Indholdsfortegnelse for December 31, 2025 i Wine Spectator

James Wellesley stood before a judge in Brooklyn, N.Y., Oct. 7 and plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. The conspiracy in question? Wellesley and fellow defendant Stephen Burton have admitted to taking $99.4 million from investors in an elaborate Ponzi scheme. The two British men claimed the money would be used for high-interest loans to wealthy clients in need of quick capital. The loans would be backed by rare, collectible wines, which would be sold if the borrowers failed to pay back the loans. Those wines never existed. Neither did the borrowers supposedly taking out the loans. Instead the money went to Burton and Wellesley, who used it for their own expenses and to pay some “interest” to their investors. Both men now face a decade or more in prison.…

Cobb Wines Now in Healdsburg Winemaker Ross Cobb has been making outstanding Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling at his family’s Sonoma Coast farm for several years, but getting to sample them has been tricky for many customers, as the Occidental estate is far off the beaten path. Now, the Cobbs have opened a tasting room in downtown Healdsburg, where Ross himself may be on hand, spinning his vinyl record collection. A New Generation at Charles Krug Angelina Mondavi, granddaughter of Peter Mondavi Sr., is taking the reins as winemaker at the family’s winery, Charles Krug. The Mondavi and Krug names have deep resonance in California wine history. Angelina’s great grandparents, Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, bought the Napa Valley winery in 1943, and Peter and older brother Robert ran it together…

Whenever I sit down with a wine professional, the conversation inevitably shifts to the state of the wine industry. It used to come at the end of a visit. Now, it’s the first thing we talk about. And I get it. Things are … weird. We’re facing economic uncertainty, tariffs, slowing sales, an oversupply of grapes and inventory, distributor consolidation, fewer retail shops, climate change and evolving attitudes about wine and health. In many ways, it doesn’t look good. But here’s what I tell people: Wine isn’t going anywhere. We’re going to be alright. That’s not to minimize the challenges. Some obstacles are familiar; others are entirely new. Wine is historically slow to react to market trends and supply issues. But while neither annual wildfire threats nor Canada declining to…

Highly Recommended The issue’s most impressive wines. Includes top-scorers and wines that represent optimal purchases based on their combination of score, price and availability. 96 Mauro Molino Barolo Conca 2021 $110 ITALY This red is nicely oaky, yet there’s also volume and flesh embracing the macerated cherry, plum, blood orange, eucalyptus and mineral notes. Finds equilibrium between the flavors, texture and structure, lingering with an aftertaste of oak spice. Best from 2029 through 2047. 253 cases made, 127 cases imported.—B.S. 96 Pio Cesare Barolo Mosconi 2021 $200 ITALY Pure and expressive flavors of cherry and raspberry highlight this enticing, harmonious red, which is elegant yet well-structured, with dense tannins lining the finish. Though tight in the end, this reveals layers of mineral and savory elements, plus plenty of ripe fruit.…

93 Argyle Brut Rosé Willamette Valley 2022 $30 OREGON A creamy and succulent sparkler, showing refreshing flavors of raspberry, peach and orange blossoms that gather richness on the finish. Drink now. 3,000 cases made.—T.F. 92 Domaine Chandon Blanc de Pinot Noir California NV $26 CALIFORNIA Rich and plush in texture, this handsome sparkler offers creamy apple and strawberry flavors accented by brioche and spiced nuts. Drink now. 30,182 cases made.—T.F. 92 First Drop Shiraz Barossa Mother’s Milk 2023 $20 AUSTRALIA Vibrant and expressive, oozing with flavors of maraschino cherry, raspberry and red licorice on a smooth, plush frame alongside a hint of huckleberry. Details of toasted cumin, clove and dried violet linger on the long finish, along with a creamy oolong tea note. Drink now through 2035. 25,000 cases made, 4,000 cases imported.—M.W. 92…

Over the past year, our editors blind-tasted for official review more than 10,000 wines, with more than 5,500 earning scores of 90 points or higher. From that extraordinary field, we set out to identify the Top 100 most exciting wines of 2025 and, ultimately, name our Wine of the Year. As always, we evaluated each candidate not only for quality (based on score), value (based on price) and availability (cases made), but also for the story and energy behind the wine—what we call the X-factor. Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year for 2025 is Château Giscours Margaux 2022. Rated 95 points and priced at $68, with 15,000 cases produced, the numbers are unassailable. And then there’s the story: This third-growth Bordeaux estate has spent the past quarter-century reinventing itself through…

Sam Sebastiani, a winemaker who helped build a California dynasty until a falling out with his family led him to strike out on his own, died Oct. 9 at home in Sonoma. He was 84. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease eight years ago. Born Nov. 19, 1940, Sebastiani was the grandson of Samuele Sebastiani, an Italian immigrant who in 1904 founded Sonoma’s Sebastiani Vineyards. Sam started working at the winery in 1967 and succeeded his late father, August Sebastiani, as president in 1980. In a 2014 interview with Wine Spectator, Sebastiani recalled growing up 100 yards from the family winery. “I could smell the fermentations while playing in the yard. It gets into your blood.” In 1986, he was forced out over family disagreements concerning the winery’s direction.…

If you haven’t already, it’s time to get to know the Southern Rhône’s most underrated appellation. It’s a well-known strategy for finding value: Look to wine regions that neighbor more prestigious, more expensive ones. Lirac is a poster child for this approach. Located just across the Rhône River from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it shares the same grape varieties, strong mistral wind and soil types—including the famously recognizable large stones, galets roulés, that blanket many vineyards. An influx of new wine producers has made Lirac even more worthy of discovery as a source of wines that are very Châteauneuf-like in style, with a bit less weight and a bit more freshness. Over the past decade, well-known Châteauneuf domaines have been quietly buying up land and purchasing grapes in Lirac. There are now more…

2 AUBERT Chardonnay Sonoma Coast UV-SL Vineyard 2023 96 | $100 | CALIFORNIA This wine combines a renowned winemaker, a special vineyard and an exceptional vintage. Mark Aubert makes Chardonnays that he describes as “hedonistic” for their full body and ripe fruit flavors, while they also show terroir-driven precision and finesse. The UV-SL vineyard, planted with the late vineyard manager Ulises Valdez Sr., is just 6 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Regarding the 2023 vintage, Aubert says, “the weather was conducive for flavor development. Chardonnay grapes climb up this crescendo and then when you get to the crescendo, you know you’ve got the flavor you want. It’s all about flavor for us.” 2,357 cases made. 3 RIDGE Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley 2023 95 | $56 | CALIFORNIA Dry Creek Valley is…

98 Penfolds Shiraz South Australia Grange 2021 $850 AUSTRALIA Powerful yet silky and elegant, this wine offers so much to admire. Intense notes of both black and buttery green olive, tobacco leaf, cardamom syrup, blackberry, huckleberry, cassis and morello cherries in syrup lie at the core. Additional details of chocolate-covered espresso bean, cast iron and dried violet linger on the long, expressive finish alongside palo santo and sandalwood hints and a whiff of peppermint. Drink now through 2045. 113 cases imported.—M.W. 98 Pira Chiara Boschis Barolo Mosconi 2021 $162 ITALY Complex, fruity and solidly built, this red features cherry, strawberry, rose, green olive, leather, iron and tar flavors. Succulent and beautifully balanced, with dense, assertive tannins that are well-integrated, ending with a detailed, mouthwatering aftertaste. Best from 2030 through 2050. 392 cases…

88 A to Z Wineworks Riesling Oregon 2023 $16 OREGON Succulent and a touch sweet, this quaff offers fun flavors of honeydew, creamy lemon and lime sorbet. Drink now. 25,000 cases made.—T.F. 87 Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon California 2022 $12 CALIFORNIA This version features a warm gush of raspberry jam mixed with notes of singed vanilla, showing modest succulence through the finish. Drink now through 2026. 45,982 cases made.—J.M. 86 Kirkland Signature Chardonnay California 2024 $9/1.5L CALIFORNIA This white features a plump, round mix of baked apple, poached pear and juicy peach preserves, with hints of spices and toast on the finish alongside a drizzle of wildflower honey. Drink now. 580,000 cases made.—M.W.…

CALIFORNIA Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends 97 Abreu Cappella St. Helena 2021 $675 See Collectibles, page 93. 97 Harlan Estate Napa Valley 2021 $1,750 See Collectibles, page 95. 96 Abreu Madrona Ranch St. Helena 2021 $675 This shows beautiful flow, with its generous display of cassis, plum puree and boysenberry coulis streaming through steadily, showing a mix of polish and grain, while anise, iris and ink notes glisten throughout. Drips with fruit on the finish, with an apple wood and warm earth underpinning to keep everything honest. A head-turner. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2042. 400 cases made.—J.M. 95 Bond Vecina Napa Valley 2021 $900 Still youthfully compact, this red’s coiled energy is waiting to unfurl, with ample notes of cassis, blackberry reduction, sage, cast iron and…

The deal that best sums up 2025 for American wineries might be the death and rebirth of Newton Vineyard. In February, Newton’s owners at LVMH Moët Hennessy announced that the Napa Valley winery, which had been devastated by the Glass Fire in 2020, would be shuttered. But seven months later, two wine lovers with vacation homes in the valley announced that Newton was not dead yet. They were buying it from LVMH and beginning plans to rebuild. Times are challenging for the global wine industry, from declining sales to rising tariffs. That’s led the number of winery mergers and acquisitions to dip. But deals are still being made, and they reveal where the industry is right now: Downsizing for Some, Opportunity for Others The biggest move of the year came…

Alot has changed for Jaime Araujo in recent years, yet she is still focused on the same goal—making great wine. Only her surroundings have changed. The Araujo name is synonymous with one of the top Napa estates for Cabernet Sauvignon–based wines. Jaime’s father, Bart, and his wife, Daphne, founded Araujo in 1990. Jaime was a professional actor in London and then launched her own marketing agency in France. She returned to Napa to work with the estate just a year before it was sold to Artémis S.A., owned by French businessman François Pinault, in 2013. That same year, Bart and Daphne founded Accendo. It was a big switch from their estate brand, as Accendo made wines from purchased grapes. Jaime and her brother Greg were partners. Accendo was made at…

Best in the West These outstanding values from the West Coast lead off with a trio from Washington that show the state’s ability to offer excellent quality at affordable prices. Of particular note from California is Domaine Chandon’s rosé sparkler, which is perfect for the holiday season. DELILLE Le Dessein GSM Columbia Valley 2023 (94, $45) Vivid, expressive; raspberry, cherry, licorice, bacon fat, cracked pepper LUKE Syrah Wahluke Slope 2022 (92, $28) Blackberry, cherry, black olive, smoked meat, cracked pepper; aromatic, structured ASHAN Chardonnay Columbia Valley Barrel Fermented 2024 (91, $28) Steely, sleek; grapefruit, tropical fruit, creamy vanilla, spices DOMAINE CHANDON Rosé California NV (91, $27) Cherry, lemon, rose petal, graham cracker, spices; creamy, lively LUKE Merlot Wahluke Slope 2022 (91, $28) Sleek, generous; cherry, red currant, tobacco, dusty spices…

In a year that has challenged the wine industry, our Top 100 offers a reflection of the resilience, commitment and longterm view shown by wineries in 2025. Vintage quality plays a big role, as do new projects and a resurgence of historical wineries. Our editors reviewed over 10,200 wines in blind tastings during 2025, of which more than 5,500 rated 90 points or higher. This was our starting point for selecting the Top 100, evaluated for quality (based on score), value (based on price), availability (based on cases either made or imported into the United States) and, importantly, the excitement and story behind the wines, what we call the X-factor. The Top 100 highlights the most compelling wines our editors tasted in the year just ending. At the apex is…

There’s a captivating charm to Seville, the largest city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region. As one of the oldest cities in Spain, Seville boasts more than 2,000 years of history, resulting in an intriguing layer cake of influences in the city’s architecture, food and culture. Experience Seville’s heritage during visits to lively tapas bars and signature events such as bullfights and flamenco performances. Take in Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance Art Deco or Baroque elements blended in the construction of the visually stunning Real Alcázar palace or the sweeping Plaza de España. And explore Seville via leisurely strolls of winding streets lined with orange trees and brightly hued ceramic tiles, or with these recommendations curated for food and wine lovers. STAY Hotel Alfonso XIII C. San Fernando, 2, Casco Antiguo, 41004 Telephone (34)…

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This Buying Guide contains ratings of new releases from around the world. Complete tasting notes are provided for new releases scoring 85 or more points (on the Wine Spectator 100-point scale, explained below). Hundreds of additional reviews appear each month on our website, www.winespectator.com. Each review carries the initials of the Wine Spectator editor who blind-tasted and scored the wine and wrote the review, based on the regional specializations indicated below. Bruce Sanderson Burgundy, Piedmont, Tuscany James Molesworth California Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, Bordeaux, Port MaryAnn Worobiec California Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, Australia, New Zealand Alison Napjus Spain, Italy, Champagne, South Africa Tim Fish California Zinfandel and Merlot, Oregon, Washington, U.S. sparkling wines Aaron Romano Argentina, Chile, California Rhônes Kristen Bieler Rhône Valley and other France, Germany, Austria How…

AUSTRALIA Shiraz & Blends 98 Penfolds Shiraz South Australia Grange 2021 $850 See Collectibles, page 93. 96 Torbreck The Forebear Barossa Valley 2020 $750 A stunning red, dark and dense, opening with flavors of Black Forest cake, candied walnut, graphite, cigar box and oud. Details of dried violet, espresso and green cardamom pod emerge on the finish, but for all of the concentration and density, there’s wonderful purity and elegance, with the plush tannins giving this plenty of style. Shiraz. Drink now through 2040. 10 cases imported.—M.W. 96 Torbreck The Laird Barossa Valley 2020 $750 Offers an impressive, aromatic and deep mix of date-nut bread, huckleberry and plum flavors, with accents of sarsaparilla, sage and cigar box, plus aromatics of oud and mahogany. Grace notes of Saigon cinnamon, masala chai,…

The reviews that follow are the on-release tasting notes for the wines of the 2025 Top 100. Ranking is indicated by the number in the red box to the left of each note. Prices given are release prices. The date in parentheses indicates the issue in which the wine was first reviewed. An overview of this year’s Top 100 and profiles of each of the selected wines begins on page 38. 1 95 Château Giscours Margaux 2022 $68 Warmed cassis and plum notes form the core, while lilting lilac, violet and iris accents stream throughout. Offers a flash of black tea on the finish, along with a beguiling, cashmerelike mouthfeel. Judicious toast lets it all play out beautifully. A pitch-perfect example of the vintage profile. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot…

A fter a thrilling final Grand Slam event—the U.S. Open at New York’s Billie Jean King Center—tennis season has unofficially given way to après tennis season. As ever, this year’s U.S. Open Golden Goblet overfloweth with celebrities and celebratory beverages. If you played your courts just right, a properly quenched 2025 U.S. Open itinerary started with an Aperol spritz with Saturday Night Live’s Bowen Yang followed by a Honey Deuce shaken up by none other than homecourt favorite Francis Tiafoe before popping Moët & Chandon with Dakota and Elle Fanning. Few sporting events bring out the stars—and the sparkle—like the U.S. Open, and Moët & Chandon delivered it by the case this year in its returning role as the tournament’s official Champagne. Moët’s flashy goblets returned serve as well; the…