Wines of the Year 2022

[Mahmoud Ali]

I posted my 2022 wines of the year on a UK wine forum and, once again, thought it might be interesting for others on this forum to contribute their nominations. These were my nominations presented in the format proscribed by the forum moderator with my comments:

Red: 1967 Seppelt ‘Moyston’ Claret, Barossa (Australia)
White: 2002 Wimmer-Czerny ‘Felserberg’ Gruner Veltliner (Austria)
Budget Red: 2018 Masi Campofiorin (Italy) – C$15 (~£9)
Budget White: 2018 Yalumba ‘Y Series’ Viognier (Australia) – C$8 (~£5)
Rosé: 2016 Santa Rita ‘Limited Release’ Rose (Chile)
Sparkling: 1990 Pol Roger Brut (France)
Sweet: 1991 Agricola MARIN Picolit, Colli Orientali del Fruili (Italy)
Fortified: 2002 McWilliams Show Reserva Early Release VP (Australia)
Extra choice: 1986 Reserve du General, Margaux, 2nd wine of Palmer (France)
Dud: 1990 Antinori Tignanello (Italy)
Thing: Despite owning far too many wines, finding joy in finding bottles made with “new” varietals like Bellone, Cesanese, Pais, Schioppettino, and Verdeca.

Comments: Two bottles of 1986 from Palmer went head to head and it was the second wine, Reserve du General, that got the nod suggesting that the grand vin needed more time. However I chose the 1967 Moyston Claret, a 55 year-old Cabernet Shiraz that had no tannins but clean silky fruit that glided across the palate. Also memorable were 1989 La Dominique, 2004 Sena, and 2001 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet. The single vineyard Wimmer GV took time but gained intensity and length. Some roses find a way to age and this startles with its depth and intensity. In other years it was a’98 Charles Melton and a ’12 Belle Gloss, and this Santa Rita was such a rose. The Pol Roger was old but powerful – it had fabulous length. The 30 year-old Picolit was a revelation, vivid and intense, besting a Jacob Filcher Erben 1971 Kiedreicher Sandgrub Riesling Auslese. The McWilliams port was made with Tyrian, a CabSav/Sumoll hybrid for their 125th Anniversary, a gift from McWilliams.

By the way, the price for budget wine is discretionary there are different views on what is a budget wine. I chose to put the prices so that people know where I am coming from, generally speaking the cheapest wine I found that year that I would have on hand for casual or mid-week drinking. Also, the comment section was limited to 100 spaces. I am not moderation so just go for it and say as much as you want.

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

[Andrew Jordan]

Great topic!

Mine very Australia dominated which is the topic of my "Thing".

Red: 1971 Penfolds Grange (Australia)
White: 2006 Tyrell's Semillon Vat 1 (Australia)
Budget Red: 2021 Noon Twelve Bells (Australia) – AUD$12
Budget White: 2010 Tahbilk Marsanne (Australia) – AUD$12
Rosé: 2021 Noon Grenache High Noon (Australia)
Sparkling: 2002 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Coeur de Cuvée (France)
Sweet: 2018 Moss Wood Sémillon Botrytis Ribbon Vale (Australia)
Fortified: NV Seppeltsfield Para Liqueur Port Bottling No. 101 (Australia)
Extra choice: 1991 Wynns Centenary Shiraz/Cabernet (Australia)
Dud: 1994 Wynns Black Label Cabernet (Australia)

Thing: Drink and purchase more international wines and varietal's in 2023.

[VinoEd]

Shame the 94 BL made your list as a “dud” AJ. I really enjoyed a bottle this year…

Will give this some quick thought and try to come back to it later, but looking forward to other contributions.

Cheers Ed

[Andrew Jordan]

Shame the 94 BL made your list as a “dud” AJ. I really enjoyed a bottle this year…

Will give this some quick thought and try to come back to it later, but looking forward to other contributions.

Cheers Ed

Ed,

Glad yours was good and this gives me some confidence in the other 4 I have. Must open another one soon once summer is over.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Andrew, don't worry about your Australian focused list. Three of the wines on my list were Australian, most importantly my WOTY.

Your list included some of the most iconic wineries in Australia: Penfold's, Tyrrell's, Noon's, Tahbilk, Moss Wood, Seppeltfield's, and Wynn's. I am envious of your Grange and Para Liqueur Port as these are two I have not yet had the opportunity to taste at such an age.

Good luck with your "thing" this year, both the internationals and the new varietals. By the way the Italian Bellone varietal by Casale del Giglio in Lazio was fantastic.

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

[Mike Hawkins]

I posted my 2022 wines of the year on a UK wine forum and, once again, thought it might be interesting for others on this forum to contribute their nominations. These were my nominations presented in the format proscribed by the forum moderator with my comments:

Red: 1967 Seppelt ‘Moyston’ Claret, Barossa (Australia)
White: 2002 Wimmer-Czerny ‘Felserberg’ Gruner Veltliner (Austria)
Budget Red: 2018 Masi Campofiorin (Italy) – C$15 (~£9)
Budget White: 2018 Yalumba ‘Y Series’ Viognier (Australia) – C$8 (~£5)
Rosé: 2016 Santa Rita ‘Limited Release’ Rose (Chile)
Sparkling: 1990 Pol Roger Brut (France)
Sweet: 1991 Agricola MARIN Picolit, Colli Orientali del Fruili (Italy)
Fortified: 2002 McWilliams Show Reserva Early Release VP (Australia)
Extra choice: 1986 Reserve du General, Margaux, 2nd wine of Palmer (France)
Dud: 1990 Antinori Tignanello (Italy)
Thing: Despite owning far too many wines, finding joy in finding bottles made with “new” varietals like Bellone, Cesanese, Pais, Schioppettino, and Verdeca.

Comments: Two bottles of 1986 from Palmer went head to head and it was the second wine, Reserve du General, that got the nod suggesting that the grand vin needed more time. However I chose the 1967 Moyston Claret, a 55 year-old Cabernet Shiraz that had no tannins but clean silky fruit that glided across the palate. Also memorable were 1989 La Dominique, 2004 Sena, and 2001 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet. The single vineyard Wimmer GV took time but gained intensity and length. Some roses find a way to age and this startles with its depth and intensity. In other years it was a’98 Charles Melton and a ’12 Belle Gloss, and this Santa Rita was such a rose. The Pol Roger was old but powerful – it had fabulous length. The 30 year-old Picolit was a revelation, vivid and intense, besting a Jacob Filcher Erben 1971 Kiedreicher Sandgrub Riesling Auslese. The McWilliams port was made with Tyrian, a CabSav/Sumoll hybrid for their 125th Anniversary, a gift from McWilliams.

By the way, the price for budget wine is discretionary there are different views on what is a budget wine. I chose to put the prices so that people know where I am coming from, generally speaking the cheapest wine I found that year that I would have on hand for casual or mid-week drinking. Also, the comment section was limited to 100 spaces. I am not moderation so just go for it and say as much as you want.

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

90 Pol is my favourite vintage for their brut. I’ve had numerous bottles and every one has been excellent and held its own in esteemed company.

[mychurch]

I suppose the best 2 wines I drank last year were Lafite 2000 and Salon 96. Can just about remember the Lafite - incredible structure - but can’t remember a thing about the Salon. One of the side effects from 13 bottle lunches (story of the year is that was then followed up by a visit to a pub until after midnight)

I do remember a couple of other wines from the same dinner, and they could have been my white wine of the year, but instead that honour falls to Granite Hills 04 Riesling. It made me smile, it brought out the giggles and it’s by far the best Auz Riesling I have had. Just hope the other bottle I have is as good.

Red wine of the year was a mid shoulder 75 Taylor’s Hermitage. It took me back to the late 80’s when I started collecting wine. Again I was gushing and giggling - such a fantastic taste, full of fruit and eucalyptus. Stunning.

Sparkler of the year came from Con. A bit of a cheat I suppose as there were hardly any bubbles left in the 91 Leasimgham Classic Clare Sparkling Shiraz, but what was left had a slight trace of bubbles on the tongue and had plenty of mature Shiraz fruit. Lovely. Older tasting than the Taylor’s, but I liked the complexity.

Rose award is for Cirillo and their 1850 Vine Rossato, with Talijancich 1978 James Rare PX taking the fortified awards.

Budget wise the 2020 Singing Gruner Veltliner, Laurent V, drunk a few times at my local wine bar, was the outstanding cheapie. The Setiono Flaxman Syrah is more expensive, but it’s cheap for the quality. Seek it out.

[kenzo]

Red: Toss up between 1972 Grange and 2016 Lamella.
White: Toss up between 1995 Yattarna, holding in there and a great old Chardonnay - and a 1998 Tahbilk Marsanne, another golden oldie (literally).
Budget Red: Cirillo Grenache perhaps?
Budget White: 1998 Tahbilk Marsanne.
Rosé: nope
Sparkling: 2002 disgorgement Rockford Black. Amazing complexity, evolved throughout the evening – extremely happy to have cellared these for 20 years. No cork issues in the 3 I’ve opened so far – would be keen to see if these approach the levels of the 80s Seppelt Shows, but doubt I can keep my hands off them that long…
Sweet: didn't have any, alas.
Fortified: as above.
Extra choice: All the rest of the Standish wines. A 2021 Torzi Matthews Francesca Grillo Collina Calcarea Syrah - lots of interest in this bottle.
Dud: 1998 Tahbilk Marsanne - different bottle, cork hadn't done its job, although the wine looked pristine.

Thing: I enjoyed having multiple bottles open over multiple days over the Christmas period - a great way to compare and contrast, and see their evolution over several days (without decanting).

Comment:
Special mention to a comparison of 1997 and 2005 Mt Edelstone which were each great in their own way, a 1993 Cyril which was still drinking as per all of the older TNs on this site, and the trio of Marius wines I thoroughly enjoyed - an amazing floral note throughout, supported by dark fruit, and great tannin. 93 Wynns Michael also thoroughly enjoyed.
Likewise a shout out to a 2008 O'Leary Walker Dr's Cut Riesling, which reminded me I need to cellar more Riesling, and for longer now under screwcap...
A Seppelt NV (blend of 1975 and 1983 fruit) was an interesting curio, and the early-2000s disgorgement Primo Josephs were holding, but showing a lot of fortified notes - like drinking a sparkling tawny. These are an earlier drinking style for sure, with the complexity already there on release. No benefits from extended ageing IMHO, unlike some other offerings (assume this is true for recent releases).
On the budget red front, a 2013 Wynns Red Stripe punched far above its weight - a testament to the maker and the vintage!
A Bleasdale sparkling shiraz that obviously had some age on it also drank very well for its budget price – worth putting a few aside in the cellar for a few years and see what emerges at the other end.

Did all my WOTY drinking in December - need to step up my game!

[sjw_11]

Based on the points I awarded, my red wine of the year was the 2005 Yalumba Signature and white wine of the year Noonji Estate Semillon 2006... sparkling of the year 2015 disgorgment Rockford Black.

Honourable mentions to two Cote-Roties (Tardieu Laurent and Yves Cuilleron La Madinière, both 2019 and with room to improve in the future) and to the 2012 Grosset Chardonnay which were effectively the runners up.

No specific value wine of the year comes to mind, but two value regions as always: Rioja for the reds, and Rias Baixis for whites.

[Rossco]

I have been compiling and reviewing my notes from 2022.

Red: 2004 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato
very close second: 2009 Soldera (Az. Agr. Case Basse) Sangiovese Toscana IGT

White: 2009 & 2010 (Tied) Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

Budget Red: Cirillo Vincent Grenache 2020

Budget White: Deep Woods Estate Chardonnay 2021

Budget Rose`: 2022 Turkey Flat

Sparkling: 1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque

Sparkling Red: 2004 Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz

Sweet: 2010 Petaluma Botrytis Essence

Fortified: 1971 Metala Langhorn Creek Vintage Port

Extra choice: NV BelleBonne Bis Sparkling Rose’

Dud of the year: 2008 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino