Following is a list of wines I have awarded 20.0/20 points, a ‘perfect’ score to. Being relatively liberal and positive in outlook, I state that reaching the apex in scoring should be attainable. At this level of quality, much of the judgement is subjective and based on style. When a wine passes all the criteria technically and stylistically, then touches me emotionally, then I am moved to award the highest rating possible. It should be noted that these wines may have the slightest flaws, which result in even greater interest and character than without them, and the process of accepting these ‘imperfections’, seemingly contradictory in semantic and philosophical terms, reflects my personal approach and are solely my own decisions. Pity those people who can never give the ultimate score, for they will never be satisfied. The wines are listed in chronological order of tasting. The list will be updated as 20.0/20 scores are made. The list will be most easily located under the ‘Wine of the Week’ tab (click here to see),
Featured Reviews
These are wines tasted under more stringent conditions, submitted for ‘Feature Review’, where the supplier is charged for the feedback service. These wines are taken into consideration when selecting my ‘Winery of the Year’ and in my list of that year’s ‘Outstanding Wines’.
- Craggy Range ‘Sophia’ Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet 2009
- Kidnapper Cliffs Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
- Auburn ‘Bendigo’ Central Otago Riesling 2011
- Villa Maria ‘Reserve’ Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2010
- Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay 2011
- Auburn Bendigo Central Otago Riesling 2012
- Framingham ‘F-Series’ Marlborough Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2013
- Gibbston Valley ‘School House’ Bendigo Central Otago Pinot Noir 2012
- Craggy Range ‘Sophia’ ‘Gimblett Gravels Vineyard’ Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet 2013
- Escarpment ‘Kupe’ Martinborough Pinot Noir 2013
- Trinity Hill ‘Homage’ Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013
- Elephant Hill ‘Hieronymus’ Hawke’s Bay Cabernet/Merlot/Malbec 2013
- Anthony Joseph Vidal 1888 ‘Lyons Vineyard’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2014
- Framingham ‘F-Series’ Marlborough Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2017
- Villa Maria ‘Ngakirikiri’ ‘The Gravels’ Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
- Elephant Hill ‘Hieronymus’ Hawke’s Bay 2014
- Trinity Hill ‘Homage’ Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016
- Mills Reef ‘Arthur Edmund’ Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet/Merlot 2013
Tasting Reviews
These are wines tasted in the format of structured tastings, or provided as samples not under the ‘Featured Reviews’ procedure. The situations and conditions in which the wines are tasted may not be as conducive for in-depth appreciation as preferred, but they are wines which have still touched me as being of the very highest quality.
- Ch. d’Yquem Sauternes 1983
- Ch. d’Yquem Sauternes 2001
- Penfolds ‘Bin 707′ Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
- Sacred Hill ‘Riflemans’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2006
- Penfolds ‘Grange’ 2006
- Penfolds ‘Bin 707’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
- Penfolds ‘Grange’ ‘Bin 95’ 2008
- Church Road ‘TOM’ Chardonnay 2010
- Mt Difficulty ‘Single Vineyard – Target Gully’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010
- Te Mata ‘Coleraine’ Hawke’s Bay Cabernet/Merlot 1998
- Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir 2006
- Jaboulet ‘La Chapelle’ Hermitage 2010
- Penfolds ‘RWT’ Barossa Valley Shiraz 2013
- Ch. d’Yquem Sauternes 2013
- Ch. d’Yquem Sauternes 1975
- Villa Maria ‘Library Release’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2010
- Villa Mara ‘Ngakirikiri’ ‘The Gravels’ Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2013
- Valli Waitaki North Otago Chardonnay 2015
- Church Road ‘TOM’ Syrah 2014
- Church Road ‘TOM’ Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
- Te Mata ‘Coleraine’ Hawke’s Bay 2013
- Te Mata ‘Coleraine’ Hawke’s Bay Cabernet/Merlot 1991
- Yalumba ‘The Caley’ Coonawarra and Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2012
- Esk Valley ‘Heipipi’ ‘The Terraces’ Hawke’s Bay Malbec/Merlot/Cabernet Franc 2014
- Sons of Eden ‘Cirrus’ ‘Single Vineyard High Eden Valley Riesling 2017
- Taylors ‘The Pioneer’ Clare Valley Shiraz 2013
- Palliser Estate ‘The Great Riddler’ Martinborough Chardonnay 2016
- Chapoutier ‘Le Pavillon’ Ermitage 2010
- Chapoutier ‘Le Pavillon’ Ermitage 2005
- Chapoutier ‘Le Pavillon’ Ermitage 1991