Here at VinePair we drank a lot of really great wine in 2016. Still, some bottles truly stood out, and you’ll find the list of these below.
Each wine on this list possesses one crucial quality: immediate drinkability. These wines are approachable, interesting, and, despite one or two exceptions where aging would help, ready to be popped and poured. That’s not to say most of the bottles can’t be aged; they can, and if you have the space and time, they should, but we recognize most people are looking for that great bottle to buy and drink on the same day. All of these bottles deliver that and more.
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inRead invented by Teads Here are the top 50 wines of 2016 according to the VinePair staff:
1. BOSCARELLI VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2013, $34 The Top 50 Wines of 2016This wine is truly mind-blowing, and a prime example that Brunello is not the only Tuscan DOCG producing outstanding Sangiovese. In fact, this wine has us wondering whether Montepulciano might be the best place in Tuscany for the grape’s cultivation. Made by a boutique family producer, this wine is a beautiful balance of fruit and earth, with bright cherries equalized by tobacco and leather. What we find truly amazing about this wine is that it is not only drinking beautifully now, but it’s also a bottle that could be saved for years and it will only get better.
2. LE CIGARE VOLANT RÉSERVE 2012, $69 The Top 50 Wines of 2016Randall Grahm is a winemaker who continues to impress. His move to close all of his wines with screwcap might be seen by some people as cheapening the wines, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is a serious, age-worthy red wine that showcases why Randall is one of this country’s best winemakers. A Rhone-style red blend, the wine is deep and dark with the Syrah playing the dominant role. Flavors of dark berries marry with leather to create a delicious wine.
3. TABARRINI CAMPO ALLA CERQUA SAGRANTINO 2010, $50 tabarriniIt’s a rare occurrence to find a wine and winemaker both as exciting as Tabbarini. While Sagrantino may not be a grape that delivers immediately, once it’s aged it can be one of the greatest wines in the world. This bottle is the best example coming out of Montefalco. Ageable for decades, this is a wine that is worth purchasing and holding on to; a fantastic investment.
4. VIÑA REAL RESERVA 2010, $30 The Top 50 Wines of 2016Good Rioja is one of the greatest bangs for your buck in the wine world. This reserva from one of the region’s top producers doesn’t disappoint. The wine pours a beautiful ruby color with aromas of red cherries, vanilla, and leather. There are flavors of dark red fruit, with nice acidity and balanced tannins.
5. COS CONTRADA 2009, $85 The Top 50 Wines of 2016This is what opulence tastes like. This is the purest expression of Nero d’Avola we have ever encountered. One sip and you’ll see why so many people think this little grape from Sicily really could be the next big thing in the wine world. It’s a truly
