Vinous Top 100 Wines of the Year - 2024: Countdown #100 to #61

BY VINOUS | NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Looking out across the hills of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi.

#99: 2020 Sartarelli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Balciana

$45, Marche, Italy

EG: "Sartarelli wrangles in the depth and complexity of Verdicchio through the single-vineyard Balciana. This bottling is emblematic of the Sartarelli family's recent shift toward a more savory profile than has been the case historically, allowing the variety's minerality to shine. The results are spectacular. The Balciana is enjoyable upon release, yet the real magic happens in the cellar."

The 2020 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Balciana is a deep golden color in the glass. It opens with a delicate bouquet that blends opulent ripe peach and custard notes with refining hints of lemon oil and crushed stone. It’s silky and enveloping, elegance to the extreme. Tropical citrus elevates the ripe orchard fruits, and a salty mineral core adds tremendous depth. Long, long, long, the 2020 lingers on, youthfully tense, with a staining of tart citrus rind and minty herbs that resonate. The ripeness of the vintage shows through, yet Sartarelli has managed to pack this with gobs of balancing tension. 

93 points – Eric Guido, May 2024

#98: 2023 Best’s Wines Riesling Great Western

$25, Victoria, Australia

AH: "This bottling delivers refined elegance at an exceptional value. It beautifully captures the purity and precision of Riesling."

The fine and gentle 2023 Riesling Great Western offers delicate yet finely tuned aromas of citrus pith, green pineapple and wet stones in a savory style. Dry and currently a little angular with a fresh acid bite, the cool vintage has delivered a vibrant and age-worthy expression. This wine is still tightly wound and holding its streamlined shape through to a super long finish. It has definite potential to improve in bottle. 

94 points – Angus Hughson, November 2024

Jean-Marc Burgaud, among the best winemakers not just in Morgon, but in Beaujolais.

#97: 2022 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Côte du Py

$28, Beaujolais, France

NM: "Burgaud is one of the most respected growers in Beaujolais, and his 2022 Morgon Côte du Py epitomizes everything great about his wines—perfumed and seductive, with fine-boned tannins and a refined but persistent finish. Magnificent."

The 2022 Morgon Côte du Py has an absolutely delightful bouquet. Much more charming than the Corcelette, it shows exquisite delineation with perfumed, mineral-laced red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, very focused with a touch of Indian spice toward the detailed finish. This has a long life ahead. It’s so refined and elegant. 

94 points – Neal Martin, March 2024

#96: 2019 Andrew Will Winery Sorella 

$97, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington State, United States

EG: "Washington State was known for its Bordeaux blends before anything else, and much of that reputation was due to the success of winemakers like Chris Camarda and his Cabernet-dominated Sorella from the Champoux Vineyard. The Sorella remains one of the most important wines of the region, displaying a core of seductively dark ripe fruit and a balanced structure that promises decades of positive development. It also remains a fantastic value in the category of domestic Bordeaux blends."

The 2019 Sorella is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petite Verdot. It's dark and brooding in the glass, displaying a burst of ashen stone and grilled herbs that gives way to black currant and exotic spice. Round and supple on the palate, this shows cooling acidity and a great depth of rich red and black fruits, contrasted by a saline mineral tinge. It tapers off with a peppery edge and a violet pastille flourish, leaving silty tannins and hints of licorice while finishing with outstanding length. The 2019 is still youthful and tense, yet it promises over a decade of positive evolution. 

95 points – Eric Guido, October 2023

#95: 2021 Cantina Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg

$57, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

EG: "Anyone who hasn’t yet experienced the white wines of Cantina Terlano is in for a revelation. These rank among the finest white wines in the world. While the Terlaner Grande Cuvée Primo often steals the spotlight, the Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg offers remarkable complexity and quality at a much more accessible price. This is the bottle I reach for to fill my own cellar. Place it alongside a Premier Cru white Burgundy for a thrilling comparison."

The 2021 Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg is youthfully coiled, as an airy blend of wild herbs and dried flowers gives way to young peach and apricot. This is seamlessly silky and serene on the palate, nearly oily in feel, with brisk acidity to balance and depths of ripe orchard fruits and mineral tones that saturate. The balance is perfect, lightly tannic and full of tension with a lemony concentration that puckers the cheeks as minty herbal tones fade. Green apple notes add a crunchy sensation toward the close. This fantastic rendition of Vorberg will thrive in a cold cellar. 

94 points – Eric Guido, December 2023

#94: 2019 Domaine Pierre Gonon Saint-Joseph

$150, Northern Rhône, France

NG: "I chose Domaine Pierre Gonon's 2019 Saint-Joseph for the way it captivated me with its intensity, complexity and balanced acidity. This wine will evolve beautifully over time—a standout Saint-Joseph."

I am totally hooked by the flamboyance of the 2019 Saint-Joseph. Vinified with around 90% whole-clusters and checking in at 14.2% alcohol, the 2019 bursts with pronounced intensity of black cherry, blackberry, raspberry, crushed violets, licorice and earthy gradations. Discrete pencil shaving nuances add a ferrous dimension. Showing slightly grippier tannins compared to the more polished 2020, I suspect the 2019 will need a few more years to come around. Hitting the palate with a juicy core of ripe black fruits all balanced by refreshing acidity, this is a sexy Saint-Joseph that will stand the test of time. 

95 points – Nicolas Greinacher, October 2023

#93: 2021 Bilancia Chardonnay Tiratore La Collina Vineyard

$55, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

RG: "I am sure that the vast majority of our readers will not have heard of Bilancia, but this is one of those wines that should encourage everyone to sit up and take notice. The Chardonnay Tiratore screams class."

The 2021 Chardonnay Tiratore La Collina Vineyard is a wine of substance that's held within a corset of acidity and well-handled phenolics. It is all about compact power. Its flavors are not dictated by fruit but more savory, nuanced character. There’s some attractive reduction here in the form of a pinch of saltiness, which combines with classy hazelnut-like French oak notes, ground almonds and nectarine. If I were looking to show a new discovery to other wine collectors, I would have this in my backpack. 

97 points – Rebecca Gibb MW, April 2024

#92: 2021 Galardi Terra di Lavoro

$87, Campania, Italy

EG: "Often misunderstood, Galardi’s wines simply need time to reveal their true charm. Terra di Lavoro, one of Campania’s first cult collectibles, may have seemed like an overnight success, yet many collectors lacked the patience to see these wines reach their full potential. Today, tasting a fifteen- or twenty-year-old vintage showcases not only the superior quality of the Mount Roccamonfina terroir but also Aglianico’s remarkable capacity to age gracefully. This is a blue-chip addition to any cellar, promising pleasurable drinking for decades to come."

The 2021 Terra di Lavoro is intense yet youthfully backward, smoldering up with a complex array of dried violets, ashen stone, sage, cedar chips and blackberries, lifted by hints of camphor. It’s silky-smooth, nearly seamless in feel, with surprising lift and a savory core of red and black fruits that penetrate deeply, staining the palate in primary concentration. A bump of brisk acidity maintains freshness, yet the end result is one of tannic structure and tension. Depths of bitter berry fruit and licorice tones leave a cheek-puckering sensation. The 2021 is a powerful and dense Terra di Lavoro that will pay dividends in the cellar. This is a beast. Bury it deep.

97 points – Eric Guido, March 2024

#91: 2023 Diatom Chardonnay

$23, Santa Barbara County, California, United States

AG: “Greg Brewer crafted an exceptional Chardonnay under his Diatom label that delivers exceptional quality and value. Blocked malolactic fermentation, aging in steel and bottling on the early side help preserve freshness and tension.”

The 2023 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) is a total stunner. Bright, aromatic and vibrant, the 2023 is lights-out, brilliantly marrying fruit intensity and energy. Apricot, mint and white flowers abound. This is a stunning wine for the price and for its production of around 40,000 cases. All of this fruit is from Mission Hills in Los Alamos. 

94 points – Antonio Galloni, July 2024

#90: 2020 Señorío de San Vicente 

$60, Rioja Alta, Spain

JH: "The 2020 Señorío de San Vicente exemplifies why this pioneering wine remains an icon decades after its debut in the 1990s. Brimming with energy and built for the future, it showcases depth, structure and a timeless character."

If there is a wine that embodies the terroir-driven focus since the 1990s, it's San Vicente. The 2020 San Vicente is 100% Tempranillo Peludo, distinguished by its velvety leaves. Sourced from the San Vicente vineyard in the Canoca Valley, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, it aged for 20 months in French (90%) and American (10%) oak barrels. This purplish wine offers ripe black fruit aromas and wild herb notes against an oak backdrop. Dry, juicy and taut, the light and fine-grained tannins linger long. A nuanced, modern Rioja, this wine is a masterpiece of Marcos Eguren's winemaking technique—a truly elegant Tempranillo. 

96 points – Joaquín Hidalgo, December 2023

#89: 2021 Tenuta di Carleone Uno

$69, Tuscany, Italy

AG: “Sean O’Callaghan makes some of the most distinctive wines in all of Chianti Classico, and Italy, for that matter. O’Callaghan is among the growers who are challenging long-established norms of what Chianti Classico (the wine) is and what it can be through the use of stems, alternative aging vessels and an overall approach that favors freshness more than size.”

The 2021 Uno (Sangiovese) is a gorgeous, super-classic red from Sean O'Callaghan. Readers will have to be patient with the 2021, as it is a driving, structured wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. The Uno is a fine example of a style and approach very much inspired by the wines of Burgundy. 

95 points – Antonio Galloni, June 2024

#88: 2022 Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard 

$80, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States

EG: "Pinot Noir from Oregon has evolved over the past decades due to global warming. We’ve seen prices escalate quickly, yet there are still a number of truly classic, affordable wines from traditional producers to choose from. One of my all-time favorites, and still a relative value, is the Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir from Arterberry Maresh. Jim Maresh farms some of the oldest vines in the region to produce his selection of vividly pure Pinots and Chards. Tasting this is like being transported back in time."

The 2022 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is compelling, to say the least, entrancing with its deep, dark and rich bouquet as black cherries are complicated by turned earth, flowery underbrush and crushed ashen stones. This is cool-toned, showing its minerality up front and creating an almost sultry character. Depths of flinty, tart red berry fruit slowly saturate as zesty acidity maintains freshness. The 2022 is powerful and youthfully dense, with grippy tannins that take hold through the finish without slowing its momentum. It tapers off long with a hint of balsam herbs that calls the taster back to the glass. 

95 points – Eric Guido, May 2024

The black volcanic pumice stones of the Calderara Sottana vineyard.

#87: 2022 Tentua delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Calderara Sottana

$170, Sicily, Italy

EG: "Terre Nere helped define the heights that Etna Rosso could reach. Marc De Grazia saw great potential in the region's Contrade and volcanic soils and created a portfolio of cru wines that communicate incredible quality. The Calderara Sottana is one of the most powerful and mineral-intensive wines in the lineup. It’s enjoyable on its potential alone in its youth, yet it has the depth, complexity and balance to mature gracefully."

Darkly alluring and youthfully backward, the 2022 Etna Rosso Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Calderara Sottana smolders up with a blend of sweet spices, dusty violets and ash, giving way to dried black cherries, sage and cloves. This is velvety yet finessed, with a polished wave of ripe red and blue fruit that flows across a juicy stream of acidity. Hints of sour citrus add contrast toward the close. It finishes remarkably fresh and energetic, still tannic but lively, as crunchy tannins resonate and an air of lavender slowly fades. This is an elegant and genuinely harmonious edition of this cuvée. Simply stunning.

96 points – Eric Guido, June 2024

#86: 2016 Muga Gran Reserva Prado Enea

$110, Rioja Alta, Spain

JH: "This is a gorgeous, distinctive, iconic single-vineyard wine from Rioja. It straddles the past and the future on its own terms—a delightful style." 

Aged in barrel for 36 months, the 2016 Gran Reserva Prado Enea is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano from Rioja Alta. This dark garnet wine reveals thyme, plum and sour cherry notes, accompanied by reductive nuances of matchstick and saffron. Additionally, it displays hints of biscuit, wax and dried flowers. On the palate, it is dry, supple and chalky, with a juicy, energetic flow that leads to a long-lasting, complex finish. While the leaner style brought on by the cold vintage may appear slightly unsubstantial for Prado Enea lovers, it remains absolutely delicious. 

96 points – Joaquín Hidalgo, April 2024

Andrea Sottimano in front of his Gamba fermentation vats. Sottimano made some of the most compelling Barbarescos of 2021.

#85: 2021 Sottimano Barbaresco Currà

$99, Piedmont, Italy

AG: "The Sottimano family turned out an extraordinary set of 2021 Barbarescos, headed by the magnificent Barbaresco Currà. Cold nights in September and into October provided ideal conditions for richly expressive, structured wines. The 2021s saw extended time on the skins and were aged in cask, with no racking until bottling. These are some of the most impressive wines I have tasted in 25 years of visiting the estate.”

The 2021 Barbaresco Currà is a stunner. It's a wine that brings together all the elements that make the Sottimano wines so appealing. Deep but not too much, classically austere but not overly so, the 2021 Currà captures all the complexity that makes Nebbiolo such a captivating variety. Dark red cherry, rose petals, mint, cinnamon and citrus peel open with some coaxing. Readers who can find the 2021 should not hesitate, as it is truly magical.

98 points – Antonio Galloni, September 2024

#84: 2022 Albert Boxler Riesling Eckberg Sommerberg Grand Cru

$100, Alsace, France

AK: "This Riesling is the embodiment of the clean-cut, modern Alsace. Hailing from a tiny parcel within the granitic Alsace Grand Cru of Sommerberg, this is a supremely chiseled wine by the modest but uncompromising Jean Boxler."

The 2022 Riesling Eckberg Sommerberg Grand Cru is on granite at 400 meters of altitude with very little topsoil. Eckberg is west of Vanne, more receded, so slightly cooler than Vanne. It is harvested a week later, getting more cool evening breezes. A touch of ripe Mirabelle verges into a beautiful tart russet pear peel streak. It's not that you can smell the texture, but you can feel it. The palate is as clear-cut as ever, bell-like, brilliant, with that uncompromising nakedness of stone but also imbued with that pithy, phenolic element which here almost touches slightly tart Mirabelle skin, lending more texture. Boxler also pours a bottle of Eckberg that has been open for two days, and this is instructive: the phenolics have knitted together, have less surface and arrest less, while fruit and freshness are all the more luminous. Wow. It swallows its 14% ABV. (Bone-Dry) 

97 points – Anne Krebiehl MW, April 2024

Chloé Asseo-Fabre of L'Aventure Winery at Vinous Icons 2024.

#83: 2021 L’Aventure Winery Estate Cuvée

$131, Paso Robles, California, United States 

EG: "The search for classicism in Paso Robles led me to L'Aventure Winery. Their style leans toward the European palate yet with a core of ripe California fruit. Balance is the key, as this portfolio exhibits both power and prestige. The Estate Cuvée is a blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot that overdelivers in this rich and racy vintage, yet be warned, it’s best to practice patience. This wine is stacked for the long term."

The 2021 Estate Cuvée sports a blue label signifying its 20th anniversary. It's darkly floral and stoney upon opening with notes of dusty sage, black earth and currants. This is deeply textural, velvety and supple, like molten chocolate. It flows across the palate, saturating with its intense red and black fruits while taking on graphite mineral tones and hints of exotic spice. Classically structured and long, this leaves a pleasantly bitter tinge and licorice under an air of violet inner florals. Bury the 2021 Estate Cuvée deep in the cellar. 

97 points – Eric Guido, July 2024

#82: 2019 Pierre Peters L’Esprit de 2019

$119, Champagne, France

AG: "Rodolphe Peters is a master exponent of Blanc de Blancs from the Côtes des Blancs. His Champagnes exude brightness, focus and tension, all signatures of these great sites.”

The L'Esprit de 2019 is one of the best versions of this wine I can remember tasting. Exuberant and racy, with tons of energy, the 2019 reflects the natural intensity of this great vintage while retaining the super-classic signatures of the Côtes des Blancs. This cuvée is a blend of fruit sourced from Grand Cru sites in Le Mesnil, Avize, Cramant and Oger. Readers who want to enjoy a top-flight Champagne without splurging will find so much to like here. Hints of tangerine peel, marzipan and dried flowers linger on the intensely saline finish. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: December 19, 2023. 

94 points – Antonio Galloni, March 2024

Selected 2018s from Royal Tokaji Company, including the Tokaji Mézes Mály 6-Puttonyos.

#81: 2018 Royal Tokaji Company Tokaji Mézes Mály 6-Puttonyos

$229, Tokaji, Hungary

NM: "Few wines have the historical significance of Hungarian sweet Tokaji wines. The 2018 Tokaji Mézes Mály 6-Puttonyos from the Royal Tokaji Company epitomizes everything great about Tokaji. It’s vivid, bright and unctuous, yet it has razor-sharp acidity and effortlessly avoids any cloyingness. This is a wine that needs to be tasted to be believed."

The 2018 Tokaji Mézes Mály 6-Puttonyos, one of the Royal Tokaji Company's most revered single vineyards, has an entrancing bouquet with wild honey, marmalade and Lyle's Golden syrup scents that retain wonderful delineation and focus. The palate is quite brilliant. It leans a little towards Sauternes in style, especially in terms of weight and texture, yet without that cloak of new oak. This lends it openness and brightness. The 2018 offers an incredible purity of fruit, and it fans out gloriously on the finish. This comes highly recommended because Tokaji doesn't really get much better than this. 

97 points – Neal Martin, October 2024

#80: 2019 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 

$108, Tuscany, Italy

EG: "Narrowing down choices of Brunello di Montalcino for this list was a difficult task. There are simply so many fantastic options. However, when looking for that perfect blend of purity, a communication of terroir, long aging ability and classic character, the Il Poggione is a clear standout. Il Poggione remains one of the largest properties in the region yet functions more like a small artisan operation. The estate treasures the old vines and diverse terroirs of their holdings, crafting a Brunello that can stand the test of time, vintage after vintage."

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino pulls the taster close to the glass with its dark and earthy blend of crushed ashen stones, giving way to rosemary, cedar, exotic spice and a core of raspberry preserves. Enveloping and serene, this flows across the palate like pure silk, steadily building in tension as tart wild berries and orange hints give way to a sweet herbal thrust. The 2019 finishes with tremendous length and is classically structured, as crunchy tannins resonate and violet inner florals slowly fade over a tactile coating of minerality. Il Poggione has captured the radiance of the vintage, yet this is just a baby today. 

96 points – Eric Guido, December 2023

The barrel-aging cellar at the Speri winery.

#79: 2019 Speri Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sant’Urbano

$90, Veneto, Italy

EG: "Amarone is never shy, but it’s often too rich and fruit-intense for modern palates. While many of today’s producers work to create an Amarone with a more savory profile and lower alcohol, one winery mastered that approach: Speri. A Speri Amarone paints along classic lines, with mineral depths, structure and a pleasantly earthy personality. The best part is that you can even bring it to the dinner table.”

A compelling bouquet of dusty dried violets, fresh coffee grounds, cocoa powder and dried black cherries makes the 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sant'Urbano impossible to ignore. This is wonderfully lifted and graceful in style, dense yet energetic with silken textures and polished red berry fruits that slowly saturate the palate. The 2019 youthfully folds in upon itself, leaving a bitter tinge of spice, dark chocolate and fine-grained tannins. The balance here is something to behold. The 2019 is full of potential—bury it deep.

96 points – Eric Guido, December 2023

#78: 2019 Le Pianelle Bramaterra

$71, Piedmont, Italy

AG: "Le Pianelle is one of the great recent success stories of Alto Piemonte. Dieter Heuskel, formerly Chairman of the Boston Consulting Group’s Germany practice, and his business partner, Alto Adige producer/importer Peter DiPoli, bought an abandoned property in Brusnengo in 2004 and began nursing it back to life. Over time, they expanded their vineyard holdings and brought in talented winemaker Cristiano Garella, who has since been joined by Fabio Zambolin. The wines are fermented in wood uprights using ambient yeasts, then aged in Stockinger casks with minimal handling.”

The 2019 Bramaterra is magnificent. Soaring in its intensity, the 2019 is immediately captivating. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, dried herbs and menthol soar out of the glass. Weightless on the palate, yet possessing striking depth, the Bramaterra is all class. The 2019 was fermented in wood, with 35% stem inclusion. It spent 5-6 days on the skins and then 18 months in cask. Pure, silky and elegant on the finish, the 2019 is a wine for readers who can be patient.

95 points – Antonio Galloni, November 2023

#77: 2023 Gunderloch Riesling Nackenheimer Rothenberg Grosses Gewächs

$70. Rheinhessen, Germany

AK: "Gunderloch is a historic estate that's now run by the new generation. This is Riesling in its most savory elegance, imbued with spice by the site’s red Permian sandstone. It's a singular and moving wine."

The 2023 Riesling Nackenheimer Rothenberg Grosses Gewächs still rings with the finest flinty reduction on the nose. Underneath comes a gorgeous streak of pink grapefruit peel, lifted, serene and almost heady with crushed lemongrass and lemon balm. The palate is buffered but shows a clear vein of agile fluidity and serene, sleek, dynamic movement. Leaving gorgeous traces of stony, irony, savory saltiness and unfolding with Seville orange and tangerine, it’s layered, beautiful, soothing, refreshing and long. Citrus zest lingers on the finish. (Bone-dry)

96 points – Anne Krebiehl MW, August 2024

#76: 2023 Rudi Pichler Riesling Achleiten Smaragd

$105, Wachau, Austria

AK: "A majestic wine from the most majestic site in the Wachau, directly on the Danube, this cuvée is always precise and timeless. This superb offering from an uncompromising producer absolutely belongs in the Top 100."

The 2023 Riesling Achleiten Smaragd is still reduced on the nose; underneath is a flicker of citrus, perhaps even of conifer. The palate dances in on light feet, leaving its traces on the stone like a figure skater on ice. The palate is full of zest, somehow alive in its incredible youthfulness, energy and stony power. It is a lovely and gracious monument. Wow. (Bone-dry)

98 points – Anne Krebiehl MW, May 2024

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot in the Piaggia vineyards.

#75: 2020 Piaggia Carmignano Riserva

$57, Tuscany, Italy

EG: "Carmignano has gained in popularity over the last decade, yet for me, Piagga (the producer that placed this region on the map) is still one of its absolute best. The Carmignano Riserva perfectly marries Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the estate's first vineyard, planted in the early 1970s. Having recently tasted a vertical dating back to 1991, I can attest to the wine's amazing ability to age. The Carmignano Riserva is money in the bank."

The 2020 Carmignano Riserva Piaggia impresses with its understated power, lifting up with a delicate blend of dried roses and black cherries, complicated by cedary spice and hints of dark chocolate. This is pure elegance on the palate, seamlessly silky and soothing with depths of polished red and blue fruits that swirl, all energized by vibrant acidity. A web of fine tannins wraps the senses in youthful poise as the 2020 finishes impossibly long and staining, leaving notes of white pepper, licorice and violet inner florals to resonate. This is a dark and radiant beauty. The 2020 is a showstopper.

96 points – Eric Guido, October 2023

#74: 2021 Château Belgrave

$49, Bordeaux, France

AG: "Château Belgrave consistently turns out gorgeous wines that offer notable character and the ability to improve with cellaring. Readers on a budget will want to take note of this Left Bank gem.”

The 2021 Belgrave is gorgeous. Dark, sensual and inviting, the 2021 impresses with its total sense of poise. Cabernet Sauvignon plays the leading role. Belgrave lies just outside Saint-Julien, and its wines share some obvious similarities with those of its famous neighbors, starting with its distinctive blue/purplish fruit profile. Blackberry, mocha, licorice, spice and menthol fill out the layers effortlessly, building into a deep, beautifully resonant finish.

92 points – Antonio Galloni, December 2023

#73: 2022 Thibaud Boudignon Savennières Clos de la Hutte

$124, Loire Valley, France

RG: "It’s been less than a decade since Thibaud Boudignon left his day job at Domaine de la Soucherie in Savennières, but the clarity of his dry Chenins has created quite a buzz. The Clos de la Hutte, planted on schist, is his superlative white, but if you can’t get your hands on it, the Clos de la Fremine and La Vigne Cendrée parcels are within spitting distance. The rigorous attention to detail in both the vineyard and winery is clear in the glass."

Although it's ungenerous on the nose, the 2022 Savennières Clos de la Hutte is tender and generous in the mouth, welcoming you in. There's a cloud of gently handled fruit that embraces the palate, but it does so in an elegant and light-on-its-feet way. Texturally, it's seamless and coats the mouth with fine texture. In terms of flavor, expect salty, briny notes and citrus tones alongside a touch of spice and nutty oak on the finish. This is a wine that seems to be able to take a deep, calming breath and become more complete.

97 points – Rebecca Gibb MW, May 2024

Viña Tabalí shelters their tanks from the sun with the wavy roofs typical of the region. The winery is built at the mouth of the Quebrada de El Durazno—a ravine that runs parallel to the Limarí River—creating the illusion that it’s below ground.

#72: 2019 Viña Tabalí DOM

$62, Maipo, Chile

JH: "This is an extraordinarily high-quality cabernet Sauvignon crafted in a pure style. The value for the price is undeniable."

Maipo is full of pockets yet to be discovered; the DOM Vineyard is a great example. Located in a narrow, forested ravine facing south, this vineyard reflects a less solar-ripe character. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon DOM is sourced from a tiny plot in the vineyard, just where the slope forms. Aged for 18 months in barrels, this dark garnet wine delivers nuanced, cassis-based aromas with bold quillay and peumo notes, along with sweet briar marmalade and fascinating depth. Dry and polished on the palate, the tannins are plush, with a fine-grained texture that adds a tactile component to the mouthfeel. Quite intense, this is a serious and flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon.

97 points – Joaquín Hidalgo, July 2024

#71: 2019 Yalumba The Octavius

$150, Barossa Valley, Australia

AH: "From one of Australia’s most historic wineries comes this confident 2019 old-vine blend of Eden and Barossa Valley Shiraz, including fruit from vines dating back to the 1850s. Classically proportioned, with brooding fruit power and seamlessly integrated strong, structural tannins, the 2019 Octavius Shiraz is a star in the making that will flourish for decades to come."

The stylish 2019 The Octavius, which is a blend of 55% Eden and 45% Barossa Shiraz, is beautifully layered with initial aromas of violets, sage and white pepper followed by a rich vein of focused licorice. Sturdily, tightly bound with powdery tannins, a superb mix of bright fruit pastille and dark earthy flavors are underpinned by wood smoke. Immensely complex and energetic, held tight and compact through to a finish of extreme length. This is benchmark Barossa Shiraz.

96 points – Angus Hughson, July 2024

#70: 2022 August Kesseler Pinot Noir Assmannshausen Höllenberg Grosses Gewächs

$151, Rheingau, Germany

 AK: "Hailing from Germany’s most iconic Pinot Noir vineyard, from ancient vines rooted in slate, this is a testament to what’s possible with German Pinot Noir."

The 2022 Pinot Noir Assmannshausen Höllenberg Grosses Gewächs emerges from un-grafted vines that are as much 85 years old planted in the mica schist of the Höllenberg. The nose is initially shy, but air allows fine glimpses of smokiness, crushed, ripe mulberry and wild black cherry. The palate is fine and fresh right away, a picture of serene elegance and fine-boned freshness. It makes the mouth water with a flavor that is so reminiscent of tiny, very ripe wild cherries. Simply exquisite aromatically, it’s all held in a structure that is as graceful, soaring, weightless and firm as a gothic turret, with the smoothest, ripest tannins. This is a monument to German Pinot Noir. Wow.

97 points – Anne Krebiehl MW, August 2024

#69: 2020 Domaine Michel Bouzereau Meursault Perrières 1er Cru

$263, Burgundy, France

NM: "One of the Meursault's most underestimated winemakers, Bouzereau's Meursault Perrières 1er Cru has scintillating delineation on the nose and a palate suffused with mineralité. It truly stood out from the pack when tasted blind in May."

The 2020 Meursault Perrières 1er Cru has a wonderful, pure, refined bouquet, showing wonderful delineation and succinctly integrated new oak. The nose offers white fruit laced with subtle vanilla and almond scents. The palate is harmonious and poised, armed with life-affirming mineralité and tension. It builds in the mouth, but there's effortless control. It just goes on and on and on towards the finish. Vrai Perrières! Wow. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.

97 points – Neal Martin, May 2024

#68: 2021 Emiliana Coyam

$40, Colchagua Valley, Chile

JH: "Red blends are serious things in Chile, and COYAM has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years. The 2021 is a stunner, amongst the absolute best. The quality to price ratio is off the charts."

"Coyam" – it's a word that sticks, isn't it? From the moment I first encountered it on the label of this wine and discovered its meaning, "oak forest," I couldn't shake the image of the wooded area behind the winery, coupled with the anticipation of the wine's aromas. The 2021 Red Blend Coyam is an intricate fusion of 37% Syrah, 36% Carménère, 6% Carignan, 5% Garnacha, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Mourvèdre, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 1% Tempranillo, sourced from Los Robles vineyard in the Colchagua Valley. Its complex bouquet offers notes of blackberry and cherry, complemented by hints of boldo and garrigue, with subtle undertones of raspberry. The true magic unfolds on the palate: dry yet juicy, with the cool influence of the 2021 vintage lending an easy and energetic flow. Coyam stands out as one of those rare wines that crafts its own unique universe of flavors—a forested realm in a glass.

97 points – Joaquín Hidalgo, July 2024

Tenuta San Leonardo's old-vine, pergola-trained vineyards.

#67: 2019 Tenuta San Leonardo San Leonardo

$104, Trentino Alto Adige, Italy

EG: "Lovers of Bordeaux blends, especially cool-climate interpretations, owe it to themselves to experience San Leonardo. For decades, this has been the benchmark red of Trentino, possessing the ability to mature into a Grand Vin of Italy. Even with the onset of global warming, San Leonardo has maintained remarkable balance and a classical build, perfectly exemplified by the 2019."

The 2019 San Leonardo is impossible to ignore, embodying everything I love about this distinctly northern Italian Bordeaux blend. Masses of white pepper, sage, incense, sandy earth and fresh tobacco give way to dusty red currants. This is a model of elegance yet salty and savory to the core, with mineral-laden red and black fruits that flow across silky textures. The 2019 finishes classically dry with a crunchy tannic bite yet maintains an impossible freshness as savory herbal tones slowly fade. This is stunning, recalling the absolute top vintages I’ve ever tasted from San Leonardo.

96 points – Eric Guido, December 2023

#66: 2022 John Duval Grenache Annexus

$60, Barossa Valley, Australia

AH: "A single vineyard over 160 years of age and the outstanding 2022 vintage met the steady winemaking hands of father and son John and Tim Duval to yield a stunning and ethereal Grenache. Deeply textural, with a spectacular combination of reserved power and sophistication, this unique and finely tuned expression of Grenache is embryonic and destined to flower beautifully over the next decade or two."

The beautifully poised 2022 Grenache Annexus from the Eden Valley is shy right now but will be something special given the time. Right now, it delivers understated meaty and spicy aromas with a dark cherry undertow and oak nicely couched in behind. Fabulous focus and energy follow in a seamless and understated package yet this shows exceptional density of fruit of focus that drives a long, seamless finish.

96 points – Angus Hughson, July 2024

#65: 2019 K Vintners Syrah The Hidden

$75, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

EG: "While the size of the portfolio can be dizzying at times, K Vintners has mastered the art of overdelivering throughout their entire range. The Syrah The Hidden is a perfect example. When placed next to other Syrahs in the region, many at twice the cost, The Hidden stands out for its mixture of balanced richness, intensity and dark, savory complexity."

The 2019 Syrah The Hidden is impossible to ignore, balsamic with grilled herbs and currants accentuated by minty herbs. This blends both elegance and power, deeply textural with a core of juicy wild berry fruit. Balsamic spices and mineral tones give way to a coating of grippy tannins. The 2019 finishes structured and long with a cheek-puckering tension. Bitter blackberry and sage notes fade slowly. The Hidden Syrah is sourced from the Wahluke Slope, planted at 1,200 feet and in broken basalt soils.

96 points – Eric Guido, May 2023

#64: 2016 Roederer Brut Blanc de Blancs Vintage

$120, Champagne, France

AG: "Although the flagship Cristal and Cristal Rosé get most of the attention at Roederer, long-term Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon and his team excel across the house’s entire range of Champagnes.”

The 2016 Brut Blanc de Blancs Vintage is laced with hints of tropical fruit, lime, mint, passionfruit and crushed rocks. Intensely aromatic and light on its feet, the 2016 impresses with its gracious, understated personality. Sourced from plots in the mid-slope Grand Cru vineyard of La Côte in Avize, readers will find a Blanc de Blancs endowed with tons of energy and nuance. Dosage is 8 grams per liter.

94 points – Antonio Galloni, November 2023

#63: 2021 Moric Blaufränkisch Lutzmannsburg Alte Reben

 $144, Burgenland, Austria

 AK: "The Moric Blaufränkisch is quite possibly the finest and most poised rendition of this grape—hailing from old vines and made without frills but possessing much poetry and fragrance. It's already a classic at home and internationally, but I chose this stunning example because the world deserves to know about it. Exceptional."

 The Blaufränkisch Lutzmannsburg Alte Reben is the wine that made Velich's name. It is picked from between 80-to-100-year-old vines. Velich says this is the “apotheosis.” A distant note of wild thyme blends in with wet stone, slight smoke and pure, aromatic red cherry. Incredibly fragrant with an ethereal quality. The palate is immediately fresh, bright and crunchy. The fine structure is so poised. The fine tannins soar with gothic ambition towards the sky. In between, that intensely fresh and fragrant red fruit shimmers, while the aftertaste offers the profound depth of fruit. This is serene, self-evident, and, in its very graceful way, monumental. The 2021 is perfumed and a statement of beauty. (Bone-dry)

 98 points – Anne Krebiehl MW, November 2023

In La Carrera, Matías Riccitelli has been developing an intriguing range of wines and vineyards to showcase high-altitude and cool-climate whites, as well as old vines from the Río Negro region.

#62: 2019 Riccitelli Chardonnay Viñedos de Montaña

$50, Mendoza, Argentina

JH: "This is a delicious, textbook example of Argentinian Chardonnay that massively overdelivers at the price."

The 2019 Chardonnay Viñedos de Montaña comes from famous vineyards in Gualtallary and La Carrera, Uco Valley. This vintage benefited from a dry and relatively cool climate, enhancing its nuanced character. Yellow in hue. The nose presents captivating huacatay, lime, and pear aromas with hints of sage, mint, and linden blossom. The palate has an impressively delicate, refreshing profile with a chalky texture and lively tartness, making for vibrant, long-lasting flavors. A wine that stands out for its unique combination of richness and agility. Just beginning to enter its drinking window, which will be open for quite a while.

97 points – Joaquín Hidalgo, July 2023

María José López de Heredia in the Tondonia Vineyard as the sun sets on a cold December afternoon.

#61: 2013 López de Heredia Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia

$93, Rioja, Spain

JH: "An icon of the seemingly limitless aging potential of white Rioja, the 2013 Tondonia Blanco is simply gorgeous."

The 2013 Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia is a blend of 90% Viura and 10% Malvasía Riojana from the Tondonia vineyard, situated along the Ebro River. Aged for six years in oak barrels and an additional two years in the bottle, this wine defies expectations of youth with its bright amber hue. Subtle aromas of honey, dried apricot, tangerine peel and faint oak greet the senses. Initially rich and overwhelming, it evolves into a gently chalky flow with a refreshing touch on the palate. This complex white wine, with its long-lasting finish and final hint of hazelnut, stands for its aging potential like Rioja whites of old.

96 points – Joaquín Hidalgo, December 2023