Decanter’s top-scoring wines of 2023: 100-point wines
See the wines tasted in 2023 that got a perfect score from our experts, including 11 from Bordeaux, six from California, five from Italy and a Chardonnay from Victoria, Australia.
Decanter Premium members have had access to fine wine tastings from Decanter experts across 2023.
Below are the 27 wines that received the ‘perfect’ score of 100 points, a tiny percentage of the thousands of wines tasted this year – the database now standing at more than 75,000 wines.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the 27 100-point wines tasted in 2023
These top-scoring wines come from a number of regions including Bordeaux, Rioja, Burgundy and Napa Valley.
Some were from special tastings – such as the Château Margaux vertical: 1928-2010 and Built to last: The wonders of Rioja’s old wines with tasting notes from 1890 – others were tasted as part of regional or vertical tastings.
Only two white wines make the list, one from the abovementioned Rioja tasting, and the other was the only southern hemisphere wine to score 100 points. The Giaconda Estate Vineyard Chardonnay from Victoria, Australia was described as ‘offering nothing short of exceptional drinking pleasure both now and into the future.’
See all the wines tasted this year in score order
Bordeaux delivered 11 100-pointers, with California six, and five from Italy, spanning Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto.
One Burgundian wine makes the list – the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 2020 , which was tasted in New York as part of the Burgundy investment: Focus on blue-chip wines event.
The sole sweet wine on the list comes from Port. The Warre’s Vinhas Velhas 2020 is described by critic Richard Mayson as ‘a ‘wow’ of a wine’.
100-point wines of 2023: tasted by Decanter experts
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Giaconda, Estate Vineyard Chardonnay, Beechworth, Victoria, Australia, 2021
<p>A sensational Giaconda Chardonnay in 2021 - one that above all conveys both a precise sense of place and winemaking signature, offering nothing short of...
2021
GiacondaBeechworth
Marques de Murrieta, Castillo de Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, Rioja, Northern Spain, Spain, 1946
The best white Rioja I have ever tasted. Still bright and not very intense, amber colour. Restrained nose, with notes of tea leaves, a hint...
1946
Marques de MurrietaRioja
Allegrini, Fieramonte, Amarone della Valpolicella, Classico, Veneto, Italy, 2016
Another astounding wine from Allegrini, if you didn't buy Fiermonte last year here's a chance to buy something just as good. The most gorgeous nose;...
2016
AllegriniAmarone della Valpolicella
Château Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion, 1er Grand Cru Classé A, Bordeaux, France, 1982
Pure class on show with Cheval's heady, perfumed and expressive 1982. Fragrant and open nose of cherries, plums, cola, vanilla, mint and perfumed floral scents....
1982
Château Cheval BlancSt-Émilion
Château Latour, Pauillac, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 1982
A sublime wine, unbelievably youthful and vibrant still and one that holds attention from the first sip. Beautiful aromatic complexity on the nose; floral notes,...
1982
Château LatourPauillac
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2020
The best 2020s seem to be confident without showing off or shouting too loudly and this Carmes does just that. Focused and precise, this is...
2020
Château Les Carmes Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château Léoville Las Cases, St-Julien, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2010
Layered, textured, deep, cigar box, cassis and earth, managing to simultaneously stretch out, and burrow down. The edges open slowly but surely and seductively. Still...
2010
Château Léoville Las CasesSt-Julien
Château Margaux, Margaux, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 1928
Lively blackcurrant and truffle nose, with mysterious hints of mineral and earth. Has an almost rustic edge, with a suggestion of leather and game. On...
1928
Château MargauxMargaux
Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Dark fruits on the nose, blackcurrants and cherries with savoury nuances of dark chocolate and tobacco. Fresh and forward on the palate, this hits you...
2020
Château Mouton RothschildPauillac
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 1982
This delivers on all fronts; a sharp, edgy, enveloping and forceful wine with so much life and lift. The nose smells of baked cherry pies...
1982
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de LalandePauillac
Château Troplong Mondot, St-Émilion, 1er Grand Cru Classé B, Bordeaux, France, 2020
A sensational Troplong. Vibrant and vivid, this makes you smile from the first smell: milk chocolate, floral notes of roses and lavender, wet stones, liquorice,...
2020
Château Troplong MondotSt-Émilion
Château Trotanoy, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, 2020
A sure fire hit in 2020 and one of my absolute favourites of the vintage. Perfumed black cherries, roses and dark chocolate on the nose:...
2020
Château TrotanoyPomerol
Clos Fourtet, St-Émilion, 1er Grand Cru Classé B, Bordeaux, France, 2016
So amazingly nuanced, such elegance combined with ripeness, a vintage that many say is wonderful, as do I. Blackberry and dark cherry, cool blueberry and...
2016
Clos FourtetSt-Émilion
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru Monopole, Burgundy, France, 2020
Young Romanée-Conti is sometimes enigmatic, with its greatness obscured. If this bottle was any indication, however, the potential of the 2020 vintage is already...
2020
Domaine de la Romanée-ContiRomanée-Conti Grand Cru Monopole
Giuseppe Rinaldi, Barolo Brunate, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy, 2019
<p>The 2019 vintage is the first Brunate fully tended by Carlotta and Marta, following their father, Beppe Rinaldi's death. Typically blended with 15% of the...
2019
Giuseppe RinaldiBarolo Brunate
Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2016
By all accounts, a spectacular and near-perfect vintage for Napa Valley. A wet, rainy winter marked the end of drought conditions, and the growing season...
2016
Harlan EstateNapa Valley
Il Marroneto, Madonna delle Grazie, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, 2019
Those familiar with Il Marroneto will notice that with the 2019 vintage, the name of the estate is now at the fore on all labels....
2019
Il MarronetoBrunello di Montalcino
Lithology, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, St Helena, California, USA, 2021
It is an absolute stand-out wine that is just seamless, with a purity of dark fruit flavours and spices balanced by threads of distinct minerality,...
2021
LithologyNapa Valley
Marqués de Riscal, RM (Reserva Médoc), Rioja, Northern Spain, Spain, 1895
If the wine were younger it would still be perfect; at 125 years of age, it is beyond any praise. Deep bright garnet colour, intense...
1895
Marqués de RiscalRioja
Masseto, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy, 2020
A high-flying sleek wine wine for this vintage that's built to last. Masseto 2020 reminds me of the 2000 with its milk and mint freshness,...
2020
MassetoToscana
Ornellaia, Bolgheri, Superiore, Tuscany, Italy, 1998
The wine of the flight, this 1998 is a wonderful wine, and it's hard to believe this is 25 years old. It has aromatic notes...
1998
OrnellaiaBolgheri
Ovid, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2013
A decade later, the 2013 Ovid is a complete wine, showcasing the limitless potential of crafting Cabernet Sauvignon perfection atop Pritchard Hill. Effusive aromas of...
2013
OvidNapa Valley
Petrus, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, 2020
A seriously impressive Petrus in 2020. Less hedonistic and instantly emotional than 2019, more sultry, almost shy and reserved but with definition, weight, succulence and...
2020
PetrusPomerol
Philip Togni Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2013
What a generous wine a decade on, and a simply magical Cabernet that strikes the perfect balance of power and finesse. Showing a deep-ruby-purple colour,...
2013
Philip Togni VineyardNapa Valley
Promontory, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2018
Gorgeous blackcurrant bramble fruit tones on the nose. A hint of plum, juniper, allspice, cinnamon, pepper and violets. Stylish and compelling, a real sense of...
2018
PromontoryNapa Valley
Sea Smoke, Southing, Santa Barbara County, Santa Rita Hills, Santa Rita Hills, California, USA, 2001
I sampled the 2001 Southing during a rare retrospective tasting of Sea Smoke's Pinot Noirs and was absolutely blown away by the wine fully five...
2001
Sea SmokeSanta Barbara County
Warre's, Vinhas Velhas, Port, Douro Valley, Portugal, 2020
A ‘field blend’ from deep-rooted, horseploughed, 80- to 100-year-old vines at two of Warre’s leading quintas, Cavadinha and Retiro. Tiny yields from an outstanding and...
2020
Warre'sPort
Torbreck, Descendant, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2020
Gobsmacking. A raptor on nose and palate, locking on without hesitation. An insane iodine and black fruit perfume conjures up images of a dementedly talented...
2020
TorbreckBarossa Valley
