Wines of the Year 2020: sparkling, sweet and fortified wines
Anyone looking for complexity and utter deliciousness won't be disappointed when browsing this list of standout sparkling, sweet and fortified wines tasted and scored by our expert panel.
The line-up of sparking, sweet and fortified styles in our Wines of the Year 2020 tasting certainly didn’t disappoint.
As with the whites, reds and rosés, the wines were nominated by staff, contributors and Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Chairs, before being tasted and scored by an expert panel.
- Classic (a premium, textbook wine style);
- Offbeat (unusual grape, winemaking method, region or unearthed gem);
- Value (£25 or under).
The panel members, Andy Howard MW, Ronan Sayburn MS and Beth Willard, were not shown the prices of the wines at the time of tasting, nor the category in which the wines had been entered.
Scroll down to see the Sparkling, Sweet and Fortified Wines of the Year 2020
See more of our top wines of 2020
Howard said he particularly enjoyed the sparkling flight. ‘The Champagnes, as you’d expect, were excellent, and the English wine with the extra ageing was an outstanding example.’
It was, however, a Tasmanian sparkling wine that topped the list with its seductive, robust complexity and its elegant maturity. ‘I’d very happily drink that any day,’ said Howard.
That said, there are many regions and styles to explore in the list below, which makes the case for being a bit more adventurous when selecting your next bottle of fizz.
It also demonstrated the value that lesser-known appellations can offer, commanding lower prices than the top regions in some cases and yet still delivering high quality and complexity if you know where to look.
One of Willard’s favourite wines, the solera-aged Verdejo from Rueda, was the top fortified wine in the Wines of the Year tasting. ‘It’s a wine style that goes back to the traditional roots of the region but refreshed in a modern way, making something spectacular that stands out,’ Willard said.
Browse the sweet wine selection below and you will also find interesting styles that pair delightful richness with aromatic complexity and balancing acidity.
Introduction copy by Ines Salpico. Tasting notes from Beth Willard, Andy Howard MW and Ronan Sayburn MS.
Decanter’s Sparkling, Sweet & Fortified Wines of the Year 2020
The sparkling wines have been listed first, followed by sweet and then fortified. Wines are ordered by score in descending order.
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House of Arras, EJ Carr Late Disgorged, Tasmania, Australia, 2004
It is fitting that such an exceptional cuvée be named after sparkling wine maestro and Arras's Head Winemaker Ed Carr. The wine's unique character is...
2004
House of Arras
Krug, Champagne, France, 2006
Veritably dripping with notes of rich buttery pastry and toasted brioche, honey and golden syrup-coated pineapple, this is the definition of indulgence. Fluffy pancakes and...
2006
Krug
Ambriel, Classic Cuvée, West Sussex, England
A refined, elegant style of English sparkling wine with subtle nuances of green apple and floral notes on the nose. A gentle, persistent, mousse with...
AmbrielWest Sussex
Charles Heidsieck, Brut Reserve, Champagne, France
Even in the tricky 2017 vintage, Charles Heidsieck turns out an impeccable NV. The reserves form a serious, appetising core of dried apricot and sourdough...
Charles Heidsieck
Château Rives-Blanques, Blanquette de Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2017
A great expression of Limoux sparkling with the green apple character of the Mauzac grape coming through.
2017
Château Rives-BlanquesBlanquette de Limoux
Domaine Vincent Carême, L'Ancestrale, Vouvray, Loire, France, 2016
Perfumed, lemon peel and a touch of grapefruit on nose which is lively and complex. Great varietal character on palate with melon and pear, with...
2016
Domaine Vincent CarêmeVouvray
Gosset, 12 Ans de Cave a Minima Brut, Champagne, France
Deep and nutty autolytic nose with fresh acacia flowers and brioche, burnt toast. Fine mousse, soft and beautifully integrated on the palate. A hint of...
Gosset
Billecart-Salmon, Cuvée Nicolas François, Champagne, France, 2006
Mature toasted brioche and macadamia nuts on nose, white chocolate and toast. Great acidity on the palate provides a lot of support to the complex,...
2006
Billecart-Salmon
Bollinger, PNVZ 15, Champagne, France
Some intriguing rustic aromas of truffle and mushroom all add to a very appealing Champagne. Lovely acidity, bright and fresh with plenty of structure. Floral...
Bollinger
Ruggeri, Vecchie Viti, Prosecco, Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore, Veneto, Italy, 2019
Prior to harvest, the Ruggeri agronomists go through the vineyards on the terraces of Cartizze and Santo Stefano, individually tagging the old vines that provide...
2019
RuggeriProsecco
Ettore Germano, Rosanna Extra Brut Rosé, Piedmont, Italy
Ripe sweet strawberry forest fruit nose accompanied by an appealing sour fruit note. Refined, appetising with high acidity giving freshness.
Ettore Germano
Fattoria Montellori, Blanc de Blancs Pas Dosè, Tuscany, Italy, 2013
Rich, powerful, bright sparkling wine with lots of purity and up-front pleasure. Some stoned fruit characters on the palate with confit lemon notes.
2013
Fattoria Montellori
Gusbourne Estate, Blanc de Noirs, Kent, England, 2016
Very pale rose colour, exuberant mousse, ripe and rich nose with white lillies and pear with some light strawberry notes. Rosehip on the palate with...
2016
Gusbourne EstateKent
Bortolomiol, Grande Cuvée del Fondatore, Motus Vitae Brut, Prosecco, Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore, Veneto, Italy, 2018
Fresh and attractive nose with bright lime and pineapple aromas. Rather earthy on the palate with plenty of acidity.
2018
BortolomiolProsecco
Balassa, Bomboly, Szamorodni, Tokaji, Tokaj, Hungary, 2017
Exotic and complex nose with tropical fruit, mango, lychee. Lovely intensity but at the same time, slightly restrained, more elegant. Beautiful balance, fresh acidity, very...
2017
BalassaTokaji
Marjan Simcic, Leonardo, Goriska Brda, Slovenia, 2013
Burnt orange, caramel and marmalade on the nose. Silky texture, intense level of sweetness but kept in check with acidity. Some honeyed, butterscotch and scorched...
2013
Marjan Simcic
Siddùra, Nùali, Moscato di Sardegna Passito, Sardinia, Italy, 2016
Ripe peach and honey along with acacia flower and lanolin beeswax on the nose. Ultra-ripe and pure on the palate, there is also great finesse...
2016
SiddùraMoscato di Sardegna Passito
Sanhe Winery, Cailonglin Icewine Silver Label Vidal, Huanren, Liaoning, China, 2014
Quite exotic fruit of lychee but earthy at the same time. Sweet, rch and dense with plenty of fresh acidity.
2014
Sanhe WineryHuanren
Bodegas de Alberto, Dorado, Rueda, Castilla y Léon, Spain
Nutty and wild with interesting notes of caramel, sourdough and pecan pastry. A balanced Verdejo with a lovely oxidative touch, clean and straightforward. Deep complexity...
Bodegas de AlbertoRueda
Gonzalez Byass, Tio Pepe Dos Palmas, Jerez, Spain
Heady nose of caramel, coffee and almonds. Very vibrant, complex palate with attractive citrus, candied lemon peel flavours coupled with layers of nutty, earthy, aged...
Gonzalez Byass
