Announcing my Top Wines of 2018!

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The Top Nine Champagnes of 2018

When price is no object…

Krug Vintage 1998 en magnum 100 points

Krug Vintage 1988 100 points

Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2004 99 points

Krug Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blancs 2004 99 points

Louis Roederer Cristal 2008 99 points

Veuve Clicquot Cave Privée Rosé 1979 99 points

Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart 2002 99 points

Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Vieille Vigne NV (2010 base) 99 points

Krug Vintage 2004 99 points

The Top Nine Australian Wines of 2018

Again, price no object…

Chambers Rare Muscat NV 100 points

Hardy’s 165^th Anniversary Cabernet Shiraz 2014 99 points

Seppeltsfield Para Centenary 1918 99 points

Penfolds Grange 2012 98 points

Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz 2012 98 points

Penfolds G3 NV 98 points

Penfolds Grange 2013 98 points

Penfolds Lot 1990 Pot Distilled Single Batch Brandy 1990 98 points

Clonakilla T&L Vineyard Block One Shiraz Viognier 2016 98 points

Lobbing my Top Nine 2018 Champagnes and Top Nine 2018 Australian Wines (all at lofty prices!) into the social media world caused quite a storm, and calls quickly followed for me to announce my #topnine2018 wines under $100. There were too many great options to narrow it down to just nine, so this one comes in four instalments!

The Top Nine Australian Red Wines Under $100 of 2018

Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $100 96 points

Primo Estate Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Moda 2016 $90 96 points

Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2015 $95 96 points

Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2015 $95 96 points

Cape Mentelle Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 $95 96 points

Bindi Original Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017 $95 96 points

Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2017 $100 96 points

St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2014 $100 96 points

Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 $85 96 points

The Top Nine Australian Red Wines Under $80 of 2018

With so many reds under $100 scoring 96 or 97 points this year, I’ve lined up those under $80 for their own feature…

Pooley Cooinda Vale Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017 $65 96 points

Kay Brothers Amery Griffon’s Key Grenache 2017 $49 96 points

Chapel Hill The Vicar Shiraz 2016 $75 96 points

Houghton Thomas Yule Frankland River Shiraz 2014 $79 96 points

Wantirna Estate Amelia Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2015 $70 97 points

Jacob’s Creek Centenary Hill Barossa Valley Shiraz 2012 $82 96 points

Vasse Felix Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $45 96 points

The Lane Vineyard Reunion Single Vineyard Shiraz 2015 $65 96 points

Chapel Hill House Block McLaren Vale Shiraz 2016 $65 96 points

The Top Nine Australian White Wines Under $100 of 2018

Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2016 $85 97 points

Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling 2018 $40 96 points

Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2018 $58 96 points

Jacob’s Creek Steingarten Riesling 2017 $50 96 points

Flametree SRS Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2016 $65 96 points

Pooley Cooinda Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 $65 96 points

Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay 2016 $85 96 points

Tim Adams Reserve Riesling 2011 $29 96 points

Mount Horrocks Watervale Riesling 2018 $34 95 points

The Top Nine Champagnes and Sparkling Wines Under $100 of 2018

My Top Nine 2018 lists are an unashamedly raw and unedited line up of my top-scoring wines of the year, with a blatant disregard for balance of style, region or producer… but it is pleasing when an even balance just happens to fall out. This year my top nine champagnes and sparkling wines under $100 just happen to be three champagnes, three Tasmanian sparklings and three Australian mainland sparkling shirazes!

Seppelt Show Sparkling Limited Release Shiraz 2007 $100 97 points

House of Arras Blanc de Blancs 2008 $87 96 points

Ashton Hills Clare Valley Sparkling Shiraz 2010 $45 96 points

Primo Estate Joseph Sparkling Red NV $90 96 points

Bellebonne Natalie Fryar Vintage Rosé 2015 $65 96 points

Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 2008 $73 96 points

Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut NV $100 96 points

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV $100 96 points

Pirie Vintage Sparkling Rose 2010 $48 95 points

My top pictures of the year

The votes are in and these are my top nine 2018 photos that you liked most!…