Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2013

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A few days ago, Wine Spectator magazine has published the entire list of their Top 100 Wines of 2013… according to them, of course! :-)

Like last year, these are in a nutshell a few comments about their 2013 top 10 wines:

  • CVNE‘s Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva 2004 is Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year 2013 (rated 95 points) as well as the first Spanish wine to date to earn top ranking in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list: congratulations!
  • Five U.S. wines made it to the Top 10 (3 from California, 1 from Oregon and 1 from Washington State), up from three last year
  • Only one Italian wine made it to the Top 10 scoring sixth place and 95 points (Giuseppe Mascarello‘s Barolo “Monprivato” 2008 DOCG), same number as last year but better placement, up three spots
  • France put three of their wines in the Top 10, down from four last year
  • A wine from Bordeaux’s Right Bank was awarded second place (and 96 points) in the Top 10: Chateau Canon-La Gaffeliere 2010, a Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé B (for more information and a photograph of the Chateau, check out our previous post on the Saint Emilion appellations and wine classification)
  • For the presumable happiness of The Drunken Cyclist 😉 a Pinot Noir from Oregon scored third place in the Top 10: Domaine Serene‘s Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Evenstad Reserve, 2010 (rated 95 points)
  • Just like in 2011 and 2012, 9 of the top 10 wines are red and only one is white, Kongsgaard‘s Chardonnay Napa Valley 2010 (fifth place, rated 95 points)
  • Four out of the top five wines are below the $100 price mark, with the Wine of the Year 2013 being the least expensive at $63 and confirming how much good value for money can be found in a Rioja, even a top of the line one like CVNE’s; on the other hand, all wines in sixth to tenth place are above $100 (thank you, Anatoli, for suggesting this additional bullet!)

For more detailed information and access to the full Top 100 list, please refer to Wine Spectator’s Website.

14 thoughts on “Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2013”

  1. laurasmess

    This is really fascinating Stefano. I really need to get more into American wine, it’s never even crossed my radar before… the unfortunate (and fortunate) thing about Australia is that the majority of wine on our shelves is local. I’ll need to look at ordering some of these listed wines online… though presumably most are reasonably pricey? And I’m surprised that 90% of the top ten are reds! Though I definitely prefer red wines myself, there are some beautiful whites being bottled too 🙂

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  2. talkavino

    Nice analysis, Stefano! You could’ve also added that only 4 out of top 10 are cheaper than $100, with the wine of the year being the cheapest at $63 : )

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    1. Stefano Post author

      Thank you, B: yes, I think that Rioja is one of the regions where you can still find good value for money, even for very good wines from top producers. It is an option worth bearing in mind. 🙂

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  9. the winegetter

    The two German wines on the list made me rather speechless. Especially how far back, and the highest ranked one is pretty much a joke. Oh, Wine Spectator, I am so glad I only pay a few bucks for the subscription per year….

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