I have published my Wines of the Year for 27 years. Choosing for 2024 was as challenging as ever, but I’ve managed to slot in one wine in each of ten categories. Among my choices are rare old Australian wines that come from dinners with generous friends in Melbourne that I will never forget.
As always, I invited visitors to wine-pages.com to send in their own nominations for publication on the site. The ‘Dud’ could be the worst or most disappointing wine, and ‘Thing’ can be used as imaginatively as you like. The definition of ‘budget’ in this exercise will vary for each person, so there’s no hard and fast rule.
Though submission for 2024 are now closed, see what other visitors have nominated as their Wines of the Year.
Tom’s Wines of the Year 2024
Click to read full tasting notes for Tom’s Wines of the Year.
So few French wines in my list this year. That reflects tasting opportunities, but also that I am keen to explore all sorts of wines and all sorts of regions. Some of my choices are from a holiday in Australia in January/February where meeting up with local wine lovers was an absolute highlight, and the generosity of them sharing truly historic vintages of fabled Australian wines was quite extraordinary. There were also wonderful ‘offlines’ in London and Edinburgh when friends from this site’s community shared some fabulous bottles – including the extraordinary 1802 Madeira in the list above.
My dud is a ‘Vin de France’. I awarded it 85 points (“Average. A wine with no serious flaws, but no distinction”), so not an awful review, and while I feel bad about singling out one example and, indeed, one wine classification, it represents so many others: fantasy brands with no provenance that are 100% ‘product’; but zero percent soul. The Vin de France classification allows wines to be blended from across French regions and some producers are using it as an opportunity to make really interesting wines, but others to concoct wines purely to fit some marketing profile. Vin de France is not alone of course: it’s a game that Australia and other countries without strict appellation rules invented. I’m just rather weary of these perfectly ‘pleasant’ but characterless wines.
My thing of the year: friends and family. As I get older I value the company and the good times shared with family and friends, old and new, more and more. I appreciate their loyalty and support. Thank you.
Congratulations to the Runners Up
With the sheer number of excellent wines tasted, I’ve allowed myself my usual indulgence of a baker’s dozen that so very nearly made it, so congratulations to all:
- Weyborne Estate, Classic Cuvee Brut 2018, England
- Champagne Laurent Perrier Vintage 2012, France
- Riverby Estate, Pinot Gris 2023, New Zealand
- Bilancia, Kaikora Vineyard Chardonnay 2022, New Zealand
- Tyrell’s, Belford Hunter Semillon 2005, Australia
- Jable de Tao, Malvasía Volcánica Tenesar 2022, Lanzarote
- Quinta do Noval, Douro Reserva Branco 2021, Portugal
- Naudé Wines, Werfdans Old Vines Cinsault 2017, South Africa
- G.D. Vajra, Barolo Bricco delle Viole 2019, Italy
- Ponzi Vineyards, Paloma Pinot Noir 2021, Oregon, USA
- Gil Family Estates, Bodegas El Nido ‘Clio’ Jumilla 2021
- Argentiera, Bolgheri Superiore 2020, Italy
- Disznókö, Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2013, Hungary
See the Wines of the Year nominations from visitors to wine-pages. Submissions for 2024 are now closed.
Lovely stuff, Tom. My own list is in preparation. How about an Orange Wine category? Many of us will have had many of them over the year, and perhaps an outstanding one…
It could be added Duncan. I’d thought about “natural wine” as a category a few years ago, but was worried about adding too many more categories so I added the “extra choice” category a few years ago thinking people could use that. But worth thinking about for next year.
Sounds a bit sectarian to me Tom, don’t pander to this nonsense?
🙂 Well, natural wines is a very divisive category of wines John!
A great list, across the board and many I’ve had the privelidge to try aswell!
The Argentiera was a particular good find, surprised its down the list, but they cant all win, at least it featured! 😀
Many thanks David. You are right, it’s torturous narrowing it down to one per category! I really need a “baker’s 120” not a baker’s dozen.