My annual Wines of the Year have been published since 1997. It’s remarkable to look back at the best of the best from a 17 year chunk of my wine drinking life. The selection from 2014 comprises the best wines I have tasted in seven different categories, plus two extra categories: ‘Dud’ of the Year, and ‘Thing’ of the Year. As always, I am looking for your entries to be added to this feature too. Your ‘dud’ can be the worst, or most disappointing wine you have tasted – it could be a cheap wine that was truly horrible, or an expensive wine that really didn’t deliver. ‘Thing’ is a catch-all category: many people suggest extra categories I could add, but rather than an ever-expanding list of categories, please use ‘Thing’ as imaginatively as you like.
Go to visitors’ wines of the year.
Tom’s wines of 2014
Red Graci, Etna Rosso ‘Barbabecchi’ 2011, Italy
White Yabby Lake, Block 1 Chardonnay 2012, Australia
Budget red Jean Foillard, Morgon Côte du Py 2011, France
Budget white Jean-Claude Berrouet, Herri Mina Irouléguy 2012, France
Rosé Wiston Estate, Blanc de Noirs Rosé Brut 2011, England
Sweet Château Suduiraut, Sauternes 2009, France
Sparkling Champagne Dom Perignon ‘P2’ 1998, France
Fortified Campbells Rare Rutherglen Muscat Merchant Prince, Australia
Dud Cantata, Barolo 2010, Italy
Thing The East Neuk of Fife, Scotland
Click to read full tasting notes for Tom’s Wines of the Year 2014
The task of whittling down all the great wines I tasted over 12 months to just seven great ones is daunting. This year I had wine trips to Ribera del Duero, Sicily, Tuscany, Champagne, Alsace, Bordeaux, The Douro and many more where some amazing wines were tasted and consumed. There were also great tastings here in the UK, as well of course, as dinners at home or in the company of friends. As always I allow myself the privilige of another bakers’ dozen superb wines I tasted in 2014, that could so easily have made the grade:
- Champagne Salon, Blanc de Blancs 1999, France
- Domaine Baud, Château-Chalon 2005, France
- Zind Humbrecht, Alsace Riesling Clos Saint Urbain Grand Cru Rangen 2012, France
- Domaine Ostertag, Alsace Tokay Pinot Gris GC Muenchberg 1996, France
- Bodegas Remelluri, Rioja Blanco 2010, Spain
- Château Pichon Baron, Pauillac 2009, France
- Joseph Drouhin, Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge 1957, France
- Robert Arnoux, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2002, France
- Masi, Campolongo di Torbe Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2007
- Paul Hobbs, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet 2009, USA
- Tahbilk, 1860 Vines Shiraz 2006, Australia
- Garage Wine Co., Cabernet Franc Lot #36 2011, Chile
- Bodegas Tradición, Palo Cortado Tradición VORS, Spain
- And one more favourite ‘thing’: Marie Curie Cancer Care