Decanter World Wine Awards judging was described as the Olympics of the wine world, ‘but you don’t know who’s actually in the race’, commented long-time judge Gerd Stepp.
When it comes to Best in Show judging, all of the competition’s best wines – the Platinum medal winners – are re-tasted for a fourth time to determine the best of the best.
Always judged blind, this re-tasting comprises of 97-point wines only, so selecting a Top 50 is no mean feat. To the Olympics analogy, this round of judging is the competitive finals, and there are only 50 top seats out of the 18,250 wines judged. As a percentage, that’s a mere 0.27%.
Scroll down to see the Top 50 Best in Show medal winners of DWWA 2023
The competition’s four co-chairs determine this final round, with DWWA’s judging principles of discussion and deliberation exemplified fourfold as they taste and consider the merits of the competition’s highest scoring wines.
‘Best in Show is really taking a couple hundred Platinums and saying, “really, where does this wine excel amongst the Platinums?“, which is a pretty tough choice to make,’ said co-chair Ronan Sayburn MS.
‘So it’s where the winemaker showed certain restraint, made wines that are very elegant and refined without being too garish; or sometimes its really just about balance and finesse. Only the best make it through,’ he added.
‘We’re really looking at every wine without any of the noise around the label, the reputation, the expectation,’ said co-chair Michael Hill Smith MW.
Judges and producers alike are none the wiser on which wines have been awarded in the competition’s Top 50 selection until results are announced, making the Best in Show all the more exciting to unveil.
See below to discover this year’s Top 50 wines, representing 15 countries, and the award-winning producers to know. Search all newly announced results at awards.decanter.com
Best in Show: The top 50 wines of DWWA 2023
Argentina
- Durigutti, Gualtallary, Pie De Monte Malbec, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina 2020
- Terrazas De Los Andes, Origen Los Chacayes Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2021
Australia
- Brokenwood Wines, ILR Reserve Semillon, Hunter Valley, New South Wales 2017
- Domaine Naturaliste, Rebus Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Western Australia 2020
- Evans & Tate, Redbrook Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Western Australia 2018
- Gatt Wines, Riesling, High Eden (Eden Valley), South Australia 2017
- Heirloom Vineyards, Alcalá Grenache, McLaren Vale, South Australia 2022
- House of Cards, Ace of Spades Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia 2022
- Jacob’s Creek, Johann Shiraz-Cabernet, Barossa Valley, South Australia 2013
- Morris, Cellar Reserve Grand Muscat, Rutherglen, Victoria NV
- Penfolds, Reserve Bin 21 A Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia 2021
- Wirra Wirra, Chook Block, McLaren Vale, South Australia 2019
Austria
- Tschida Angerhof, Muskat Ottonel, Neusiedlersee, Burgenland 2021
Chile
- Casa Silva, Gran Terroir Carménère, Los Lingues, Colchagua 2022
France
- Château D’Esclans, Côtes de Provence, Provence 2021
- Château De Meursault, Clos Des Epenots, Pommard 1er Cru, Burgundy 2021
- Château De Rochemorin, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux 2020
- Château Fayat, Pomerol, Bordeaux 2020
- Collery, Blanc De Blancs Brut Grand Cru, Champagne, Champagne NV
- Domaine Clavel, Des Clous, Languedoc Pic Saint Loup, Languedoc-Roussillon 2020
- Gustave Lorentz, Vieilles Vignes Riesling, Grand Cru Altenberg-de-Bergheim, Alsace 2019
- Moët & Chandon, Grand Vintage Collection Extra-Brut, Champagne, Champagne 1999
Germany
- Weingut August Eser, Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling, Grosses Gewächs, Rheingau 2021
- Weingut Korrell, Kreuznach Paradies Riesling, Nahe 2021
Greece
- Estate Argyros, Vinsanto First Release, Santorini, Aegean Islands 2015
- Kyanos Wines, Orycton, Santorini, Aegean Islands 2021
Italy
- Damilano, Lecinquevigne, Barolo, Piedmont 2019
- Fattoria Villa Saletta, 980 AD, Toscana, Tuscany 2018
- Mastrojanni, Vigna Loreto, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018
- Mecori, Duo, Etna, Sicily 2021
- Paolo Manzone, Meriame, Barolo, Piedmont 2019
- Ruffino, Romitorio Di Santedame, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, Tuscany 2019
- Vigneti Villabella, Fracastoro, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva, Veneto 2012
New Zealand
- Palliser Estate, Hua Nui Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, Martinborough, Wairarapa 2021
Portugal
- Blandy’s, Terrantez, Madeira 1978
- Cálem, 40 Year Old Tawny, Port NV
- Quinta Da Pedra Escrita, Douro 2020
Serbia
- Vinarija Vinčić, Grašac, Fruška Gora, Srem 2020
South Africa
- Iona, Highlands Chardonnay, Elgin 2021
- Le Riche Wines, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch 2020
Spain
- Albet I Noya, El Corral Cremat Brut, Penedès, Penedès 2012
- Bodegas Y Viñedos Merayo, Las Tres Filas Mencía, Bierzo 2020
- Bodegas Ysios, Finca Lagunazuri, Rioja 2018
- Harveys, 30 Years, Amontillado, Sherry NV
- Lustau, 30 Years Old, Oloroso, Sherry NV
- Mar de Frades, Finca Monteveiga Albariño, Rías Baixas 2018
- Ramón Bilbao, Lalomba Finca Ladero, Rioja 2018
- Ramón Do Casar, Treixadura, Ribeiro 2022
United Kingdom
- Gusbourne, Blanc De Blancs, Kent 2018
United States
- Archery Summit Winery, Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, Oregon 2021
