James Suckling @JamesSuckling

A day dedicated to “2 Ps & 2 Cs” – pinotage, pinot noir, chardonnay and chenin blanc – with a few unexpected varieties thrown into the mix. As our South Africa tasting coverage continues in Stellenbosch, the mountain of wines behind Senior editors Aldo Fiordelli and Igor Lukovic keeps shrinking as they dive deeper into the fascinating world of South African wines. Hard work, but such an exciting journey! Stay tuned for more.

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Leading our new Old-Vine California Cabernet report, the MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Oakville 2023 is a legendary wine from one of Napa’s greatest vineyards, offering an austerity that lends real sophistication and verve. Brothers Graeme and Alex MacDonald tend these historic, 72-year-old vines – originally planted in 1954 – within their family’s section of the iconic To Kalon Vineyard. Historically supplying grapes for Robert Mondavi’s landmark Reserve cabernets of the 1960s and 1970s, this site continues to produce handmade, small-production cabernet sauvignon of extraordinary depth. The 2023 bottling delivers intense aromas of black fruit, graphite, iodine, bay leaves and crushed stones. Full-bodied and layered, it pairs a weightless mouthfeel with velvety tannins, capturing both the purity of old-vine fruit and the classic character of its historic terroir. Read more in our new Old-Vine California Cabernet report here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r… #ToKalon #Oakville #NapaValley #CabernetSauvignon #CaliforniaWine

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This plush yet restrained Ribera del Duero from Bodegas Portia is Senior Editor Zekun Shuai’s latest Wine Crush. Sourced from high-altitude soils, Portia Ribera Del Duero Alta 2023 delivers dusty, chalky tannins and vibrant freshness, showing the region's modern focus on balance and precision rather than heavy winemaking.

Our Portuguese Wine of the Year for 2026 is the Niepoort Vintage Port 2024. Capturing the ideal balance of a stellar 2024 vintage, fifth-generation head Dirk van der Niepoort noted that the season offered warmth without excess and a comfortable, unhurried harvest. Sourced from very old, mixed-variety plots, the grapes undergo 100 percent whole-cluster, foot-treading in shallow granite tanks. The resulting wine features a remarkably fresh aromatic profile of graphite, dark berries, violets and blueberries. On the palate, exceptional grainy tannins frame dark, delineated and precise fruit with a tender, seamless texture and remarkable depth. With 25,000 bottles produced at around $170, it delivers both outstanding quality and accessibility. See more in our full Top 100 Wines of Portugal 2026 report here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r… @NiepoortWines #PortugueseWine #VintagePort #PortWine #Douro #Top100WinesofPortugal

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Ranking at No. 5 on our Top 100 Wines of France 2026 list, the Château Pavie-Macquin St.-Emilion 2023 reinforces the vintage’s theme of density framed by freshness. Managed by Cyrille Thienpont and Nicolas Thienpont, the estate’s elevated vineyards on the Saint-Émilion plateau derive distinct character from high chalk and limestone content. A blend of 84 percent merlot, 15 percent cabernet franc, and 1 percent cabernet sauvignon, the 2023 exhibits an electric, driven profile marked by lower pH and a notable saline freshness. On the nose, intense notes of plum, citrus, dried meat and oyster shell lead into a palate of quintessential chalky fruit that unwinds and dissolves through a long, precise finish. It stands as one of the most complete and energetic releases in the estate’s history. Read the full Top 100 Wines of France 2026 report here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r… #chateaupaviemacquin #StEmilion #Bordeaux #Merlot #CabernetFranc #Top100FranceWines

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Taking the No. 4 spot on our Top 100 Wines of France 2026 list is the Château Trottevieille St.-Emilion 2023. Following a top 2022 release, Philippe Castéja and Frédéric Castéja have produced another exceptional red, distinguished by its balance, drinkability and value. The 2023 benefits significantly from near-perfect cabernet franc in the blend. It features 53 percent cabernet franc, 44 percent merlot and 3 percent cabernet sauvignon. The nose opens with deep aromas of sweet black plums, blackberries, cocoa powder, chalk and refined spices. On the palate, juicy, compressed fruit is framed by fine, dusty tannins that lend texture and character to a racy, persistent finish. It is already approachable now, with the balance to age gracefully. Read the full Top 100 Wines of France 2026 report here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r… @chateautrottevieille #ChateauTrottevieille #StEmilion #Bordeaux #FrenchWine #CabernetFranc #Merlot #Top100Wines #JamesSuckling #WineTasting

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The Château d’Yquem Sauternes 2023 takes the No. 3 spot on our Top 100 Wines of France 2026 list. The 2023 is the third perfect wine in a row from the estate, completing a trilogy of 100-point releases that includes 2021 and 2022. Lorenzo Pasquini, CEO and general manager at Château d’Yquem, describes the 2023 as a “synthesis” of the structure and richness of 2022 with the freshness and precision of 2021, comparing the 2021–2023 trio to the landmark Bordeaux trilogy of 1988, 1989 and 1990. The wine delivers aromas of orange peel, honey, butterscotch, saffron, smoke and peat, alongside hints of coffee and dried apples. On the palate, it is full-bodied yet weightless and silky, balancing 154 grams per liter of residual sugar with freshness and spice. It is a dream to drink now, with the structure to age for decades. Read the full Top 100 Wines of France 2026 report here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r… #Sauternes #Bordeaux #FrenchWine #Top100WinesofFrance @Yquem_Official

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Puglia has never seen a cabernet sauvignon quite like the Tenuta Liliana 2024. Senior Editor Aldo Fiordelli tasted the vintage in Milan alongside passionate founder Antonio Intiglietta, exploring a wine shaped by two winds on a 200-meter ridge between the Adriatic and Ionian seas, where Salento’s red earth meets tufa limestone. Aldo found the 2024 vintage delivers pristine cassis fruit, nuanced with balsamic notes and exceptionally elegant tannins – a striking expression of cabernet sauvignon from the heart of Salento. @tenutaliliana @aldofiordelli #CabernetSauvignon #Puglia #Salento #ItalianWine #PugliaWine

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The Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2024 is our French Wine of the Year. It is not often today that you discover a young Châteauneuf-du-Pape that displays such aromatics and finesse while wowing you with balance and beauty. The perfume in the 2024 Beaucastel is spectacular – with notes of rose petal, cinnamon, raspberry and blueberry – delivered on a medium body with fruit caressing the palate. Plus, it comes in at just 14 percent alcohol, standing out from the 15 or 15.5 percent that has become common across the region and Europe. “The 2024 vintage is not a typical year for sure,” says Charles Perrin, whose family owns Château de Beaucastel. “It was cooler and wetter, and we had to do a lot of work in the vineyard and cellar. It was an unusual, challenging vintage. It reminds me of vintages in the 1980s, like 1988. It’s nice to drink now, but it will be wonderful in 10 years.” Read the full Top 100 Wines of France 2026 report here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r… @chateaudebeaucastel @familleperrin #ChateauneufDuPape #RhoneValley #FrenchWine #FrenchWineOfTheYear #Top100Winesoffrance

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Proving that Argentina’s top-tier wines thrive far beyond Mendoza, the El Esteco Valles Calchaquíes Chañar Punco 2021 claims the No. 10 spot in our Top 100 Wines of Argentina 2026 report. Sourced from Chañar Punco - a remote, arid sub-region in Salta sitting at nearly 2,000 meters above sea level – this release represents one of the finest bottlings in the estate’s history. A blend of 70 percent malbec (incorporating some whole-cluster fermentation), 28 percent cabernet sauvignon and 2 percent merlot, the 2021 vintage delivers a refined, savory profile. Slightly syrah-like in its expression, it opens with aromas of wild herbs, meat, red peppercorns, dark cherries and roasted red peppers. On the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated, supported by abundant structure and a long, dusty finish shaped by its high-altitude mountain site. Explore the complete Top 100 Wines of Argentina 2026 report here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r… @bodegaelesteco #ArgentinaTop100 #SaltaWine #CalchaquiValleys #ArgentineWine #Malbec

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DAOSA (Dedicated Artisans of South Australia) is a premier traditional-method sparkling wine producer located in the high-altitude Piccadilly Valley of the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Winemaker Xavier Bizot’s laser focus on cool-climate sparkling wines yielded standout releases in our latest Weekly Tasting Report. In the Daosa Sparkling Adelaide Hills Piccadilly Valley Blanc de Blancs Late Disgorged 2018, Staff Writer & Critic Ryan Montgomery found citrus, oyster shell and stone fruit framing a seamlessly integrated mousse, bright acidity and a long, focused finish. The Daosa Sparkling Adelaide Hills Piccadilly Valley Blanc de Blancs 2022 spent 44 months on tirage, delivering a brighter, more energetic palate that captures the distinct terroir of these high-altitude vineyards. Read the full report here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r…

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Our No. 6 wine from Argentina, the El Enemigo Malbec Valle de Uco Gualtallary As Bravas 2018, is one of five Argentine bottlings rated at 100 points this year out of 2,200 wines tasted. Sourced from a high point in Gualtallary at 1,580 meters above sea level, this pure, intellectual malbec – blended with 7 percent semillon – delivers a naked, stony ethos and a radically vertical, austere finish. Surprisingly youthful yet brooding and complex, it opens with aromas of black cherries, violets, blackberries, peppercorns, crushed stones and a hint of cured meat. Slow fermentation, light extraction and 64 months of aging in used foudres yield a thought-provoking bottling that El Enemigo Co-Owner & Chief Winemaker Alejandro Vigil notes encapsulates everything he has learned throughout his career. Packed with density, brightness and tension, it stands as an honest, stripped-down expression of high-altitude terroir. Explore our complete Top 100 Wines of Argentina 2026 here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r… @elenemigowines #malbec #top100winesofargentina #argentinawine @alevigilmalbec #Gualtallary

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Our No. 4 Argentine Wine of the Year is the Catena Zapata Chardonnay Mendoza Adrianna Vineyard White Stones 2024. Crafted by Winemaking Director Alejandro Vigil from the high-altitude Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, this electric, mineral-driven bottling stands as one of two exceptional chardonnays in our Top 10, underscoring Argentina’s emergence as a premier origin for world-class whites. Pure, edgy and restrained, it evokes a cool, serious, Chablis-like profile – opening with intense aromas of lemons, star fruit and green apples laced with crushed stone and chalky minerality. The medium- to full-bodied palate is driven by acidity and gastronomically intense flavors, resolving into a long, linear and lightly saline finish. It offers pristine site clarity and a striking showcase of high-altitude mountain chardonnay. Read the full Top 100 Wines of Argentina 2026 list here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r…

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Our No. 3 Argentine Wine of the Year is the Durigutti Family Winemakers Malbec Luján de Cuyo 1914 Proyecto Las Compuertas 2024. Sourced from a historic, centenary malbec vineyard planted in 1914 in Luján de Cuyo’s cooler Las Compuertas district, this bottling redefines freshness in traditional Mendoza. The terroir features deep loamy-clay soils rather than the stark calcareous stones of the Uco Valley, proving that low-intervention craftsmanship and thoughtful winemaking can coax tension, pristine purity and elegance out of historic site profiles. Fresh, textured, and succulent, it delivers an evenly distributed palate of pure dark fruit and fine, delicate structure that challenges the notion that Luján de Cuyo only yields heavy, opulent styles. Approachable yet deeply rooted in heritage, it stands out as a vibrant, table-ready expression of old-vine precision and site character. Read more and explore the complete Top 100 Wines of Argentina 2026 list here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r…

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Our No. 2 Argentine Wine of the Year is the Zuccardi Malbec Valle de Uco San Pablo Aluvional 2023. Sourced from the Finca Las Cuchillas vineyard at an elevation of 1,400 meters in the Andean foothills, this exceptional bottling captures the cool, humid and frost-prone terroir of San Pablo. Typical of Zuccardi’s minimalist approach, fermentation and aging take place entirely in concrete vessels with zero oak influence, allowing the site’s sandy loam and calcareous gravel soils to define the wine’s purity and chalky precision. Tight and intensely focused, it opens with aromas of fresh cherries, chalk, wild thyme, mountain herbs and white pepper. The palate delivers a deep, silky core of dark fruit balanced by fine, chiseled tannins, vibrant freshness and a lengthy, stony finish. Offering world-class pedigree and extraordinary value at around $60 a bottle, it is one of the top mountain malbecs of the vintage. xplore the Top 100 Wines of Argentina 2026 list here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r…

Our No. 2 Argentine Wine of the Year is the Zuccardi Malbec Valle de Uco San Pablo Aluvional 2023. Sourced from the Finca Las Cuchillas vineyard at an elevation of 1,400 meters in the Andean foothills, this exceptional bottling captures the cool, humid and frost-prone terroir of San Pablo. Typical of Zuccardi’s minimalist approach, fermentation and aging take place entirely in concrete vessels with zero oak influence, allowing the site’s sandy loam and calcareous gravel soils to define the wine’s purity and chalky precision. Tight and intensely focused, it opens with aromas of fresh cherries, chalk, wild thyme, mountain herbs and white pepper. The palate delivers a deep, silky core of dark fruit balanced by fine, chiseled tannins, vibrant freshness and a lengthy, stony finish. Offering world-class pedigree and extraordinary value at around $60 a bottle, it is one of the top mountain malbecs of the vintage. Explore the Top 100 Wines of Argentina 2026 list here: jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-r…

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Lethbridge Wines, set in Geelong’s Moorabool Valley, has long produced wines of thought, intent and individuality. Winemaker Ray Nadeson, alongside his wife Maree, combines a strong sense of site with an experimental mindset, producing everything from classically structured pinot noir and chardonnay to more adventurous varieties and bottlings, including extended skin-contact whites matured in large-format foudres and amphorae. Staff Writer & Taster Ryan Montgomery recently met with Maree and her daughter Indra, who has joined the winemaking team, to taste through the latest releases. The Allegra Chardonnay stood out alongside their single-vineyard pinot noirs and rieslings – bottlings that continue to show the depth, character and site diversity of Geelong. @lethbridge_wines @ryanmontgomery.wine #MooraboolValley #Chardonnay #PinotNoir #Riesling #AustralianWine

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A tasting with Robert Bodenstein at Weingut Prager in Weissenkirchen featured a compelling discussion on Stockkultur, the traditional single-stake vine training system that once dominated the Wachau. Prager still farms a historic Stockkultur parcel at the top of the steep Achleiten vineyard, where high-density vines kept close to the ground date back to the 1930s. Bodenstein explained that these ancient parcels survived primarily on steep terraces where tractor access was impossible. The low canopy shields grapes from intense sun, while high planting density naturally restricts yields per vine. Preserving genetic heritage is equally central to Prager’s work. Bodenstein’s father collected old selections of grüner veltliner across Lower Austria, propagating them via massal selection to counter the loss of diversity from post-war commercial cloning. Cellar intervention remains minimal: hand-harvested fruit – mostly whole-cluster pressed for Smaragd bottlings – is fermented and aged exclusively in stainless steel, with no oak used since 2002. Kept on fine lees without stirring until spring bottling, Senior Editor Jacobo García-Andrade Jacobo found the wines deliver surgical precision and layered depth, with the grüner veltliners showing absorbing alpine-herbal aromatics. @weingutprager

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