!

Love that this made your list Luke! These used to be quality wines, but have stayed at the same price point and slipped (significantly) in quality - alas alack.

Cheers

Michael

[Luke W]

and a 1991 Peter Lehmanns Clancy's!

Love that this made your list Luke! These used to be quality wines, but have stayed at the same price point and slipped (significantly) in quality - alas alack.

Cheers

Michael

Thanks Michael
I went round to a mates place and he said what do u want to drink and I saw it and said - "hey, do u remember when we bought these in the early 90's and how good they were?" - I did the same thing with a 91 Wynns BL 2 years before and it was my WOTY! - he has all these interesting old wines sitting in his laundry under the house where it is dark and mostly cool (but not temperature controlled) and regularly finds these little gems that blow everyone away.

[Mark Carrington]

Red: JL Chave Hermitage 1995
White: Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon 1998
Budget red: Saint Verny Côtes d'Auvergne Gamay 2012
Budget white: Luneau-Papin / Domaine Pierre de la Grange Folle Blanche 2012
Rosé: Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Rosé Terrasses 2012
Sweet: JJ Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 1995
Fortified: Warre's '85

[simon1980]

Golly, there are some pretty sensational names coming out here! I'm glad to see Marius End Play 2008 get 3 mentions, though.

simon1980

[ticklenow1]

Golly, there are some pretty sensational names coming out here! I'm glad to see Marius End Play 2008 get 3 mentions, though.

simon1980

Absolutely stunning wine. Can't believe I passed on buying it

I wasn't keen, not knowing what it was. I will never make that mistake again with Roger's wines. Still I'd love to know what it actually is.......

Cheers
Ian

[simon1980]

Ian, I had a search for some more, but to no avail. So, I asked Roger if he will do it again. Maybe 2015 or 2016 vintage (from memory)...keep your fingers crossed...

Oh, and I quite like not knowing. Who cares when it tastes that good!

Simon