What Are Your Top 10 Wines of 2022?

[JoelD]

It's getting to be around that time of the year again and I always enjoy this exercise as it really helps me remember and relive some of the great experiences that I've had. They seem to be getting better and better every year as I meet more wine friends and have more great tastings and dinners.

Here's my tentative top 10 list that I'm sure I'll change a few times and maybe even add one from these last 10 days of the year.

My own personal rule of thumb for this list is wines that I actually got to try multiple tastes and track the bottle from opening. So I may have to leave out a couple of greats from BWE 2022 Saturday, but the ones that sat on my table are more fair game. Please make your list how you see fit, of course. But I am curious if you have any rules/caveats like mine that you can share.

No particular order, for now:

1983 VCC
2002 Palmer
1990 Pichon Baron
2010 Jadot Corton Charlemagne
2015 Ulysse Collin Enfers 60mo
1975 CVNE Vina Real Gran Riserva
1989 Pichon Lalande
1970 Mouton
1990 L'Evangile
2002 Haut Brion
1991 Ponsot Latricieres Chambertin

Honorable Mentions:
1982 Dunn Howell Mountain
1985 Lynch Bages
1985 Bichot Chambertin
1982 Guigal La Mouline
2008 Paul Bara Comtesse Marie
2012 Benjamin Leroux Corton Chalemagne
2007 Vilmart Coeur De Cuvee
2010 Vincent Girardin Puligny Garenne
2013 Au Pied du Mont Chauve Puligny Demoiselles
1997 Jadot Clos de Beze
2016 Vincent Dancer Meursault Perrieres
1989 Jadot Clos Vougeot
2002 Henri Gouges LSG
1955 Fontanafredda Barolo
1964 Fontanafredda Barolo
1985 Pichon Lalande
1979 Billecart Salmon CNF
1990 Bollinger Grande Annee
2008 Bouchard Chevalier Montrachet
1997 Ridge Monte Bello
1992 Philip Togni Cabernet
1979 Pichon Baron
1980 Climens
1988 Climens
2001 Suduiraut

[Musigny 151]

This thread promises to be interesting, although a challenge to those with faulty memories. Going with 12

VCC 1949 1953 and 1961, honorable mention 1985
Magdelaine 1985 honorable mention 1998

Lafleur 1998
La Tache 1972
Coche Enseigneurs 2009
Krug Clos de Mesnil 2002
Dujac Clos Saint Denis 1996
Suenen Robarts 2013
Cheval Blanc 1975
Bruno Thierry Cote Rotie 1969

[Blanquito]

Edited to reduce to 10…

Reds (no order):
1982 Canon
1982 l'Evangile
1982 Beychevelle
1970 Magdelaine
1996 Jadot Corton-Pougeots

White (no order):
2007 Taittinger Comtes
2012 Cristal
2014 Niellon Chassagne Vergers
2016 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Dürnsteiner Hollerin

Dessert:
1990 Pinon Cuvee Botrytis Vouvray

[Comte Flaneur]

In no particular order

Bruno Giacosa Barolo Collina Rionda Red Label 1990
Mascarello Monprivato Ca d’Morissio Riserva 2006
DRC Romanee St-Vivant 2001
Domaine Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet 1985
Chateau d’Yquem 1975
La Mission Haut Brion 1961
La Mission Haut Brion 1982
Leoville Lascases 1982
Mouton Rothschild 1982
Cheval Blanc 1979

Lots of honourable mentions including

Magdelaine 1985 and 1998
D’Issan 2001

[SF Ed]

Always tough for me and I always miss a few...

2009 Mugnier Les Fuees
2002 Jadot Bonnes Mares
2018 Labet La Beaumette (insane Chard from the Jura)
1983 Yquem
1945 Troplong Mondot
1990 Trotanoy
1999 Allemand Cornas Reynard
1996 Clos des Goisses
2002 Barthod Les Cras
1983 Pichon Lalande

No particular order here. Those are some very good wines, and I hope to drink even better with many of you in 2023!

SF Ed

[Blanquito]

You guys are drinking way better than me.

[SF Ed]

You guys are drinking way better than me.

Just have to have the right friends. Nearly all of those were drunk with friends/groups, and I think that's true for most of us.

Come by SF and we'll add some to your list for 2023.

SF Ed

[Blanquito]

You guys are drinking way better than me.

Just have to have the right friends. Nearly all of those were drunk with friends/groups, and I think that's true for most of us.

Come by SF and we'll add some to your list for 2023.

SF Ed

Yeah, me too (Dale brought the 82 l’Evangile, jckba brought the 70 Magdelaine), sharing is caring. 2021 was a hard act to follow hanging out in London and Bordeaux!

I will be in SF soon, but for one night only alas. The CO crew is flying in again for the UGC in late January (Friday) and then decamping to Napa (Saturday), and flying back Sunday. Probably impossible to squeeze in a dinner around such a tight schedule? The UGC is over at 7:30 however and in 2019 they kicked us out right on schedule.

[JimHow]

I can't remember what I drank last week, let alone earlier in 2022.
And as always when we do these year-end lists, I always have to separate my wine experiences from the Stuart/BWE gatherings.
Of all the Stuart events I've been to over the years, the Haut Brion event earlier this year in Ft. Lauderdale was right up there.
The 1989 Haut Brion that David brought was my wine of the night, and the 1961 Haut Brion, even though Stuart didn't think it was his best bottle ever, to me the Cuban cigar nose alone ranks it among my top wine experiences... ever. The 1961 Haut Brion was spectacular. But then again, so were just about every other wine served that night.
And the Joel-organized Washington DC BWE event... I mean, what can you say, when you have all five first growths poured in the five glasses before you, that's pretty crazy stuff, probably a first in my BWE career. That was a great night, not just because of the wines but because of the BWEers that I got to meet, old and new.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 1983 Gruaud Larose I bought in Ft. Lauderdale for its 1980s-Cordierness, as well as the '62 LLC, which may have been a little tired but was nonetheless still profound.
I absolutely LOVED the St. Innocent Freedom Hill Chardonnay that WilliamP recommended. Going to bring a bottle of the 2019 to our family Christmas gathering this weekend.
The 2016 Grand Puy Lacoste that I uncorked during a Zoom dinner with Jacques/Jill/Stefan/Lucie just kept opening up during the dinner such that I finally said, hey, this is some pretty good juice.... Culminating in the BWE William "Stefan" Johnson Wine of the Year award. A real "revelation," as Mr. Flaneur would say in his best Cockney accent. Can't wait to get back to London in '23. it'll be only my third visit there in my life but yet I feel so connected to it through education, literature, politics, culture, and everything else....
And the 2014 Leoville Barton from the other night.... Wow. That was electrifying in its understatedness, literally checking off like every box of what I look for in Bordeaux. It had been a little while since I had uncorked a 2014 and the greatness snuck up on me before I was reminded that, yes, this is a vintage too nuanced for the wine intelligentsia, maybe you need to hang out with us dummies more often, you might learn something.
I have been incredibly lucky to drink many, many great wines throughout the years that I would NEVER have a chance to taste -- the Krug 168 Winona and I had on the back deck in midsummer Maine was sublime....
In the end, as that great sage from Quebec province by the name of one Jean-Nicolas Maltais once famously said: "BWE is about the people, not the wine."
Oui. Oui.
Happy holidays and happy new year to BWEers around the globe! 2023 is going to be a great year.
BD

[jal]

Most from that February Fort Lauderdale dinner
2017 Jacques Carillon Puligny Les Referts
2010 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet
1989 Haut Brion
1990 Haut Brion
2000 La Mission
1990 Beausejour Becot
1990 Cos d'Estournel
1990 Lynch Bages
2003 Dom Perignon P2
1985 Haut Brion

[Racer Chris]

My top wines consumed in 2022. Quite a few California wines this year.

1982 Château Talbot 98
1983 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 95
1988 Château Mouton Rothschild 94
1985 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello 94
2000 Château Sociando-Mallet 94
1997 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill 94
2014 Château La Conseillante 94
2010 La Dame de Montrose 94
2017 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese 94
1978 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace 93
2015 Château Talbot 93
1978 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello 93
1983 Christoffel-Berres Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese *** Goldkapsel 93
2011 Château Calon-Ségur 93

[DavidG]

1989 Haut Brion
2000 Haut Brion
1990 Haut Brion
1985 Haut Brion
1990 Montrose
1990 Leoville Las Cases
1988 Krug
1988 Krug Clos du Mesnil
2001 Yquem
1988 Yquem

[Michael-P]

45 Pontet Clauzure
82 Trotanoy
82 Forts Latour
83 Yquem
85 LMHB
88 Lynch Bages
90 Trotanoy
00 Angelus
08 Abreu Howell Mountain
14 Cade Reserve Cabernet

[marcs]

It's getting to be around that time of the year again and I always enjoy this exercise as it really helps me remember and relive some of the great experiences that I've had. They seem to be getting better and better every year as I meet more wine friends and have more great tastings and dinners.

Here's my tentative top 10 list that I'm sure I'll change a few times and maybe even add one from these last 10 days of the year.

My own personal rule of thumb for this list is wines that I actually got to try multiple tastes and track the bottle from opening. So I may have to leave out a couple of greats from BWE 2022 Saturday, but the ones that sat on my table are more fair game. Please make your list how you see fit, of course. But I am curious if you have any rules/caveats like mine that you can share.

No particular order, for now:

1983 VCC
2002 Palmer
1990 Pichon Baron
2010 Jadot Corton Charlemagne
2015 Ulysse Collin Enfers 60mo
1975 CVNE Vina Real Gran Riserva
1989 Pichon Lalande
1970 Mouton
1990 L'Evangile
2002 Haut Brion

Honorable Mentions:
1982 Dunn Howell Mountain
1985 Lynch Bages
1985 Bichot Chambertin
1982 Guigal La Mouline
2008 Paul Bara Comtesse Marie
2012 Benjamin Leroux Corton Chalemagne
2007 Vilmart Coeur De Cuvee
2010 Vincent Girardin Puligny Garenne
2013 Au Pied du Mont Chauve Puligny Demoiselles
1997 Jadot Clos de Beze
2016 Vincent Dancer Meursault Perrieres
1989 Jadot Clos Vougeot
2002 Henri Gouges LSG
1955 Fontanafredda Barolo
1964 Fontanafredda Barolo
1985 Pichon Lalande
1979 Billecart Salmon CNF
1990 Bollinger Grande Annee
2008 Bouchard Chevalier Montrachet
1997 Ridge Monte Bello
1992 Philip Togni Cabernet
1979 Pichon Baron
1980 Climens
1988 Climens
2001 Suduiraut

Is the 1990 Bollinger Grande Annee a typo for the 1996 Bollinger Grande Annee I brought to that white wine evening, or did you drink the 1990 separately?

Happy that wines I brought are well represented on your honorable mention list LOL

[marcs]

I've given up on these lists. It's some combination of my memory decaying and drinking better and better wines each year. I can make a list but I find that wines I drank in the last quarter of the year are massively over-represented and it's not a coincidence. The truth is also that as I've honed in on my own tastes and also found a wine community in DC, I seem to drink sensational wines almost at will and it becomes very difficult to choose. Wines fresh in my memory are the ones that get recalled.

The BWE convention this year in DC did particularly stand out, I have to say. The lineup of first growths on Saturday night was like nothing I've experienced before, and there were several home run wines on Friday night as well.

The wines Ian shared with me in London were also particularly wonderful, but it had a lot to do with the setting and the company as well.

[Blanquito]

The wines Ian shared with me in London were also particularly wonderful, but it had a lot to do with the setting and the company as well.

Ditto, albeit it 2021 for me. Hopefully we can do it again together in March!

[barsacpinci]

The wines at the BWE convention were over the top. Unfortunately, I was too busy tasting that I didn't take notes. But I know several more of those wines would have this list if I did.

Top Ten Bordeaux
1988 Lafaurie Peyraguey
2000 Gruaud Larose
1995 Haut Bailly
1982 Talbot
1990 L’Evangile
1979 Cos d’Estournel
2002 Lafite
2005 La Lagune
1982 Trotanoy
1998 Petit Village

All the rest worth noting. I highlighted the ones worth special mention for me:
2009 Lopez de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Tondonia
2010 Yarra Yering Dry Red #1
2013 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard
2010 Uccelliera Brunello
2014 Patricia Green Block 1b Balcombe Vineyard
2015 Aubert Chardonnay CIX Vineyard
1982 Dunn Howell Mountain
2010 Larmandier VV du Levant Extra Brut
2017 Pattes Loup Butteaux Mise Tardive
1997 Dominus
2019 Eva Fricke Lorchhauser Seligmacher
1976 Hugel Gewurtz VT SGN Sélectionnée par Jean Hugel
2006 Glaetzer Amon Ra
2013 Kistler Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse
1979 Ponsot Latricieres Chambertin
1999 Vincent Girardin Bonnes Mares
2006 Zenato Amarone
1993 Zind Humbrecht Gewürzt Hengst
2010 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle
1998 Henschke Shiraz Mount Edelstone
2020 Emrich Halenberg GG
1996 Ornellaia

[JoelD]

Is the 1990 Bollinger Grande Annee a typo for the 1996 Bollinger Grande Annee I brought to that white wine evening, or did you drink the 1990 separately?

Happy that wines I brought are well represented on your honorable mention list LOL

Nope, had the 1990 separately. The interesting thing was that it needed 30-60 minutes in glass to give me the tastes that put it on the list. Your 1996 might have been on it's level if we'd had enough time to sit with it. It was gobbled up in 30 minutes if I remember.

I drank quite well this year. Lots of great tastings. Pics of each one helped jog my memory and I'm sure I still missed a few. I probably need to add more to my honorable mention list tbh. That 2014 PYCM was great too, but I didn't get to try a lot of it or track the bottle.

[Harry C.]

CellarTracker! makes this easier.
1-99 points-Peter Michael Point Rouge Chardonnay 2019
2-98 pts-1988 Ch Yquem
3-98 pts-2002 Screaming Eagle Cab
4-97 pts-1990 Ch Angelus
5-97 pts 1989 Dr. Fischer Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Eiswein
6-97 pts-2007 Shafer Hillside Select Cab
7-96 pts-tied- 1994 Stonestreet Legacy; 1996 Ch Montelena Cab The Montelena Estate; 2005 Clos Saint Jean Ch-9-P Deus ex Machina;2018 Aubert Chard Larry Hyde & Son; 2020 Peter Michael Chard Belle Cote; 2018 Ch Les Carmes Haut-Brion; 1985 Graham Port Vintage

[JoelD]

CellarTracker! makes this easier.
1-99 points-Peter Michael Point Rouge Chardonnay
2-98 pts-1988 Ch Yquem
3-98 pts-2002 Screaming Eagle Cab
4-97 pts-1990 Ch Angelus
5-97 pts 1989 Dr. Fischer Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Eiswein
6-97 pts-2007 Shafer Hillside Select Cab
7-96 pts-tied- 1994 Stonestreet Legacy; 1996 Ch Montelena Cab The Montelena Estate; 2005 Clos Saint Jean Ch-9-P Deus ex Machina;2018 Aubert Chard Larry Hyde & Son; 2020 Peter Michael Chard Belle Cote; 2018 Ch Les Carmes Haut-Brion; 1985 Graham Port Vintage

Good list. Love CT. Although thus far, I only score bottles that I open from my own cellar. How did you rate that lovely 1982 Dunn from the Friday dinner and the 1982 Trotanoy from Saturday. Both were some of my top wines of the weekend.

[Harry C.]

Dunn was 95 on my scale, Trotanoy 94

[hautbrionlover]

Not necessarily in order:

1990 Haut Brion
1986 Lafite
1990 Pichon Baron
1996 Cos d’Estournel
2000 Gruaud Larose
1997 Château Montelena Estate Cabernet
2006 Philippe Delesvaux Selection de Grains Nobles
2001 La Spinetta Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi
1990 Leoville Barton
2000 Brane Cantenac

[robert goulet]

1993 Dom P3
1996 Angelus
2000 Leoville Barton
2001 Latour
1966 Poulet Santenay (increds)
2002 Dom. Raymond Launay Latricieres Chambertin
1996 Leoville Barton
1997 Sociando
1994 La Mish
1993 D'issan

Some Honorable mentions
2004 Leoville Barton
1985 Magdelaine
2001 D'issan
1998 Gruaud Larose
1998 Palmer
2000 Dom P2
1989 Beychevelle
1996 Ducru
2013 3.14 Folliard Beaujolais
Some Eric Rodez champagne...can't remember which one
2015 Rougeard Saumur Champigny


Wines of the Year
1993 D'issan and 1966 Poulet Santenay

[robert goulet]

Edited to reduce to 10…

Reds (no order):
1982 Canon
1982 l'Evangile
1982 Beychevelle
1970 Magdelaine
1996 Jadot Corton-Pougeots

White (no order):
2007 Taittinger Comtes
2012 Cristal
2014 Niellon Chassagne Vergers
2016 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Dürnsteiner Hollerin

Dessert:
1990 Pinon Cuvee Botrytis Vouvray

Nice sir.....I recently snagged an '07 Tattinger Comtes!

[jckba]

Top 10 still wines from oldest to youngest:

1820 Lomelino Boal Solera
1956 Canon
1964 Castillo Ygay Rioja Gran Reserva Especial
1966 Pichon Lalande
1970 Mouton Rothschild
1982 L’Evangile
1982 Pichon Lalande
1983 Chateau de Fonsalette Côtes du Rhône Cuvee Syrah
1990 Pichon Baron
2001 Chave Hermitage

[jal]

Ooops, I forgot I also drank the 1983 Chateau de Fonsalette (unfortunately not with jean Christophe). I am amending my list:

1983 Chateau de Fonsalette
2010 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet
1989 Haut Brion
1990 Haut Brion
2000 La Mission
1990 Beausejour Becot
1990 Cos d'Estournel
1990 Lynch Bages
2003 Dom Perignon P2
1985 Haut Brion

[s*d*r]

Most memorable, not necessarily highest scores.

#10 - 1928 Palmer
Not the most delicious wine of the year but recognizably Palmer and fascinating complexity

#9 -1998 Bandol Domaine Tempier Cabassou
Coarse, wild and intriguing

#8 -1989 Tertre Rôteboeuf
Voluptuously aromatic, soft yet flavorful

#7 - Ulysse Collin Rosé de Saignée
Unique rosé, a massive cherry cocktail

#6 - 2014 Lafon Meursault Poruzots
You can’t go wrong with this great vintage for white Burgundy; this one is ready

#5 - 1990 Dom Pérignon P3
Both young and old; amazing

#4 - 1983 Margaux
Margaux perfume is glorious

#3 -1996 Krug Ambonnay
Gentle complexity, so elegant

#2 -1982 Mouton
A flamboyant example, just as you hope

#1 - 1961 Mouton
Black fruity and minty, dazzling

[JimHow]

Mmm doggy. When Mouton is on…. Wow.

[Nicklasss]

Nice listing, and everybody drink better than me here. Some pretty phenomenal wines in your listings, ladies and gentlemen. I'll try to setup my list today.

[s*d*r]

I mean, what can you say, when you have all five first growths poured in the five glasses before you, that's pretty crazy stuff, probably a first in my BWE career.

Actually, it was your second time.

Hint:

earlier . . . in Ft. Lauderdale

[JimHow]

Ah yes, of course. Happy holidays Dr. Roberts, see you in '23!

[Comte Flaneur]

I spent a lot in 2022 but it was a good year for drinking.

I listed all the wines I could remember that I scored 93 or more points, and the total came to ~175, so I narrowed that down to a top 150 that you can see here in my once a year updated blog. Apologies for the amateurish formatting.

http://comteflaneur.blogspot.com/

[JimHow]

A quick glance tells me La Mission/Haut Brion are well represented among the Bordeaux in your list Comte.

[Comte Flaneur]

Yes Jim the outstanding estate of the year. Our La Mission vertical dinner in October was a triumph compared to the disappointing by comparison Haut Brion dinner in March, where many of the wines were below par; and La Mission was also comfortably voted the top dog in our 1982 FG dinner.

[JoelD]

Great list, Ian. I look forward to yours every year. It must take a lot of brain power and work to come up with that in full. Glad to see so much Bordeaux represented as my list was starting to feel a little top heavy. But in fairness, that's also the wine I've drunk the most of with collector friends and tastings/dinners this year.

I might have a last minute addition to my top 10, just have to decide what to kick out. 1991 Ponsot Latricieres Chambertin. What a treat on NYE after a bunch of Champagne.

[Nicklasss]

Ok, checked it back. In no specific order:

2012 Cornas Auguste Clape
1986 Château Léoville Las Cases
1996 Château Latour
1976 Château la Lagune
2012 Chambolle-Musigny G. Roumier
2000 Château Montrose
2009 Château Pichon Longuevelle Baron
1991 Corton-Charlemagne Louis Latour
1995 Barolo Falletto Bruno Giacosa
2019 and 2020 Clos de la Roilette

4 of these courtesy of Comte Flaneur!
1 courtesy of JeanFred.

Other top wines:

2008 Château La Fleur-Petrus
2009 Château Suduiraut
1995 Château Léoville Barton
1999 Vieux Château Certan

[Blanquito]

Ok, reading this again, my new deserted island dinner would feature wives I’ve never had: the 82 LMHB, the 82 Latour, the 82 Mouton, and 83 Margaux.

[Nicklasss]

I spent a lot in 2022 but it was a good year for drinking.

I listed all the wines I could remember that I scored 93 or more points, and the total came to ~175, so I narrowed that down to a top 150 that you can see here in my once a year updated blog. Apologies for the amateurish formatting.

http://comteflaneur.blogspot.com/

Lot of different vintages of Jamet Côte Rôtie in that listing!

Great stuff that listing!

[JCNorthway]

my new deserted island dinner would feature wives I’ve never had

I like that idea!

[Antoine]

Best Bordeaux Rouge:
Pichon Lalande 1955
Chateau Lafite 1997
Best Rhone white
Chateau Grillet 2010
Best Rhone red
Chave Hermitage 2004
Best German
Egon Muller mature Scharzhofberger of some kind (don't remember the one brought by somebody else
Best Burgundies
Grands Echezeaux 2010 Mongeard Mugneret
Bonnes Mares Dujac 1990
Amoureuses Drouhin 2006
Echezeaux 2002 Rouget
Mugneret Gibourg Clos de Vougeot 2007
... and I am sure I forget plenty...