Decanter’s top panel tasting wines of 2019
It's been an amazing year for Decanter's panel tastings. Below, we have listed all 64 wines that were awarded 95 points and above in our famous blind tastings over the last 12 months...
2019’s panel tastings have seen high scoring wines aplenty. In the last year our experts have covered topics as diverse as 2010 California Cabernet, Premium 2010 Rioja and Champagne magnums vs bottles.
In total, 1,672 wines were tasted, but just 64 (or 3.8%) of wines entered achieved an Outstanding (95-97 points) or Exceptional (98-100 points) award. You can see all 64 of Decanter’s top panel tasting wines below, arranged in order of panel tastings, starting with the 2010 California Cabernet in the February 2019 issue.
The largest panel tasting of 2019 was December’s California Cabernet 2015 tasting, with a mammoth 197 wines entered, of which 10 achieved 95+ points.
The panel tasting with the biggest proportion of Outstanding and Exceptional wines was February’s Western Australia Chardonnay tasting, with 3 Exceptional and 4 Outstanding wines out of the 60 tasted.
May’s Chianti Classico 2010 Riserva & Gran Selezione tasting wasn’t too far behind, with 7 of the 75 wines entered achieving 95+ points.
What is a panel tasting?
Three world-class wine experts in their field review flights of wines on a set theme. Each expert writes a tasting note and score for each wine, and every score is then averaged to provide a final score, given in the context of the selected tasting theme.
See all of Decanter’s panel tastings
Decanter’s top panel tasting wines 2019:
All wines below achieved scores of 95 and above, covering both the Outstanding and Exceptional award categories.
Wines ordered by month of panel tasting, beginning with February 2019.
See all of Decanter’s 2019 panel tastings:
Californian Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – February 2019
Western Australian Chardonnay – February 2019
Quality Rioja 2010 – March 2019
Top Spanish Mencía – March 2019
Picpoul de Pinet – April 2019
Chilean Carmenère – April 2019
Amarone: Riserva, single-vineyard and special-selection – May 2019
Chianti Classico 2010 Riserva & Gran Selezione – May 2019
Premium Californian Chardonnay – June 2019
Premium South American red blends – June 2019
New Zealand oaked Sauvignon Blanc – July 2019
Good value Douro reds for under £20 / $25 – July 2019
Côtes de Provence rosé – August 2019
Rosso di Montalcino 2016 & 2017 – September 2019
Global Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine – September 2019
Chilean Pinot Noir – October 2019
Australian Pinot Noir – November 2019
Priorat reds – November 2019
California Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 – December 2019
Champagne: Magnum Vs Bottle – December 2019
Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, 2010
Ridge can trace the first vintage of wine being made from the Monte Bello site back to 1892 and this rich history of production is...
2010
Ridge VineyardsSan Francisco Bay
Vellum, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2010
Founded in 2003 by friends Karl Lehmann and Jeff Mathy, Vellum's inaugural vintage was in 2007. Care is taken in the vineyard to prevent over-ripening...
2010
VellumNapa Valley
Deep Woods, Reserve Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2017
Located in the Yallingup Hills of Margaret River, this 32ha estate was established in 1987 and subsequently acquired by the Fogarty family in 2005. Chief...
2017
Deep WoodsMargaret River
Driftwood Estate, Artifacts, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2015
Driftwood Estate is situated in the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River and was founded in 1989 by Tom and Helen Galopoulos. The winemaking philosophy at...
2015
Driftwood EstateMargaret River
Gralyn Estate, Reserve Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2017
Gralyn Estate, founded in 1975 by Merilyn and Graham Hutton, and named Gralyn as a blend of their names, is located in the Wilyabrup sub-region...
2017
Gralyn EstateMargaret River
Cullen, Kevin John Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2016
It’s difficult not to use the word ‘pioneer’ about Cullen Wines; founder Dr Kevin Cullen and his wife Diana trace their links with wine in...
2016
CullenMargaret River
Gralyn Estate, Reserve Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2014
Originally a cattle farm, low beef prices in 1975 led to the planting of a 4.5ha plot of vines and Gralyn Estate is now well...
2014
Gralyn EstateMargaret River
Catena Zapata, Nicolas Catena Zapata, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina, 2013
Founded in 1902, Bodega Catena Zapata has become revered by many as the pioneer of high-altitude wines and the re-emergence of the Malbec grape in...
2013
Catena ZapataLuján de Cuyo
McHenry Hohnen, Burnside Vineyard, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2015
Brothers-in-law Murray McHenry and David Hohnen founded McHenry Hohnen in 2004, aiming to make wines by following biodynamic and organic practices in their three vineyards:...
2015
McHenry HohnenMargaret River
Kaiken, Obertura Cabernet Franc, Mendoza, Argentina, 2015
Kaiken is located just south of Mendoza city, cultivating grapes in Vistalba, Agrelo and Vista Flores. The winery is named after the wild goose from...
2015
Kaiken
Pierro, Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2016
The Pierro estate in Wilyabrup, Margaret River, was purchased in 1979 by Dr Mike Peterkin, famous for creating the first Sauvignon Blanc- Semillon blend in...
2016
PierroMargaret River
VIK, La Piu Belle, Cachapoal Valley, Chile, 2011
VIK was founded in 2004 by Norwegian billionaire Alexander Vik, located 150km south of Santiago in the Cachapoal Valley. The winery focusses on red blends...
2011
VIK
Bodegas Olarra, Cerro Añon Gran Reserva, Rioja, Northern Spain, Spain, 2010
Founded in 1973 on the outskirts of Logroño, Olarra is known locally as the ‘Cathedral of Rioja’ owing to the beauty and grandeur of its...
2010
Bodegas OlarraRioja
Cloudy Bay, Te Koko, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2015
Bright citrus, stone fruit, guava, glacé pineapple and fine mealy notes. Rich, textural palate with a lovely chalkiness. Very fine, long, stony and dry, with...
2015
Cloudy Bay
Bodegas Altanza, Lealtanza Artistas Españoles J Sorolla Reserva, Rioja, Northern Spain, Spain, 2010
Located in Fuenmayor in the Rioja Alta, Bodegas Altanza was founded in 1998, with its estate currently spanning 220ha of vineyard. The wines are made...
2010
Bodegas AltanzaRioja
Greywacke, Wild Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2016
Greywacke (pronounced ‘Greywacky’) is the Marlborough label of Kevin Judd, one of the region’s pioneer winemakers after having directed the first 25 vintages at Cloudy...
2016
Greywacke
Belardent, Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2017
Belardent is part of the portfolio of the Languedoc group LGI. Founded in 1999 by Alain Grignon, LGI focusses on producing brands specifically for the...
2017
BelardentPicpoul de Pinet
Te Pa, Oke, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2017
Director and proprietor Haysley MacDonald planted the first vines in 2003 on his family’s land in the Wairau Bar area. Initially acting as a major...
2017
Te Pa
SO Vignerons, Villa des Croix, Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2017
Founded by Daniel Orsolini and Claude Serra, So Vignerons has been vinifying wines from around the Languedoc since 2005. The company looks to forge close...
2017
SO VigneronsPicpoul de Pinet
Aliança, Foral dos Quatro Ventos, Douro, Douro Valley, Portugal, 2017
Founded in 1927 in the town of Sangalhos, 88km to the south of Porto, Aliança has been part of the Bacalhôa wine group since 2007....
2017
AliançaDouro
Matetic, Coralillo Carmenère, Colchagua Valley, Chile, 2016
94
A top performer in a recent Carmenère panel tasting, this energetic blend (with Syrah) is peppery, vibrant and engaging. There’s a touch of tobacco and it’s just so effortlessly drinkable and elegant.
2016
Matetic
Maçanita, Douro, Douro Valley, Portugal, 2017
António Maçanita is known as one of the most dynamic winemakers in Portugal – after spending three years in Bordeaux, Australia and the Napa Valley,...
2017
MaçanitaDouro
Viña La Rosa, La Rosa Carménère, Peumo, Cachapoal Valley, Chile, 2014
Viña La Rosa boasts a long history with wine – mining entrepreneur Francisco Ossa bought the estate in 1824, making it one of the oldest...
2014
Viña La RosaPeumo
Quevedo, Oscar's, Douro, Douro Valley, Portugal, 2016
36-year-old banker turned winemaker Oscar Quevedo hails from a family with a long tradition of winemaking, dating back to 1889. Today, the family cultivate 114...
2016
QuevedoDouro
Corte San Benedetto, Camporal Riserva, Amarone della Valpolicella, Classico, Veneto, Italy, 2009
Owned and run by the Lavarini family, the Corte San Benedetto winery is located in Arbizzano di Negrar, 10km to the northwest of Verona, in...
2009
Corte San BenedettoAmarone della Valpolicella
Domaine des Mapliers, Abacus, Côtes de Provence, Provence, France, 2018
After years of working as a famous distributor of Provence rosé in the French Riviera, Jean Gallo realised his dream and set up Domaine des...
2018
Domaine des MapliersCôtes de Provence
Romano Dal Forno, Monte Lodoletta, Amarone della Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy, 2012
Romano Dal Forno took control of his family’s 25ha in 1980, aged 22, quickly turning to Amarone maestro Giuseppe Quintarelli for advice and tutorship. Dal...
2012
Romano Dal FornoAmarone della Valpolicella
Domaine Terre de Mistral, Rosalie, Côtes de Provence, Ste-Victoire, Provence, France, 2018
95
<p>Terre de Mistral, named after the famous and powerful mistral wind, so ubiquitous in the area, but also from owners Nadia and Serge Davico’s affinity to the land and Provençal poet, Fréderic Mistral. Situated on the slopes of the Sainte-Victoire mountain near Rousset, just east of Aix-en-Provence, the 50ha estate produces a diverse range of wines from red, white, sparkling and rosé, in varying appellations from IGP Méditerranée, Côtes de Provence and Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire, where Cuvée Rosalie is made from Syrah, Grenache and Rolle (Vermentino). There’s a tradition of naming every wine from someone in the family, and Rosalie is Serge Davico’s grandmother! Nicolas Clerc MS: Discreet, mineral, fresh pistachio, marzipan, garrigue, thyme, oregano, pretty fruit. Creamy, solid but tense, generous and gastronomic. Extremely Mediterranean in style. Elizabeth Gabay MW: Creamy, fresh, and spicy. Good intensity of fruit and lively white peach acidity. Very attractive. Joanna Simon: A very pale peach. Fragrant, sweet, creamy peach aromas and flavours (almost like Viognier!), precise and fresh yet creamy textured, with citrus-edged length.</p>
2018
Domaine Terre de MistralCôtes de Provence
Brigaldara, Amarone della Valpolicella, Classico, Veneto, Italy, 2015
Located just outside the town of San Floriano, the Villa Brigaldara and surrounding estate dates back to the 15th century, but it was not until...
2015
BrigaldaraAmarone della Valpolicella
Podere Brizio, Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, 2016
Established in 2013 by the Alejandro Bulgheroni Family Vineyards Group, the Podere Brizio estate sits on the South-West facing Montalcino hills, in a unique setting...
2016
Podere BrizioRosso di Montalcino
Villa Calcinaia, Riserva, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2010
This historic estate (pronounced ‘Kal-chin-aya’) has been home to the Counts Capponi since 1524 and is today managed by brothers Sebastiano and Niccolò Capponi. Located...
2010
Villa CalcinaiaChianti Classico
Wiston Estate, Blanc de Blancs Brut, South Downs, England, United Kingdom, 2011
Located on the South-facing chalk slopes of the South Downs, Wiston Estate has been owned and farmed by the Goring family since 1743. The estate's...
2011
Wiston EstateSouth Downs
Castell’in Villa, Riserva, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2010
Castell’in Villa is a small estate in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, at the southern end of the Chianti Classico region. While the estate has...
2010
Castell’in VillaChianti Classico
Castelnau, Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne, France, 2005
Champagne Castelnau recently celebrated their centenary in 2006, and today source their grapes from over 900 hectares across 155 unique crus, from over 750 growers....
2005
Castelnau
Castello di Cacchiano, Millennio Gran Selezione, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2010
Located just to the south of Gaiole in Chianti, about 20km northeast of Siena, the majestic hilltop Cacchiano castle and its estate were founded in...
2010
Castello di CacchianoChianti Classico
Lelarge-Pugeot, Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Premier Cru, Champagne, France
<p>From a family of winegrowers since 1799, Lelarge-Pugeot are based in Vrigny, a Premier Cru village located in Montagne de Reims. Certified both organic and...
Lelarge-Pugeot
Castello di Gabbiano, Riserva, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2010
The Gabbiano castle was built in the 12th century and wine has been produced here for almost as long. Once owned by a series of...
2010
Castello di GabbianoChianti Classico
Nicolas Feuillatte, Collection Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne, France, 2012
Founded in 1976, the eponymous Nicolas Feuillatte brand is part of Centre Vinicole-Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, now the best selling Champagne brand in France, and the...
2012
Nicolas Feuillatte
Lilliano, Riserva, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2010
While Tenuta di Lilliano was founded in the Middle Ages, wine production here was only instigated in 1958 by Princess Eleonora Ruspoli Berlingieri, whose family...
2010
LillianoChianti Classico
Recaredo, Reserva Particular Brut Nature, Catalonia, Spain, 2007
Recaredo's first Reserva Particular Brut Nature was produced in 1962, with the winery itself founded in 1924. A pioneer among Spanish sparkling producers, Recaredo focus...
2007
Recaredo
Principe Corsini Villa Le Corti, Cortevecchia Riserva, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2010
The long-established Corsini family owns two properties in Tuscany: Villa Le Corti in Chianti Classico and Tenuta Marsiliana in the Maremma. Villa Le Corti, a...
2010
Principe Corsini Villa Le CortiChianti Classico
Tabalí, Talinay Pinot Noir, Limarí Valley, Chile, 2015
One of the first wineries in the Limarí Valley, Viña Tabalí was founded in 2002. Planted on limestone soil, the Talinay vineyard is located just...
2015
Tabalí
Villa Pomona, Bandini Riserva, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2010
The origins of this small, traditional estate date back to the second half of the 18th century, when it was named Fattoria Ricceri after its...
2010
Villa PomonaChianti Classico
William Fèvre Chile, Little Quino Pinot Noir, Malleco Valley, Chile, 2018
Established in 1993, William Fèvre Chile is the result of a partnership between Chilean Victor Pino Torche, and renowned Chablis producer William Fèvre, focusing on...
2018
William Fèvre Chile
Escorihuela Gascón, MEG, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina, 2017
Escorihuela Gascón 1884, named after Miguel Escorihuela Gascón, who founded the winery four years after arriving in Argentina from his home land of Aragon, Spain,...
2017
Escorihuela GascónUco Valley
Lethbridge, Between Five Bells, Victoria, Australia, 2018
<p>Lethbridge Wines was formed as a partnership between three research scientists, Ray Nadeson, Maree Collis and Adrian Thomas, who join their scientific knowledge with a...
2018
Lethbridge
By Farr, Farrside by Farr, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 2017
Established by father and son team Gary and Nick Farr, Wine By Farr is based in Geelong, with 36 acres under vine. Gary and Nick...
2017
By FarrGeelong
Paringa Estate, Estate Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, 2016
<p>Paringa Estate's origins date back to 1984, when Lindsay McCall,a geography teacher at the time, bought a derelict North-facing orchard in Mornington Pensula to develop...
2016
Paringa EstateMornington Peninsula
Yabby Lake, Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, 2017
<p>Focusing on single vineyard and single block wines from the Northern part of Mornington Peninsula, Yabby Lake was established by the Kirby family in 1998....
2017
Yabby LakeMornington Peninsula
Scala Dei, Heretge, Priorat, Catalonia, Spain, 2016
The oldest winery in Priorat, Cellers de Scala Dei are known for bottling the first Priorat wine in 1878, and their remarkable cellars date back...
2016
Scala DeiPriorat
Vall Llach, Mas de la Rosa, Priorat, Catalonia, Spain, 2016
Founded in the early 1990s by Enric Costa and Lluís Llac, Celler Vall Lach is located on century-old estate vineyards, with 60 to 90 year...
2016
Vall LlachPriorat
Torres, Perpetual, Priorat, Catalonia, Spain, 2016
Familia Torres' winemaking origins can be traced back to 1870 in Penedès, and today they make wine across many of Spain's most iconic regions, as...
2016
TorresPriorat
Lobo Wines, Wulff Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll, California, USA, 2015
Established by husband and wife team Randy and Krys Wulff around 15 years ago, Lobo make their wines from small lot, sustainable fruit, sourced entirely...
2015
Lobo WinesNapa Valley
Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, 2015
One of California's best known wines, the Ridge Monte Bello was first produced in 1962, with the original blocks of the Monte Bello vineyard itself...
2015
Ridge VineyardsSan Francisco Bay
Barnett, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain, California, USA, 2015
<p>Located in Napa Valley's Spring Mountain District, the first Barnett Vineyards vines were planted in 1984 by husband and wife Hal and Fiona Barnett. Sourced...
2015
BarnettNapa Valley
Corley, State Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Yountville, California, USA, 2015
Corley's origins can be traced back to 1969, when founder Jay Corley travelled to Napa Valley in search of a vineyard to purchase. Today the...
2015
CorleyNapa Valley
Michael Mondavi Family Estate, Emblem Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2015
Founded in 1999, the Michael Mondavi Family Estate was created by one of California's great winemaking families, and focus is on small-production, artisanal wines from...
2015
Michael Mondavi Family EstateNapa Valley
Miner Family Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2015
Originating in 1996, the Miner Family Winery brand was born when Dave Miner, then President of Oakville Ranch Vineyards, decided to start his own label....
2015
Miner Family VineyardsNapa Valley
Nellcôte, Chevaux 500 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2015
Inspired by over a decade of living in the South of France and a passion for fine wine and cuisine, proprietor Tyler Olbres founded Nellcôte...
2015
NellcôteNapa Valley
Paradigm, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2015
Owned and managed by the Harris family, Paradigm winery produced its first vintage in 1991 in Oakville with winemaker Heidi Barrett. A self-contained winery estate...
2015
ParadigmNapa Valley
Ridge Vineyards, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, 2015
<p>Made with fruit sourced from Ridge's famous low yielding Monte Bello Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, the Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was first...
2015
Ridge VineyardsSan Francisco Bay
Ulysses, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2015
Ulysses vineyard was acquired in 2008 by famed French winemaker and Dominus owner Christian Moueix, Decanter's 2008 Man of the Year. Located along Napa Valley's...
2015
UlyssesNapa Valley
