Whether if you just casually enjoy consuming wine or are deeply immersed in the many aspects of wine culture, a comprehensive resume of the best wines selected this year can be of interest to you. Read about some genuinely exceptional brands and varieties, and read on to find out what the critics and the jury liked best this year.
The biggest worldwide wine fair, Vinexpo in Bordeaux (a very appropriate location), took place this June, which determines the best and the most highly evaluated wines of the year in the form of the Decanter Wine Awards. The jury consisted of no less than 240 experts, Masters of Wine and sommeliers, and of course, critics – they decided about the fate of the 35 grand prizes, the International Trophy Winners over the course of a week, before the actual announcements were made.
When it comes to evaluating the performance of each country, France was the absolute winner with no less than eight trophies awarded. The eight wines in question were:
- Chateau Bouissel, 2011 Le Bouissel, red
- Chateau Brown, 2013, white
- Chateau la Tour de l’Eveque, 2014 Petale de Rose, rosé
- Chateau Salettes, 2014, rosé
- Domaine de la Vougeraie, 2013, red
- Marks & Spencer, Macon-Villages, 2014, white
- Paul Ginglinger, 2013 Gewurztraminer, white
- Piper-Heidsieck, 2006 Brut Champagne, white
Australia, Spain and South Africa closely followed with five award-winners each.
As far as Hungary’s concerned, several wines were awarded gold medals, which meant that they were entered in the regional competition. The gold medal also signifies an Excellent or an Outstanding rating. The Hungarian wines awarded with a gold medal were:
- a 2010 white wine from Disznókő Winery,
- a 2008 white variety from Dobogó Winery,
- two varieties from Gróf Degenfeld Winery, each being white and from 2008.
When it comes to general popularity, of course, the Tokaji comes in first place, mostly the Aszú or the Furmint variety, but types like Irsai Olivér or Cserszegi Fűszeres are also well-known and highly coveted all over the world.