James Suckling - Wine Ratings

The JamesSuckling.com Top 100 Wines of the Year was just posted, and there are some great wines to enjoy! We rated almost 39,000 wines at JamesSuckling.com over the last 12 months, and we chose 100 of the best wines based on top ratings, price, and what we call the “oh, wow” factor. Check out the story on JamesSuckling.com or via the link in the profile. #top100wines #jamessuckling #topwine #winetasting #winelovers #winecritic #greatwine #winelover #winetasting #wineblogger #sommelier #wineshop #winecellar #vino #winecritic #winery #winetime

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Vieux Chateau Certan's ownership by the Thienpont family, a recent vertical tasting in the Flemish village of Etikhove, Belgium highlighted the property's rich history. From its acquisition in 1923 by Josephine Billiet and Georges Thienpont to the present day, the family's dedication has produced exceptional Pomerol wines, with memorable vintages from the 1940s showcasing VCC's unique blend of merlot, cabernet franc, and cabernet sauvignon. Today, led by descendants Jacques and Alexandre, the family continues to uphold the legacy, ensuring VCC's reputation for quality and excellence endures through the generations. The second photo shows the Thienpont family, with Jacques Thienpont and his wife, Fiona Morrison, at front. Read the details of the tasting at the link in the bio. @vieuxchateaucertan @thienpontwine @fionamcleodmorrison #bordeux #wine #winehistory

It was really an energized face-to-face tasting today at my house with Bibi Gratez of @bibigraetz discussing the reality of his vines and wines. There’s a continued focus on true character and drinkability in his wines. Bravo.

The highlight of the Italian wines tasted in the Hong Kong office last week was Podere Poggio Scalette’s Il Cabonaione 2021 (left). It has concentrated notes of cedar, blueberries, and potpourri, with a firmness that will allow it to age nicely. Check the score for this wine in the Weekly Tasting Report at the link in the bio. #poderepoggioscalette #italianwine #sangiovese #wine #winetasting #wineratings #tastingreport

Here is an English sparkling winery that caught the attention of Associate Editor Claire Nesbitt yesterday. Sugrue South Downs draws inspiration from Champagne's Cote des Blancs and produces chardonnay-based sparkling wines that are precise, sharp, and refined. The wines are aged for at least 4-5 years on lees and under cork before release to balance their very high natural acidity, rather than by adding high dosage (sugar). Some of the wines tasted and discussed over Zoom were The Trouble with Dreams, Boz Blanc de Blancs, and Zodo Brut Zero NV. Stay tuned for our upcoming Weekly Tasting Report featuring these wines. #sparklingwine #englishwine #englishsparkling @sugruesouthdowns

¿Gracia, no? ¡Gracia, sí! Senior Editor Zekun Shuai tasted the Amaren Graciano 60 2019 at our Hong Kong office last Friday and found it outstanding. The wine was full of peppercorn and juniper spices with bright acidity, rich black fruit, and silky tannins. Contrary to what the name of the grape variety, graciano, suggests, it was a gracious wine. Zekun liked it so much that he brought it to dinner and paired it with some classic Hong Kong dishes like char siu pork. Stay tuned for our upcoming Weekly Tasting Report to find out the score for this wine. #graciano #spain #spanishwine @bodegasamaren

Summer black #truffles tonight? What wine i miei amici? #italy

#Aperitivo by the pool with one of Tuscany’s best white wines and owner/winemaker Luca Sanjust @petrolowinery . #italy

Two more of the fantastic wines Executive Editor Jim Gordon tasted with the Primum Familiae Vini members. Chatting with Priscilla Incisa Della Rocchetta of super Tuscan star Sassicaia and Pablo Alvarez of Spain’s iconic Vega Sicilia. #supertuscan #spanishwine #riberadelduerowine #bolgheriwine

Excellent tasting today with Marco Bacci of @castellodibossi in Chinati Classico with all his wines from all over Italy from Tuscany to Etna to Sardegna including a terrific new Bordeaux blend called DIMARCO. #winetasting #chianticlassico #italy #wine

WINE CRUSH: Senior Editor Zekun Shuai launches today our new weekly video series called “Wine Crush” where one of the tasters including James describes a recent wine they enjoyed tasting and why. Zekun starts it off with the Carmen Semillon Apalta Florillón #5 NV, which is an old vine semillon aged on flor to create a fino like character. Hope you enjoy it! #jswinecrush #wine #winetasting @vinacarmencl #flor #semillon #oldvine

We’re halfway there! Republishing our Top 100 Wines of 2023: Today we present to you No. 50 through No. 46. No. 50: Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 2019 (99 points) No. 49: Yjar Rioja 2019 (99 points) No. 48: St. Andrea Egri Bikavér Grand Superior Nagy-Edged-Hegy Agapé 2018 (98 points) No. 47: Kumeu River Chardonnay Kumeu Mate’s Vineyard 2022 (98 points) No. 46: Bibi Graetz Toscana Testamatta 2021 (98 points) Read the full list of Top 100 Wines of the World 2023 for free on JamesSuckling.com (first published on Nov. 12, 2023). This series is posted every Tuesday and Thursday. Go to #jamessuckling2023top100 to see all the posts in this series. @roberto_voerzio_winery @telmovinos @standreawinery @kumeu_river @bibigraetz #top100wines #jamessuckling #topwine #winetas #top100wines #jamessuckling #topwine #winetasting