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    My Column

    Bordeaux 2020 wine scores – James Suckling versus AI

    by Pekka Nuikki / Editor in Chief of Fine Wine magazines

    Can artificial intelligence taste” and evaluate wines as the best wine critics? – A fascinating idea that came to my mind last year, and with the Bordeaux vintage 2020 we had an opportunity to test it for the first time.

    Now that most critics have published their reviews and scores, there is an opportunity to compare them to ...

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    My Today

    All of the tasting notes of the wine critic mentioned above in tastingbook, comes from press releases from wine importers and vineyards, or directly from the critic and can also be found on the critic’s own website, which can be easily accessed by clicking on the link above.

     

    JAMES SUCKLING - THE WINNER OF THE BWW COMPETITION - BEST WINE CRITIC OF THE WORLD -AWARD

    JamesSuckling.com organizes some of the best premium wine events in th...

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    Me

    James Suckling, 58, is one of today’s leading wine critics whose reviews are read and respected by wine lovers, collectors, and wine trade worldwide. He is a resident of Hong Kong and is also the wine editor for Asia Tatler and its nine luxury magazines in the region, including Hong Kong TatlerChina TatlerSingapore Tatler, and Thailand Tatler.

    Suckling spent nearly 30 years as Senior Editor and European Bureau Chief of The Wine Spectato...

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    Pro Me

    JamesSuckling.com reflects my three decades of experience as a journalist and a wine critic. From tasting notes and videos to blogs and events, this website focuses on the great wines of the world including Italy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Australia, New Zealand, California, Chile, and Argentina. I believe that today’s wine drinker deserves more than just written reviews and criticism. They need to see with their own eyes the place, the people, and...

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    Digital Me

    THE TOP 100 REDS OF NAPA VALLEY 2016

    I couldn’t have picked a better time to create a Top 100 list for Napa than in 2016. What a year it’s been for America’s most famous wine region, as most wines I scored were from the glorious 2012 and 2013 vintages. I tasted about 1,000 wines from Napa this year over four different trips. JamesSuckling.com is committed to the region and its unique wines and fantastic terroir and microclimates. We believe...

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Wine Moments

Here you can see wine moments from tastingbook users. or to see wine moments from your world.

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  26 Wines  from  25 Producers 

Masseto 2021 / 98 Points / Blueberries and black olives with violets and hints of sage, as well as rosemary flowers. Full and powerful with lots of fruit and vanilla on the palate. A rich and flavorful red, yet held together beautifully. Muscular and powerful. Needs five or six years to come together. Give it time.

13d 11h ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  22 Wines  from  17 Producers 

Niepoort Redoma Reserva Branco 2021 / Mineral, lemon, lime and flint on the nose. Reductive and fascinating. Medium to full body with creamy texture. Lemon rind and curd. Some nougat and stone. Flavorful and driven finish. Drink or hold. 94p

25d 14h ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  8 Wines  from  8 Producers 

Château Haut-Brion Blanc 2018 / Opulent and perfumed for this great white in 2018, with lemon curd, cooked apple, lilac, lime flower, stone, rock and hints of sandalwood. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and compressed with layers of fruit that are integrated and focused. Needs time to open and show its true greatness but stunning. Try after 2025.

99p

11m 2d ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  18 Wines  from  15 Producers 

Pingus 2021 / Violets, flint, graphite, dark chocolate, ink pot, and hints of herbs such as tarragon. Black truffles. Tar and hints of sandalwood. Black tea. Medium-bodied with very linear tannins that are tight and polished with fine silky texture. It’s endless and seamless. Profound and deep. Super structure and balance. This needs six or eight years of bottle age at least. Try after 2032. 100p

1y 3d ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  23 Wines  from  7 Producers 

Joseph Phelps Insignia 2018 / Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now.

1y 1m ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  23 Wines  from  18 Producers 

Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino Riserva 2019/ The quality of the tannins is so impressive in this wine, even though it’s a tannic year. Medium to full body. Lovely complexity and length. Barrel sample. Bottled next year and released in 2025. 99-100p

1y 2m ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  17 Wines  from  15 Producers 

Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc 2021 / This has so much depth and power, with complex notes of flint, oyster shell, white pepper, dried mango, lemon, papaya, apricot stone and chalk. Medium-to full-bodied. Bright, yet creamy. It’s so long and concentrated. Wait and see. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% semillon, 5% sauvignon gris. From organically grown grapes. 98-99

2y 3m ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  21 Wines  from  11 Producers 

Château Mouton-Rothschild 1959 / Another perfect bottle. This has been a long-time favorite with mint and fresh basil, as well as currants and dried fruits on the nose. It turns to dried flowers. Full-bodied with spices, berries, and light eucalyptus character. Christmas cake too. Full body with velvety tannins. This bottle was almost mid-shoulder height, but it was a perfect wine. 100 points

2y 11m ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  18 Wines  from  4 Producers 

DRC Montrachet 1990 / So dense and layered with an amazing character of apples, cream, dried pineapples and apricots. It's full-bodied but not heavy, and there's incredible energy in the wine that shocks you to the bone. Goes on for what seemed like hours on the palate. This is one of the greatest dry whites I have ever consumed.

3y 2m ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  33 Wines  from  1 Producers 

Niepoort Redoma Branco 2019 / A bright, vivid white with sliced-lemon, green-apple and some white-pineapple aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied with a tight palate and a bright, vivid finish. Stone and lemon rind at the end with just a hint of lemon curd. Drink now.

3y 3m ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  19 Wines  from  2 Producers 

Harlan Estate 2018 / 100 points / Classy earth, oak and bay-leaf character on the nose, together with dark fruit, such as currants and blackberries. Forest flowers, too. Full-to medium-bodied, linear and tight with coolness and freshness. Mint and spearmint to the dark fruit. Lasts a long time. Such balance and intensity. Tight now, but great energy and length this year. Incredibly sophisticated and seductive. A joy to taste now, but try in 2025.

3y 4m ago

James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (United States)  had a tasting of  27 Wines  from  10 Producers 

Petrus 2015 / The aromas to this are a reference for Pomerol with truffles, black olives, black licorice and dark fruit. Even brown sugar. Full-bodied, layered and multi-dimensional. Chocolate underlines the character above. The perfect tannin texture, length and balance make you think you're dreaming. All about harmony and beauty. Love to taste it now but needs at least five or six years. 100p

3y 7m ago

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