Wines of the Year 2023: Offbeat category and top scorers
All the fun and fascination of the wine world was on show in the Offbeat category of the 2023 Decanter Wines of the Year blind tasting, highlighted by a gorgeous array of Greeks, complex Italians, a stunning orange wine from Georgia and a Pinotage to change your mind. We reveal the 35 wines to broaden your horizons.
The Offbeat category of Decanter’s Wines of the Year is always the most enlightening for the judges, and our blind tasting in 2023 was no different
35 wines scored 90 points or more, with Tetramythos’ 2022 Malagousia from Achaia in Greece’s Peloponnese region crowned our Offbeat Wine of the Year.
‘It’s something everyone should try,’ enthused Michaela Morris. ‘It was a real discovery for me and such incredible value, too.’
Scroll down to discover the 35 top-scoring Offbeat wines in Decanter’s Wines of the Year 2023
Greece had four other Offbeat nominations in the top bracket: whites from Thymiopoulos and Ktima Biblia Chora, T-Oinos’ Clos Stegasta Rare Mavrotragano red, and a fragrantly electric Moschofilero rosé from Troupis.
Italy, however, fielded the most high-scoring Offbeat wines, its six entries including Cantina Terlano’s Rarity 2010 – a detailed, complex Pinot Bianco from Alto Adige with 144 months on lees – and the coffee-caramel sweetness of Roberto Scubla’s 2019 Cràtis Verduzzo Friulano.
As usual in this category, there were more nominations and higher scorers among the white wines, but Anne Krebiehl MW was seduced by the smoky cherry tones of the Illimis’ 2022 Pinotage. ‘It was our favourite Offbeat red: a charming, vivid wine that will make detractors think twice before dismissing this grape.’
Morris also singled out the 2021 Orange Kisi from Tiko Estate in Georgia’s Kakheti region. ‘This wine doesn’t stop giving! It’s not for the faint hearted but is so genuine, exotic and complex – just a sensational treat.’
Her panellists agreed, with Krebiehl adding: ‘Georgia was just one stop on an amazing journey around the wine world: India, Japan, Syria – even a Teroldego from Colorado!
‘It’s so cool to be confronted by a host of new and exciting wines from winemakers not afraid to experiment.’
Morris noted that how ‘offbeat’ a wine was was a personal perspective. ‘It could simply be a wine outside of your usual comfort zone. Or it could be diving headlong into the unknown.
‘To taste so many different expressions of grapes from a variety of regions as we did here was a lovely reminder of just how diverse the world of wine is.
‘I would urge everyone to broaden their horizons and try a few of these undiscovered gems. There’s so much to appreciate and it’s so much fun!’
See the score table for all 35 ‘offbeat’ wines tasted for Wines of the Year 2023 that scored 90 points and above
Wines of the Year 2023: The 35 Offbeat wines to seek out
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Nathan K, Extra Brut, Finger Lakes, New York State, USA, 2018
Savoury, evolving, almost sweet herbs with a touch of wood. Toasty, creamy autolytic character, fresh acid gives a real zing. An elegant cool-climate sparkler with...
2018
Nathan KFinger Lakes
Podere Forte, Ada Blanc de Noir Extra Brut, Tuscany, Italy, 2014
Interesting autumnal mushroomy and rich palate. Nicely developing, bruised apple and redcurrant. Savoury and quite vinous as the mousse mellows. There is ripeness of fruit...
2014
Podere Forte
Sinefinis, Rebolium Brut Nature, European Union, European Union, 2015
Good brisk, creamy, showing some development. Toasty, mushroomy, spice and complex. Evident autolysis with aromas of blanched almonds, orange and touches of pastry. The palate...
2015
Sinefinis
Tetramythos, Malagousia, Achaia, Peloponnese, Greece, 2022
All from the north of the Peloponnese region, brothers Aristos and Stathis Spanos met winemaker Panayiotis Papagiannopoulos in 1999, and together they founded Tetramythos, planting...
2022
TetramythosAchaia
Cantina Terlano, Rarity, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, 2010
An incredible 144 months on lees and a 2010 but still so fresh, packed with waxy orchard fruits, nuts and citrus peel. Hazelnut and pineapple...
2010
Cantina Terlano
Thymiopoulos, Blanc des Côteaux Cuvée Amphore, Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece, 2020
Deep gold colour. Intense orange and earth aromas, hints of nuts and honey. Creaminess, caramelised fruit and freshly shorn wool. This grows on you, with...
2020
ThymiopoulosNaoussa
Ktima Biblia Chora, Ovilos, Pangeon, Macedonia, Greece, 2022
Forward and perfumed, zingy and perky jasmine and yellow peach, great texture and subtle spice, savoury, nutty aromas with a whack of pine that comes...
2022
Ktima Biblia ChoraPangeon
Rudolf May, Himmelspfad Silvaner GG, Franken, Germany, 2022
Captivating aromas of fresh chervil, summer hay, gentle creamy hazelnut oak and lemon. Textured with a peach-skin raspiness, lovely mouthfeel, round and open. It is...
2022
Rudolf May
Tenuta del Conte, Diversamente Greco Bianco, Cirò, Calabria, Italy, 2019
A lovely and fragrant sense of pine resin rises from the glass; has the nose of orange peel and Christmas spice. Very exciting, fresh acidity...
2019
Tenuta del ConteCirò
Cave Spring Vineyard, Prova Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, 2018
Cream and honey on the nose, along with super-lifted lemon. Unusual style, oxidised and nutty, Riesling character is there in the background. Waxy, rounded with...
2018
Cave Spring VineyardNiagara Peninsula
Elvio Cogno, Anas-Cëtta Nascetta del Comune di Novello, Langhe, Piedmont, Italy, 2021
A beautifully bitter note appears on the nose, alongside Navel orange zest. Apple skin mouthfeel with perky and raspy fruit tannins and a lingering green...
2021
Elvio CognoLanghe
Höfflin, Phonolith Grauer Burgunder, Baden, Germany, 2020
Perky and phenolic with grapefruit peel and scents of toasted hazelnuts and almonds. Lovely texture with serenity, creaminess and hints of oaky orchard fruit. A...
2020
Höfflin
Domaine des Bérioles, Autochtone Tressallier, Loire, France, 2021
A lovely note of conifer perfumes the nose, an earthy character on the nose and palate with orchard autumn fruit. Very juicy, succulent acidity carries...
2021
Domaine des Bérioles
Massican, Gemina, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2022
Clean, Italian in style and tradition that marries textural and salty elements without becoming overtly aromatic. Juicy and tangy with overriding almond and saline notes...
2022
MassicanNapa Valley
Sebastian Erbeldinger, Sauvignac, Rheinhessen, Germany, 2021
Appealing fragrance - all savoury rather than fruity, with baked pear and honey coming through. Rich, creamy, and quite phenolic. Slightly waxy with lots of...
2021
Sebastian Erbeldinger
Domaine de Bargylus, Bargylus, Lattakia, Syria, Syria, 2016
Delightful leesy, zesty aromas with sweet herbal aspects of Sauvignon Blanc. Juicy, tropical fruit and phenolic grapefruit peel. Tangy and firm, with lovely acidity and...
2016
Domaine de BargylusLattakia
Grace, Misawa Vineyard Koshu, Yamanashi, Japan, 2021
All very restrained and delicately floral with that delicacy and white blossom, very light and bright - like Koshu is supposed to be. Raw almond...
2021
Grace
Podrumi Vukoje, Velika Selekcija, Middle Neretva, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Bosnia - Herzegovina, 2018
Raw nuts, very sherry-like, Fino or Palo Cortado nose. The palate is minty with apple and apple tea, hints of vanilla and toasted oak. Rounded,...
2018
Podrumi VukojeMiddle Neretva
Voskevaz, Karasi Collection Voskehat, Aragatsotn, Armenia, 2017
Hints of waxy apple peel and forest undergrowth with a herbal spike. The palate is deliciously tangy and cleanses the mouth. A touch of vanilla...
2017
Voskevaz
Tiko Estate, Orange Kisi, Kakheti, Georgia, 2021
94
Gingerbread spice, orange peel studded with cloves, gorgeous phenolics. Pure rose and potpourri with hints of Turkish delight. Medicinal and green with rosemary oil and citronella. This is not for the faint of heart. You'll feel the dry tannins and a distinct bitterness of orange peel with intense sweet spice, but it is all genuine and sensational. A delicious pairing with Moroccan lamb tagine and dried apricot. Nominated by Sylvia Wu.
2021
Tiko Estate
VineVenom, Skin, Swartland, South Africa
Caramel, praline and a touch of vanilla ice cream on the nose. Sherry-tinged, bone dry, floral, vivid, creamy - very unusual and intriguing. Vibrantly structured,...
VineVenom
Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown, Grauburgunder, King Valley, Victoria, Australia, 2021
Blood orange, with a back note of vanilla and eucalyptus. Firm with bite and drying tannins. The fruit is secondary in structure, benefiting from skin...
2021
Vignerons Schmölzer & BrownKing Valley
Troupis, Ekato Moschofilero, Arkadia, Peloponnese, Greece, 2022
Floral rose water, orange potpourri and fig with persistent and pronounced fragrance – fun but serious. Gorgeous overtones of pomegranate fruit and electric acidity –...
2022
TroupisArkadia
Illimis, Pinotage, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2022
Delicate, ethereal and hauntingly perfumed, it's a bright, focused, low-intervention style that only sees older oak, showing pomegranate and goji berry flavours and a top...
2022
IllimisPolkadraai Hills
Domaine Mas de Rey, Marselan, Vin de Pays des Bouches du Rhône, Provence, France, 2019
Pure nose, dense but fresh dark fruit. A mouthful of high-toned blackberry, spicy and peppery garrigue notes. Sappy and grippy. Lots of grape tannins, but...
2019
Domaine Mas de ReyVin de Pays des Bouches du Rhône
Miguel Torres Chile, Los Inquietos 01, Maule Valley, Chile, 2019
Graceful and attractive aromas of blackberries, cassis, tobacco, garrigue and violets. Vivid fruits with a firm tannic backbone and fresh acidity. Young and still evolving...
2019
Miguel Torres Chile
Tenuta Santa Caterina, Monferace, Grignolino d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy, 2017
Subtle but aromatic lift with a lovely hint of cherry evolution on the nose; with coaxing some exotic juniper and pepper emerge alongside cranberry. High-toned...
2017
Tenuta Santa CaterinaGrignolino d'Asti
Adelaida, Anna's Estate Vineyard, Counoise, Paso Robles, Adelaida District, California, USA, 2019
Warm scents of garrigue open on this unusual stand-alone bottling of the Rhône blender Counoise. Aromas anise, wild fennel, and baking spices join with plum,...
2019
AdelaidaPaso Robles
Domaine Danjou-Banessy, Estaca Rouge, Côtes Catalanes, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2020
Subtle spice on the nose, with aromatic herbs, wild raspberry and orange. Lovely aromatics on the translucent palate with bright freshness. Gentle heat, which suits...
2020
Domaine Danjou-BanessyCôtes Catalanes
Kyperounda, Epos, Limassol, Cyprus, 2020
Smells more of place than grape - Mediterranean shrub, sweet herb florals. Rosemary, bay, almost lemony. Fresh and inky, dark and bright. Joyful, though the...
2020
Kyperounda
T-Oinos, Clos Stegasta Rare Mavrotragano, Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, 2020
Bold, bright and blackberry-fuelled, crushed ripe black cherry impression on the nose. The tannins are layered, ripe and caressing. Crisp acid and sappy, echoing the...
2020
T-OinosCyclades
Bira Wines, Rosso d'Uco, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
Shy, showing a bit of maturity with a dusty edge. Powdery textured Sangiovese tannins meet the racy acidity on the palate. Wonderfully fresh, the red-fruited...
2022
Bira WinesUco Valley
Blackbook, South Bank Vineyard Drums>Space Field Blend, Essex, England, United Kingdom, 2021
Smoky with dark fruit and floral overtones, very vivid, with wet undergrowth. The grip of plum skin and inky dark fruit is fresh and light...
2021
BlackbookEssex
Carboy, Teroldego, Grand Valley, Colorado, USA, 2020
Crushed tart berry with oak nuances and hints of earthiness and cocoa powder. Blueberry and chocolate with fine freshness and lasting acidity. Savoury herbs and...
2020
CarboyGrand Valley
Scubla Roberto, Cràtis Verduzzo Friulano, Fruili-Venezia Giulia, Italy, 2019
Gorgeous coffee-vanilla nose with notes of orange, earth and violets. Sweetness and concentration are countered by structure, with a real nuttiness only adding to the...
2019
Scubla Roberto
