The 75 most exciting wines of 2017
Decanter experts around the world named the five bottles under £55 that had impressed them most this year. After tasting and rating the 173 nominated wines, assessing them on harmony, complexity and wow factor, our panel of three judges compiled the ultimate top 75 across all styles.
See them below and read Christelle Guibert's report on the results.
To finish the year in style, our ‘stellar buys of the year’ is back by popular demand. The equivalent tasting last year was so memorable we decided to follow the same format, asking our contributors, DWWA Regional Chairs and several members of the Decanter editorial team to share with us the wines they have most enjoyed drinking during the last 12 months.
We stipulated a price limit of £55 per bottle, to ensure the list includes something delicious for every budget.This tasting is a snapshot of the wines from around the world that our experts loved most.
The tasters: Oz Clarke, Christelle Guibert and Andy Howard MW
More wines from this tasting will appear on Decanter.com soon, but Premium members can get a preview of the top 75 below.
With wines from more than 20 countries, the selection showed real diversity geographically and stylistically.The nominations also illustrated the trends of the past year.Last year we had a surprisingly large number of orange and amphora wines, while this year sees a good number of unusual grape varieties from emerging countries, alongside the usual suspects.Andy Howard MW said, ‘In the world of wine, we all love classics, we all love fantastic white Burgundy, but we also strive to find the new thing that is up and coming or that we haven’t heard of.
This tasting gave us both of those things at the same time.’It was certainly a great educational experience for the three of us as we sniffed, swirled and sipped more than 170 wines over two very enjoyable days.
We discovered grapes that none of us had ever heard of, and as Oz Clarke said: ‘I was completely delighted that we had such a fantastic array.
Even if they are wines that I’m not so familiar with, these are the wines that the Decanter experts love and believe in. It was a learning process for me – absolutely delightful.’
The wines were tasted blind and only the grape variety and vintage were disclosed. They were scored out of 100 points, and also given a score out of 15 for their harmony, complexity and wow factor.
They were then ranked according to their overall scores, also taking value into consideration at this point. We particularly wanted to reward wines which showed a real wow factor, so we were looking for the most individual, fascinating and harmonious wines, but also the most enjoyable.
With 84% of wines hitting the Highly Recommended (90-94pts/100) mark, it was definitely among our most memorable tastings.
We hope you have a fantastic time going through the list, perhaps recognising old favourites and making new discoveries, and we are confident that some of these wines will feature in your own list of top wines over the next year – assuming you stock up before it’s too late to find them!
The wines
Stockists for UK and US provided where available. Stockist search aided by Wine-Searcher.
Kaapzicht, 1947 Chenin Blanc, Bottelary, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2016
Luxurious, warm and enveloping notes of honey, lemon and pineapple jump out of the glass. Creamy and complex, this is bursting with flavour, life and...
2016
KaapzichtBottelary
Vasse Felix, Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2014
An expressive, reductive style with buttery, ripe apple and melon intensity and a wisp of autumnal smoke. Oatmeal and lemon pith meld with orange box...
2014
Vasse FelixMargaret River
Marisa Cuomo, Furore Fiorduva Bianco, Costa d'Amalfi, Campania, Italy, 2015
A complex mixture of unusual grape varieties that gives expressive, exotic fruit and ripe apricot impressions. Herbal tones comes through on the palate complemented by...
2015
Marisa CuomoCosta d'Amalfi
Domaine Guy Farge, Vania, St-Joseph, Les Serines, Rhône, France, 2016
Sophistication lingers around the glass, with honeysuckle and golden pear skins mixed with white jasmine flowers and tropical fruit. The palate is full and ripe,...
2016
Domaine Guy FargeSt-Joseph
Gonzalez Byass, 3 Palmas, Fino, Jerez, Spain
Amazingly intense nutty aromas combined with burnt orange and white flowers unfold beautifully onto a gloriously dry, balanced palate. All the sinew of youth is...
Gonzalez ByassFino
Julien Sunier, Beaujolais, Fleurie, Burgundy, France, 2015
Soft, simple and rather dilute red fruit characters on the palate and evident brett with sweet-spiced vegetal notes. There's nothing wrong here but it lacks...
2015
Julien SunierBeaujolais
Corte Aura, Millesimato, Franciacorta, Satèn, Lombardy, Italy, 2010
95
Elegant, creamy, come-hither aromas of fresh yeast and ripe apple lead onto a stylish palate full of bright citrus fruit, honey and heather. There is a fine, persistent mousse and a drying, mineral edge on the finish.
2010
Corte AuraFranciacorta
Trinity Hill, Syrah, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, 2014
Red cherry perfume and intense peppery notes show this as a generous, elegant style of Syrah. There is a whisper of menthol and bright acidity...
2014
Trinity HillGimblett Gravels
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Chatenière 1er Cru, St-Aubin, 1er Cru Chatenière, Burgundy, France, 2010
Youthful ripe apples and apricots are complemented with subtle creamy, buttery characters, giving a beautiful weight to this very precise and pure wine. An undertow...
2010
Pierre-Yves Colin-MoreySt-Aubin
Nikos Douloufakis, Aspros Lagos, Crete, Greece, 2016
Inviting aromatics of apricot, peach and ripe apple lead onto a weighty, rich palate supported by exotic pineapple and guava, and a direct acidity. An...
2016
Nikos Douloufakis
Querciabella, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2013
Violets and herbs meld with tomato acidity and a flick of basil, mint and salt. It has a tight structure and firm tannins, but plenty...
2013
QuerciabellaChianti Classico
Zidarich, Malvasia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, 2015
A myriad of exotic flavours on show here. A grapey and floral pot-pourri with some nut and bruised apple notes, and spice from the oak....
2015
Zidarich
Warre's, Bottle Matured Late Bottled Vintage, Port, Douro Valley, Portugal, 2004
Vivid damsons and blackcurrants are allied with liniment and spice to give a luxuriously sweet, soft mouthfeel. The rich chocolate notes are kept in check...
2004
Warre'sPort
Ramos Pinto, Quinta do Bom Retiro 20 Year Old Tawny, Port, Douro Valley, Portugal
Produced with fruit from some of the oldest plots at Quinta do Bom Retiro, this is an elegant and complex tawny. Preserved red and blue...
Ramos PintoPort
Freixenet, Casa Sala Gran Reserva, Cava de Paraje Calificado, Penedès, Spain, 2007
91
Nutty, savoury, rich and powerful with almond and Christmas cake-like flavours – almost like it has a touch of amontillado. Powerful, full-bodied, soft and fully mature with lovely lime freshness on the finish and a medium-long length.
2007
FreixenetCava de Paraje Calificado
Edoardo Miroglio, EM Brut Rosé, Nova Zagora, Thracian Valley, Southern Region - Thracian Lowland, Bulgaria, 2011
94
A pretty partridge-eye colour in the glass, this is delicate and expressive with a soft mousse, summer berry fruit characters and great freshness. The ripe style is well married with apple acidity and balanced, creamy richness.
2011
Edoardo MiroglioNova Zagora
Marques de Murrieta, Capellanía, Rioja, Northern Spain, Spain, 2013
A rich nose full of orange peel, vanilla and a touch of melon. A complex, layered wine with an underlying energy and driving acidity. Nutty...
2013
Marques de MurrietaRioja
Dönnhoff, Roxheimer Höllenpfad Trocken Riesling, Nahe, Germany, 2016
A harmonious and delightful Riesling with a fruit salad of peach, apricot and lemony intensity. It is slightly sappy, with a good dose of minerality...
2016
Dönnhoff
Greystone, Pinot Gris, Waipara Valley, Canterbury, New Zealand, 2016
Floral hints and lemon oil intensity on the nose unfold onto rich autumn fruit, ripe apricot and honey-coated baked apple on the palate. Youthful now,...
2016
GreystoneWaipara Valley
Domaine Chevrot, Sur le Chêne, Maranges, Burgundy, France, 2015
The Chevrot domaine spans 15 different appellations, spread over 20ha throughout Maranges and Santenay. Sur le Chêne is a south-facing plot of 3.16ha near Cheilly-lès-Maranges,...
2015
Domaine ChevrotMaranges
Taittinger, Brut, Champagne, France, 2006
94
Lovely aromas of struck match on the nose with a hint of pineapple and crème brulée. It is elegant and gentle with pristine acidity and a creamy, soft mousse. A fleeting white floral scent lifts the finish.
2006
Taittinger
Wiston Estate, Cuvée Brut, South Downs, England, United Kingdom, 2013
94
Ripe red apples and warm brioche showing on the nose, with stone fruit richness to the palate that is balanced by energy and acidity. There is a tremendous umami savouriness and an almost chocolatey yeast character; this needs time and will be very good.
2013
Wiston EstateSouth Downs
Marjan Simcic, Rebula Opoka, Goriška Brda, Primorska, Slovenia, 2013
A deep amber colour and subtle tannin structure suggest extended skin contact here. A savoury, earthy style of wine underpinned by quince, toffee and honey...
2013
Marjan SimcicGoriška Brda
Silverado Vineyards, Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2013
A refined and memorable nose shows layers of blackcurrant, damson and black cherry in a powerful and forward style. A massive wine, but it is...
2013
Silverado VineyardsNapa Valley
GD Vajra, Bricco delle Viole, Barolo, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy, 2012
Following a rather warm summer, the autumn nights cooled off, slowing down ripening and allowing for development of complex flavours. This is just starting to...
2012
GD VajraBarolo
Domaine Parigot, Clos de la Perriere, Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, Burgundy, France, 2011
An evolved style that is holding onto an attractive balsam perfume, sweet cherry and savouriness. Ripe tannins lead into red plum that is beginning to...
2011
Domaine ParigotHautes-Côtes de Beaune
Drew Family Cellars, Valenti Ranch Syrah, Mendocino County, Mendocino Ridge, California, USA, 2014
Reminiscent of the Rhône, this is a little closed at first but elegant black cherry is lifted by floral notes and a savoury edge. There’s...
2014
Drew Family CellarsMendocino County
Castello di Albola, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2013
Hints of almond and sour cherry add to the complex pot-pourri of aromas, alongside fruitcake and spice. Oak is present but well-integrated, adding complexity. A...
2013
Castello di AlbolaChianti Classico
Antonio Madeira, Vinhas Velhas, Serra da Estrela, Dão, Portugal, 2014
A fascinating, restrained style displaying lovely floral elements with pretty wild strawberry and raspberry leaf characters. Elegant tannins are a surprising end result from this...
2014
Antonio MadeiraSerra da Estrela
Felton Road, Block 1 Riesling, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2016
Classic Riesling aromas of white flowers, a touch of lime and a hint of machine oil. It is zesty and refreshing, with some dried apricot...
2016
Felton Road
Domaine Eden, Cabernet Sauvignon, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, 2014
Domaine Eden, the second label of the historic Mount Eden Vineyards, produces some of the best value wines in California, and the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon...
2014
Domaine EdenSan Francisco Bay
Luca Ferraris, Vigna del Parroco, Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
Primary fruit on the nose is driven by notable hints of strawberry and rose petal. Quite muscular but refreshing and very much alive. Sweet fruit,...
2016
Luca FerrarisRuché di Castagnole Monferrato
Il Passo, Alberi in Piano, Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata, Italy, 2013
Glorious aromas of rose petals combined with ripe dark fruits - cherry, plum and blackberry - with a dash of raisins on the finish. Lots...
2013
Il PassoAglianico del Vulture
Gizella, Barát Hárslevelű, Tarcal, Tokaj, Hungary, 2016
Enticing nose of white flowers and a slightly herbal edge. Creamy hazelnut flavours in the mouth with minty, leafy notes. Acidity is prominent but well-balanced...
2016
GizellaTarcal
Lafran-Veyrolles, Cuvée Speciale, Bandol, Provence, France, 2011
A brooding and intense nose of dark red fruits, raspberry conserve and a touch of mint. There is a hint of brett giving a meaty,...
2011
Lafran-VeyrollesBandol
Foradori, Sgarzon, Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, 2015
Teroldego sourced from the historic, cooler Sgarzon vineyard on sandy soil. Skin maceration in amphora gives a vibrant red cherry and floral nose of great...
2015
ForadoriVigneti delle Dolomiti
Antoine Olivier, Les Charmes, Santenay, Burgundy, France, 2015
It is now 10 years since Antoine and Rachel Olivier made the move from Santenay-le-Haut to Vincent Girardin’s old premises down the road in Santenay-le-Bas....
2015
Antoine OlivierSantenay
Domaine Jean Collet & Fils, Valmur Grand Cru, Chablis, Valmur Grand Cru, Burgundy, France, 2014
Generous and mouth-filling ripe stone fruit with bright lemon minerality and a touch of sourness. Nice weight and good balance despite the levels of extract....
2014
Domaine Jean Collet & FilsChablis
Tenuta Sant'Antonio, Campo dei Gigli, Amarone della Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy, 2012
A powerful style with stewed cherry and plum depth, seasoned with pepper and church spices. Grilled nuts and tea leaves come through on the palate,...
2012
Tenuta Sant'AntonioAmarone della Valpolicella
Château Capbern Gasqueton, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2010
Mature with enveloping dark fruits and lots of menthol, eucalypt and spice. Ultra-ripe fruit dominates the palate, but there is plenty of acidity and tannic...
2010
Château Capbern GasquetonSt-Estèphe
Pierre Luneau-Papin, Excelsior, Muscadet, Sèvre et Maine Goulaine, Loire, France, 2014
An intense style with great concentration on the palate, notes of iodine and a hint of chèvre. The apple blossom scent is coated with a...
2014
Pierre Luneau-PapinMuscadet
Domaine Agnès Paquet, Auxey-Duresses, Burgundy, France, 2015
A refined, crisp and pure example of Chardonnay with apple fruit characters and a fresh, cleansing acidity. There is a nutty flavour alongside the buttery,...
2015
Domaine Agnès PaquetAuxey-Duresses
Domaine Louis Michel, Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru, Chablis, 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, Burgundy, France, 2015
A delicate herbal, lemony style with crisp apple and mineral mint characters to the fore. The palate is vibrant and vivid whilst maintaining a lean,...
2015
Domaine Louis MichelChablis
Shaw & Smith, Lenswood Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2015
Some reductive notes at first which transform into smoky lime and orange. It is a focussed, elegant style with no excess weight. It has a...
2015
Shaw & SmithAdelaide Hills
De Martino, Viejas Tinajas Cinsault, Itata Valley, Chile, 2016
Complex, spiced red fruit, elegant cherry blossom and dry leather notes with some sweet sultana thrown in. Plenty of freshness and vibrancy. This is a...
2016
De Martino
Rogue Vine, Súper Itata Tinto, Itata Valley, Chile, 2015
Warm and inviting, this blend is showing youthful dark cherries with a notion of mint and spices. Crisp tannins and lifted acidity give a tight...
2015
Rogue Vine
Azores Wine Company, Verdelho O Original, Pico, Azores, Portugal, 2016
Lively citrus and fresh leather nose. There is a zippy lime fruit character along with complex, smoky, iodine, a fleeting moment of apple blossom and...
2016
Azores Wine CompanyPico
Château Guiraud, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2010
Lively and expressive, with floral and citrus notes – there’s even a touch of lemon sherbet. Round, full and textured with bitter orange freshness and...
2010
Château GuiraudSauternes
Sacred Hill, Riflemans Chardonnay, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, 2015
Tropical pineapple and papaya with a hint of reduction and a smoky edge. Creamy, buttery oak is joined by a streak of kitchen spice, with...
2015
Sacred Hill
Speri, Monte Sant'Urbano, Amarone della Valpolicella, Classico, Veneto, Italy, 2012
Opulent, sweet jammy cherries are allied to integrated oak spice and evolved tannins. Attractive chocolatey bitterness and rich, stewed fruit flavours with nut husks hints....
2012
SperiAmarone della Valpolicella
Reichsrat von Buhl, Von Buhl Reserve Sekt, Pfalz, Germany
93
Bone dry and youthful, this has focus, grip and pristine acidity underlying herbaceous notes and white fruit. Light in body with a fine mousse and a citrus edge.
Reichsrat von Buhl
Santolin Wines, Family Reserve, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia, 2015
This takes a while to open out, but then a biscuity toast appears with ripe apple and herbaceous notes. A crisp, elegant Chardonnay with streaks...
2015
Santolin WinesYarra Valley
Seresin Estate, Tatou Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2013
Enveloping aromas of nuts, wet leaf, red berry and a touch of liniment. A little bitter, but it is a strong muscular style with some...
2013
Seresin Estate
Château Fontanès, Pic St-Loup, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2016
Intense blackcurrant combines with toasty oak to give a nice rich mouthfeel with some grippy tannins, cleansing acidity and savoury intensity on the finish. Not...
2016
Château FontanèsPic St-Loup
Domaine Melody, Cuvée Friandise, Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2015
Warm and inviting pungent aromas of cherry, ripe raspberry and violets spill from the glass. A fleshy palate and ripe tannins give a dry mouthfeel...
2015
Domaine MelodyCrozes-Hermitage
Tabarrini, Adarmando, Umbria, Italy, 2015
Not a subtle wine! Guava and pineapple flavours are interspersed with green peas and a waxy, lemon pith texture. An enjoyable, powerful example of this...
2015
Tabarrini
Foradori, Teroldego, Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, 2015
From young Teroldego vines sourced from 16 parcels. Fruit, 30% whole bunch, is fermented in concrete tanks then aged half in oak, half concrete. This...
2015
ForadoriVigneti delle Dolomiti
Adega Algueira, Merenzao, Ribeira Sacra, Spain, 2014
PBT: Discreet and elegant in its cherry fruit aromas, whilst concentrated yet smooth and suave in the mouth. Delicious! SJE: Superbly exciting, with loads of...
2014
Adega Algueira
Viñedos de Alcohuaz, RHU, Paihuano, Elqui Valley, Chile, 2012
Lashings of dark red fruits on the nose and palate, married with a hefty addition of oak. It is a strong wine with smoky chocolatey...
2012
Viñedos de AlcohuazPaihuano
Alpha Estate, Reserve Vieilles Vignes Single Block Xinomavro, Amyndeon, Macedonia, Greece, 2013
Pleasurable perfume of red cherries and wild strawberries. There is a note of bitter apple skins underneath the crunchy fruit and the chewy tannic structure.
2013
Alpha EstateAmyndeon
Santa Sofia, Ripasso Superiore, Valpolicella, Ripasso Superiore, Veneto, Italy, 2014
A lifted red cherry and violet scent is allied to a pot-pourri of spices, squashy fruit and soft oak influence. It is generous and mouth-filling,...
2014
Santa SofiaValpolicella
Pirie, Brut, Tamar Valley, Tasmania, Australia
This is a superlative creation with more gravitas and structure in the glass than you might expect. I happen to prefer this wine to the...
PirieTamar Valley
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Heimbourg Pinot Gris, Alsace, France, 2013
Rich honey, dried apricot and quince jelly on the nose and palate, perhaps with some signs of botrytis. A highly charged Pinot Gris which is...
2013
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht