Top 100 Wines of 2018 – James Melendez

The great race to name the top 100 wines is like Christmas/winter holiday retailers putting out their assortments earlier year over year.  So too is James Suckling on November 5, 2018 and Wine Spectator November 19, 2018.  Next year I predict that each will start releasing in October, then September…

I like to wait and, of course, I have to work much harder than both to get samples.  I do put out my wish tasting wish each start of the year and I get some samples and I then start to ask importers and US producers directly for samples.  I, of course, don’t get all that I want.  My chief aim of each year is to taste wines from all wine regions on the planet.

I do pound the pavement to look for opportunities to taste if I don’t get a sample.  I write up and record my tasting throughout the year and take plenty of pictures.  I also exercise patience to publish this list.  I want to publish in December and not before–I want to wait for most of the year to be behind me and be as genuine in my top 100 list.

My list is different.  It is in alphabetical order.  Number one is because of alphabetical ranking and not on an unrealistic ranking of some paramount number one.  It is not realistic to name one wine is the highest ranking wine of the year.  I do not know of a method to out rank all other wines but again I don’t believe in 100 point awards because I do not know what perfect looks like.  Simply because perfection doesn’t exist.

What does exist are fine wines, wines of great imagination and that are set apart from wines of the same region or the same varieties in other regions.  I do believe in the scale I use but have sworn off of using 100 points and perhaps someday I will taste a 100 point wine but I am not convinced that will happen at this point.

I want this top 100 to be more accessible and not pin each producer to a certain number but to revel being in the same company.  I also don’t believe in listing just the latest releases of each respective region but old vintages –not just because they are old but because it is because in 2018 they are remarkable.  There is a 1929, 1976, 1977, 1990, 1995, 1997, and 1999 are the older vintages of the particular wine listed.

 

 

Distribution of wines from the following countries:

US	25
France	23
Italy	19
Portugal	12
Spain	6
Argentina	3
Germany	3
Australia	2
Chile	1
New Zealand	1
South Africa	1
Luxembourg	1
United Kingdom	1
West Bank	1
Hungary	1

And the wines are composed in the following manner:

• Red 41
• White 29
• Dessert 18
• Sparkling 11
• Rose 1

Here is the list of 2018 top 100 wines (below this list I will add the videos to those that I created a video review)

1	Acústic Braó Montsant 2007 94 Points
2	Addendum Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 95 Points
3	Albert Bichot Domaine du Clos Frantin Gevrey Chambertin 2014 94 Points
4	António Maçanita Arinto dos Açores 2015 94 Points
5	Askos Masseria La Veli Salento iGT Susumaniello 2015 93 Points
6	Bainbridge Vineyards Puget Sound Siegerrebe 2017 92 Points
7	Barbeito Malvasia Madeira 2004 94 Points
8	Barth René Alsace Pinot Blanc 2014 93 Points
9	Benjamin Silver Saviezza Santa Barbara County Sangiovese 2010 94 Points
10	Boveri Derthona Timorasso 2015 94 Points
11	Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 2015 94 Points
12	Ca’Viola Sottocastello di Novello Barolo 2012 94 Points
13	Cairdeas Yakima Valley Marsanne 2017 93 Points
14	Cantina Orsogna Civitas Terri di Chieti Pecorino 2016 93 Points
15	Catena Alta Historic Rows Malbec 2013 94 Points
16	Cellers Capafons-Ossó Auseta Montsant 2016 93 Points
17	Cellers Sant Rafael Montsant Solpost 2003 94 Points
18	Champagne André Jacquart Rosé de Saignée – NV 93 Points
19	Champagne Barrat-Masson Les Margannes Brut Nature 94 Points
20	Champagne Bollinger Rosé 2016 94 Points
21	Champagne Bruno Paillard Rosé MV 95 Points
22	Champagne Collet Brut Rosé NV 94 Points
23	Champagne Dom Perignon 2006 96 Points
24	Champagne Jeaunaux Robin Extra Brut NV 93 Points
25	Champagne Phillioponnat Clos de Goisses Brut 2007 94 Points
26	Château Dauphiné-Rondillon Loupiac 2011 95 Points
27	Château du Cros Loupiac 2014 – 94 Points
28	Château Filhot Sauternes 2015 94 Points
29	Château Gaudiet Loupiac 2016 94 Points
30	Château La Dominque Grand Cru Classe 2013 94 Points
31	Château La Reme Sainte-Croix-du-Mont 2015 95 Points
32	Château Lapinesse Sauternes 2016 94 Points
33	Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 94 Points
34	Château Rauzan-Ségla Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux 2015 94 Points
35	Christian Moreau Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru 2016 95 Points
36	Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 – 95 Points
37	Cornerstone Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 94 Points
38	Corte Sant’Alda Valmezzane Amarone della Valpolicella 2012 95 Points
39	Cremisan Star of Bethlehem West Bank White Wine NV 92 Points
40	D’Oliveras Boal Madeira 1977 95 Points
41	D’Oliveras Malvazia Madeira 1990 95 Points
42	D’Oliveras Tina Negra Madeira 1929 96 Points
43	Domaine Carneros Le Rêve 2011 93 Points
44	Domaine de Papolle Côtes de Gascogne Gros Manseng 2017 93 Points
45	Domaine Denis Race Premier Crus Chablis 2015 94 Points
46	Domaine Vinsmoselle Crémant de Luxembourg Brut NV 93 Points
47	Donnafugata Floramundi Cerasuolo di Vittoria Episode #2624 2016 94 Point
48	Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese 1997 94 Points
49	Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkappel 1995 96 Points
50	Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese Sonnenuhr 1976 97 Points
51	Drouhin-Vaudon Premier Cru Chablis 2014 94 Points
52	Duncan Savage West Cape White Wine 2016 93 Points
53	Elvio Cogno Anas-Cëtta Langhe Nascetta 2016 93 Points
54	Far Niente Oakville Chardonnay 2006 94 Points
55	Framingham F-Series Old Vine Marlborough Riesling 2017 93 Points
56	Goosecross Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 93 Points
57	Gramercy Cellars L’idiot du Village Columbia Valley Mourvèdre 2015 93 Points
58	Hall Kathryn Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 96 Points
59	Hartford Stone Côte Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2015 93 Points
60	Hawk & Horse Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 94 Points
61	Henriques & Henriques Madeira 20 year Malvasia 94 Points
62	Henriques & Henriques Madeira 15 Year Verdelho 94 Points
63	Henriques & Henriques Maderia Saveiro Tinta Negra 95 Points
64	Jack Winery Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 94 Points
65	Joseph Phelps Vin du Mistral Napa Valley Syrah 1986 94 Points
66	Káli-Kövek Rezeda Balaton­felvidék Olaszrizing 2017 94 Points
67	Lancaster Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 94 Points
68	Leeuwin Estate Margaret River Chardonnay 2016 93 Ponits
69	Lüscher-Ballard Vineyard Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 95 Points
70	Manz Dona Fatima Lisboa Jampal 2015 94 Points
71	Mas de l’Abundància Montsant 2013 94 Points
72	Olho de Mocho Alentejo Reserva White Wine 2014 93 Points
73	Pavillion Blanc du Chateaux Marguaux 2015 94 Points
74	Planeta Menfi Chardonnay 2017 94 Points
75	Planeta Noto Santa Cecilia 2005 94 Points
76	Planeta Noto Santa Cecilia 2007 94 Points
77	Presqu’ile Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2016 94 Points
78	Rare Wine Co. Historic Series Savannah Verdelho Special Blend 94 Points
79	Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo 2005 95 Points
80	Ridgeville Fitzrovia Rose NV 93 Points
81	Ronchi di Cialla Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso 2000 94 Points
82	Ronchi di Cialla Schioppettino di Cialla 1983 96 Points
83	Ronchi di Cialla Schioppettino di Cialla 2000 95 Points
84	Salentein El Tomillo Vineyard Mendoza Malbec 2015 94 Points
85	Salentein Los Basaltos Vineyard Mendoza Malbec 2015 94 Points
86	Sella & Mosca Marchese di Villamarina Alghero 2013 94 Points
87	Smith Madrone Spring Mountain District Riesling 2015 94 Points
88	Smith-Madrone Cooks Flat Spring Mountain District Red Wine 2013 94 Points
89	Soalheiro Melgaço Alvarinho 2015 94 Points
90	Spring Mountain Spring Mountain District Elivette Red Wine 2014 94 Points
91	St Paul Alto Adige Südtirol Lagrein ’17 93 Points
92	Tablas Creek Adelaida District Paso Robles Vermentino 2017 93 Points
93	Troon Kubli Bench Applegate Valley Sangiovese 2016 93 Points
94	Trujillo Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 93 Points
95	Tyrells Hunter Valley Semillion 2017 93 Points
96	Umani Ronchi Vellodoro Terre di Chieti Pecorino 2016 93 Points
97	Vinyes Domenech Rita Montsant 2014 94 Points
98	Vinyes Domenech Teixar Montsant 2014 94 Points
99	Wente Nth Degree Livermore Valley Chardonnay 2016 94 Points
100	Zorzettig Colli Orientali del Friuli Tocai Friulano 2006 94 Points

Wishing you the best of the holiday season!  I hope you can taste some of these wines!

Cheers and Santé,

James

Top 100 Wines of 2017 – James Melendez

Top 100 Wines for 2016 – James Melendez

Top 100 Wines for 2015 – James Melendez

****

Santé,

James

James the Wine Guy

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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