The much awaited reaction to James Suckling’s list! Thank you for making this video despite your busy schedule. Greatly appreciate your astute observations and insightful takeaways on his list of Top 100 wines. I wish we could see the list with complete rankings but, while that list is (still) being kept from being viewed by everyone (sorry to say but this is kind of annoying), we have this video to guide us and you to rely on. I’m so thrilled to learn from this video that his list features a lot of Bordeaux wines and several familiar and well-loved wines and producers including Domaine de Chevalier which I immensely enjoyed in a recent degustation of excellent vintages. Glad to know that Brunello wines are also on the list. Recently read in an article that El Enemigo (Cab Franc maybe) and Damilano Barolo are both among his top ranked wines, both I’ve enjoyed in the past. But the Rhone Valley wines not getting a lot of much-deserved attention on that list, I think, is a crime.😂 I’m sorry to say but that is a major oversight! Thank you, once again, for this outstanding video. I might have more reactions and comments later this week.😁 Santé, John!
Thanks very much, Margaux! Yes, it would be nice if there was more information about the list publicly-available. But I understand he needs to pay his light bill too. 🤣 I definitely think he should spend more time on Rhone wines. Glad you enjoy the Domaine de Chevalier as well! Hope you enjoy your evening. Cheers!
@margaux--The El Enemigo Chardonnay is the least expensive "White Burgundy" available for around $20. It is over-scored(95-97 Points), but consistently around 93 points for me. It needs about 5-6 years to show its best. The 2017 is excellent now(2015 & 17 were 94 Pts for me). To digress again, Cru Beaujolais at $25-35(even the usually light, Fleurie is Excellent)is the best cheap "Red Burgundy", in that mostly-overpriced region(Meo-Camuzet Bourgogne-$60). I agree on Rhone, but the price increases for the better CdPs, has me buying great Gigondas at half the price(Saint-Damien). Why buy 91-point CdP, instead of 95-pt Gigondas?
@@ronmcmartin4513 Really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions. I’ll be on the lookout for the 2015 and 2017 El Enemigo Chardonnay. I agree, there are some excellent Cru Beaujolais wines around; I recently enjoyed a Chateau des Jacques (Louis Jadot) Moulin-à-Vent. As for my beloved Rhône😁, I spent a fabulous week in both the Northern and Southern sides last month. Fantastic tastings and lots of really amazing, great-value wines including, yes, CdP and Gigondas.😊 Many of my best winery visits and tastings came from and were inspired by John’s recommendations and reviews in his YT videos and IG posts. Thanks again, Ron! Cheers!
I love James Suckling. Scores are all relative. If his scores are typically inflated just keep that in mind. So if he has a 97 point wine consider it a 94-95 point wine with others if your palate is similar to his. Others are harsher, some are more even keeled, etc. It's all relative in the end. The best thing to remember about scores is that they are a great start, but in the end you want to buy what you like! Thanks for the great content!
After reading this comment I just ordered 6 bottles of the 904 here in Sweden. It was in fact just under $66 per bottle. Only 6 more bottles available. Thanks to you both!
@@Martin-jd3oc I just enjoyed the 2001 a few weeks ago and it was in a perfect place and in August the 1973 was still very enjoyable. But since you have 6, I think you could probably enjoy one of them in another 3-4 years and then open one every so often after that. I do recommend saving at least one for 10 years or more so you can see what they are like with more substantial ageing. Cheers!
Nice how you put things in perspective here. I like the fact that JS looked for value in his list and excluded wines >400 dollars. The Kumeu Mate’s vineyard is still one of the best buys in his list imo, you get a world class Chard for a fraction of the price in Burgundy. “Only” €54 for the 2022 at my wine merchant (less than 2021!)
Great recommendations! I've bought primeurs from domaine de chevalier from both 2021 and 2022 however it's the blanc version as it was recommended to me. I'm also glad we still have 904 2015 widely available here in Sweden (also to a great price it seems for $70). Seems like many are looking to the ardanza, alberdi or the arana. I myself have bought several cases of the Ardanza and I think it's one of my favourite wines and also great price to quality ratio.
Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed the suggestions. Yes, La Rioja Alta has a great lineup! Can't go wrong. Domaine de Chevalier makes an outstanding white wine as well. You might give the red a try if you get a chance. Cheers!
Just compared the 904 2011 to the 2015 last week. Completely agree on waiting for the 2015, its great, still tight but itll be an even more amazing wine in the coming years. Thanks for your video!😊
As a Riesling fan myself, I would have liked to see a Germany section of this video. He seemed to have a decent number of Rieslings on his list (although not all German). Riesling needs love too :)
Yes, that was one of my takeaways is that there were lots of Rieslings on his list. And I certainly approve of the German Riesling on his list! I’m hoping to have some content in your wheelhouse by February! May have a special collaboration video on point.
@@AttorneySomm I recently found your content and have started bing watching all of your videos. I’m sure I will run into Riesling content in there. I can’t wait to watch all of your stuff. Really awesome content!
Excellent video. I just bagged a handful of the 904 (2015) at a great price for such a good wine. I love it but...(this is a big but) there are a lot of Spanish wines not far behind for less mullah WT.
John, I have made a lot of purchases of wines this year and last year based on your recommendations. ZERO wines I have bought came from JS, in fact, I always evade wines that he rates. He is the Don King of wines ( remember that boxing promoter of the 90s ? ). I travelled today to TX and picked up Caterwaul, Feytit Clinet , and Laroque in an Imperial format. 3 wines that I bought because of YOU, not JS or WA. You should do your very own list, you have an exquisite taste and you have not sold your soul to the devil :)
Thank you. Sounds like a nice haul! Well done! There actually were a number of wines on the JS list that I have featured in my videos. But I’m definitely planning to do my own top 25 video like last year. Mine is not new releases but best overall wines I’ve tasted the past year. Cheers!
I’m not sure if I was able to thank you for the pin, John. My apologies. Thank you so much for the pin; greatly appreciated! I wish you a fantastic new week ahead. Santé!
Thanks, John. Looking forward to your 2019 Brunello di Montalcino review. I might bid for three when the Wine Society launches its en primeur offer next year. I already have three 2018s. Perhaps JS just doesn't like Syrah or GSM. In that case, strange - I love 'em. I drank a superb 2011 Barolo last weekend from Nadia Curto (La Foia), which will be followed by a 2011 Pauillac this Saturday: not the best year in Bordeaux so my last bottle probably needs consuming. I must look out for 2011 904: I opened my only 2007 last year and it was outstanding. I know Spain and Italy have risen in price but I think the former especially is still good value.
Thank you Steven! Agree! Not sure why JS doesn’t review more Rhone wines. Appreciate your thoughts re the 2011. Also agree re the 904. Here it is selling for legacy pricing. Definitely a savvy buy. Got a great deal on that 01 as well. Cheers!
@@AttorneySomm the two rieslings, the pichler and pechstein are certainly among the very best rieslings there is. deserving of any top 10 list imo. Have you tried them?
I agree that ratings matter, but Suckling continues to give wines higher ratings than virtually every major critic. I realize I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, but thought newcomers should know this. It has gotten to the point that I don’t pay attention to him. That said, I do appreciate your analysis of his list, along with your own recommendations.
Thank you for your comment. Yes, when it comes to critics, I always recommend that people try to identify a critic whose palate aligns with his/hers and then rely on that person's recommendations. But I think that many people who are new to wine and/or have not made that determination yet do rely on scores.
"inflated ratings do not matter" ...I believe the price(or QPR) still matters. Unless you agree with his scoring(his 97 & 93 points, equal your 93 & 93), then points & price do matter. In my hypothetical, YOU liked Both wines, but you paid an extra $100 for the 97-pts. If you consistently agree, but deduct 3 points(94/90), you can make a proper buying decision. In my 2nd hypothetical(94/90), I'd rather say, "Why DIDN'T I buy More of the 90-pointer?", than, "Why did I spend an extra $100 this 97-pointer?"
@@ronmcmartin4513 Scores definitely matter to lots of consumers and wineries. I would also think that if he/she the same palate as JS, he/she would still want something he liked more.
Gran Enemigo Cab Franc single vineyard Gualtallary is overall second in JS list, also 100 points by Parker. With a value of $55. Then he recommends as “a deal” a 97 point wine for $100. Not serious.
The average price for that Gran Enemigo is well over $100 now. Obviously people don’t need me to pile on and say the Suckling second best wine is a good one. The 15 904 is potentially the best vintage ever. It’s not $100. Some in Europe paid $65.
I just bought a case of Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2019 for $55 per bottle in Palermo SoHo, in Buenos Aires. JA! is the name of the store. They had only a few cases left.
I used to defend Robert Parker, against amateur critics, or those with some wine experience from critiquing wine critics! If you have the chops go to the wineries, before any critic, releases their report, and put out your own critique of Wines across the world . It’s easy to critique someone else’s expertise !
With all due respect, did you even watch the video? This video was not critical of Mr. Suckling. Rather, I identified trends and themes presented in his report and discussed them as well as my thoughts concerning the best buys from the wines on his list. In any event, I most certainly do visit countless wineries every year and publish my own recommendations in my videos here each week as well as on my IG page without regard to what critics have done. In many instances, I recommend wines on these top 100 lists well before the critics do and well before these annual lists are published.
@@AttorneySomm as amateurs, we don’t need to critique critics, or their choices unless we are going to review the Wines. This was the same thing people did the Robert Parker after buying wine based on his reviews .
@@wizlb As mentioned, I do review the wines myself. Also, I'm not an amateur as I have many sources of wine-related income as well as a DipWSET, which some wine critics do not even have.
The much awaited reaction to James Suckling’s list! Thank you for making this video despite your busy schedule. Greatly appreciate your astute observations and insightful takeaways on his list of Top 100 wines. I wish we could see the list with complete rankings but, while that list is (still) being kept from being viewed by everyone (sorry to say but this is kind of annoying), we have this video to guide us and you to rely on. I’m so thrilled to learn from this video that his list features a lot of Bordeaux wines and several familiar and well-loved wines and producers including Domaine de Chevalier which I immensely enjoyed in a recent degustation of excellent vintages. Glad to know that Brunello wines are also on the list. Recently read in an article that El Enemigo (Cab Franc maybe) and Damilano Barolo are both among his top ranked wines, both I’ve enjoyed in the past. But the Rhone Valley wines not getting a lot of much-deserved attention on that list, I think, is a crime.😂 I’m sorry to say but that is a major oversight! Thank you, once again, for this outstanding video. I might have more reactions and comments later this week.😁 Santé, John!
Thanks very much, Margaux! Yes, it would be nice if there was more information about the list publicly-available. But I understand he needs to pay his light bill too. 🤣 I definitely think he should spend more time on Rhone wines. Glad you enjoy the Domaine de Chevalier as well! Hope you enjoy your evening. Cheers!
@margaux--The El Enemigo Chardonnay is the least expensive "White Burgundy" available for around $20. It is over-scored(95-97 Points), but consistently around 93 points for me. It needs about 5-6 years to show its best. The 2017 is excellent now(2015 & 17 were 94 Pts for me).
To digress again, Cru Beaujolais at $25-35(even the usually light, Fleurie is Excellent)is the best cheap "Red Burgundy", in that mostly-overpriced region(Meo-Camuzet Bourgogne-$60).
I agree on Rhone, but the price increases for the better CdPs, has me buying great Gigondas at half the price(Saint-Damien). Why buy 91-point CdP, instead of 95-pt Gigondas?
@@ronmcmartin4513 Gigondas offers such compelling value currently!
@@AttorneySomm The joke/jab hits the spot! 😂🤣 Cheers, John!
@@ronmcmartin4513 Really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions. I’ll be on the lookout for the 2015 and 2017 El Enemigo Chardonnay. I agree, there are some excellent Cru Beaujolais wines around; I recently enjoyed a Chateau des Jacques (Louis Jadot) Moulin-à-Vent. As for my beloved Rhône😁, I spent a fabulous week in both the Northern and Southern sides last month. Fantastic tastings and lots of really amazing, great-value wines including, yes, CdP and Gigondas.😊 Many of my best winery visits and tastings came from and were inspired by John’s recommendations and reviews in his YT videos and IG posts. Thanks again, Ron! Cheers!
I love James Suckling. Scores are all relative. If his scores are typically inflated just keep that in mind. So if he has a 97 point wine consider it a 94-95 point wine with others if your palate is similar to his. Others are harsher, some are more even keeled, etc. It's all relative in the end. The best thing to remember about scores is that they are a great start, but in the end you want to buy what you like! Thanks for the great content!
Thanks very much! Well said!
After reading this comment I just ordered 6 bottles of the 904 here in Sweden. It was in fact just under $66 per bottle. Only 6 more bottles available. Thanks to you both!
Very nice! Excellent pricing! Cheers!
@@AttorneySomm thanks! How long would you leave it before enjoying?
@@Martin-jd3oc I just enjoyed the 2001 a few weeks ago and it was in a perfect place and in August the 1973 was still very enjoyable. But since you have 6, I think you could probably enjoy one of them in another 3-4 years and then open one every so often after that. I do recommend saving at least one for 10 years or more so you can see what they are like with more substantial ageing. Cheers!
@@AttorneySommThankd for the comprehensive reply!
@@Martin-jd3oc Any time! Cheers!
Nice how you put things in perspective here. I like the fact that JS looked for value in his list and excluded wines >400 dollars. The Kumeu Mate’s vineyard is still one of the best buys in his list imo, you get a world class Chard for a fraction of the price in Burgundy. “Only” €54 for the 2022 at my wine merchant (less than 2021!)
Thank you! Completely agree with you. That one has been one of my favorites for years. 👍🍷
Great recommendations! I've bought primeurs from domaine de chevalier from both 2021 and 2022 however it's the blanc version as it was recommended to me. I'm also glad we still have 904 2015 widely available here in Sweden (also to a great price it seems for $70). Seems like many are looking to the ardanza, alberdi or the arana. I myself have bought several cases of the Ardanza and I think it's one of my favourite wines and also great price to quality ratio.
Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed the suggestions. Yes, La Rioja Alta has a great lineup! Can't go wrong. Domaine de Chevalier makes an outstanding white wine as well. You might give the red a try if you get a chance. Cheers!
Just compared the 904 2011 to the 2015 last week. Completely agree on waiting for the 2015, its great, still tight but itll be an even more amazing wine in the coming years. Thanks for your video!😊
Great minds think alike! Very glad you enjoyed it. Completely agree! That 15 904 is going to be truly special! Cheers!
As a Riesling fan myself, I would have liked to see a Germany section of this video. He seemed to have a decent number of Rieslings on his list (although not all German). Riesling needs love too :)
Yes, that was one of my takeaways is that there were lots of Rieslings on his list. And I certainly approve of the German Riesling on his list! I’m hoping to have some content in your wheelhouse by February! May have a special collaboration video on point.
@@AttorneySomm I recently found your content and have started bing watching all of your videos. I’m sure I will run into Riesling content in there. I can’t wait to watch all of your stuff. Really awesome content!
@@CurdBros Greatly appreciate it! Thank you!
Excellent video. I just bagged a handful of the 904 (2015) at a great price for such a good wine. I love it but...(this is a big but) there are a lot of Spanish wines not far behind for less mullah WT.
Nice score! Yes, I agree there are lots of other excellent Spanish wines at attractive prices too. Thank you!
John, I have made a lot of purchases of wines this year and last year based on your recommendations. ZERO wines I have bought came from JS, in fact, I always evade wines that he rates. He is the Don King of wines ( remember that boxing promoter of the 90s ? ). I travelled today to TX and picked up Caterwaul, Feytit Clinet , and Laroque in an Imperial format. 3 wines that I bought because of YOU, not JS or WA. You should do your very own list, you have an exquisite taste and you have not sold your soul to the devil :)
Thank you. Sounds like a nice haul! Well done! There actually were a number of wines on the JS list that I have featured in my videos. But I’m definitely planning to do my own top 25 video like last year. Mine is not new releases but best overall wines I’ve tasted the past year. Cheers!
I’m not sure if I was able to thank you for the pin, John. My apologies. Thank you so much for the pin; greatly appreciated! I wish you a fantastic new week ahead. Santé!
Thanks Margaux! Well deserved! Cheers!
I liked the list and the hot takes ! Great content ! Cheers !
Thanks very much! Appreciate the kind feedback! Cheers!
Thanks, John. Looking forward to your 2019 Brunello di Montalcino review. I might bid for three when the Wine Society launches its en primeur offer next year. I already have three 2018s.
Perhaps JS just doesn't like Syrah or GSM. In that case, strange - I love 'em.
I drank a superb 2011 Barolo last weekend from Nadia Curto (La Foia), which will be followed by a 2011 Pauillac this Saturday: not the best year in Bordeaux so my last bottle probably needs consuming.
I must look out for 2011 904: I opened my only 2007 last year and it was outstanding. I know Spain and Italy have risen in price but I think the former especially is still good value.
Thank you Steven! Agree! Not sure why JS doesn’t review more Rhone wines. Appreciate your thoughts re the 2011. Also agree re the 904. Here it is selling for legacy pricing. Definitely a savvy buy. Got a great deal on that 01 as well. Cheers!
Fantastic!Thank you!!!👌🥂🍷
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! 🍷🍷
Thanks for some great new ideas for me: 2016 Brunello, and drink more Riesling!
Sounds like a great plan to me! Thank you!
what to you think of the top 10 in general?
I certainly like the winner better than the WS top wine, which is very important in these listings. A few other nice wines in the top 10 as well.
@@AttorneySomm the two rieslings, the pichler and pechstein are certainly among the very best rieslings there is. deserving of any top 10 list imo. Have you tried them?
@@remifjelldal7299 I've had the Pichler. In another comment, someone asked me about my favorite whites on the list and I included that in my response.
I agree that ratings matter, but Suckling continues to give wines higher ratings than virtually every major critic. I realize I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, but thought newcomers should know this. It has gotten to the point that I don’t pay attention to him. That said, I do appreciate your analysis of his list, along with your own recommendations.
Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers!
If you had to choose 2 whites from the list what would they be?
I’d probably choose between Marcel Deiss, Donnhoff, Zind Hunbrecht or R Pichler. Kumeu River is always a nice wine too.
If you like the same wines James Suckling likes then the inflated ratings do not matter.
Thank you for your comment. Yes, when it comes to critics, I always recommend that people try to identify a critic whose palate aligns with his/hers and then rely on that person's recommendations. But I think that many people who are new to wine and/or have not made that determination yet do rely on scores.
"inflated ratings do not matter" ...I believe the price(or QPR) still matters. Unless you agree with his scoring(his 97 & 93 points, equal your 93 & 93), then points & price do matter.
In my hypothetical, YOU liked Both wines, but you paid an extra $100 for the 97-pts. If you consistently agree, but deduct 3 points(94/90), you can make a proper buying decision.
In my 2nd hypothetical(94/90), I'd rather say, "Why DIDN'T I buy More of the 90-pointer?", than, "Why did I spend an extra $100 this 97-pointer?"
@@ronmcmartin4513 Scores definitely matter to lots of consumers and wineries. I would also think that if he/she the same palate as JS, he/she would still want something he liked more.
Gran Enemigo Cab Franc single vineyard Gualtallary is overall second in JS list, also 100 points by Parker. With a value of $55.
Then he recommends as “a deal” a 97 point wine for $100. Not serious.
The average price for that Gran Enemigo is well over $100 now. Obviously people don’t need me to pile on and say the Suckling second best wine is a good one. The 15 904 is potentially the best vintage ever. It’s not $100. Some in Europe paid $65.
I just bought a case of Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2019 for $55 per bottle in Palermo SoHo, in Buenos Aires. JA! is the name of the store. They had only a few cases left.
@@RamiroMariniNeyra That is a great buy! Here prices go up after these ratings come out for some of the top 10 wines.
We know it's your Observations from James Sucklings Top 100 Wines of 2023, you don't need to repeat that every.single.time. Just a thought.
Social media gurus recommend for SEO. That is why I did it.
I used to defend Robert Parker, against amateur critics, or those with some wine experience from critiquing wine critics!
If you have the chops go to the wineries, before any critic, releases their report, and put out your own critique of Wines across the world .
It’s easy to critique someone else’s expertise !
With all due respect, did you even watch the video? This video was not critical of Mr. Suckling. Rather, I identified trends and themes presented in his report and discussed them as well as my thoughts concerning the best buys from the wines on his list.
In any event, I most certainly do visit countless wineries every year and publish my own recommendations in my videos here each week as well as on my IG page without regard to what critics have done. In many instances, I recommend wines on these top 100 lists well before the critics do and well before these annual lists are published.
@@AttorneySomm as amateurs, we don’t need to critique critics, or their choices unless we are going to review the Wines.
This was the same thing people did the Robert Parker after buying wine based on his reviews .
@@wizlb As mentioned, I do review the wines myself. Also, I'm not an amateur as I have many sources of wine-related income as well as a DipWSET, which some wine critics do not even have.