Top Ten Wines of the Century
Some of QRW’s best known writers offer their top wines of the 20th Century.
We have turned to some of our experts to inquire about their choices for the top ten wines they have tasted from the 20th-century. Their wine choices could come from any country, from any varietal. Some had no trouble listing their top ten, while others agonized. Clive Coates had no doubts and found it “relatively easy,” listing nine French and one German. Michael Broadbent found it a very thoughtful experience and even offered to list his top ten runners-up, a request not in keeping with the assignment. Hence, his top ten came with few sighs, yet is a generous and far-reaching list. Randy Sheahan, QRW’s editor, has a well known palate and has spent his days tasting the “greats,” but found that revising his list made for not a little neurosis. Eleanor and Ray Heald said “it was easy; we just sat down, talked, and never used our notebook—somehow, we believe that’s a true measure of great wine.”
Michael Broadbent, Master of Wine
1945 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
1921 Chateau d’Yquem
1962 La Tache, DRC
1966 Le Montrachet, DRC
1937 Wachenheimer Goldbachel-Gerumpel aller feinste Goldbeeren
Trockenbeerenauslese Estate; J.L. Wolf-Erben
1961 Barbaresco, Gaja
1946 Pinot Noir, Beaulieu Vineyards
1931 Noval Nacional Port
1928 Krug Champagne
1920 Madeira, Malmsey, Cossart
Clive Coates, Master of Wine
1900 Chateau Margaux
1929 Chateau Latour
1949 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild
1953 Chateau Lafite
1961 Chateau Palmer
1949 Le Musigny, Comte De Vogue
1949 Richebourg, Domaine LeRoy
1949 Le Chambertin, Domaine LeRoy
1971 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trochenbeernauslese, J.J. Prum
1971 Riesling Clos Sainte Hune, Trimbach
Jeff Frees
1997 Jeffrey Grosset Riesling, Polish Hill, Clare Valley, Australia
1961 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
1994 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Monte Bello
1971 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo, Brunate Riserva
1985 Amarone Riserva, Giuseppe Quintarelli
1988 Recioto dei Capitelli (sweet Soave), Roberto Anselmi
1996 Dao, Quinta dos Roques, Touriga Nacional
1962 Vega Sicilia, Unico Reserva
1986 Pesquera Janus, Reserva Especial
Manzanilla Pasada, Vinicola Hidalgo y Cia (drawn from barrel)
Eleanor and Ray Heald
1939 Toro Albala Don PX Convento Bacchus
1958 Alfredo Prunotto Barolo Riserva
1963 Sandeman Vintage Porto
1974 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
1975 Chateau Raymond-Lafon Sauternes
1976 Weingut Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler-Doktor
1979 Perrier-Jouet Fleur de Champagne Rose
1982 Chateau Haut Brion
1985 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
1988 Mongeard-Mugneret Grands Echezeaux
Randy Sheahan, Editor, QRW Editor
1931 Quinta do Noval Nacional Port
1961 Chateau Latour
1972 Musigny Vieilles Vignes, Comte de Vogue
1959 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
1961 Hermitage La Chapelle, Paul Jaboulet Aine
1964 Chateau Petrus
1961 Chateau Latour a Pomerol
1968 Heitz Cellars Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
1959 Corton-Charlemagne, Domaine Louis Latour
1955 Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva
Richard L. Elia, Publisher, QRW
1931 Quinta Do Noval Nacional Port
1948 Taylor Fladgate Port
1945 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
1953 Chateau Lafite
1959 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
1959 Chateau Montrose
1961 Chateau Latour
1971 Domaine Romanee-Conti
1978 Domaine Romanee-Conti
1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
