My annual Wines of the Year have been published since 1997. Reflecting on a year of wine is always a pleasure, but choosing the winning wines a huge challenge. I’ve whittled thousands of wines down to the best I have tasted in eight categories, plus two extra categories: ‘Dud’ of the Year, and ‘Thing’ of the Year. As always, I also invited wine-pages visitors to send in their lists for publication. Entries are now closed, so thanks to all who participated.
Go to Visitors Wines of the Year 2016
Tom’s wines of 2016
Red Soldera, Toscana IGT 2006, Tuscany, Italy
White Gravner, Ribolla Riserva 1998, Friuli, Italy
Budget red Suertes del Marqués, La Solana Tinto 2012, Tenerife
Budget white Vidal, Hawkes Bay Reserve Chardonnay 2015, New Zealand
Rosé Bellavista, Franciacorta Brut Rosé 2010, Franciacorta, Italy
Sweet Château d’Yquem, Sauternes 1989, Sauternes, France
Sparkling Champagne Gaston Chiquet, Brut ‘Special Club’ 2008, France
Fortified Quinta do Noval, Naçional Vintage Port 2001, Douro, Portugal
Dud No wine disappointment compares with the death of David Bowie. RIP.
Thing The village of Crail, East Neuk of Fife, Scotland
Click to read full tasting notes for Tom’s Wines of the Year 2016.
Almost an all-European list, dominated by Italy, but of course I had many – many – non-European wines that could have made the list, particularly with major trips to Argentina, Chile and Australia in 2016, though my usual indulgence of a baker’s dozen ‘so very nearly made it’ contenders does feature some wines from those trips:
- Nyetimber, Tillington Single Vineyard 2010, West Sussex, England
- Champagne Salon, Blanc de Blancs 2004, Champagne, France
- Weingut Zwölberich, Auxerrois Guldentaler Rosenteich Spätlese Trocken Alte Reben 2013, Nahe, Germany
- Errazuriz, La Pizarras Chardonnay 2014, Aconcagua Costa, Chile
- Penfolds, Reserve Bin A Chardonnay 2015, Adelaide Hills, Australia
- Greywacke, Wild Sauvignon 2013, Marlborough, New Zeland
- Yarra Yering, Carodus Shiraz 2014, Yarra Valley, Australia
- Henschke, Hill of Grace 2010, Eden Valley, Australia
- Torbreck, RunRig 2013, South Australia, Australia
- Château Rausan-Ségla, Margaux 1986, Bordeaux, France
- Catena Zapata, Nicolas Catena Zapata 1997, Mendoza, Argentina
- Clonakilla, Shiraz Viognier 2015, Canberra, Australia
- Domaine Louis Latour, Château Corton Grancey Grand Cru 1989