When choosing your next bottle to enjoy, referring to critics’ comments can be a real helping hand Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson, La Revue du vin de France, and Bettane & Desseauve are just some of the reviewers who are trusted around the world for their scores. We’ve put together a selection of wines that have been scored between 90 and 100/100 and between 16 and 20/20.
Top of the class
An eminent figure in the world of wine, Robert Parker has transformed the industry, even influencing modes of production and consumption with the weight of his expertise. His top score of 100/100 bestows a sheen of pure prestige onto the bottles deemed good enough to receive it. Among his favourites are the generous 2001 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne from Guigal, the 2021 Hermitage Le Méal from Chapoutier and the 2010 Angélus, a truly excellent vintage.
If you have your heart set on a 100/100, the 2010 and 2018 Cheval Blanc vintages have been scored the best of the best, much like the 2016 Carmes Haut-Brion which was given top marks by Jean-Marc Quarin.
Jancis Robinson is another emblematic critic, and several of her 19 and 19.5/20 scores have gone to Bordeaux properties. Among them, the 1982 Haut-Brion, the 1990 Figeac, and the 2016 Petrus.
Up until this year, La Revue du vin de France scored wines out of 20 before revising its system, now giving marks out of 100. In any case, it’s easy to spot which ones are the favourites, here including the 2007 L’Extravagant from Doisy-Daëne, the 2008 Schoenenbourg from Marcel Deiss, and the 2007 and 2015 vintages from Pontet-Canet.
As for Bettane & Desseauve, some of their top scorers include fine whites like the 2010 Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal Vendanges Tardives from Zind-Humbrecht (20/20) and the 2007 Yquem (19/20).
Beyond France
From Spain, Bodega Contador’s charming 2011 Rioja sports a 96/100 from Robert Parker. Italy is home to Bartolo Mascarello, whose 2021 and 2013 Barolo cuvées have been scored with an excellent 94 and 91 respectively by Robert Parker. Elisabetta Foradori also features, since her 2017 IGT Toscane Alicante cuvée has a 90/100 mark from Wine Searcher.
Off the beaten path?
Many of these bottles are, of course, fine classics for a reason. Here are some bottles from alternative regions that have been scored equally as highly by top critics:
- Champagne: 2007 Dizy Corne Bautray from Jacquesson (17.5/20 Jancis Robinson) and Latitude Extra Brut from Larmandier-Bernier (91 Robert Parker, 16 B&D)
- Corsica : 2018 Patrimonio Morta Maio by Antoine Arena (17/20 RVF)
- Languedoc: 2011 IGP St Guilhelm-le-Désert Cité d’Aniane from Mas Daumas Gassac (90 Wine Searcher, 16.5 Jancis Robinson) and the 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc Clos des Cistes from Peyre-Rose (18/20 B&D)
- Provence: 2017 IGP Alpilles from Domaine Trévallon in classic bottle size, magnum, and double-magnum (17.5 RVF)
- South-West: 2014 Cahors Bloc B763 from Mas Del Périé (16/20 RVF)
- Loire: 2011 Chinon Les Varennes du Grand Clos from Charles Joguet (17 B&D, 16.5 RVF)
A lot of trust is placed in the scores of these critics, but the only way to really find out is to try them for yourself 😉
Happy tasting!
