2024 Favourite Wines of the Year
It’s harder than ever to find wines that really deliver. Harder, but not impossible… My travels in 2024 have taken me to some new wine destinations as well as old favourites, and I have literally tasted thousands of wines this year! So it’s that time of year again when I whittle back the wines to a few favourites that I’ve enjoyed and that stand out for me.
Sparkling Wines
Klein Constantia Cap Classique 2019, South Africa. A top-quality 100% Chardonnay Cap Classique aged for 33 months on the lees before disgorging resulting in a complex wine style. An intense nose of stone fruit and citrus blossom, with a touch of brioche. On the palate, fine bubbles with fresh citrus flavours and a crisp finish. Can be enjoyed now or kept for a few years in the bottle to add complexity. £20 from Drinks Direct, Divine Fine Wines or The Champagne Company.
Champagne Delavenne Grand Cru 2012, Bouzy. At a tasting of eight growers’ champagnes all from the 2012 vintage, this was the favourite. All Grand Cru fruit from the wonderfully named village of Bouzy! Wonderful nose of fruits glacés, honey and digestive biscuits; very rich and mouth-filling with layers of flavour, and very, very long. The quality of some famous names at a fraction of the price! 2015 vintage available for £60-65 from Roberts & Speight, Define Food & Wine, Old Chapel Cellars.
White Wines
Zephyr 6 Chardonnay 2022, Marlborough New Zealand. Possibly the best sub-£15 chardonnay I have ever tasted. This has a fine balance of citrus, buttery and tropical flavours, well-integrated oak, subtlety, complexity and length – all the elements of a really good chardonnay without being overblown. Very impressive winemaking. £13.95 from The Wine Society.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Vigna ai Sassi Riserva, Simone Santini 2022. Fine floral nose with notes of citrus, herbs and almonds. On the palate fine balance, really good depth of fruit, a classy, delicious white from Tuscany. £19 at The Wine Society.
‘Clos de Mosny’, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups 2021, Montlouis. Absolutely gorgeous chenin blanc from a relatively unknown appellation in the Loire Valley. Aromas of honey, butter, vanilla and toast; in the mouth a complex wine with rich texture, huge concentration and great length. Very impressive. £27.50 from The Wine Society.
Red Wines
Beronia Reserva 2019, Rioja. Always reliable, 20 months ageing in oak creates a delicious, velvety red. It’s rich, ripe and full of red and black berry fruits. The oak-ageing adds toasty notes of coconut and vanilla, rounded off with spice and smooth tannins. An ideal bottle for your Sunday roast £16 at Waitrose, Sainsburys or Majestic (and often on special offer!).
Thymiopoulos Earth and Sky 2022, Naoussa Greece. Sensational Xinomavro from the leading exponent of this fascinating grape which has similarities to Nebbiolo. I have tasted this wine in many past vintages, but the 2022 could be the best yet. First tasted with winemaker Apostolos during the Criterion Wine tour of Northern Greece in June, this has aromas of violets, forest floor and incense; fine tannins, layers of flavour, subtle oak and a vibrancy which makes it very moreish. £24 from The Wine Society.
The Society’s 150th Anniversary Geyserville Zinfandel 2019. In a recent tasting of New World wines from The Wine Society’s 150th Anniversary range this wine stood out head and shoulders above the others. Not surprising when it’s sourced from Ridge, one of THE premier producers of Zinfandel in California. Fabulous brambly nose of sweet berries and dried fruits. On the palate intense and immediately mouth-filling, liquorice and black spice, fine tannins and very long. A special occasion wine, £39 from The Wine Society, and worth every penny.
Something Sweet
Echeverria Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Curico Valley Chile. Tasted at the winery in March during this year’s wine tour in Chile, I was bowled over by the quality of this luscious dessert wine. Aromas of peaches, barley sugar and honey; on the palate there is fine acidity to balance the sweetness and a hint of that ethereal smell of botrytis which concentrates the sugars in the grapes. A fine alternative to Sauternes and quite a bargain at £10.19 per half bottle from All About Wine.
Finish with a Fortified
Ramos Pinto Adriano White Reserva. I have never previously recommended a white port, but on a recent trip to Porto this was so delicious that I brought a bottle home! It’s produced using a careful blend of wines which have been aged in oak barrels for around seven years resulting in a luxurious, rich and complex wine. Amber yellow in colour, there are aromas of ripe golden fruit, tropical notes, crystallised orange and hints of spice. The palate is full-bodied and mature with a well-balanced freshness and long-lasting finish. Serve chilled as an aperitif with tonic water, fresh lemon and mint, or paired with desserts. £24 from Harvey Nichols.
If you do try any of these wines I would love to hear your feedback. I could easily add another 10-15 wines to this list, but maybe that’s for another blog. Keep drinking well and exploring the world of wine. There’s always something new.
You may have noticed that several of my selections come from The Wine Society who are my major source of wine in the UK. Not only do they have a large, well-chosen selection from all over the world, but they also always have the most competitive prices. If you are not already a member do join up. There is a one-off joining fee of £40 but you get £20 off your first order.
Cheers and Seasons Greetings!
Christos