Your content is so well made for how little people see it. I'm a 22 y/o getting into the wine world, and I love the style of your videos and your depth while still keeping the video entertaining! Keep up the amazing work!
I picked up Chimney Rock for $94.00 at Costco today. That's $30 cheaper than most of the wine and liquor stores I usually go to. Also wound up pulling the trigger on the Tignanello later on this evening since I found it for $170. Ran into Faust, Don Melchor, and Ramay the day before. Maybe I'll get them later, but my birthday is coming up soon and the one bottle I want to splurge on is a 2010 Vega Sicilia, so I need to save 😅.
I have to admit that I am very fortunate because I don’t have to rely on these lists. I live near a store that buys out cellars (plenty of Burgundy to choose) and each week is a discovery and each trip to the store is an outing. Just like field trips in high school.
If I am not mistaken, WS only rates wines that are provided by the wineries. There are certainly multiple times more unrated wines than those that get considered for this list (only because the winery submitted it to them). Having said that, it is always nice to see someone like you give us your honest opinion of the wines tasted. Your honesty is refreshing. Keep making these videos! I love them! Cheers.
That is the way it works everywhere, the same in Decanter World Wine Awards. You have to submit the wines for them to be tasted, however, I am not sure this happens here. Because those ultra expensive established names usually do not submit wines for competitions anymore- because they can only loose, not gain (imagine the shock when wine costing 4 digits doesn’t get close to 100p) and some cheaper alternative is more highly rated. So here, panel decides which wines have been great enough to be on the top! 😅
Great video as always. I LOVE IT when you get into critique mode. You’re 100% correct and spot on with your points and you do it with a smile. These lists always I find just state the obvious and the top 10 is useless other than for collectors. Sometimes you get more interesting additions further down. You definitely enjoyed some of them though and like you I am not at all familiar with Chimney Rock but after seeing your reaction (and not cause of the top 10) I might seek it out. And DEFINITELY like others have suggested a no sediment yearly top 10 would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!!
I have to look through history to see if that always has been the case. 😇 And, yes, that Chimney Rock was really juicy and bright, lovely style of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Maybe I worded it wrong. Not saying you’re always right (wine is so individual I find so opinions are never ending) but I find when you present your critique they’re well structured and a hell of a lot more interesting than the same old copy paste we see everywhere these days in all these lists and publications.
Thank you for yet another very informative and educational video! I watch and click on all of the advertisers in the hope that I can help offset the cost of those wine. I hope to see you drink and comment on them in the future as they age in your cellar.
Unfortunately for me, majority of these wines I bought only one bottle, and that was reserved for this tasting. 😔 Those are expensive wines, and I for sure cannot afford to splurge so.. 🥲
WS generally sticks to the classics and heavy, expensive and extracted reds every year. They have their client base and don't vary from it very much, personally WE and Decanter's lists are more interesting as they show greater diversity and better price points. Would love to see your top 10 wines for 2024! Cheers, great video.
Thanks! Hopefully you will be able to get the other Top 10 selections to complete reviewing the whole list. Agreed, it was too new world/Cab heavy. I heard that the 2021 Roserock Pinot Noir was better than the 2022. Glad that you liked the Chimney Rock Cab, amazing to see Costco wine offerings on the list again!
To be honest, I probably will not collect them all. But I was thinking that it would be a lot of fun taste some of the Top 1 entries over the years. It seems it would be an expensive tasting though. 😢
I loved this video so much - thank you for your honesty and for championing the importance of diversity in the wine world! I absolutely want to know what your top 10 is!
I just read that they position themselves more like a lifestyle magazine, knowing that, this list makes more sense. If one considers them as a wine publication - then more diversity is expected. 😇
Great point about WS's "safe" selections only raising prices of already well-known wines/grape varieties further alienating the younger adult population from the wine world. That said, their 2022 list did rekindle with me a big name winery (Mondavi) which was the first wine had a while back before the inception of my journey. In the 2022's Top Ten with Mondavi, the 3rd criteria of "X-factor" (namely the backstory of their re-ascension to quality) was clearly described and more than justified its inclusion. That wine (2019 The Estates Oakville Cabernet) is a terrific wine quality, and well worth it at ~$60/bottle (yes, it is one of few wines I got past 1!) I bought them.
Thank You for Your comment. 🙏🏻 I am in no way saying that well established names shouldn’t be on these lists, they make great wines so why not? But at some point it would be nice to include lesser known and less discovered gems - they have more access to wines than we do, so it would make a lot of sense.
i was able to buy 6 of the 10 wines the day the list came out and i must say the albe barolo topped them all. this wine is so undervalued its ridiculous. i bought 4 bottles and also a 2019. i gave it a 95 . for such a young barolo this wine delivered for me and im sure it will age well. biggest surprise was the faust which has always been an above average cab but not mind boggling. i enjoyed the wine but i wont remember it
I agree with you a hundret percent. I mean I'm also a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon but obviously I also would like to see a stellar Syrah, Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cab Franc (very good example is the argentinian Gran Enemigo Cab Franc. Maybe it is the worlds best Cab Franc?), Sangiovese, Aglianico, Tempranillo, Malbec etc. in those lists. To go for the whites, where is the Riesling, Greco di Trufo, Arneis and so on? For sparkling, where is Franciacorta? Where is a very good Lambrusco or Prosecco? Where are the sparklings from Moldavia or German Winzersekt? Maybe whites or sparklings from austria or slowenia? That's why I personally prefer a preference from one single person like you or another one. Because your result is much more detailed and profound in terms of actuality and that great comparison between so many wine countries and grape varities. Really spot on with your choice of 2024
Hi Agnese, I get your point re: choosing the usual suspects. Would be interested to know what you would choose, keeping in mind that the wines should be readily available for the general reading audience on a US/ global scale.
I would also like to hear your thoughts and agree with your perspective. Seems that perhaps the list is leaked to distributors/importers for presale to their high dollar buyers, makes for Unobtainium. Love your videos and very well spoken.
I will be making a different video on wines I loved myself this year. Of course, it cannot be the same, as WS has team of tasters that travel around and do this for leaving. I am only one person and majority of the wines I buy myself. 😶
Agree with your take on price spiral conspiracy. It’s ridiculous, really. The scores will continue to come down for the top 10 as the prices spiral out of control.
I have a 2017 Don Melchor that I’m waiting to open when it’s a bit older. Nice to see it as number one, but since I’ve never tried one, then I would be guessing on how good it is.
I’m going to a steakhouse in a couple of weeks that has a 2020 in their wine cellar. I’ll try that one before I open my own bottle. I would prefer older than 2020, but at least it will give me an idea of how it is.
I loved your thoughtful take here, Agnese. You gave us so much excellent analysis. And thank you for your effort in tracking down these six bottles from the list! Would love to know your Top 5.
Thanks for the video. As a regular consumer (not a collector), I find the top 10-100 lists interesting, but not really relevant to me. Once a wine hits a list, the prices rise and it is hard to find, so I most likely will never purchase it. It has to be hard to put together a top wines list, as there are hundreds of thousands of wines made in the world. What is the process for any wine critic to ensure they are really tasting all the wines? For example, does a critic taste all chateauneuf du pape wines before making a decision? are all wines tasted blind? Even so, it is fun to see what they come up. I would definitely be interested in your top 10, just from what you have tasted.
Of course no one can taste all the Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines before making their decision, and I don’t think that it was meant to be as the best Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine out there. Other wine competitions are tasted blind, but if I understand correctly then for WS it is discussion over the wines that have tasted over the years and shown excellence rather than systematic tasting through wines in blind. Which is why the criticism from my side, because if it would have been blind tasting and the best wines achieved these scores - then I wouldn’t see any problem. 😇
greetings from Puerto Rico. As a wine afficionado, I have follow your page for some time… Great content/ Keep the good work/ Agreed with you 100% ; not much grape variety in this year’s list, nevertheless, all great wines🍷Cheers …PS: No surprise Don Melchor , yet again, made it to the #1 spot. It was my unicorn wine when I started drinking wine 11 years ago; still is my favorite CS from Chile and worldwide ( 2005 and 2018 in my opinion the best years ever made by Concha y Toro and still under $150 USD)
I have no doubt that is a great wine! 🍷 where I am from, though, it is closer to 200$ 😞 However, if You say that it is to this day Your favourite Cabernet Sauvignon I will go out of my way to find that bottle and taste it! 🙌🙌🙌🍷 Thank You for commenting and cheers!
Greeting from the Midwest, US. New subscriber. Is there a commonality range in %abv in this top ten? In order to rank 90 points or more, in your opinion, where is the “sweet spot” for abv? Thank you
No, I don’t think so. It might seem that there are, because wines come from similar grapes (styles) and climates, but in general, abv does not influence the quality of the wine, as long it is not shouting out loud on the nose or giving burning sensation.
The Faust is very thin and unremarkable. Agree on the Rose Rock, 90 pt wine. The Selyem is delicious and age worthy, one of the consistently best vineyards they source from but that wine is not available outside of their list. The BV at #2 you did not taste is dependably very good and 2021 is a good vintage so I would assume it is good. My understanding is that the Don Melchor is just coming to distribution now.
Earlier this year I had the chance to sit in a tasting where we had mini verticals blind. And the red of the evening was Don Melchor. Given one bottle was basically flawed with brett, but I managed to place the wine in Chile and C-S was quite obvious. In the end the wine left me quite underwhelmed like it has so many times when I've had the opportunity to taste it before. And when it didn't cost anywhere near the numbers it demands today.
@@NoSediment Yeah It's always been quite clean wine altogether when I've had the chance to taste some. It was just that one bottle no idea what had happened to it. It just reminded me of runaway brett with all the root vegetable and sweaty characters. Could have also been cooked a little, but anyway flawed and dead specimen. 😅
I would have to agree somewhat. While there is no reason that older classics, cannot be the top wines of the year. After all, they are some of the top houses. I would hope for the sake of the future, these publications would focus on the bang for your buck wines. This leads to a topic discussed by the “Attorney Somm” wine usage trending downward and your discussion on defining fine wines. At least that’s how I see it. But as always: Enjoy the sunlight held together by water. 🍷
Absolutely, there is no reason for those wines to not be on the list - they are great after all. My argument was more towards the availability and that also includes prices - so they will be even more limited now. 😔
I stopped caring about wine lists because I know that the oldies but moldies are always going to be included. The Finger Lakes makes some of the best wine in the world and none of these lists will ever include them. So meh. Where is a Dr. Konstantin Frank or Boundary Breaks Riesling? I guess Riesling just doesnt rate good scores he he he he he. There are so many great wine regions that just get ignored because they arent California, France or Italy.
Great video and yes, I think making another one with your personal top 5 (out of the 100) would be nice and interesting. There are some gems further down in the list... As for the list itself: I am kind of excited each year when the list comes out and at the same time I hate it for the reasons you pointed out in the video. Generally speaking it is too heavy on (expensive) U.S. wines and it clearly drives the prices for the top 10 up. But at the same time I have to admit that it puts a smile on my face when I see a wine in the Top 10 that I bought during the year, like the Tignanello 2021. I know it is silly, but it is the truth. So I am sure I will be excited next year in November again and again hope that the list will not include wines from South Africa, Etna or any other of my favorite regions for very selfish reasons... 😉
I absolutely understand You, I feel very similar. Tracking down these wines and opening them up for the tasting was still a lot of fun and exciting for me. And who cares if we might not be as happy with the general list itself. 🍷 Cheers!
Given that a good rating from Wine Spectator is typically a kiss of death for average people being able to access a wine, I would not complain that the list lacks diversity! I’d be glad if all their list was from Napa.
WS list has always been US heavy…and Barolo is no grape variety 😊 Nebbiolo. My cellar is Barolo (or Piedmont in general) heavy and plenty of Bordeaux. I always scroll WS list to see if there’s anything interesting I would not stumble normally and see if any dealer has stock.
These lists fetishize (and jack up the prices of) a small handful of wonderful wine…but an equally credible list could be made from a thousand other wines. I still read WS, but don’t give a damn about their Top 100. Thank you for offering your critique! Cheers
I absolutely love the Tignanello, but the price policy is horrible, I bought 2 bottles in 2021 for 90 Euro each. Now they almost doubled the price.😢😢😢😢
Seems like you want “Top 10 Hipster Wines” instead of “Top 10 great producer wines”, which is fine - maybe we need a new list for unknown/undervalued wines!
No definitely not, that wouldn’t be me. Wine at 50$ price mark doesn’t need to be hipster, and wine from Loire, Rias Baixas, Rioja, Bordeaux, Champagne, Burgundy, Douro, Jerez or Etna is not necessarily hipster. But they definitely would introduce more diversity. 😇
To answer your question about another Chilean Wine with the same or better quality than Don Melchor....Try Domus Aurea by Quebrada de Macul...which to me it is one of the best Chilean Wine....
It pisses me off that they put the Vajra Barolo d'Albe in the Top 10. Now the price will go up by default. Not saying the wine doesn't deserve it as it is one of my faves, but putting something in the Top 10 can change the market. I am going to track this throughout 2025.
I work at a restaurant that used to carry William-Selyem with multiple vintages. It's very good, but there are many better. Many of these wines are really good, but like Apple, you are paying more for the name than the wine.
My comment from Alberta, Canada... I am head sommelier at an iconic place... Agness, you are simply amazing!
You have no idea how much fun we’d have tasting a few wines together LOL. What I’m about to say is my own free and personal opinion and does NOT represent my employers: Agness... I couldn’t agree more!! Congratulations on this FANTASTIC video, and I want to add that I literally (yes, literally) ADORE the passion you convey. On top of that-and this is purely coincidental and could very well be different (so it’s not important)-we align so much in our personal tastes, as well as, obviously, in our "preferences and passions" as wine lovers... and here I am, still diving deep in search of powerful gems from Chile... whether it’s at Willow Park or straight into HELL...
Just as she has some problems getting certain American wines in Europe, I have my problems here getting some European wines... Agness, here you have Faust's "big brother"... from the extraordinary 2021... The Pact!!
Thank You for Your very sweet comment. 🍷 Yes, unfortunately not all wines will always be available worldwide. However, my criticisms were not so much towards the availability (I was just sad myself that I couldn’t source all the wines for the video). I am sure WS doesn’t need to check the global reach of all the wines. 😢😢
To believe wine magazine or wine rating by james suckeling is like believing Moet is the best champagne in the world just because they tell us in their publication. A good illustration is believing cigar aficianados telling ua cuban cigar ia not good. Its just unbelievable. What i believe? TH-camr like agnes, wine folly and konstantin. They are honest in their review.
Let me offer a different perspective: Maybe we're pleased when platforms put the usual suspects on their lists. Maybe we're not really that interested in seeing less famous favourites being subjected to the kind of stampede (and price gouging) that comes with these placements.
Well, but it still brings in attention , even here so far away in northern Europe this top drives up sales. So at least people who sell the wine take it very seriously. 😉😉😉
It's hard to imagine how Spectator could be successful with any audience recommending bad wine for cash. It would crash and burn. Every single person who evaluates wine, including this TH-camr and famously people like Suckling, and including you, have biases that color their assessments. Unless you try the bottles they recommend you're in no position to dispute their accuracy.
Just a couple of minutes in. BUT!!! any top 10 wine of any year without any Riesling in it is not a top 10 wine of any year but probably some marketing ploy.
Wine spectator is a bit of a reach for being the ultimate judge on the best wines , however, I don’t know how she can comment on wine she hasn’t tasted. The Williams Selyem and Faust on this list are world class and are not super big producers. She kind of contradicts herself regarding the Telegraph which has a great reputation and is rated high. Maybe it’s been rated too many times in the top 100 over the years… Overall she did a good job of describing the wines.
May I ask You - why are You referring to me as a third person?😅 And I didn’t comment on the wines I didn’t have in my glass. 😉 And I don’t see how I contradicted myself, I said that I don’t criticise wines, but the list itself. Maybe You can watch again? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Not everything is, I agree. And of course, we can argue that 2021 was not particularly good vintage in Bordeaux. But I still stand by my argument, there are literally hundreds of other winemaking regions and grapes that could gave been highlighted. That said - the wines I got to taste were exceptional! 😎
I agree with you. This is not a remotely impressive list. You’re not missing anything on the Faust. It’s an overripe fruit bomb with no structure. It’s ridiculous that this got in the top 10. I can’t tell you how many better Cabernet Sauvignons I’ve had this year alone
verdict and consensus should be and should have been years ago that Wine Spectator as a publication is laughable sources for anything wine related. its a wine themed lifestyle magazine that sells articles as ads. and obviously i fully agree with all your criticisms.
WS is safe, boring and expensive. I know 26,000 subscribers isn't anywhere near the size of Wine Spectator's audience, but many of us are watching your channel because you go beyond safe, boring and expensive. I'd watch your take on another 5 or 10 WS wines if you make the video, but would rather see you do something else.
Your content is so well made for how little people see it. I'm a 22 y/o getting into the wine world, and I love the style of your videos and your depth while still keeping the video entertaining! Keep up the amazing work!
Thank You very much, so, so sweet to read Your lovely comment. 🙏🏻
@NoSediment ofc!! Keep doing what you do
You've thrown a few rocks in the pool there and you're absolutely right! Nicely done!
Thank You! 🍷
Now we need to see your own top 10 list Agnese!
I'd like to see your top 5 or 10 from the WS top 100, but I'd rather see the Agnese top 5 or 10 of 2024 out of all wines in the world.
wow. your truth bombs needed to be said. thank you for having a voice on this.
Thank You for Your support, I couldn’t have the confidence to speak out loud about it, if it wasn’t for all You. 🙏🏻
Great idea!! PLEASE create your own list with bottles we cannot only afford but can actually buy. Thanks for all your work and keep it up. David 🇨🇦
Great critique. I believe your views are consistent with many people about Wine Spectator. Looking forward to seeing your list.
Thank You, I will have to start to prepare myself! 🍷
A great video! I look forward to your possible videos of top 10 wines from Decanter, James Suckling, and Wine Enthusiast.
Keep up the great work!
Thank You! 🙏🏻
I picked up Chimney Rock for $94.00 at Costco today. That's $30 cheaper than most of the wine and liquor stores I usually go to.
Also wound up pulling the trigger on the Tignanello later on this evening since I found it for $170.
Ran into Faust, Don Melchor, and Ramay the day before. Maybe I'll get them later, but my birthday is coming up soon and the one bottle I want to splurge on is a 2010 Vega Sicilia, so I need to save 😅.
I have to admit that I am very fortunate because I don’t have to rely on these lists. I live near a store that buys out cellars (plenty of Burgundy to choose) and each week is a discovery and each trip to the store is an outing. Just like field trips in high school.
Thanks for the outing Agnese.
That is the best, when You have a retailer near buy that You can trust! No tops needed! 😎
If I am not mistaken, WS only rates wines that are provided by the wineries. There are certainly multiple times more unrated wines than those that get considered for this list (only because the winery submitted it to them). Having said that, it is always nice to see someone like you give us your honest opinion of the wines tasted. Your honesty is refreshing. Keep making these videos! I love them! Cheers.
That is the way it works everywhere, the same in Decanter World Wine Awards. You have to submit the wines for them to be tasted, however, I am not sure this happens here. Because those ultra expensive established names usually do not submit wines for competitions anymore- because they can only loose, not gain (imagine the shock when wine costing 4 digits doesn’t get close to 100p) and some cheaper alternative is more highly rated. So here, panel decides which wines have been great enough to be on the top! 😅
Wonderful video as always! Yes, I'd love to hear your personal top 5 or 10!
Thank You very much, You are so sweet. 🙏🏻 Cheers! 🥂
Great video as always. I LOVE IT when you get into critique mode. You’re 100% correct and spot on with your points and you do it with a smile. These lists always I find just state the obvious and the top 10 is useless other than for collectors. Sometimes you get more interesting additions further down. You definitely enjoyed some of them though and like you I am not at all familiar with Chimney Rock but after seeing your reaction (and not cause of the top 10) I might seek it out. And DEFINITELY like others have suggested a no sediment yearly top 10 would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!!
I have to look through history to see if that always has been the case. 😇 And, yes, that Chimney Rock was really juicy and bright, lovely style of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Maybe I worded it wrong. Not saying you’re always right (wine is so individual I find so opinions are never ending) but I find when you present your critique they’re well structured and a hell of a lot more interesting than the same old copy paste we see everywhere these days in all these lists and publications.
Thank You! 🙏🏻
A local store had the Alba for $30, so I stocked up. It is very satiating and a glass of it makes me happy.
That is a very good, You rarely can find great Barolo at such a low price. 🍷🍷
So expressive about the nose. Exciting! Great non verbal communication too. thank you.
Thank You’ 🙏🏻
Thank you for yet another very informative and educational video! I watch and click on all of the advertisers in the hope that I can help offset the cost of those wine. I hope to see you drink and comment on them in the future as they age in your cellar.
Unfortunately for me, majority of these wines I bought only one bottle, and that was reserved for this tasting. 😔 Those are expensive wines, and I for sure cannot afford to splurge so.. 🥲
WS generally sticks to the classics and heavy, expensive and extracted reds every year. They have their client base and don't vary from it very much, personally WE and Decanter's lists are more interesting as they show greater diversity and better price points. Would love to see your top 10 wines for 2024! Cheers, great video.
Thank You. I am polishing it down right now. 😉
You're always the top, on the top one list of Sommeliers Agnese. 🍷
Great video and well done for calling it how it is
Thank You’ 🙏🏻
Thanks! Hopefully you will be able to get the other Top 10 selections to complete reviewing the whole list. Agreed, it was too new world/Cab heavy. I heard that the 2021 Roserock Pinot Noir was better than the 2022. Glad that you liked the Chimney Rock Cab, amazing to see Costco wine offerings on the list again!
To be honest, I probably will not collect them all. But I was thinking that it would be a lot of fun taste some of the Top 1 entries over the years. It seems it would be an expensive tasting though. 😢
I loved this video so much - thank you for your honesty and for championing the importance of diversity in the wine world!
I absolutely want to know what your top 10 is!
Thank You for Your lovely comment. I will sure try to make a summary of my Top10 wines of 2024! 🍷
@ Looking forward to it!
I totally agree with you. I stopped following the WS many years ago.
I just read that they position themselves more like a lifestyle magazine, knowing that, this list makes more sense. If one considers them as a wine publication - then more diversity is expected. 😇
Great point about WS's "safe" selections only raising prices of already well-known wines/grape varieties further alienating the younger adult population from the wine world.
That said, their 2022 list did rekindle with me a big name winery (Mondavi) which was the first wine had a while back before the inception of my journey. In the 2022's Top Ten with Mondavi, the 3rd criteria of "X-factor" (namely the backstory of their re-ascension to quality) was clearly described and more than justified its inclusion. That wine (2019 The Estates Oakville Cabernet) is a terrific wine quality, and well worth it at ~$60/bottle (yes, it is one of few wines I got past 1!) I bought them.
Thank You for Your comment. 🙏🏻 I am in no way saying that well established names shouldn’t be on these lists, they make great wines so why not? But at some point it would be nice to include lesser known and less discovered gems - they have more access to wines than we do, so it would make a lot of sense.
Great Video, thank you!
Is this the Veritas Champagne glass you use here?
Thank You. 🙏🏻 No, those glasses were New World Syrah, currently my favourite wine glasses for wine tastings.
i was able to buy 6 of the 10 wines the day the list came out and i must say the albe barolo topped them all. this wine is so undervalued its ridiculous. i bought 4 bottles and also a 2019. i gave it a 95 . for such a young barolo this wine delivered for me and im sure it will age well. biggest surprise was the faust which has always been an above average cab but not mind boggling. i enjoyed the wine but i wont remember it
Same here, 6 wines out of 10. 🙌🙌 coming to my latest podcast shouldn’t all great/fine wines be rememberable?
Still have cases of 01, 03, and 05 Don Melchor intact. Glad I got extras
Sounds like a great vertical tasting! 🍷🍷🍷
I agree with you a hundret percent. I mean I'm also a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon but obviously I also would like to see a stellar Syrah, Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cab Franc (very good example is the argentinian Gran Enemigo Cab Franc. Maybe it is the worlds best Cab Franc?), Sangiovese, Aglianico, Tempranillo, Malbec etc. in those lists. To go for the whites, where is the Riesling, Greco di Trufo, Arneis and so on? For sparkling, where is Franciacorta? Where is a very good Lambrusco or Prosecco? Where are the sparklings from Moldavia or German Winzersekt? Maybe whites or sparklings from austria or slowenia? That's why I personally prefer a preference from one single person like you or another one. Because your result is much more detailed and profound in terms of actuality and that great comparison between so many wine countries and grape varities. Really spot on with your choice of 2024
Thank You, You named so much great wine examples that all my mouth is now filled with saliva! 🤤🤤🤤
Great video!
Your personal top 10 or top 5 would be super interesting, as long as it’s not just champagne…..🥂
It would be quite difficult for me to make list with not Champagne, but I can ensure You it will not be all just bubbles.
Hi Agnese, I get your point re: choosing the usual suspects. Would be interested to know what you would choose, keeping in mind that the wines should be readily available for the general reading audience on a US/ global scale.
I would also like to hear your thoughts and agree with your perspective. Seems that perhaps the list is leaked to distributors/importers for presale to their high dollar buyers, makes for Unobtainium. Love your videos and very well spoken.
I will be making a different video on wines I loved myself this year. Of course, it cannot be the same, as WS has team of tasters that travel around and do this for leaving. I am only one person and majority of the wines I buy myself. 😶
Do we want another video from No Sediment? Well yes, of course we do!!!
You just put the biggest smile on my face, thank You’ 🙏🏻
Agree with your take on price spiral conspiracy. It’s ridiculous, really. The scores will continue to come down for the top 10 as the prices spiral out of control.
I have a 2017 Don Melchor that I’m waiting to open when it’s a bit older. Nice to see it as number one, but since I’ve never tried one, then I would be guessing on how good it is.
It is very good wine, no doubt there! 🍷
I’m going to a steakhouse in a couple of weeks that has a 2020 in their wine cellar. I’ll try that one before I open my own bottle. I would prefer older than 2020, but at least it will give me an idea of how it is.
I loved your thoughtful take here, Agnese. You gave us so much excellent analysis. And thank you for your effort in tracking down these six bottles from the list! Would love to know your Top 5.
Thank You, You are being so sweet and supportive. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I just had the Williams Selyem last Sunday, and it blew me away. However at the time I didn't even know that it was on anyone's top ten list!
Slightly jealous to be honest! 🤤🤤🤤
Excellent insights
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
well done, many good points.
🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thanks for the video. As a regular consumer (not a collector), I find the top 10-100 lists interesting, but not really relevant to me. Once a wine hits a list, the prices rise and it is hard to find, so I most likely will never purchase it. It has to be hard to put together a top wines list, as there are hundreds of thousands of wines made in the world. What is the process for any wine critic to ensure they are really tasting all the wines? For example, does a critic taste all chateauneuf du pape wines before making a decision? are all wines tasted blind? Even so, it is fun to see what they come up. I would definitely be interested in your top 10, just from what you have tasted.
Of course no one can taste all the Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines before making their decision, and I don’t think that it was meant to be as the best Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine out there. Other wine competitions are tasted blind, but if I understand correctly then for WS it is discussion over the wines that have tasted over the years and shown excellence rather than systematic tasting through wines in blind. Which is why the criticism from my side, because if it would have been blind tasting and the best wines achieved these scores - then I wouldn’t see any problem. 😇
greetings from Puerto Rico. As a wine afficionado, I have follow your page for some time… Great content/ Keep the good work/ Agreed with you 100% ; not
much grape variety in this year’s list, nevertheless, all great wines🍷Cheers …PS: No surprise Don Melchor , yet again, made it to the #1 spot. It was my unicorn wine when I started drinking wine 11 years ago; still is my favorite CS from Chile and worldwide ( 2005 and 2018 in my opinion the best years ever made by Concha y Toro and still
under $150 USD)
I have no doubt that is a great wine! 🍷 where I am from, though, it is closer to 200$ 😞 However, if You say that it is to this day Your favourite Cabernet Sauvignon I will go out of my way to find that bottle and taste it! 🙌🙌🙌🍷 Thank You for commenting and cheers!
Please can we have your choices for the Festive season. 🙏🎅
Champagne, Champagne, Champagne? 😅 I am sorry, I just think it matches almost every food. 😇
@ I absolutely agree, I’m buying now. I like Champagne 🥂 made with black 🍇too 😋😁🙏
Great video. Love your comments and they are so true. Just for these raisons their (tailor-made) list is of no importance for me.
It seems to me that a lot of people don’t follow it so closely as I was thinking. 😮
From Chili i recommend the Montes Alpha M of Purple Angel. Great wine, not to expensive.
Those two I know! 🫡🫡🫡
Tried the Rose Rock, definitely alcohol is prevalent.
I was surprised there, and as I said, especially because that wine came straight after Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which has higher alcohol content.
Greeting from the Midwest, US.
New subscriber. Is there a commonality range in %abv in this top ten? In order to rank 90 points or more, in your opinion, where is the “sweet spot” for abv? Thank you
No, I don’t think so. It might seem that there are, because wines come from similar grapes (styles) and climates, but in general, abv does not influence the quality of the wine, as long it is not shouting out loud on the nose or giving burning sensation.
The Faust is very thin and unremarkable. Agree on the Rose Rock, 90 pt wine. The Selyem is delicious and age worthy, one of the consistently best vineyards they source from but that wine is not available outside of their list. The BV at #2 you did not taste is dependably very good and 2021 is a good vintage so I would assume it is good. My understanding is that the Don Melchor is just coming to distribution now.
100% agree with you (and with the comment asking for your top ten :D)
Thank You! Will do! 🙌
Well done! Driving the prices up is the aim of the magazine, which is is largely dependent on (American) advertising.
🥹🥹🥹 That is sad, because, I as a wine lover want you to be able to afford nice wines as well. 😖
Earlier this year I had the chance to sit in a tasting where we had mini verticals blind. And the red of the evening was Don Melchor. Given one bottle was basically flawed with brett, but I managed to place the wine in Chile and C-S was quite obvious. In the end the wine left me quite underwhelmed like it has so many times when I've had the opportunity to taste it before. And when it didn't cost anywhere near the numbers it demands today.
Is it really bretty? I haven’t found it be very bretty, at least the few bottles that I have tasted. 🙈
@@NoSediment Yeah It's always been quite clean wine altogether when I've had the chance to taste some. It was just that one bottle no idea what had happened to it. It just reminded me of runaway brett with all the root vegetable and sweaty characters. Could have also been cooked a little, but anyway flawed and dead specimen. 😅
I would have to agree somewhat. While there is no reason that older classics, cannot be the top wines of the year. After all, they are some of the top houses.
I would hope for the sake of the future, these publications would focus on the bang for your buck wines.
This leads to a topic discussed by the “Attorney Somm” wine usage trending downward and your discussion on defining fine wines.
At least that’s how I see it.
But as always: Enjoy the sunlight held together by water. 🍷
Absolutely, there is no reason for those wines to not be on the list - they are great after all. My argument was more towards the availability and that also includes prices - so they will be even more limited now. 😔
@ I agreed with you also.
I stopped caring about wine lists because I know that the oldies but moldies are always going to be included. The Finger Lakes makes some of the best wine in the world and none of these lists will ever include them. So meh. Where is a Dr. Konstantin Frank or Boundary Breaks Riesling? I guess Riesling just doesnt rate good scores he he he he he. There are so many great wine regions that just get ignored because they arent California, France or Italy.
Great job where in Europe are u from ?
Hey, thank You’ I am based in Northern Europe, Latvia 🇱🇻
I totally agree with you Agnese
Cheers! ☺️
Hello! Where do I find your oyster T-shirt?
Hello! It is great, I know, I bought it from a local clothing store. 😅
This is one of Austrias top Redwine Scheiblhofer
Batonnage 2020 (Burgenland) and expensive enough for me
Great video and yes, I think making another one with your personal top 5 (out of the 100) would be nice and interesting. There are some gems further down in the list...
As for the list itself: I am kind of excited each year when the list comes out and at the same time I hate it for the reasons you pointed out in the video.
Generally speaking it is too heavy on (expensive) U.S. wines and it clearly drives the prices for the top 10 up.
But at the same time I have to admit that it puts a smile on my face when I see a wine in the Top 10 that I bought during the year, like the Tignanello 2021. I know it is silly, but it is the truth.
So I am sure I will be excited next year in November again and again hope that the list will not include wines from South Africa, Etna or any other of my favorite regions for very selfish reasons... 😉
I absolutely understand You, I feel very similar. Tracking down these wines and opening them up for the tasting was still a lot of fun and exciting for me. And who cares if we might not be as happy with the general list itself. 🍷 Cheers!
And by the way, I was thinking that Enta and SA wines would definitely make great additions to this list. Similarly I was thinking about Rias Baixas!
@@NoSediment.. but we keep this for ourselves. Promise? 😂😂😂🤭
Given that a good rating from Wine Spectator is typically a kiss of death for average people being able to access a wine, I would not complain that the list lacks diversity! I’d be glad if all their list was from Napa.
I would have laughed if it wasn’t that sad. 😞
WS list has always been US heavy…and Barolo is no grape variety 😊 Nebbiolo. My cellar is Barolo (or Piedmont in general) heavy and plenty of Bordeaux. I always scroll WS list to see if there’s anything interesting I would not stumble normally and see if any dealer has stock.
Did I say that Barolo was a grape at some point? 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ I just checked, I didn’t, so I am good! 😎
The probably underrated BV thats why
Three other publications gave it a 98 score
You said you're from Latvia. My mom's grandparents were from Lithuania, and they immigrated to Chicago in the 1890's.
That is our neighbours, another one of the Baltic States. We share very similar history. ☺️
These lists fetishize (and jack up the prices of) a small handful of wonderful wine…but an equally credible list could be made from a thousand other wines. I still read WS, but don’t give a damn about their Top 100. Thank you for offering your critique! Cheers
Btw GD Vajra Albe wont be US$40 for long…sadly! 😢
@baggrabb that also will depend on the producer. But I fear You may be right. 😔
I absolutely love the Tignanello, but the price policy is horrible, I bought 2 bottles in 2021 for 90 Euro each. Now they almost doubled the price.😢😢😢😢
Seems like you want “Top 10 Hipster Wines” instead of “Top 10 great producer wines”, which is fine - maybe we need a new list for unknown/undervalued wines!
No definitely not, that wouldn’t be me. Wine at 50$ price mark doesn’t need to be hipster, and wine from Loire, Rias Baixas, Rioja, Bordeaux, Champagne, Burgundy, Douro, Jerez or Etna is not necessarily hipster. But they definitely would introduce more diversity. 😇
To answer your question about another Chilean Wine with the same or better quality than Don Melchor....Try Domus Aurea by Quebrada de Macul...which to me it is one of the best Chilean Wine....
Thank You for the tip, I will make sure to seek this one out. 🙏🏻
You should be the face of wine… you’re so stunning !
😂😂😂 thank You! It could have gone either way 😁
It pisses me off that they put the Vajra Barolo d'Albe in the Top 10. Now the price will go up by default.
Not saying the wine doesn't deserve it as it is one of my faves, but putting something in the Top 10 can change the market. I am going to track this throughout 2025.
I am sure the price will not go up to too steep, but I guess we will live and see. 🤔
@@NoSediment I certainly hope you are correct. I'll keep an eye on it.
I work at a restaurant that used to carry William-Selyem with multiple vintages. It's very good, but there are many better. Many of these wines are really good, but like Apple, you are paying more for the name than the wine.
And Domaine Drouhin is absolutely delicious. Though I didn't taste the Roserock.
I definitely didn’t think it was bad wine, it was plush and fruity, but it lacked the depth of other examples on the list. 🍷
btw you look gorgeous.....
Thank You’ ☺️
So when can we expect the No Sediment Top 10 2024 for Wines under €50?🙃
I am working on it right now, not all will be below 50€, but I will include value for sure! 🍷
@@NoSediment Cool, also you have not done around the world in 80 wines yet. Maybe something for next year?😅
My comment from Alberta, Canada... I am head sommelier at an iconic place... Agness, you are simply amazing!
You have no idea how much fun we’d have tasting a few wines together LOL.
What I’m about to say is my own free and personal opinion and does NOT represent my employers:
Agness... I couldn’t agree more!! Congratulations on this FANTASTIC video, and I want to add that I literally (yes, literally) ADORE the passion you convey. On top of that-and this is purely coincidental and could very well be different (so it’s not important)-we align so much in our personal tastes, as well as, obviously, in our "preferences and passions" as wine lovers...
and here I am, still diving deep in search of powerful gems from Chile... whether it’s at Willow Park or straight into HELL...
Just as she has some problems getting certain American wines in Europe, I have my problems here getting some European wines... Agness, here you have Faust's "big brother"... from the extraordinary 2021... The Pact!!
Thank You for Your very sweet comment. 🍷 Yes, unfortunately not all wines will always be available worldwide. However, my criticisms were not so much towards the availability (I was just sad myself that I couldn’t source all the wines for the video). I am sure WS doesn’t need to check the global reach of all the wines. 😢😢
Make your own list
🙌🙌🙌
Hard to disagree with you Agnese….I’m not a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon……but I like Ramey’s Chardonnay.
It was very classic example of Sonoma Chardonnay, and for that price I think good value. 😊
To believe wine magazine or wine rating by james suckeling is like believing Moet is the best champagne in the world just because they tell us in their publication. A good illustration is believing cigar aficianados telling ua cuban cigar ia not good. Its just unbelievable. What i believe? TH-camr like agnes, wine folly and konstantin. They are honest in their review.
Thank You, I appreciate this very much. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Yes, you tell 5y3m!
Let me offer a different perspective: Maybe we're pleased when platforms put the usual suspects on their lists. Maybe we're not really that interested in seeing less famous favourites being subjected to the kind of stampede (and price gouging) that comes with these placements.
Are You?
@@NoSediment Yes 😄If I had my way, all these lists would contain the exact same wines every year.
@QualeQualeson 😂😂😂
No actual wine or hospitality person takes Spectator seriously, they take advertising from wine companies so they cannot be honest......
Well, but it still brings in attention , even here so far away in northern Europe this top drives up sales. So at least people who sell the wine take it very seriously. 😉😉😉
So long as it gets more people drinking wine I’m in! 🎉🎉
It's hard to imagine how Spectator could be successful with any audience recommending bad wine for cash. It would crash and burn. Every single person who evaluates wine, including this TH-camr and famously people like Suckling, and including you, have biases that color their assessments. Unless you try the bottles they recommend you're in no position to dispute their accuracy.
I don't like then due to the clear bias against New world wines
loove olm
1920 Haut Brion, gifted to a friend by an Eisenhower family member
Is this for real? Wow! 😯
Just a couple of minutes in. BUT!!! any top 10 wine of any year without any Riesling in it is not a top 10 wine of any year but probably some marketing ploy.
Yes, Riesling should get the praise it deserves! 🥂
Wine spectator is a bit of a reach for being the ultimate judge on the best wines , however, I don’t know how she can comment on wine she hasn’t tasted. The Williams Selyem and Faust on this list are world class and are not super big producers. She kind of contradicts herself regarding the Telegraph which has a great reputation and is rated high. Maybe it’s been rated too many times in the top 100 over the years…
Overall she did a good job of describing the wines.
May I ask You - why are You referring to me as a third person?😅 And I didn’t comment on the wines I didn’t have in my glass. 😉 And I don’t see how I contradicted myself, I said that I don’t criticise wines, but the list itself. Maybe You can watch again? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Why? Is almost always answered by 💰
😅
Or maybe this year, those regions and/or varietals weren’t as good? Not everything has to be a conspiracy
Not everything is, I agree. And of course, we can argue that 2021 was not particularly good vintage in Bordeaux. But I still stand by my argument, there are literally hundreds of other winemaking regions and grapes that could gave been highlighted. That said - the wines I got to taste were exceptional! 😎
I agree with you. This is not a remotely impressive list. You’re not missing anything on the Faust. It’s an overripe fruit bomb with no structure. It’s ridiculous that this got in the top 10. I can’t tell you how many better Cabernet Sauvignons I’ve had this year alone
Thank You for the insights. I still wish I would have tasted it though. Maybe next year I will be able to source all the top 10 wines
verdict and consensus should be and should have been years ago that Wine Spectator as a publication is laughable sources for anything wine related. its a wine themed lifestyle magazine that sells articles as ads. and obviously i fully agree with all your criticisms.
This is what I came to understand lately, as You say, it is Wine themed lifestyle magazine. 😄 Maybe I have been too harsh with them. 😁
@ but why should you not be harsh? you are essentially a democratized alternative to Wine spectator and you spoke your truth…
WS is safe, boring and expensive. I know 26,000 subscribers isn't anywhere near the size of Wine Spectator's audience, but many of us are watching your channel because you go beyond safe, boring and expensive. I'd watch your take on another 5 or 10 WS wines if you make the video, but would rather see you do something else.
You are so very sweet and thank You for Your support. 🙏🏻 Reading Your comments always gives me energy to continue. 🍷
Tignanello, again... This is lame.
As you said, it is only contributing to doubling the price in a few years.
🙈🙈🙈🙈 I actually really liked the Tignanello, it was my top wine from all that I manage to taste this year. 🤓
wine spectator and james suckling top lists are just full of shit
Confict$ of intere$t$. Horrible list.
DEI? It’s top ten not DEI. There are millions of wines and if you are ranked twelve, OMG!
I never said dei! TOP 10! Ten! 😎😎😎