Top 10 Wines of 2017 Unveiled at WineSpectator.com
New York, NY (November 17, 2017)—Wine Spectator, the world’s leading authority on wine, today announced Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley Three Palms Vineyard 2014 as the 2017 Wine of the Year. The Top 10 list is now available on http://top100.winespectator.com, with the full Top 100 list to be revealed on Monday, November 20.
Duckhorn Vineyards was founded in Napa Valley in 1976, and Merlot has been its specialty from the start. Since its first vintage, in 1978, the winery has tapped one of the valley’s most storied vineyards: Three Palms, named for the trio of palms that grow in its midst. San Francisco socialite Lillie Hitchcock Coit owned the site in the late-19th century and planted the original palms. But for Margaret and Dan Duckhorn, Three Palms was the anchor that helped them build one of Napa Valley’s most accomplished wineries.
Following Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley Three Palms Vineyard 2014 (95 score, $98, 3,170 cases made), Wine Spectator’s Top 10 Wines of 2017 are:
- K | Syrah Walla Walla Valley Powerline Estate 2014 | 95 score | $45 | 1,319 cases made | Walla Walla Valley, Washington
- Château Coutet | Barsac 2014 | 96 score | $37 | 4,000 cases made | Bordeaux, France
- Casanova di Neri | Brunello di Montalcino 2012 | 95 score | $65 | 6,054 cases made | Tuscany, Italy
- Château de St.-Cosme | Gigondas 2015 | 95 score | $43 | 4,000 cases made | Rhône Valley, France
- Domaine Huët | Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont 2016 | 95 score | $44 | 2,000 cases made | Loire Valley, France
- Château Canon-La Gaffelière | St.-Emilion 2014 | 95 score | $61 | 4,083 cases made | Bordeaux, France
- Meyer | Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014 | 95 score | $70 1,200 cases made | Napa Valley, California
- Pahlmeyer | Chardonnay Napa Valley 2015 | 95 score | $75 | 2,500 cases made | Napa Valley, California
- Booker | Oublié Paso Robles 2014 | 95 score | $80 | 1,500 cases made | Paso Robles, California
These bottles were selected from a pool of more than 16,000 wines reviewed by Wine Spectator editors in the magazine’s blind tastings. Selections are based on four criteria: quality (represented by score), value (reflected by price), availability (based on the number of cases either made or imported into the U.S.) and what Wine Spectator calls the “X-factor”—the excitement generated by the wine.
“The wines featured on our Top 100 list capture the character of the past year and exemplify the quality and diversity the wine world has to offer,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher, Wine Spectator. “We congratulate all the featured wineries and hope our readers get to enjoy them this year.”
An annual highlight since 1988, the Top 100 list presents a diverse group, ranging from emerging labels and regions to traditional estates exploring new directions. The list is a guide to wineries to watch in the future—a reflection of the producers and wines that Wine Spectator’s editors are most passionate about.
The full Top 100 list will be featured at http://top100.winespectator.com and in print, with profiles for each wine, in the magazine’s December 31 issue, on newsstands November 28.
About Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator is the world’s leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches around 3 million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the Web’s most comprehensive wine site (WineSpectator.com), mobile platforms and a series of signature events. Wine Spectator examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wine’s role in contemporary culture and delivering expert reviews of more than 16,000 wines each year. Parent company M. Shanken Communications, Inc., also publishes Cigar Aficionado, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and Shanken’s Impact Newsletter.
