The 17 Best Wines of the Year, From Chardonnay to Burgundy Red
Robust offerings from American white wine to a "remarkable" Bordeux by names like Château Angelusa add flavor to your cellar. Here, our top 17 picks. Fermented in 600- liter temperature-controlled oak barrels, it undergoes twice weekly bâtonnage—in which settled lees are stirred back into the wine—for 11 months, which imparts structure and creaminess. Reminiscent of a Saint-Tropez sunset, it is pale pink in the glass and has aromas of vanilla, strawberry, and red raspberry.This delicious port, made from fruit grown on old vines, is composed of a field blend of 35 different varieties of grapes, with Touriga Nacional accounting for 30 percent of the finished wine. It is deep red-purple in color with aromas of red plum, black pepper, and blackberry pie.Silky-smooth with just the right levels of sweetness and acidity, it offers flavors of raspberry jam, vanilla, and red currant on the palate. Enjoy this perfectly balanced sweet wine with strong cheeses—like Stilton—or with fruit-based desserts.According to chief winemaker Guillaume Roffiaen, Palmes d’Or Rosé Intense “is only made when the vintage is remarkable and promises a high aging potential.” The coldest year of its decade, 2008 provided freshness and vitality that are evident in its vivid aromas of peach and pomegranate. Pale apricot in the glass with a persistent column of fine bubbles, this elegant sparkler offers flavors of lemon, red plum, and lavender with a delicate structure and brilliant acidity.
