Top scoring wines of 2020: 100 point wines
See the wines tasted in 2020 that got a perfect score from our experts...
Decanter Premium members have had access to fine wine tastings from Decanter experts across 2020.
Below are the 17 wines that received the ‘perfect’ score of 100 points, a tiny percentage of the thousands of wines tasted this year.
The wines come from a range of regions, from Champagne to California, Bordeaux to Rhône to Tuscany.
Some have been part of retrospective vintage tastings – such as Bordeaux 2010: Ten years on. Some were retrospectives on producers – such as the Champagne Salon vertical.
Another highlight was Jane Anson’s tasting looking back at the First Growth wines from the 2000 vintage, two of which make it into the line-up below.
Another exclusive that was available to Decanter Premium members – though not in our list below – was Robert Parker, this year’s Decanter Hall of Fame winner, looking back at ten of his 100 point wines from a 2020 perspective.
100 point wines of 2020: Tasted by Decanter experts
Domaine Jamet, Côte-Brune, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 1990
The terraced slopes of Côte-Rôtie are the world's ultimate source for wild, meaty and savory expressions of Syrah. For lovers of this style, there is...
1990
Domaine JametCôte-Rôtie
Petrus, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, 1998
Richly scented like you wouldn't believe; earthy truffle, black olive and rosemary fill the glass and don’t let up right through the palate, providing waves...
1998
PetrusPomerol
Krug, Clos d'Ambonnay, Champagne, France, 2002
The bouquet has a magnificent classicism to it, comprising notes of yellow fruits, spices including white pepper, flowers and a mineral edge. With aeration, scents...
2002
Krug
Château de Beaucastel, Hommage à Jacques Perrin, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2001
Only now is the wine becoming clear. And only now is it really open - a fireworks show, with great spark and smoke on the...
2001
Château de BeaucastelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Bibi Graetz, Testamatta, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy, 2018
The 2018 vintage resulted in elegant but relatively light wines, and cool nights kept them fresh. The subdued red fruit nose has finesse and poise,...
2018
Bibi GraetzToscana
Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2010
As ever when tasting the two together, the striking thing is the difference in character rather than quality between 2009 and 2010. This is tighter,...
2010
Château Haut-BaillyPessac-Léognan
Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2000
Superb and already immensely delicious, yet decidedly youthful and only beginning its evolution. The colour is dark, and the ripe plummy fruit resounds with notes...
2000
Château Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château Margaux, Margaux, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2000
This thrilling wine from a textbook year is dark in colour and shows pronounced aromas of ripe mulberry and black plum fruit, with hints of...
2000
Château MargauxMargaux
Château Lafleur, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, 2000
A legendary wine, with reason. I have only tasted this once, at the home of a very kind friend, exactly as it should be drunk...
2000
Château LafleurPomerol
Château Lafleur, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, 2016
A long way from being ready to go – I would suggest at least another six years – but it is going to be worth...
2016
Château LafleurPomerol
Quilceda Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2004
As good as it gets for Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. Massive blue fruit and milk chocolate aromas leap from the glass to join more savoury tomato...
2004
Quilceda CreekColumbia Valley
Salon, Cuvée S, Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France, 1996
A warm, even hot, spring with no real change during the summer, conditions that allowed the grapes to gorge themselves on sugar while preserving good...
1996
Salon
Salon, Cuvée S, Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France, 2008
8,000 magnums only released instead of the usual 50,000 bottles. Disgorgement: January 2019. Dosage: 5 g / l. A mild winter followed by a rainy...
2008
Salon
Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2010
Smoked grilled tar on the nose, it feels both very 2010 and supremely Mouton - accomplished and confident. A more glamorous, enticing edge than the...
2010
Château Mouton RothschildPauillac
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 Latour, Pauillac, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2010
Just over a third of the harvest made it into the grand vin to give a wine of startling concentration and purity, with lovely, forward...
2010
Château LatourPauillac
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2010
Brilliant – double decant and wait an hour so the wine can better express its sensual aromas of faded rose, cassis, homemade strawberry jam, graphite...
2010
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de LalandePauillac
