Wines of the Year 2020: red and rosé wines
From delicious Pinot Noir and great Cabernet to an exciting Canadian Merlot blend and rosé from Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, here is a mouth-watering list of styles to seek out from our Wines of the Year tasting.
How the Red and Rosé Wines of the Year 2020 were chosen
Every year we ask Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Chairs, key contributors and staff to nominate the wines that most impressed them in the previous 12 months across three categories:
- Classic (a premium, textbook wine style);
- Offbeat (unusual grape, winemaking method, region or unearthed gem);
- Value (£25 or under).
Following the nominations, we ask an expert tasting panel to score them and offer an objective view on the line-up put forward by their various peers. This year’s panel members were Andy Howard MW, Beth Willard and Ronan Sayburn MS.
The best red wines truly piqued the judges’ excitement this year.
‘It was fascinating to see what our fellow experts had chosen,’ said Ronan Sayburn MS. ‘Though it was often quite difficult to judge – like when you taste your first ever Moschomavro (see below), that clearly someone thinks is great, and probably is, but you’re not trying it in context with a bunch of other Moschomavros.’
Scroll down to see our Red and Rosé Wines of the Year 2020
See more of our top wines of 2020
The wines falling in the classic category shone as benchmark examples.
Sayburn singled out the Pinot Noirs, including a ‘delicious, characterful’ Sancerre and ‘a fantastic IGP Pinot from the Loire’, adding of the latter, ‘It will be interesting to know the price of that.’
Willard was particularly impressed by the Cabernets. ‘I really enjoyed the different expressions from around the world, but the classic regions shone through,’ she said, citing ‘Western Australia’s Margaret River and Rutherford in Napa’.
She added, ‘I was also really excited by the Canadian Merlot blend – an outstanding red with great elegance and intensity.’
For Andy Howard MW, it was all about Syrah, and especially the wine from St-Joseph: ‘This stood out for me – I always think it’s not as great as Côte-Rôtie or Hermitage, but this example was fantastic.’
Yet the wine of the tasting was an Amarone. ‘It was an outstanding example of the genre,’ said Howard. ‘Its age, depth, complexity of flavour and alcohol – everything was beautifully balanced.’
All three judges were keen to point out to readers that, at the time of tasting, they were not told the prices of the wines or the categories for which the bottles had been nominated. Scores were, therefore, based purely on quality.
‘For example,’ said Howard, ‘there was an IGP Puy de Dôme red and a Vin de France Grenache that I suspect are not particularly expensive but were just really delicious wines to drink.
‘Across the board, whether you are at the exotic end of Amarones, SuperTuscans and Napa Cabernets or down at that IGP level, this tasting showed the diversity of great wines out there.’
This article is based on copy that originally appeared in Decanter magazine by Tina Gellie. Edited for Decanter.com by Ines Salpico. Tasting notes from Beth Willard, Andy Howard MW and Ronan Sayburn MS.
Decanter’s Red & Rosé Wines of the Year 2020
Rosé wines are listed first, followed by red wines, which have been arranged by score in descending order.
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Chateau Barbebelle, Rosé Fleuri, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, Provence, France, 2019
93
Ripe stone fruit, summer berries and rose aromas. Raspberry and ripe cherry provide sunny, warm fruits on the palate that sit alongside balanced acidity and an appealing weight.
2019
Chateau BarbebelleCoteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
Chateau Musar, Rosé, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2017
Intriguing nose with some dusky, autumnal fruit and a touch of leaf. The oak is quite prominent on the palate there is a lot of...
2017
Chateau Musar
Akitu, Pinot Noir Blanc, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2019
Attractive floral character on the nose. Zippy acidity with good freshness and lift.
2019
Akitu
Allegrini, Fieramonte, Amarone della Valpolicella, Classico, Veneto, Italy, 2012
Very much a prestige bottling from one of Amarone's most famous producers, the Fieramonte is a single vineyard wine with grapes grown at an altitude...
2012
AllegriniAmarone della Valpolicella
Domaine des Amphores, Les 7 Lieux, St-Joseph, Rhône, France, 2018
96
Plenty of dark berry and pepper spice on the nose. Lovely purity here with a fine balance between ripeness of fruit and some lingering black olive/tapenade characters. Restrained oak supports the palate along with great acidity. There is an attractive flinty, mineral aspect to this wine which finishes very clean but smokey and long. RS: Bright nose of dark berry fruit with some orange rind and citrus, black pepper rotundone, meaty spice and wet fur. Classic northern Rhône Syrah. BW: Raspberry, blackberry and a hint of liquorice. Great intensity, a good whack of black pepper with a black olive tapenade, very Mediterranean finish.There is an attractive flinty, mineral aspect to this wine which finishes very clean but smokey and long. AH: Plenty of dark berry and pepper spice on the nose. Lovely purity here. A fine balance between ripeness of fruit and some lingering black olive/tapenade characters. Restrained oak supports the palate. Great acidity. A fine St Joseph which is drinking well but has a long way to go.
2018
Domaine des AmphoresSt-Joseph
Henschke, Mount Edelstone, Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2015
Super intense blackcurrant and spice on nose. The palate is laden with dried fruit, figs, dates and Christmas cake notes. Incredibly ripe fruit but combined...
2015
HenschkeEden Valley
Cigliuti, Serraboella, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy, 2016
Smokey and full, modernist barbaresco, chocolate and forest floor with dense chinese tea and dried rose petal. Soft, full and fleshy on the palate, there...
2016
CigliutiBarbaresco
Eyrie Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA, 2016
Intense but elegant raspberry, perfume and tomato vine on nose. Palate shows lovely purity both of variety and region. On the palate a slightly sour...
2016
Eyrie VineyardsWillamette Valley
Inglenook, Rubicon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2013
Intense, brooding wine with lovely aromatics. There is concentrated dark berry fruit here with an intriguing herbal twist. Soft, ripe fruits on the palate with...
2013
InglenookNapa Valley
Cullen, Diana Madeline, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2018
Minty eucalyptus dominates this wine, on both the nose and palate. Complex with lots of spice and depth of flavour but fresh and lively from...
2018
CullenMargaret River
Domaine Vacheron, Belle Dame, Sancerre, Loire, France, 2016
Elegant Pinot nose with red cherry and raspberry with a little sweet cranberry, bacon, meaty aroma and smoky oak. A powerful, forceful expression of Sancerre...
2016
Domaine VacheronSancerre
Craggy Range, Le Sol, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, 2018
Great New World Syrah nose with orange rind, black pepper with blackberry. Silky tannins give elegance on the palate. Olive notes leave to a savoury,...
2018
Craggy RangeGimblett Gravels
Barons de Rothschild, Château d'Aussières, Corbieres, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2017
A really good example of warm, ripe fruit from the south of France with good integration of oak, lots of red fruit and chocolate character....
2017
Barons de RothschildCorbieres
Isole e Olena, Cepparello, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy, 2016
Paolo de Marchi's 'study in Sangiovese' is a selection of the vintage's finest grapes from Isole e Olena's oldest vineyards, high up in Chianti Classico's...
2016
Isole e OlenaToscana
Château Léoville Barton, St-Julien, Bordeaux, France, 2016
Intense, luxurious, fresh yet also very classically Bordeaux on the nose. Loads of dark berry and currant fruit, allied to a touch of oaky spiciness....
2016
Château Léoville BartonSt-Julien
Frescobaldi, Tenuta Perano, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2016
Classic aromas with a touch of mint, a hint of chocolate and balsamic aromas. Elegant with well integrated oak, soft tannins, juicy red fruit with...
2016
FrescobaldiChianti Classico
Gramercy Cellars, John Lewis Syrah, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Washington, USA, 2015
Has a very appealing structure with some mineral notes and subtle oak to support the vibrant dark cherry and berry fruit. An appetising, succulent Syrah...
2015
Gramercy CellarsColumbia Valley
La Rioja Alta, Viña Ardanza Reserva, Rioja, Alta, Northern Spain, Spain, 2012
Warming, nutty, complex Rioja with layers of fruit and a softness of dark cherry fruit on the palate. Soft tannins and elegantly poised with a...
2012
La Rioja AltaRioja
Rutini, Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Uco Valley, Gualtallary, Mendoza, Argentina, 2017
The altitude can be felt here with the floral lift and a coolness to the tannins. Not heavy, there is plenty of brightness and purity...
2017
RutiniUco Valley
Domain Sauvat, Nymphéa, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, France, 2018
A great Pinot nose with a little herbal touch along with kirsch cherry and bacon fat. Well balanced and fresh on palate with a touch...
2018
Domain SauvatPuy-de-Dôme
Il Poggione, Brunello di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, 2015
Lots of super-ripe dark berry fruit, a touch of dried plum and firm tannins coupled with some brisk acidity. The anticipated wood structure is there...
2015
Il PoggioneBrunello di Montalcino
St Andrea, Áldás Egri Bikavér Superior, Egri Borregio, Hungary, 2018
A highly individual blend which works very well. The palate is much more lifted and ethereal than expected. Cherry and raspberry fruit give way to...
2018
St Andrea
Remírez de Ganuza, Rioja, Alavesa, Northern Spain, Spain, 2012
Lovely intensity on the nose with warming aromas of dark berry fruit with a touch of cinnamon spice. Fleshy, warm and enveloping on the palate...
2012
Remírez de GanuzaRioja
Château du Moulin-à-Vent, La Rochelle, Beaujolais, Moulin-à-Vent, Burgundy, France, 2016
Rounded and ripe forest fruits, plums and sweet raspberry. Soft and unctuous on the palate with fleshy red fruit. Long, savoury finish.
2016
Château du Moulin-à-VentBeaujolais
Edoardo Miroglio, Soli Merlot, Thracian Valley, Southern Region - Thracian Lowland, Bulgaria, 2018
Tobacco, cigar box, dark bitter chocolate and some attractive herbal notes. Full bodied but balanced oak and acidity which lends the wine elegance and restraint....
2018
Edoardo Miroglio
Berry Bros & Rudd, Extra Ordinary Claret, Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2018
Very fresh, lifted nose with juicy, pure fruit notes. Distinguished by a gravelly, almost earthy character to the palate. Fruit quality is fresh and youthful...
2018
Berry Bros & RuddGraves
Domaine des Tourelles, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2018
Mediterranean-like character with lots of vibrant redcurrant, raspberry and herbal notes. Floral, restrained and quite finely textured on the palate.
2018
Domaine des Tourelles
Maison Ventenac, Le Paria, Vin de France, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2019
Packed full of raspberry fruit, no oak, fresh and balanced. There is a lovely underlying freshness here which adds to the appeal of the wine....
2019
Maison VentenacVin de France
Passopisciaro, Contrada Rampante, Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy, 2014
Rose petal and sour cherry, very pretty and vibrant nose. Great balance between fruit and acidity with ripeness balanced by freshness on the palate.
2014
PassopisciaroTerre Siciliane
Tenuta San Leonardo, Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, 2015
Herbal, medicinal on the nose with subtle leathery notes and chocolate. Quite earthy, already showing some attractive age, but on the palate really impressive freshness....
2015
Tenuta San LeonardoVigneti delle Dolomiti
Trivento, Gaudeo Single Vineyard Malbec, Uco Valley, Tunuyán, Mendoza, Argentina, 2018
Very pure Malbec character with blueberry and plum fruit, intense ripeness but with the fresh acidity of the region. Quite a bit of grip but...
2018
TriventoUco Valley
Bodega Aleanna, Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Chacayes, Los Chacayes, Tunuyán, Mendoza, Argentina, 2016
Very rich and concentrated Cabernet Franc from Uco Valley. Great intensity of dark fruit here, elegant despite the fruit weight. Fruit is expressed without reliance...
2016
Bodega Aleanna
Heitz Cellar, Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2014
Elegant yet dense concentrated nose of sweet blackberries, fine oak and complex black fruit flavours. Ripe and forward on the palate.
2014
Heitz CellarNapa Valley
Painted Rock, Red Icon, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada, 2017
<p>Bordeaux winegrowing consultant Alain Sutre has worked with Painted Rock's John Skinner since 2006. This wine (a 38% Merlot-dominant Bordeaux blend with 2% Syrah) is...
2017
Painted RockOkanagan Valley
Château Thivin, Les Sept Vignes, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly, Burgundy, France, 2018
Alluring aromas, promising succulent fruit. Vibrant and youthful, with flavours of cherry, violets and wet earth. Oak spice adds complexity.
2018
Château ThivinBeaujolais
I Luoghi, Campo Al Fico, Bolgheri, Superiore, Tuscany, Italy, 2016
A vibrant example of the region. Very attractive creamy texture, almost like milk chocolate, velvety and sweet. On the palate there is a wild, garrigue...
2016
I LuoghiBolgheri
El Coto, Coto de Imaz, Northern Spain, Spain, 2012
This is a big, rich style of Gran Reserva with toasty, balsamic notes coupled with intense dark berries and spice. Drinking well already, there is...
2012
El Coto
Tzora Vineyards, Judean Hills, Israel, 2018
A serious wine on the nose with dark fruits, smokey bacon and woody notes. On the palate the wine maintains a serious structure but offers...
2018
Tzora Vineyards
Château Mercian, Mariko Vineyard Omnis, Nagano, Chubu, Japan, 2013
Excellent purity on the nose with subtle nuances of wood shavings and dark berry fruits. Lively, fresh and juicy, very smooth tannins and well-integrated oak....
2013
Château Mercian
Bononia Estate, Gomotartzi Gamza, Northern Region - Danubian Plain, Bulgaria, 2019
Some tobacco notes give way to redcurrant, rhubarb fruity aromas. Crisp, upfront red fruits on the palate with fresh acidity; moreish.
2019
Bononia Estate
Mvemve Raats, MR de Compostella, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2017
Smoky South African nose of dark bramble and burnt spice, very classic. Well structured solid palate with weighty tannins. Nice berry characters with plumpness of...
2017
Mvemve Raats
Terre de l'Elu, Maupiti, Vin de France, Anjou, Loire, France, 2018
Intriguing notes of autumn leaves and restrained with subtle oak. Soft tannins with herbal and gamey notes. An individual wine from the Loire that will...
2018
Terre de l'EluVin de France
Algueira, Risco, Ribeira Sacra, Galicia, Spain, 2016
Rounded and ripe sweet jammy and confiture nose of ripe strawberries and cherries. Soft tannins and balanced acidity, fresh, bright, and light bodied in style.
2016
AlgueiraRibeira Sacra
Domaine de Marcoux, La Lorentine, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2016
Warm, sunny, ripe fruit aromas along with strawberry jam and a touch of spice. A really attractive, fruity red with balanced acidity and some spice....
2016
Domaine de MarcouxLirac
Domaine Paetzold, Mastrio, Côtes Catalanes, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2011
Interesting varietal typicity with herbal notes, smoked meat and a generally wild, garrigue character. Earthy, tight on the palate with grippy tannins and acidity.
2011
Domaine PaetzoldCôtes Catalanes
Remelluri, Rioja, Northern Spain, Spain, 2012
Subtle and complex on the nose with dark fruits, a hint of menthol and some damson fruit characters. A serious, brooding wine which has plenty...
2012
RemelluriRioja
Yarra Yering, Carrodus Shiraz, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia, 2018
Dark cherry fruits on the palate. Smooth and fresh with good purity allied to depth and concentration on the palate. Intense, spicy finish.
2018
Yarra YeringYarra Valley
J Bouchon, Granito Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenere, Maule Valley, Chile, 2015
Unmistakably Chilean on the nose with some vibrant, spicy dark fruits allied to a hint of capsicum. On the palate this is intense but fresh...
2015
J Bouchon
La Tunella, Pinot Nero, Friuli, Colli Orientali, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, 2017
Complex Pinot nose of meaty and gamey aromas with dark forest fruit, some oak smoke and elegance. A very good balance on the palate of...
2017
La TunellaFriuli
Familia Deicas, Extreme Vineyards Cerro del Guazuvira, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Uruguay, 2018
Dark stalky tight fruit on nose with black olive, provence herbs, and a curious saline quality. Smooth acidity, ripe tannins, a very elegant wine with...
2018
Familia DeicasLavalleja
Diamantis, Moschomavro, Siatista, Macedonia, Greece, 2018
A firm wine that is still very youthful and needs a little time to soften. Crisp, crunchy dark fruits with some briary notes and a...
2018
DiamantisSiatista
Kanonkop, Paul Sauer, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2017
Deep, brooding, intense wine with a lot more to give with a few years inh bottle. Very appealing nose with dark cherry and currant fruits...
2017
KanonkopSimonsberg
Bodegas Muriel, Fincas de la Villa, Rioja, Alavesa, Northern Spain, Spain, 2015
Ripe but maturing nose of a classic Rioja with strawberry and cranberry. Lots of warm red fruit on the palate with fresh acidity and some...
2015
Bodegas MurielRioja
