2024 was an incredible year of travel, wine, and food. I spent nearly 6 months overseas this year, with the largest portion of that in France and Spain. My initial culling of the hundreds of wine pictures on my phone would have put this list at over sixty wines! So there is a little cheating going on. Some spots on this list aren’t take up by a single wine, but instead by a number of wines that I remember together.
This list of the 12 most memorable wines of 2024 is not a list of the very best wines, although they are often extraordinary, but of wine experiences.
Without further ado: Here are the Most Memorable Wines of 2024 in order of memorability.
Clos Montmartre 2022 Fete des Vendages “Cuvée du Sport”
#1 Most Memorable of 2024. Video
There was really nothing else it could have been.
The opportunity to spend time in the private ‘hidden’ vineyard of Montmartre, in the center of Paris, with tour guide Laurence Debart-Johne, as the sun set over Paris on a beautiful day, drinking a wine that can’t be sold or exported? These are the wine moments you hope for.
鶫 (Tsugumi) Sparkling Wine from 酒井ワイナリー (Sakai Winery)
#2 Most Memorable of 2024.
Wandering the Golden Gai in Shinjuku, Tokyo and small door had “Natural Wine Bar” written in English. For the rest of the night I was drinking incredible Japanese natural wine and sake in bar with 6 seats.
This Pet-Nat is a blend of 98% Delaware and 2% Alicante from vineyards in Yamagata Prefecture that date to the late 1890s.
Ode à Odette 2012 Irancy “1912”
#3 Most Memorable of 2024
The reds of Chablis are always revelations and this is best I’ve ever tasted by far. It was even better to drink in Chablis with Epoisses and good local sausages.
The back label reads, “"To honor the memory of our grandmother, Odette Rojo (1912–2000), what could be more natural than to dedicate to her a cuvée from Irancy 2012, made from grapes from Chérelle: the place where she worked a great part of her life.”
Etnyre 2005 Pinot Noir & Syrah
#4 Most Memorable of 2024. Video
I didn’t know San Luis Obispo wines could be this good or age this well. I certainly didn’t expect it to be some winery I’d never heard of. This micro winery is a strong candidate for Best American Winery You’ve Never Heard Of. Etnyre Wines.
Check out the video for the full 40 minute vertical tasting.
PasoSecco NV (First Edition)
#5 Most Memorable of 2024
My good friend Chris Kern just launched his small - but ambitious - sparkling wine brand. PasoSecco. The first charmat method sparkling wine made entirely of Paso Robles fruit. It is delicious and fun and we spend a lot of time talking about it during my Paso visit this year.
Daniel-Etienne Defaix 2009 Chablis Premier Cru “Les Lys”
#6 Most Memorable of 2024
This beautiful mature bottle from Les Trois Bourgeons in Chablis stands-in for my discover of Les Lys. You don’t often see this climat as the wines can be labeled under the more profitable name of Vaillons. Les Lys, however, is Chablis as I want to taste it.
“With a north and northeast exposure, it is nestled just behind a hill, proudly perched on a promontory. It is open to the wind and benefits greatly from the morning sun at the coolest hours of the day. These natural assets provide Les Lys with a particularly healthy terroir where grapes mature slowly. The soil consists of sticky, only slightly stony clays that sit on a marly subsoil typical of the Kimmeridgian. “ - chablis-wines.com
Domaine de Souch 1992 Jurancon Sec
#7 Most Memorable of 2024
Discovering Jurancon Sec in 1999, while studying abroad in France during college, was instrumental in my future career in the wine business. But I’d never had one with kind of age. I didn’t know if it would be any good.
The sommelier at Les 4 Pépins in Pau, France was hesitant to open his last bottle of this, but I won him over because I could speak enough French to communicate what it would mean to me. We drank it together and it was amazing in the savory, length, and complexity.
Chateau Pontet-Canet Pauillac Vertical: 1990, 2000, & 2010
#8 Most Memorable of 2024
A good friend got married this year after 60+ years of bachelorhood. We celebrated steaks on the grill and our favorite Bordeaux. This is absolutely textbook classic left bank and it was amazing to see vintage variations.
This the biggest steal in premium Bordeaux, but don’t tell anyone about it. Let them drink their Lafite and Mouton.
Hofkellerei des Fürsten von Liechtenstein 2020 Pinot Noir “Herawingert”
#9 Most Memorable of 2024
After nearly a quarter century in the wine business, it is really exciting to try a country that i’ve never tasted before. Liechtenstein used to be on that list until Roxanne Langer and the Princely Wines of Liechtenstein reached out about taking part in a virtual tasting.
All the wines were exceptional with this single vineyard Pinot Noir standing out. Truly alpine Pinot with the lean minerality, white strawberries, and freshness that is implied in that statement.
I hope this won’t be a last wine from Liechtenstein that I get to taste.
Martin Códax 2022 Rias Baixas “Finca Xieles”
#10 Most Memorable of 2024. Video
This stunning old vine Albarino from Martin Codax is exceptional in its own right. Full on minerality born of the traditions of Cambados’ granitic soils, traditional harvesting, and aging in concrete eggs.
It serves as a representative of the incredible experience of tasting wines throughout Rias Baixas on my trip with Carl Giavanti.
Ameztoi Blanco 2023 Txakolina
#11 Most Memorable of 2024
I’m not sure any winery has more beautiful view than Ameztoi and got to visit it twice this year. Once as part of a PreBex Tour for TBEX: Basque Country. The Second time as part of the Wine Tour that I created and led across the North of Spain.
Also the wine is classic and delicious with the light, fresh, effervescent nature of true Txakolina.
Champagne Petit Clergeot
#12 Most Memorable of 2024
Champagne was a revelation. I knew that there were hundreds of little grower champagnes growing in the shade of the huge houses, but I didn’t really get how many there were and how good they were.
This single parcel, single grape, single vintage bottling was recommended at the exceptional micro restaurant Au Bon Manger in Reims.
The Honorable Mentions
Cru Beaujolais by the glass in paris restaurants
(for lunch)
We are really missing out in this country by not having good inexpensive by-the-glass Beaujolais offerings. I can’t think of a single lunch that wouldn’t be improved by a glass of cru Beaujolais.
Everything at Third Coast Soif
This picture of Elisabetta Foradori stands it for all the amazing people, experiences, wine, and food I had over about a week in Chicago for the natural wine festival Third Coast Soif 2024. It was truly stunning.
Chateau St Cosme Vertical: 2001, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2018
This only happened a few days ago, so it’s unfair to include it in list, but it was pretty great. The 2008 - with declassified Valbelle - was a real stand out.
Disclosure : The wines on this list were a combination of promotional samples, purchased at discount due to my industry status, tasted as part of wine tastings (some paid and some free,) tasted with friends who purchased them, tasted as part of video shoots for my online video show, or purchased by myself at full price. None of this influences my decisions or ranking.
