2021 Petrus: 99% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc: Fermented in cement, 50% new oak. Harvest: September 30 to October 9. As suggested by its lighter color, this Petrus displays rather red berry fruit, cranberries, and red currants, along with a splendid note of licorice. Behind that, there are also delicate floral hints of lilies and violets. On the palate, it is surprisingly slender and energetic with juicy, finely spiced red berry fruit, crafted entirely for freshness and focus, without revealing the seductive melt or erotic fleshiness typically seen in its youth. I am curious to see if it develops these characteristics with bottle aging. A subtle, perhaps too slender Petrus for some, with silky tannins, delicate elegance, and a finish rich in finesse and spiciness. 99 points

The Best 40 wines tasted in 2023 Part II, exclusively for readers of Tasting Book. It has been quite a year, with far more ups than downs, especially when it comes to wine. I am lucky as well as blessed to be able to taste older, mature wines, as well as young wines and barrel samples, all of which allows me a fun look at a myriad of different wines at all ages and stages of maturity.

By ratings, these are a look at the 40 best wines tasted, so far. I have two more special nights coming up, but as we already closing in on the second week of December, this is a good snapshot of the best wines from 2023.  I hope you have at least half as much read it, as I did tasting them.

Penfolds Grange 2018 – For me, it is simply one of the greatest young Australian wines I have seen. Truly stunning. It is a classic and cracking Grange. 

Like most Granges, a dollop of Cabernet is added to the Shiraz – this time just 3%. Multi-regional but Barossa dominant (69%), with material from McLaren Vale and the Clare Valley, the wine spent 18 months in new American hogsheads. 2018 was simply an outstanding vintage for South Australia. We have seen it with many wines and now we see it here with the Grange. 

Deep magenta in colour, near opaque. The immediate impression here is of great intensity but even more so, impeccable balance. A glorious nose, complete and complex. Black fruits are to the fore, and there is certainly oak evident, but of the finest quality and integrating superbly. The palate is fresh but dense and yet supple and seamless and with such length. Powerful, yet it sings and dances. The tannins are abundant yet so lace-like and silky that they are near invisible. Such an incredibly long finish, with the intensity maintained for the full length. Chocolate notes emerge on the finish. This should sail through 50 to 60 years in good cellars and could probably do up to 80 – not that this will be relevant to many of us. What was fascinating was that after tasting and scribbling notes, I realised that I had hardly identified any specific flavours, such is the overall balance and the way that nothing dominates to any extent, the wine already being such a complete entity. Retracing steps and with further investigation, look for mocha, blackberries, coffee bean notes, cassis, licorice, chocolate, charcuterie, beef stock and soy. Every taste brought forth new and evolving flavours. This is a truly magnificent wine, well on its way to becoming a legend. Not just a legendary Grange, but a legend in the world of wine. 100p.

Bordeaux white and sweet wines 2023 vintage: Château Climens 2023: This is the second vintage under new ownership. It is a staggeringly stylish wine with great finesse and richness, a sophisticated touch, great sweetness, and remarkable acidity. 98p.

QUINTA DO NOVAL VINTAGE PORT NACIONAL 1963 – This is the Vintage Port which most people would like to take to their lonely island. High-scores everywhere and so much life ahead that it almost frightens you: The colour is easily 10-20 years younger of what you would expect. Deep, dark-red colour with lots of reflections. Perfectly balanced bouquet with finesse and intensity. Long and multi-layered aftertaste. Tasted last year at the Quinta. Port-Heaven! 100

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 2016 /
An expressive Romanee-Conti with great exuberance, intensity and complexity. This is a brilliant vintage for DRC and the Romanee-Conti in this vintage is suprisingly open at this stage. The wine combines everything one would want in a great Burgundy wine – delicacy, purity, depth, complexity, length and seductive flavors. 99 points

There are sometimes pleasant surprises when you organise a Sunday lunch “bottle pary” with friends. This was the way how an excellent bottle found its way in our glasses. It was clear that the wine had great maturity, however it still displayed freshness and was very elegant. When the comments were made and the wine revealed it turned out to be a very special bottle. 

Since 1932, Chianti Classico has always been produced in a designated part of Tuscany. The first notary report documenting wine production in this same area dates back to the XIVth century. However, the territory was not always dedicated exclusively to vineyards, but also to olive crop for the purpose of olive oil production. These days almost 7200 hectares of vineyards are registered as DOCG classification for the production of Chianti Classico. The Sangiovese grape, the variety from which the Chianti Classico is produced, is rather sensitive tothe characteristics of the terroir where it grows.

The VDP has again presented the new vintage of the GG wines in Wiesbaden. This time, I have focussed on Silvaner from Franconia, Riesling from the northern areas, Mosel, Saar and Ruwer, Middle-Rhine and Nahe. I tasted some very appealing Pinot varieties too. The vintage 2023 was rather challenging for the producers however they showed some very convincing wines.

Dom Pérignon 2003 P2 / Medium deep golden colour with rather small and vivid bubbles. Pure and intense nose, fine development without oxidation, roasted pine and pistachio nuts with confit de citron, fresh peach and brioche notes. The palate is ample and rather opulent with a rounded acidity yet with a nice fresh bite from fine extract, mild creaminess, nice layers of finely spicy yellow fruit, nougat and nutty flavours with a long and embracing finish. 95p

Again Bordeaux will be the place where a huger number of excellent wines coming from beyond the Bordelais’ border will be introduced to the market. Some promising and excellent wines have been tasted. 

Tastingbook Celebrates its founder’s birthday with an exceptional Petrus tasting event featuring 11 recent vintages. The collective average score from all participants was a remarkable 97.2 points—a truly outstanding result!