Decanter September 2019

Meet the experts JUDGES BY REGION Our experts travelled from all corners of the globe to judge the wines submitted to DWWA, with 36 Regional Chairs for each winemaking region selected to support the Chairman Emeritus and the three competition Co-Chairs. Read on to learn more about these experts, and to discover the names of the 237 judges who tasted and assessed the wines this year CHAIRMAN EMERITUS Steven Spurrier Decanter’s consultant editor joined the wine trade in London in 1964, later moving to Paris where he bought a wine shop in 1971 and opened France’s first private wine school, L’Academie du Vin, in 1973. Spurrier staged the historic 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting between wines from California and France. In the 1980s he wrote several wine books and created…

Gold-winning wines ALSACE Alsace won 1 Best in Show (see p28) 3 Platinum (see p58) For Silver-winning wines go to www.decanter.com/dwwa/silver For Bronze-winning wines go to www.decanter.com/dwwa/bronze GOLD white • 95 Domaine Paul Ginglinger, Riesling, Grand Cru Pfersigberg 2017 (13.9%) Seductive lemongrass, citrus and stone fruit nose. Palate is powerful, dry and elegant with a strong acid backbone and enormous length carried by the racy acidity. A great wine to cellar. GOLD red • 95 Domaine Camille Braun, Bollenberg Pinot Noir 2016 (13%) Stunning and complex meaty blackberry and blackcurrant perfume. Palate is full bodied and hugely concentrated with rich and ripe tannins and a very long finish. An outstanding red! • 95 Domaine Schmitt & Carrer, Schloessel Mühle Pinot Noir Eleve en Fût de Chêne 2017 (13.6%) Open, complex,…

France reacts to effects of climate change A potential landmark vote has seen seven new grape varieties approved for Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur appellation wines, with the aim of meeting the challenges of climate change. Winemakers voted in favour of the seven grape varieties – including Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Albariño and Petit Manseng – according to a statement from the Syndicat of AP Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur. France’s national appellation authority, INAO, must still give final approval to the plan; however, it marks a groundbreaking move from winemakers against the negative impacts of climate change. Benefits of the proposed grapes range from strong natural resistance to diseases, such as grey rot and mildew, to an ability to thrive in warmer conditions. If approved, they could constitute up to 10% of the final blend…

French Michelin-starred restaurant Maison Rostang has confirmed that thieves stole €400,000 worth of fine wine between 30 June and 1 July. Maison Rostang said that ‘irreplaceable’ vintages produced by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Petrus, Latour and Lafite were stolen via a hole that had been cut into the wall of the cellars under the streets of Paris. The heavy Burgundy frosts of 2016 have resulted in a ‘one-off’ blend from seven Montrachet grand cru vineyard owners, including Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Domaine Leflaive. Low yields led to the producers putting their harvests together to create just under 700 bottles of wine, titled ‘L’Exceptionnelle Vendange des 7 Domaines’ and priced at €5,550 each. Researchers have found wine residue on pottery fragments salvaged from a Celtic settlement at Vix-Mont Lassois, northwest…

ARGENTINA & rest of South America (excluding Chile) Argentina & rest of South America won 1 Best in Show (see p28) 1 Platinum (see p58) For Silver-winning wines go to www.decanter.com/dwwa/silver For Bronze-winning wines go to www.decanter.com/dwwa/bronze Argentina GOLD white • 96 Bodegas Etchart, Gran Linaje Torrontés, Cafayate, Salta 2018 (13.5%) Intense and vibrant wine with a floral nose, flavours of white orchard and stone fruits, refreshing acidity and a very good finish, with hints of peach, honey and lemon on the aftertaste. A lovely example of the Torrontés grape. GOLD red • 96 Andeluna, Pasionado Cabernet Franc, Gualtallary, Tupungato, Mendoza 2016 (14%) £34.99 Corking Wines, Fintry Wines, Great Wines Direct, Hallgarten & Novum, Wineman POA $ MHW Ltd Wild and expressive aromas of gunpowder, earth and fresh herbs. The…

ASIA Asia won 0 Best in Show 1 Platinum (see p59) For Silver-winning wines go to www.decanter.com/dwwa/silver For Bronze-winning wines go to www.decanter.com/dwwa/bronze China GOLD white • 95 Helan Mountain, Xiao Feng Chardonnay, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2015 (13.5%) Expressive, multi-layered nose and persistent flavours of lemon, grapefruit, pineapple and mango, with integrated oak adding texture and spice. There is also a recurrent note of struck match and flint. This is a vivid and highly pleasurable drink, seducing as it sings. • 95 Puchang Vineyard, Rkatsiteli, Turpan, Xinjiang 2017 (13.5%) Resplendent citrus, white peach and honeysuckle nose with a subtle light toast character adding complexity. It’s splendidly textured with attractive stone fruit and white pear flavours. Very persistent. GOLD rosé • 95 Chateau Changyu Moser XV, Moser Legend Blanc de…