Tell us about the wines you enjoyed in 2018!

[Robin Garr]

(An excerpt from this week's 30 Second Wine Advisor)

Tell us about the wines you enjoyed in 2018!

Happy New Year! As we approach the end of another swing around the Sun, it’s a time when wine enthusiasts enjoy looking back over the wines we’ve enjoyed in the past 12 months.

I’ve assembled a list of ten good, reasonably priced wines that I’ve especially enjoyed, and you’re invited to join the conversation in our WineLovers Discussion Group forum or WineLovers Facebook Page by sounding off about the wines that have caught your attention in 2018.

By sharing these wines that touched our hearts and palates, you’ll offer the rest of us the opportunity to rush out and look for the bottles that rang your chimes, and that’s a fine way to wrap up the year.

Here’s my list, arranged in chronological order, most recent first. They range from the lower teens to middle twenties, because that's the range in which I usually drink. Somewhat to my surprise, they are all from Europe: Five from France, two from Italy, two from Spain and one from Portugal. On the other hand, there’s a good mix of colors: Four are red, three are white, two are fortified, and one is rosé.

These aren’t necessarily the most expensive wines I opened all year, or even the highest rated on points. Rather, they are wines that brought me simple enjoyment, paired well with food, and, at the end of the first glass, put a smile on my face. I hope you found some wines that met these criteria, too, and I hope you’ll take a moment to join in the New Year’s fun by telling us about them.

E. Guigal 2016 Côtes du Rhône Blanc ($14.99)
Domaine Laroche 2016 Chablis “Saint Martin” ($21.99)
Ruffino 2015 “Aziano” Chianti Classico ($16.99)
Château de Poncie 2015 “Le Prê Roi” Fleurie ($20.99)
Julien Braud 2016 “Les Vignes du Bourg” Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie ($13.99)
Croft Reserve Tawny Porto ($11.99)
Delaille 2017 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Rosé ($17.99)
Marchese di Barolo 2014 “Maraia” Barbera del Monferrato ($13.99)
Torres 2013 “Altos Ibéricos” Rioja Crianza ($14.99)
Broadbent Reserve Madeira 5 Years Old ($24.99)

For me, 2018 was The Year of Red Blends...

I discovered so many previously untried wines that were soft, smooth, and complex, as well as some old favorites. Here's a short list:
Apothic Brew - Lush Coffee Flavor!
Apothic Inferno - Red blend finished in Bourbon Barrels
Cooper & Thief Red Blend - So smooth, and deep flavor
Judge & Jury Sonoma Red
Orin Swift The Prisoner
Caymus Conundrum Red -- a long-time favorite
Gentleman's Collection Red Blend No 2
Apothic Dark Red Blend
Black Ink Red
Orin Swift The Pessimist Red
Cain Concept The Benchland
Blackstone Delectable Red
Menage a Trois Midnight
Smooth Operator
Troublemaker Red Blend
Cupcake Black Forest Decadent Red
Cline Cashmere Exquisite Red Blend
Chat Ste Michelle Indian Wells Red Blend
The Dreaming Tree Crush
Beringer Bros Bourbon Barrel Aged Red Blend
Cupcake Red Velvet
Peirano Estate The Other

I found ALL of these to be delicious, soft & smooth -- easy drinking with just about any meal.

I hope to resurrect my Twitter Tasting Feed in 2019, and I will post my full Tasting Notes for these and MANY other wines:
https://twitter.com/HDL

[David M. Bueker]

I could make a list that’s a mile long, but instead I will list the one wine that completely stopped my in my tracks in 2018:

1998 Nigl Riesling Privat

CT reminds me that my top three wines in 2018 were-

Château Léoville-Poyferré 1982 - TN in my festive wines post. I would loved to share this with TomHill who has gone off Bordeaux!

Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard 1996

Marc Parcé - Rivesaltes 1982 élevé 35 ans en barriques - little known but absolutely delicious in a tawny style.

Some Barolo, Bandol Tempier and Fèlsina Rancia and Fontalloro came close to those.

I opted for a mile long list.
Champagnes:

Anything and everything from Larmandier-Bernier.
Pierre Peters Esprit 2012 and Chetillons 2008.
Michel Arnould et Fils, Verzenay Grand Cru, Mémoire de Vignes, 2011
Fourny et Fils, Vertus Premier Cru, Rose Vinotheque, Extra Brut, n.v. (2012 based)
Jacquesson, Grand Cru Avize, Champ Cain, 2005
Bruno Paillard, Blanc de Blancs ,2006
Gaston Chiquet, Millésime Or, Premier Cru, Brut, 2007

Whites:

Moreira, Olazabal e Borges, Dão, M.O.B., 2014
Bonneau du Martray, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, 2004
Benoit Ente, Aligote, 2015
Willi Schaefer, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Graacher Domprobst, Riesling, Auslese #14, 2006/2016
R. López de Heredia, Rioja Crianza, Blanco Viña Gravonia, 2007
Domaine l'Henri, Chablis Premier Cru, Fourchaume Heritage, 2014

Reds:

Domaine Robert Arnoux, Bourgogne Fin, 2014
Dujac, Echezeaux Grand Cru, 2011
Chateau Latour, Pauillac Premier Cru, 1966
Tzora, Shoresh, 2014
Wind Gap Wines, Sonoma Coast, Syrah Armagh Vineyard, 2008
Lynch-Bages 1982/1986/1990
Domaine Pierre Duroché, Gevrey-Chambertin, Le Clos, 2015
Château Malescot St. Exupéry, 2000
Pierre Gonon, Saint Joseph, 2014
Levet, Côte Rotie, La Chavaroche, 2011

Bouchard Pere et Fils 1996 La Romanee. Power and grace.

-Paul W.

without searching, some great wines in '18 including
82 Poyferre and Beychevelle, '90 Conseillante, '98 Haut Brion and LMHB, '83 Chave, '00 Verset, '93 Trimbach CSH,
'01 R. Haart Goldtropfchen Spatlese , Willi S Domprobst Spat, 98 JJ Prum Sonnenuhr Spat, 96 Grunhauser Abtsberg Spat
'93 Grunhauser Herrenberg Spat, 93 Arnoux-Lachaux Clos des Corvees NSG

But besides those I've thoroughly enjoyed more affordable wines from Edmunds St John, Pepiere, Collestefano, Coudert, et al

I am usually horrible at these year-end recaps, but one wine that stood out for me in 2018 was the 1978 Parent Corton. I drink so little Burgundy with this much age and it was absolutely delightful. Would love to drink more!

A long list coming up
These are not necessarily the best wines, but the most memorable. I'm sure I've missed some, particularly from earlier in the year, but here goes. This fall, I've been exploring some of the best Ontario Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, so there's a lot of them in the list.

Sparkling:
NV Pierre Sparr Crémant d'Alsace Brut Rosé - not profound, but very enjoyable, and a steal at the price
NV Krug Grand Cuvée

Whites:
'08 Ridge Chardonnay Montebello
'09 Chanson Corton Vergennes Grand Cru
'09 Clos Jordanne Chardonnay "Le Grand Clos" (Ontario)
'12 Bachelder Chardonnay - Wismer Vineyard (Ontario)
'13 Bachelder Chardonnay - Wismer-Wingfield Vineyard (Ontario)
'15 Bachelder Chardonnay - Wismer-Wingfield Vineyard (Ontario)
'16 Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay "The Rusty Shed" (Ontario)
'16 Westcott Chardonnay Reserve - possibly the best Ontario Chardonnay I've tasted

Reds:
'47 Moillard Vosne-Romanée
'48 Moillard Pommard 1er Cru "Les Bucherots"
'89 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Villero
'90 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Villero
'90 Chave Hermitage
'93 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto
'98 Antonin Guyot Corton Clos du Roy
'98 Ridge Geyserville
'09 Clos Jordanne Pinot Noir "Le Grand Clos" (Ontario)
'09 Coyote's Run Rare Vintage Pinot Noir (Ontario)
'13 Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir "La Grande Réserve"
'14 Coyote's Run Rare Vintage Pinot Noir (Ontario)
'15 Bachelder Pinot Noir - Lowrey Vineyard Old Vines (Ontario)
'15 Bachelder Pinot Noir - Wismer-Parke Vineyard (Ontario)
'15 Hidden Bench Pinot Noir Rosomel Vineyard (Ontario)
'15 Leaning Post Pinot Noir - Lowrey Vineyard (Ontario)
'18 Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir - Neudorf Vineyard (Ontario) - from tank, 3 weeks old
'18 Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir - Queylus Vineyard (Ontario) - from tank, 3 weeks old

Sweet:
'20 Barbeito Madeira Malvasia Reserva Velha
'48 Barbeito Madeira Malvasia
'66 Taylor Vintage Port
'70 Taylor Vintage Port, from magnum
'77 Dow Vintage Port
'77 Warre Vintage Port
'90 Champalou Vouvray Cuvée C
'97 Château Soucherie Côteaux du Layon “Vieille Vignes”
'99 Château Pierre-Bise Quarts de Chaume
'05 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Clos Saint Urbain
'08 Rolly Gassman Oberer Weingarten Gewztraminer Vendange Tardif

Top 3 reds and whites in no particular order:

1. Faustino I Gran Reserva 1964
2. Chateau Margaux 1959
3. Chateau Haut Brion 1985

Runner up: Lamblin Moulin-a-Vent 1976

Whites:

1. Etienne Sauzet Montrachet Grand Cru 2007
2. Radikon - can't recall the vintage
3. Tokaji Oremus 6 Puttonyos 1972

My top three wines of the year, 5 stars:
P. Licht Bergweiler Erben, Riesling Spatlese, Brauneberger Mandelgraben, Mosel 2001
Toro Albala, Don PX Gran Reserva 1982
Beaucastel, Chateauneuf du Pape 2014

4.5 Star Honorable Mentions:
Taylor-Fladgate, Vintage Port 2007
Sigalas Rabaud, Sauternes 2010
Dom Perignon 1988
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Gewurztraminer, Oak Oval, Yakima Valley 2016

[Jenise]

I don't keep lists. I did briefly check CT to see how many wines I posted TNs on last year to see if it was viable to page through them to address this question, and it's about 1200. Too many; end inquiry.

Of course more recent wines stand out more. But what does tend to stand out as I look back over a year is wines that surprised. I can easily forget a fantastic wine like a 1982 Bordeaux that was as splendiferous as you'd expect it to be, but remember instead the 2013 Jonata Todos that unexpectedly blew me away and reappeared in my thoughts many times over several months until I finally went on the hunt and located a case to own for the future.

Some others that were the swoonworthy:

2010 Reynvaan 'In The Rocks' Syrah
2010 Coche-Dury Aligote
2003 Philiponnat Les Goisses
2012 Salmon Rose Saignee (100% pinot meuniere)
____ ('12, I think but not sure) Erewhon pinot noir, New Zealand
2004 Mommesin Clos de Tart
1991 Lopez Heredia Vina Tondonia Bianco Gran Riserva