Top 20 wines of 2016 from Decanter Panel Tastings
Our famous Panel Tastings; three world class wine experts in their field review a flight of wines on a theme. Each give their own individual scores, which are then averaged to give an overall mark. This year has seen panel tastings on many different themes, from little known Levante in Spain to California Chardonnay, with thousands of wines tasted.
See the top Decanter Panel Tastings wines of 2016 below
This page is part of our ‘best wines of 2016’ series
This year, the magazine panel tastings have yielded unsurprising to the unpredictable in terms of results.
To make it easy, the Decanter team has shifted through thousands of panel tasting wine reviews to bring you our top picks of 2016.
This is not necessarily the wine that came top in each class, but we took into account factors such as availability to buy, price and a score of above 90 points. We also only included one wine from each category.
These wines our some of our experts’ top wines of 2016 and well worth seeking out to try.
Top wines of 2016: Decanter Panel Tastings
Chateau Vrai Canon Bouché, Canon-Fronsac, Bordeaux, France, 2012
92
Sturdy, oaky black fruits on the nose, with a good weight of fruit and natural ripeness. Robust and forceful, with a savoury edge and ample structure, this is a very well judged and understated gem of a wine.
2012
Chateau Vrai Canon BouchéCanon-Fronsac
Newton Johnson, Pinot Noir, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Walker Bay, South Africa, 2013
Sweet cranberry nose, which is quite intense; smoky bacon and toasted oak. Real drive and persistence on the palate with a fine backbone of acidity,...
2013
Newton JohnsonUpper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Dönnhoff, Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling, Grosses Gewächs, Nahe, Germany, 2014
Nahe grower Dönnhoff would be in most people’s top 10 in German dry Riesling. The estate dates back to 1750. Helmut Dönnhoff has recently ceded...
2014
DönnhoffGrosses Gewächs
Ruggabellus, Efferus, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2013
Justin Knock MW: Nice middle ground, savoury, complex, wood smoke and spice, winter fireplace. Well-judged and balanced. Warm fruit, complex. Anthony Rose: Attractively fresh and...
2013
Ruggabellus
Pegasus Bay, Pinot Noir, Waipara Valley, Canterbury, New Zealand, 2013
Animated and vibrant, with oodles of floral nuance backed by firm tannins. This gives it suave structure and poise, showcasing layers upon layers of intensity...
2013
Pegasus BayWaipara Valley
Ridge Vineyards, Estate Chardonnay, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, 2014
<p>Ridge’s two Chardonnays come from its superb Monte Bello vineyards high up in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Although Monte Bello is better known for its...
2014
Ridge VineyardsSan Francisco Bay
Errazuriz, Pinot Noir, Aconcagua Valley, Chile, 2015
Grace and elegance define the aromatics on this Pinot: forest fruits, spices and dark chocolate. It is truly round, smooth and deliciously creamy. Well made!...
2015
Errazuriz
DeMorgenzon, DeMorgenzon Reserve Chenin blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2015
<p>Attractive, mineral notes thread all the way through this focused Chenin, with a taut, leesy, smoky richness and concentration, showing pure balance and palate length....
2015
DeMorgenzon
Mar de Frades, Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain, 2015
95
Winemaker Paula Fandiño is a native Galician who has always worked in the region, and with white wines. She joined Mar de Frades (owned by Rioja’s Ramón Bilbao) in 2007 and works with 150 growers in the Val do Salnés area. With its distinctive blue bottle, the popular packaging has become better known than the liquid inside. However since 2009 Fandiño has been researching batonnage, barrel ageing and single vineyards, all of this informing the mainstream wine. PBT: "Fine aromas of citrus and grass, very delicate. Fresh and so typical, this is textbook Albariño." SJE: "Elegant, pure and salty. Aromatic and fine, with generous, juicy white fruit, lovely balance and approachability." PM: "Appealingly floral, honeyed nose, white peaches. Full, very fresh, fine, salty, stony appeal. Textured finish with grapefruit lift."
2015
Mar de Frades
Bodega Teho, Uco Valley, Altamira, Mendoza, Argentina, 2014
Packed full of dark fruits, succulent blueberries and delicate violets. This is wonderfully ripe with an opulent juiciness on the finish. Simply lovely! Some intense...
2014
Bodega TehoUco Valley
Charles Heidsieck, Rosé Réserve, Champagne, France
<p>Founded in 1851 by the Champagne Charlie of legend, he sailed to the USA to seek his fortune. Jailed during the civil war he returned...
Charles Heidsieck
Château Lynch-Bages, Echo de Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, 2009
On the palate, deep red and black fruits, silky, caramel. This is a very good expression of Pauillac Cabernet fruit, with lots of flesh and...
2009
Château Lynch-BagesPauillac
Wiston Estate, Blanc de Blancs, West Sussex, England, United Kingdom, 2010
94
<p>Appealing and generous toasty, buttery nose. A refreshing acidity enlivens some rich and delicious flavours of baked apple and buttered tea cakes. Full and broad mouthfeel leading to a charming dry note on the lengthy finish. A beautiful example of English sparkling.</p>
2010
Wiston EstateWest Sussex
Ringbolt, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2013
94
Good colour, touch of cumin and dried herb on the nose, nicely succulent cassis fruit middle, elegantly claret-like with an opulent dark fruits quality, framed by polished oak, a slight chewiness of tannin and a mild bitter twist of astringency that brings good balance and freshness.
2013
RingboltMargaret River
Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro, Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Castilla y Léon, Spain, 2004
Go ahead, spoil yourself. If you love a gran reserva, then this is spot-on. Glorious oak, toned-down after all these years; fine blend of forest...
2004
Bodegas Arzuaga NavarroRibera del Duero
Xenysel, Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain, 2014
92
A powerful wine: peppery, smoky, focussed nose, plump palate, rich, succulent; really appealing and beautifully balanced. A rich and quite delicious red but needs some time to express itself fully.
2014
XenyselJumilla
