St. Emilion has been an astonishingly successful district in 2023, enjoying great consistency with several potential candidates to earn the title "wine of the vintage." And many other wines aren't bad, either!Here are the best wines:

A number of Italian new arrivals has been tasted, featuring some extraordinary surprises. 

Auf der Suche nach einem neuen Bordeaux degustierten wir 84 Crus Bourgeois du Médoc.
Crus Bourgeois sind außerordentlich interessante Weine und es gibt darunter sogar einige Weine auf Grand Cru Classé Niveau zu durchaus moderaten Preisen.
Wir kosteten Weine der Jahre 2018, 2019 und 2020 nach Jahrgang und Appellation getrennt.
Wir wurden nicht enttäuscht, es waren viele Weine von sehr guter Qualität darunter.
Bei unserem bewährten und erprobten Verkostungssystem gab es keinerlei Informationen in welchem Preissegment sich die Weine bewegen.
Die interessantesten Gewächse haben wir am Verkostungstag und in den Tagen darauf mehrmals nachgekostet. So können wir gewährleisten Ihnen nur die besten Gewächse aus diesem Sortiment zu offerieren.

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.

GIOVANNI ROSSO Barolo DOCG Vignarionda Ester Canale Rosso 2020/ 110p / A Barolo which is the epitome of the terroir of Serralunga, even from plants over 70 years old, a history of great charm. Raspberries in jam on the nose,touches of gardenia, beautiful balsamic nuances on the finish. The mouthfeel has salty tannins, a balsamic-fruity recall and a very long persistence.

Three new arrivals from the Mediterranean region are exiting suggestions for this summer

The La Tâche was the palest of all the DRC 2017s, almost to the point of transparency. This is a floral, open knit expression of the monopoly Grand Cru, which is very far from being a blockbuster this year. Scented and appealing, with notes of avatar of roses, fresh leather and peat smoke on the nose, lots of whole bunch spice and structure, racy acidity, a hint of salinity, succulent red berry fruit and remarkable palate length. A layered, understated red.

Martin Korrell has launched a stuning collection from the vintage 2023 edition as well as his famous Korrell XXV from 2020. 

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

Two new wines have been launched by Hanspeter Ziereisen. Again he proved his dedication to the local variety of Chasselas. Roter Gutedel, or as the French call it Chasselas rosé, is a mutation of the classic Chasselas. An exciting discovery is  also the blend "Schmätterling" (butterfly in the local dialect), which is an ideal treat for hot summer days. 

Dom Pérignon Oenothèque 1990 / Big, ripe expression with gingerbread, roasted hazelnuts, straw, green apple and sea notes, complemented by gunpowdery complexity. Broad, almost oily textured yet fresh palate, with the softest mousse. Mature but healthy and fruity. Disgorged 2007.

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.