Here is my “Best of the Year” list of wines I have tasted at the Vintages release tastings.
Best Sherry: Lustau East India Solera Sherry
Best Port: Burmester 10-Year-Old Tawny
Best Ontario Icewine: Château des Charmes Vidal Icewine 2016
Best Ontario Red Icewine: Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Franc Icewine 2013
Best Ice Cider: Verger St. Denis Pomme de Glace Original Ice Cider 2011
Best Ontario Riesling: Cave Spring CSV Riesling 2015
Best Ontario Chardonnay: Tawse Quarry Road Chardonnay 2013
Best Ontario Sauvignon Blanc: Creekside Iconoclast Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Best California Chardonnay: Robert Mondavi Chardonnay 2014
Best Australian White: Margan Family Hunter Valley Semillon 2016
Best New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc: Craggy Range Te Muna Road Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Best New Zealand Chardonnay: Kim Crawford Wild Grace Small Parcels Chardonnay 2015
Best Chilean Chardonnay: Maycas del Limari Reserva Especial Chardonnay 2015
Best South African Chardonnay: Rustenberg Chardonnay 2015
Best Grüner Veltliner: Rabl Grüner Veltliner 2015 (Austria)
Best Alsace Gewürztraminer: Henri Ehrhart Gewürztraminer 2015
Best Alsace Pinot Gris: Domaine Schlumberger Les Princes Abbé Pinot Gris 2014
Best Alsace Riesling: Jean Biecher & Fils Schoenenbourg Riesling 2014
Best Chablis: La Chabilisenne Grange Cuvée Chablis 2014
Best White Burgundy: Marchand-Tawse Bourgogne Chardonnay 2014
Best Loire White: Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Genèse Sancerre 2015
Best Rhône White: Michel Gassier Château De Nages JT White 2013
Best Mosel White: Dr. Hermann Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese 2010
Best Hungarian Dessert Wine: Château Dereszla 5 Puttonyos Tokaji Aszù 2009
Best Italian White: Terre Stregate Svelato Falanghina Del Sannio 2015
Best Italian Chardonnay: Castella della Sala Bramìto Chardonnay 2016
Best Ontario Red: Thirty Bench Winemakers Red Blend 2015
Best California Red: J. Lohr Tower Road Petite Sirah 2013 (Paso Robles)
Best California Cabernet Sauvignon: St. Francis Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Best Australian Shiraz: Sidewood Mappinga Shiraz 2013
Best New Zealand Pinot Noir: Astrolabe Valleys Pinot Noir 2014
Best Argentinian Malbec: Finca Flichman Gran Caballero De La Cepa Malbec 2014
Best Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon: Concha y Toro Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Best Chilean Pinot Noir: Montes Alpha Alpha Pinot Noir 2014
Best Chilean Carmenère: Primus Carmenère 2013
Best Uruguayan Wine: Bodega Barzan Tannat 2014
Best South African Red: Radford Dale Syrah 2014
Best Rhône Red: J.L. Chave Sélection Offerus St. Joseph 2013
Best Red Bordeaux: Château de Rochemorin Rouge 2010 (Pessac-Léognan)
Best Red Burgundy: Roche de Bellène Cuvée Réserve Pinot Noir 2015
Best Midi Red: Château D’Anglés Grand Vin La Clape 2012
Best Rhône Red: La Ferme du Mont Côtes Jugunda Gigondas 2015
Best Piemonte Red: Marchesi di Barolo Barbaresco 2013
Best Primitivo: Cantele Primitivo 2015 (Puglia)
Best Tuscan Red: Poggio Verrano Dromos 2007
Best Veneto Red: Tedeschi La Fabriseria Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2011
Best Portuguese Red: La Goalva Reserva 2015
Best Rioja Red: Lealtanza Selección de Familia Rioja Reserva 2009
Best Ontario Rosé: Stratus Vineyards Rosé 2016
Best Champagne: Pol Roger Brut 2006 – tied with Dom Pérignon Luminous Brut 2006
Best Canadian Sparkling Wine: Blue Mountain Gold Label Sparkling 2013
Best New World Sparkling Wine: Roederer Estate Brut Sparkling (Mendocino)
Best Italian Sparkling Wine: Ferrari Trento Brut
Best Spanish Cava: Vendrell Olivella Brut Nature Cava 2011
Best Overall Value Wine at Vintages 2017: Cathedral Cellar Brut Sparkling 2010 (South Africa)
