James Suckling released his Top 100 Wines of 2017 and we have the best!
James Suckling is internationally regarded as one of the most influential wine critics. After 36 years of experience, James Suckling describes 2017 as “one of the most exciting” years to date. He tasted so many amazing wines in about every major winegrowing region. James Suckling defines his Top 100 Wines of 2017 as “the most comprehensive list ever”. His team and himself travelled all around the world to talk to winemakers, walk the vineyards and experience the atmosphere of the region of production. All the wines were picked by score, availability and combination of excitement and price. After tasting about 16,000 wines, Suckling and his team of tasters picked the 100 best. Dhall & Nash exclusively represent eight of these stunning brands!
N°1
2015 Baron Philippe de Rothschild And Concha Y Toro Almaviva
“This is a wine that epitomizes greatness with its intensity, structure and balance. It underlines the movement away from overdone, jammy wines to a neoclassicism with energy and finesse” – James Suckling (100 points)
N°2
2014 Petrolo Galatrona
“Deep cherry red. Intense dark fruit overwhelms the oak. Dark and savoury. More oak sweetness and spice on the palate, firm but rounded tannnins. Elegant in an oaked style and long. Concentrated but not at all heavy.” – Jancis Robinson (17+ points)
N°10
2016 Château Ducru Beaucaillou
“Offers a scintillating display of roasted apple wood, incense and warm ganache before the core of cassis, plum preserves and raspberry reduction starts to step forward. The finish, loaded with grip but remarkably polished, pulls everything together. A huge, undeniable wine, overt in style.” – Wine Spectator (97-100 points)
N°11
2004 Vega Sicilia Unico
“Dark purplish crimson. Actually this smells more obviously ripe and opulent than the 2005, perhaps because of its seductive and already complex undertow. Beautiful completeness. So beautifully balanced that it is already alluring, even if it refines and dries a bit on the finish. Really stunning – explosive! Mineral finish.” – Jancis Robinson (19.5 points)
N°32
2012 Château Mouton-Rothschild
“This is a beautifully opulent wine, great Mouton in its richness and succulent fruits. It’s combines structure and obvious new-wood aging with hugely ripe black plum and currant flavors. While it is a pleasure to taste now, there is a great tannic structure in the background to give the sense of power and aging potential.” – Wine Enthusiast (97 points)
N°41
2013 Hyde de Villaine Chardonnay
“A fresh and clean wine with lovely linear structure that gives the wine energy and power. Medium body, lovely cream and flan and hints of stone. Love the subtlety and length.” – James Suckling (94 points)
N°53
2012 Clarendon Hills Astralis
“Medium to deep garnet/purple, the 2012 Astralis (Shiraz) starts off with complex, meaty and earthy aromas wafting around a core of blackberry preserves, preserved plums, and mulberries with hints of licorice, Chinese five spice and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the multi-layered flavors have very spicy accents and are framed by ripe, grainy tannins. It has a very long and elegant finish with hints of exotic spices.”- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (98 points)
N°66
2005 Château Pontet Canet
“Possibly the youngest wine of all the 2005 Médocs in terms of its evolution, at age 10 the inky purple 2005 Pontet-Canet tastes more like a two-year-old wine. Loads of pure blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit are present along with a hint of licorice and background oak. It is full-bodied, ripe, and excruciatingly fresh, vigorous and exuberant. This is a tour de force, and a sensational effort that rivals the first growths.” – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (97 points)
