Thanks, John. A Labour of love, I'm sure, but I have never really seen the value of such lists, especially as the wines are tasted years before their drinking windows. I am not sure of Dunnock's criteria for awarding his scores: do they include value for money, for example? Having had my moan, there were some in your video that caught my eye. The 2019s and 2021s in Tuscany, for example. Thanks partly to your recommendations I have rather loaded up on Chianti Classico, CC Riserva, Gran Selezione (Fontodi, Volpaia, Riecine and Barone di Ricasoli) and Brunello di Montalcino (Il Poggione, 2019). I am pleased Val di Suga got a mention: the 2015 I drank last year (the first from half a case) was one of my wines of the year. I love Cote Rotie and I'm currently part way through a mixed case of the 2013s. Fabulous! I also have some 2015s put by but not from those top Guigal vineyards. Ridge Montebello remains on my bucket list. Thanks for all your hard work.
Thank you, Steven. It is my understanding that JD's scores are just based on the wine itself irrespective of price, but that wines with reasonable prices for the score may be more likely to appear on this list. Many of the 100-pointers on this list are expensive. Definitely sounds like you are well stocked with Italians! I really liked the Ridge Estate Cab choice. From the same vineyard as the Ridge MB but 1/3 of the price in a strong vintage. Definitely think you will enjoy the MB as well when you get a chance to try it! Cote Rotie can be such a special wine! I should drink it more often than I do. You are right that many of these wines are not ready to enjoy yet. For that reason, I do not go out and buy these wines and taste them live during the video like some of my competitors. That seems like a waste of time and money to me, although someone just told me that my approach was not as useful in a comment to the WS Top 10 video. I think many enjoy these lists as a starting point for shopping. A number of people also enjoy the bragging rights from having some of these wines in their cellar. Perhaps it makes the experience of drinking the wine later seem more special. For me, I find the lists to be useful in terms of identifying trends (e.g., Suckling's list revealed strength in Germany for 2023, etc.). Hope you enjoy your weekend!
@AttorneySomm Thanks for your considered reply, John. My approach over the years has been to find wine merchants whose tastes most closely resemble mine and whose judgement I trust, and simply buy from them. Provided, of course, they offer good value. Now that my en primeur buying days are largely finished, apart from some dry whites (Bordeaux, 2022 was my last red buying venture) I buy the occasional ready to drink fine wine. As you know, I buy almost exclusively from The Wine Society these days, especially as their Museum Release offers focus on ready to drink fine wines from their extensive back catalogue. These lists are, therefore, of no real use to me. Your point about bragging rights made me smile: I am not sure that many of my friends would be impressed. Having said all that, these lists must be of use to sufficient folk to make it worth their while - I can't imagine that it is a cheap exercise. Once source I do use to check on prices and reviews etc is Wine Searcher. I find David's videos there quite useful as well.
@ That is certainly an excellent approach and one that still works well for those who have a quality merchant nearby. Yes I suspect that is right re your friends. 😁 I’m not sure why the lists are so popular, but I do appreciate that these videos are generally well received and distributed more broadly than a lot of my content, which helps the channel grow. I also try to add educational value in the discussions and discuss wines I would or have recommended on the channel when I review the lists. I agree that Wine Searcher does an excellent job! Hope you enjoy your weekend! I’m off to Bordeaux, so lots of Bordeaux content will be coming in 2025.
@@AttorneySomm I look forward to that. I bought half a case each of Pomerol and St Emilion, 2022. Those two appellations tend to be approachable sooner than, say, the Medoc. No point in investing in a St Estephe needing 20 years to mature at my age. Enjoy Bordeaux.
Jeb has named me a favorite taster on CellarTracker of which he used to be a big contributor before turning pro under Robert Parker, and then subsequently going out on his own as a reviewer. He tends to prefer more bold, tannic wines versus finnese labels. He's a pretty good scorer but tends to calibrate about 2 or 3 points higher than my scores on the same wines. Good guy.
Finally got to watch this outstanding video! Impressive how quickly you reacted to Jeb Dunnuck’s Top 100 Wines of 2024! Your breakdown is not only timely but also very insightful. I especially appreciate how you highlighted some familiar/favorite wines and producers alongside cellar defenders and collectible gems - such a thoughtful approach that suits every level of wine enthusiast. Very pleased to know that CdP, BdM, Barolo, and the Northern Rhone are well-represented on this list by JD. And thrilled to see some of my favorites like Beaucastel, Delas, Pegau, and Ogier and Guigal Cote-Rotie as well. Looking forward to next year’s list with the hope that Bordeaux will lord over it!😁 Cheers and happy weekend, John!
Shiraz/Syrah certainly represented in this list, however I wish they covered Australia. It would be fascinating to see direct comparisons between the Northern Rhone, California and Southern Australia for this grape.
@@hazardo4378 Thank you. Agreed! I’ll note that at Tyrrell’s in October, I tasted a Shiraz from very old vines that reminded me a lot of a Cote Rotie! It was really good! It was the 2021 Vat 9.
Just bought the Val di Suga Poggio al Granchio Brunello di Montalcino 2019. Only 1 left at the LCBO here in Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 but now what do I do ? Enjoy now or wait :-( Love your channel!
picked up the wine today and unlike advertised it’s not 2019 but 2018 … should I be disappointed? I still went ahead with the purchase since it was the last of its kind. Thank you for your input. Investment 100.00 CAD
Absolutely! Fontodi’s Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione or Flaccianello (not labeled CC) would be excellent, especially 2010. Castello di Ama San Lorenzo is also outstanding. Castello di Monsanto Il Poggio is another good choice.
@ Any time! I did a separate video on Fontodi that may be useful and here is a deep dive into Chianti Classico that discusses a few of my favorite producers. Tasting Tuscany: CHIANTI CLASSICO Wine Region & 3 Top Wineries ua-cam.com/video/-r7982rPVdw/v-deo.html
Thanks, John. A Labour of love, I'm sure, but I have never really seen the value of such lists, especially as the wines are tasted years before their drinking windows.
I am not sure of Dunnock's criteria for awarding his scores: do they include value for money, for example?
Having had my moan, there were some in your video that caught my eye. The 2019s and 2021s in Tuscany, for example. Thanks partly to your recommendations I have rather loaded up on Chianti Classico, CC Riserva, Gran Selezione (Fontodi, Volpaia, Riecine and Barone di Ricasoli) and Brunello di Montalcino (Il Poggione, 2019). I am pleased Val di Suga got a mention: the 2015 I drank last year (the first from half a case) was one of my wines of the year.
I love Cote Rotie and I'm currently part way through a mixed case of the 2013s. Fabulous! I also have some 2015s put by but not from those top Guigal vineyards.
Ridge Montebello remains on my bucket list.
Thanks for all your hard work.
Thank you, Steven. It is my understanding that JD's scores are just based on the wine itself irrespective of price, but that wines with reasonable prices for the score may be more likely to appear on this list. Many of the 100-pointers on this list are expensive.
Definitely sounds like you are well stocked with Italians!
I really liked the Ridge Estate Cab choice. From the same vineyard as the Ridge MB but 1/3 of the price in a strong vintage. Definitely think you will enjoy the MB as well when you get a chance to try it!
Cote Rotie can be such a special wine! I should drink it more often than I do.
You are right that many of these wines are not ready to enjoy yet. For that reason, I do not go out and buy these wines and taste them live during the video like some of my competitors. That seems like a waste of time and money to me, although someone just told me that my approach was not as useful in a comment to the WS Top 10 video.
I think many enjoy these lists as a starting point for shopping. A number of people also enjoy the bragging rights from having some of these wines in their cellar. Perhaps it makes the experience of drinking the wine later seem more special.
For me, I find the lists to be useful in terms of identifying trends (e.g., Suckling's list revealed strength in Germany for 2023, etc.).
Hope you enjoy your weekend!
@AttorneySomm Thanks for your considered reply, John. My approach over the years has been to find wine merchants whose tastes most closely resemble mine and whose judgement I trust, and simply buy from them. Provided, of course, they offer good value. Now that my en primeur buying days are largely finished, apart from some dry whites (Bordeaux, 2022 was my last red buying venture) I buy the occasional ready to drink fine wine. As you know, I buy almost exclusively from The Wine Society these days, especially as their Museum Release offers focus on ready to drink fine wines from their extensive back catalogue. These lists are, therefore, of no real use to me.
Your point about bragging rights made me smile: I am not sure that many of my friends would be impressed.
Having said all that, these lists must be of use to sufficient folk to make it worth their while - I can't imagine that it is a cheap exercise.
Once source I do use to check on prices and reviews etc is Wine Searcher. I find David's videos there quite useful as well.
@ That is certainly an excellent approach and one that still works well for those who have a quality merchant nearby.
Yes I suspect that is right re your friends. 😁
I’m not sure why the lists are so popular, but I do appreciate that these videos are generally well received and distributed more broadly than a lot of my content, which helps the channel grow. I also try to add educational value in the discussions and discuss wines I would or have recommended on the channel when I review the lists.
I agree that Wine Searcher does an excellent job! Hope you enjoy your weekend! I’m off to Bordeaux, so lots of Bordeaux content will be coming in 2025.
@@AttorneySomm I look forward to that. I bought half a case each of Pomerol and St Emilion, 2022. Those two appellations tend to be approachable sooner than, say, the Medoc. No point in investing in a St Estephe needing 20 years to mature at my age.
Enjoy Bordeaux.
@ Thank you! Very much appreciated!
Jeb has named me a favorite taster on CellarTracker of which he used to be a big contributor before turning pro under Robert Parker, and then subsequently going out on his own as a reviewer. He tends to prefer more bold, tannic wines versus finnese labels. He's a pretty good scorer but tends to calibrate about 2 or 3 points higher than my scores on the same wines. Good guy.
Thank you! Appreciate the comment. I definitely appreciate his areas of focus too. Many critics largely ignore Rhône and Syrah generally.
@@AttorneySomm yeah Jeb's old publication was called The Rhone Ranger if I'm not mistaken.
Great video as always! 😁 Have you ever tasted the Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello Di Montalcino? It is eighth on the list.
@@tamasmolnar9584 Thank you! Don’t recall trying that one and it’s not in my photo library.
@@AttorneySomm Thanks for the answer!
@ Any time!
Finally got to watch this outstanding video! Impressive how quickly you reacted to Jeb Dunnuck’s Top 100 Wines of 2024! Your breakdown is not only timely but also very insightful. I especially appreciate how you highlighted some familiar/favorite wines and producers alongside cellar defenders and collectible gems - such a thoughtful approach that suits every level of wine enthusiast. Very pleased to know that CdP, BdM, Barolo, and the Northern Rhone are well-represented on this list by JD. And thrilled to see some of my favorites like Beaucastel, Delas, Pegau, and Ogier and Guigal Cote-Rotie as well. Looking forward to next year’s list with the hope that Bordeaux will lord over it!😁 Cheers and happy weekend, John!
Thanks very much, Margaux! Truly appreciate the support and kind words! Definitely a scramble to get this one out timely. Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers!
@@AttorneySommYou’re welcome!
I always value your recommendations on drinking windows. This can be a big buying factor, and it can be intimidating.
Thank you! Yes, that was definitely something that took me a while to figure out. Very glad it is helpful!
Shiraz/Syrah certainly represented in this list, however I wish they covered Australia. It would be fascinating to see direct comparisons between the Northern Rhone, California and Southern Australia for this grape.
@@hazardo4378 Thank you. Agreed! I’ll note that at Tyrrell’s in October, I tasted a Shiraz from very old vines that reminded me a lot of a Cote Rotie! It was really good! It was the 2021 Vat 9.
Just bought the Val di Suga Poggio al Granchio Brunello di Montalcino 2019. Only 1 left at the LCBO here in Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 but now what do I do ? Enjoy now or wait :-(
Love your channel!
@@lornapires674 Thanks very much! Glad you were able to grab the last one! I would give it at least a year or two if you can. It will get better!
picked up the wine today and unlike advertised it’s not 2019 but 2018 … should I be disappointed? I still went ahead with the purchase since it was the last of its kind. Thank you for your input. Investment 100.00 CAD
@ It should still be very enjoyable! And you won’t need to wait as long. 2018 is a vintage that you can enjoy earlier.
Thank you 🙏
I really want to try a slightly aged 10 or more years Chianti. Can you please give me a few names
Absolutely! Fontodi’s Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione or Flaccianello (not labeled CC) would be excellent, especially 2010. Castello di Ama San Lorenzo is also outstanding. Castello di Monsanto Il Poggio is another good choice.
@ thank you.
@ Any time! I did a separate video on Fontodi that may be useful and here is a deep dive into Chianti Classico that discusses a few of my favorite producers.
Tasting Tuscany: CHIANTI CLASSICO Wine Region & 3 Top Wineries
ua-cam.com/video/-r7982rPVdw/v-deo.html
Have to say the JD list more exciting than WS, in my humble opinion.
@@Thesilverthunder777 I agree with you! Thank you.
Bordeaux wines are still the BEST🇨🇵
@@willyegli9290 Thanks! The reds had a difficult 21 vintage but will be back with a vengeance next year when the 22s are reviewed!