Top Wines 2020 Short List
Found my Red in Itata, White in Navarra
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| Hard work in Itata - from a Liberty Wines Zoomed Masterclass 2020. |
Pedro Parra “Vinista” Itata Chile 2018 Liberty
Clos des Fous “Pour Ma Geule” Itata Chile 2016 Liberty
Montes “Outer Limits” Cinsault 2017 DO Valle del Itata Liberty
Leonardo Erazo “A Los Viñateros Bravos” Volcánico País 2018 Itata (Chile) Le Caveau
Azul y Garanza Naturaleza Salvaje Blanca Navarra 2019 Mary Pawle
Blank Canvas Grüner Veltliner Marlborough (2013) Liberty
Ata Rangi “Lismore” Pinot Gris Martinborough 2018 Liberty
While most of the wine I drink these days comes from Europe (much of the red from France), it seems my favourite red wine area for 2020 is Itata in Chile. Light reds are emerging as a personal favourite and here in Itata, with the likes of Pedro Parra, Aurelio Montes and Leonardo Erazo working their magic, we are enjoying beautiful bottles based on País but also Cinsault. The four listed above are superb and I'm not inclined to pick any one over the others.
Aside from the Itata wines, Beaujolais, Burgundy and the Loire (Cabernet Franc), will also feature on my shopping lists. Indeed, the Passetoutgrains below is a gem. Navarra has some outstanding winemakers including Azul y Garanza and Tandem. Also in Spain, Bodegas Pinuaga made a big impression on me early in the year.
No Itata equivalent in the whites but the two from New Zealand are outstanding and are distinctive examples of Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Gris. Austria is, of course, the home of Gru-Vee and Diwald come up with the goods year after year as indeed does Judith Beck. The three French whites featured are each worth looking out for. And Spain has come up with a stunning Garnacha white, by Azul y Garanza, pipping the Kiwis for my white of the year!
The Short List 2020
RED
Chile
Pedro Parra “Vinista” Itata Chile 2018 Liberty
Clos des Fous “Pour Ma Geule” Itata Chile 2016 Liberty
Montes “Outer Limits” Cinsault 2017 DO Valle del Itata Liberty
Leonardo Erazo “A Los Viñateros Bravos” Volcánico País 2018 Itata (Chile) Le Caveau
France
J.M. Cazes Domaine des Sénéchaux Châteauneuf-du-Pape (AOC) 2016 O’Brien’s
Domaine Lacour Bourgogne Passetoutgrains (AOP) 2017 Le Caveau
J-C Regnaudot Pinot Noir Bourgogne (AOC) '17 Le Caveau
Château du Cèdre Héritage Malbec, Cahors (AOC) 2016 Le Caveau
Domaine de Brau PURE Pinot Noir, Pays D’Oc (IGP) 2015 Mary Pawle
Italy
GD Vajra Nebbiolo Langhe (DOC) 2018 Liberty
Spain
Bodegas Pinuaga Tinto “Colección” Vino de la Tierra de Castilla 2016 Mary Pawle
Tandem Ars Nova Navarra (DO) 2014 O'Brien's
Azul y Garanza “Naturaleze Salvaje” Navarra (DO) 2017 Mary Pawle
Portugal
Casa Ferreirinha Vinha Grande Douro (DOC) Douro Tinto 2017 Liberty
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WHITE
Spain
Azul y Garanza Naturaleza Salvaje Blanca 2019 Mary Pawle
New Zealand
Blank Canvas Grüner Veltliner Marlborough (2013) Liberty
Ata Rangi “Lismore” Pinot Gris Martinborough 2018 Liberty
France
Meyer-Fonné Gentil Alsace (AOC) 2018 Le Caveau
Bertrand Ambroise Lettre d’Eloïse Chardonnay “Coteaux Bourguignons” (AOC) 2017 Le Caveau
Rijckaert Chardonnay Arbois (AOC) 2018 Bradley’s/Wine Mason
Germany
Lingenfelder Riesling Trocken Kabinett Freinsheimer Musikantenbuckel Pfalz (DP) 2018 O’Briens
Portugal
Casa Ferreirinha Vinha Grande Douro (DOC) Douro Branco 2019 Liberty
Austria
Diwald Grüner Veltliner (Wagram, Austria) 2018 Mary Pawle
Beck Weissburgunder Austria 2019 Le Caveau
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Red and White Doubles
Fancy a good pair of red and white on your table at Christmas table or indeed at anytime? Why not try the Le Caveau pair, the Passetoutgrains (16.95) and the Gentil (18.00), listed above.
Lingenfelder Riesling Trocken Kabinett Freinsheimer Musikantenbuckel Pfalz (DP) 2018
Tandem Ars Nova Navarra (DO) 2014. Both from O’Brien’s
Diwald Grüner Veltliner (Wagram, Austria) 2018 Mary Pawle
De Brau Pure Pinot Noir Pays D’Oc (IGP) 2018 Mary Pawle
GD Vajra Nebbiolo Langhe (DOC) 2018 Liberty Wines
Pieropan Soave (DOC) Classico 2019 Liberty Wines
Andre Goichot Fleurie (AOC) 2018 Supervalu
Guy Saget Sancerre (AOC) 2018 Supervalu
See the Long List here.
And the Good Value List here.
Both should help you you in your quest for good wine in the run-up to Christmas and well into the New Year.
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