While nominations for Decanter’s Wines of the Year 2023 were evenly split between the Value, Offbeat and Classic categories, the Classics had the biggest share of the top scores, with 51 of the 113 wines earning 90 points or more.
France had the most Classic entries, with 10, led by the Sparkling Wine of the Year and 94-point average scores from two 2016s: Trimbach’s Clos Ste-Hune Alsace Riesling and the Margaux second-growth Château Brane-Cantenac.
Italy followed with eight, not securing any of the top gongs this year, but Tuscany and Piedmont each earning a 95-point score through two 2019 reds: Grattamaco’s Bolgheri Superiore and Massolino’s Parafada Barolo.
Scroll down to discover the 51 top-scoring Classic wines in Decanter’s Wines of the Year 2023
{"content":"<p>‘Bordeaux, Tuscany, Piedmont, <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine/wine-regions/alsace/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Alsace</a></strong> – these are classic regions for a reason, the quality showing through,’ said Michaela Morris.</p>
<p>But she and fellow judge Anne Krebiehl MW were impressed by the strong showing of ‘more modern classics’ from <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine/wine-regions/south-african-wine/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">South Africa</a></strong> in particular.</p>
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<p>‘It was a tough choice deciding between Brane-Cantenac and our eventual winner Kanonkop for our Classic Red Wine of the Year as both are so stately and savoury,’ reflected Krebiehl.</p>
<p>‘“Classic” used to be Bordeaux or <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine/wine-regions/burgundy-wine/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Burgundy</a></strong>, but these days it isn’t just confined to place or tradition, so I was also thrilled to taste <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/premium/spatburgunder-12-fantastic-german-pinot-noirs-to-track-down-479990/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">German Pinot Noir</a></strong> and a <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/premium/douro-red-wines-panel-tasting-results-494591/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">red Douro table wine</a></strong> among the classic nominations.’</p>
<p>While reds dominated whites in this category, the panel was thrilled by the elegance of <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/premium/gaja-masterclass-dfwe-new-york-505813/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Gaia Wines</a></strong>’ 2022 Thalassitis <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine-reviews-tastings/the-greek-assyrtiko-249270/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Assyrtiko</a></strong>, which was named the Classic White Wine of the Year – one of two Greek wines winning top awards.</p>
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<p><strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine/grape-varieties/riesling/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Riesling</a></strong> – both German and Alsatian – as well as <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine/grape-varieties/chardonnay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Chardonnay</a></strong> from Australia and South Africa were the other top-scoring Classic whites, alongside a Spanish <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine/grape-varieties/albarino/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Albariño</a></strong>.</p>
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<p>South Africa also overdelivered in the reds, with a fine <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine/grape-varieties/cabernet-franc/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Cabernet Franc</a></strong> and <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine/grape-varieties/shiraz-syrah/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Syrah</a></strong>, as did Argentina through impressive Bordeaux blends and <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine/grape-varieties/malbec/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Mallbecs</a></strong>.</p>
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<p>The three top-scoring traditional-method sparkling wines generated huge interest and discussion when tasted, and Morris was ‘delighted’ our Sparkling Wine of the Year went to a non-vintage <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wine/wine-regions/champagne/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Champagne</a></strong> in Louis Roederer’s Collection 243. ‘It’s a real benchmark for the category – what more could you want?’</p>
<p>Krebiehl was equally as enthused by the fizz from California’s <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/premium/santa-rita-hills-californias-coolest-wines-plus-the-10-to-try-500650/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Sta Rita Hills</a></strong>. ‘The whole sparkling category was a delight, with wines from so many countries showing quality and skill, but that one was particularly exciting.’</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/wines-of-the-year-2023-classic-wines-score-table/">See the score table for all 51 &#8216;classic&#8217; wines tasted for Wines of the Year 2023 that scored 90 points and above</a></h3>
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Wines of the Year 2023: The top-scoring Classics
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