The Year in Review – 2018

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | DECEMBER 28, 2018

Two thousand eighteen was a fabulous year full of highlights. More than anything else, though, as I type this, I realize how extraordinarily fortunate I am to do what I love more than anything each and every day for work. I hope readers will enjoy this look back at 2018. If you don’t, it is all Neal Martin’s fault – he pushed me to write about my favorite experiences of the year. 

Wine of the Year – 2014 Produttori del Barbaresco Riservas

Aldo Vacca and his team turned out a superb set of Riservas in 2014. The wines are rich, deeply expressive and full of character. Moreover, at a time when so many of world’s most pedigreed bottles are out of reach for the average consumer, the Produttori continue to make gorgeous wines that deliver superb quality for the money. The nine vineyard-designate Riservas give the wine lover a terrific opportunity to explore the essence of many of Barbaresco’s most important crus. Best of all, the Riservas arguably remain the single greatest relative value in fine, cellarworthy wine. To that, I say: Bravo!

Tasting the 2014 Produttori del Barbaresco Riservas prior to release 

Wines of the Year – Honorable Mentions

These are some of the most memorable wines I tasted in 2018. They aren’t necessarily the rarest or most expensive wines, but rather the bottles that left the deepest impressions on me, often because of context. With older wines, it always comes down to who I drank those bottles with and the beauty of specific moments in time. Wines are listed in chronological and alphabetical order. 

2016 Blankiet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Mythicus Paradise Hills Vineyard – Graeme MacDonald built on the strong base left by Denis and May-Britt Malbec at the time of Denis Malbec’s untimely passing and has now taken Blankiet to the next level.

2016 Colgin Cariad – The component wines from barrel were extraordinary, so it is hardly a surprise the bottled wine is epic.

2016 Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Bloom's Field – Are the 2016s at Domaine de la Côte freaks of nature or indicative of where these wines are headed in the future? We will soon find out. 

2016 Screaming Eagle – The 2016 is a wine I have followed pretty much over its entire life so far, from sampling the separate lots during fermentation, to tasting the component wines in barrel prior to blending, and most recently seeing that all come together in the finished wine. The 2016 has always been distinguished by its tremendous purity.

2016 The Hilt Pinot Noir Old Guard – Matt Dees and his team The Hilt turn out striking Chardonnays and Pinots that deserve more attention.

2016 Rhys Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard – An absolutely breathtaking, captivating Pinot Noir from proprietor Kevin Harvey, winemaker Jeff Brinkman and the team at Rhys.

2016 Sottimano Barbaresco Pajorè – Sottimano’s 2016 Barbarescos are fabulous. It is hard to wrong with any of the wines, although the Pajorè is especially of note.

2016 VHR, Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon –  I have said it before, but it bears repeating. One of the most remarkable things about Vine Hill Ranch is the component wines that aren’t bottled here. One taste of those wines is enough to understand the quality of what goes into the final blend.

2016 Pax Syrah Sonoma-Hillsides – The 2016 made a deep impression on me the first time I tasted it. Every bottle since then has been unforgettable.

2015 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay 30th Vintage Sanford & Benedict Vineyard – A simply stunning wine from Jim Clendenen. 

2015 Canon – The 2015 Canon has always been tremendous, but the best bottle was one I drank, rather than tasted, this past spring. Some wines need to be fully experienced to be truly appreciated. The 2015 Canon is one of them.