Our Top 25 Wines of 2016 As Selected by Vinstudinen & Foodie Stories

It has been a good year of food and wine for me and my good friend Linn Johnsen. You may know her better as Vinstudinen – the wine student. As 2016 comes close to an end we want to share some of our favorite wine experiences with you. These are bottles that we wouldn’t mind meeting again in 2017. In total, the list contains our top 25 wines of 2016. Diplomatic as we are, we’ve selected roughly half each, although there’s quite a few we’ve both drunk, some even together, and can agree on wholeheartedly.

Since I’m mostly into just drinking wine (preferably lots of it when I find a bottle I like), I’ve brought in Linn as a guest contributor in order to raise the level of expertise of the commentary and tasting notes. In addition, I’ve made an effort to list whether the wines are available through the Norwegian wine monopoly or not, and we’re also giving you suggestions of restaurants and wine bars where we’ve come across these stellar examples of fermented grape juice. The wines are divided into the categories bubbly, white, rosé and red, with the ones available at the wine monopoly being listed first. Other than that, there is no particular order of the top 25 we have selected.

Bubbly Wines

Laherte Frères, Blanc de Blancs, Brut Nature, Champagne, France

Sometimes you need to judge a book by the cover and a Champagne by the label. Laherte is an excellent Champagne house, and we’re thrilled that they didn’t just deliver on a beautiful label, but also made a Champagne sufficiently rich to be enjoyed with all kinds of food. This is proof why a Champagne is always a good idea!

Fêtembulles, Robinot 2015

Nothing says New Year’s like these party bubbles from the eccentric Jean Pierre Robinot in the Loire valley. Made from lovely Chenin Blanc, with no dosage, it feels both refreshing, with ripe apples, peach and grapefruit, and edgy like the feeling you sometimes get with Pét-Nat. Wellmade and fun!

Tripoz Crémant de Bourgogne Nature Brut

While Champagne is always a good idea, your wallet might sometimes lead you to other sparkling wines. Linn had this wine for the first time this summer at Cave Madeleine in Beaune and was thrilled to find out it was also available in Norway. She has seldom had a crémant so similar to Champagne in style. A typical blanc de blancs, with ripe apples, citrus and biscuits, and a creamy mousse that lasts.

Lammidia Bianchetto 2015

Because Pét-Nat is always a good idea! We love fresh Italian bubbles with a personality. Deliberately made to cheer us up, these lightly sparkling bubbles made from Trebbiano d’Abruzzo tastes of summer and happiness – some say it’s like drinking fruit juice infused with wild flowers of the summer. Now that is pure grape juice delivered!

Sui Lieviti, Orsi, Vigneto San Vito, Pignoletto Frizzante, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Far north in Italy you find the small winemaker Orsi in Emilia Romagna. While this lightly white frizzante might be the perfect summer drink, we won’t mind having this as our aperitif any day. Linn was a bit taken away by the grape variety which she hadn’t even heard of before. Who wouldn’t want to drink Pignoletto blended with a tiny bit of Riesling? Fresh with fruit from the mrden and a slight citrus touch, alive and drinkable – just perfect for any social gathering.

Charles Dufour, #4 Vinorama

Dufour is a young Champagne-maker that we hope to see even more from in the future. This zero dosage Vinorama makes perfect sense as a stand-alone. On the other hand; ripe apples, brioche and a string of acidity also makes it perfect for a lobster bisque – or any type of Christmas food we can think of.

White Wines

Matassa, Cuvee Margeruite 2015

Do we even need to mention Matassa? Tom Lubbe started Matassa after working at the famous Rousillon producer Gauby (one to try as well) and delivers on quality as always with this aromatic blend on a rock solid bottom of citrus, apple and pears. Grown on ancient vines with low yields, there is an excellent concentration further supported by some skin maceration. We can think of a variety of pasta dishes, seafood, shellfish and poultry that would go perfectly with it. This is value for money – although not cheap!

Château de Béru Vaucoupin 1er Cru

Athénaïs Beru has taken over the family property in Chablis and makes some of the highest quality Chablis available. She will often say that nature gives and nature takes, especially after the last year’s terrible weather conditions in Chablis. Due to this, her quantities for the coming years are reduced. Linn found it a pleasure to spend some time tasting with Athénaïs last April. This is serious Chablis, with citrus fruit and a record-breaking length. The salinity and chalk of this premier cru, immediately makes us long for oysters. Dig into your savings account and enjoy! By the way: if you ever come across her flagship “Château de Béru Monopole” – don’t hesitate. YOLO!

Domaine Lucci, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills, Australia 2010

So you thought Sauvignon Blanc was boring, giving you nothing but predictable flowers and grassiness? Well, it’s time to move on. Australia is bringing it on and with this cool cuvée. A mouth-filling bottle of happiness, with a rich nose and enough exotic fruit to make us want to go down under immediately. Add the summer’s flowers to that and we’re still convinced it’s actually Sauvignon Blanc we’re drinking. We haven’t had Sauvignon Blanc made us feel like this since we had the Pét-Nat from De Conti a while back, of which Linn bought all the remaining bottles at the wine monopoly in Oslo for last New Year’s Eve (leaving nothing for me!).

Flora, Michael Gindl 2014

The Austrians keep surprising us with delicious and innovative wines like this Riesling-dominated blend. While the acidity is evened out a bit with some more aromatic grapes we just love how the fruitiness of this perfectly balances out the floral first impression – allowing it to blossom, but not overpowering us like grandma’s Chanel no. 5. Value for money alert!

Love and Pif, Yann Durieux 2014

Aligoté is the forgotten grape of Burgundy, but will often be far more reasonably priced than its famous sophisticated sister Chardonnay. Love and Pif has convinced us time and time again. Not only with a pretty label but also with its vibrant and summery fruitiness. One of our favorite “enjoy life”-wines! We’re completely taken away by the hint of elderflower and the recurring thought that there might be a slight skin maceration here …

Rietsch Sylvaner, Nature, Alsace, France 2011

Sylvaner is the forgotten grape most often found in Germany, but when they want to make something extraordinary they know how to do it in Alsace. Rietsch is famous for its serious approach to natural wines, keeping the bottles for an extended time before its release. Maybe this is why this Sylvaner feels so much more fulfilling than the usual anonymous Sylvaner, with white and yellow stone fruits that linger on your tongue and makes you crave for more.

La Bégou, Maxime Magnon, 2014

This is so sweet! Not like sugar sweet, just sweet as pleasurable. White stone fruit with a waxy edge might be what describes it best alongside with elderflower. One of the whites we just cannot have enough of.

Solaris, Vexebo Vin 2012

In Veksebo, just north of Copenhagen we discovered this year’s most positive surprise in terms of wines. Who would have thought that a Danish wine could be so deliciously satisfying? Daniel Milan manages a modest hectar of vines and has taken on the biodynamic philosophy. In 2012 Milan still made use of cultured yeast, but since then he has moved on to spontaneous fermentation. Yet, the 2012 also has a lot of personality, in particular for the otherwise anonymous Solaris grape, with ripe apples, wild flowers and a soft acidity that makes the wine both balanced and refreshing. A producer to return to!

Rosé Wines

L’Anglore Tavel 2014

We’ve met several winemakers that told us that if they could only drink wine from one winemaker (other than themselves) it would have to be legendary Eric Pfifferling’s wines. He makes Tavel’s perhaps most interesting wine, a deeply coloured rosé (well, in this appellation they produce only rosé). The nose gives summery notes with ripe cherries, forest strawberries, orange peel and rose petals. A concentrated, rich taste with enough tannins and extraction to tackle a good piece of grilled lamb or pork. A cult wine that you have to try when you come across it.

Vinudilice Rosato, Vigneri di Salvo Foti, Etna, Italy

Legendary Salvo Foti makes this marvelous rosé wine at Etna, Sicily with the local cooperative I Vigneri, consisting of small high-quality producers. The grapes come from ancient vines and Vinudilice has a concentration not so often found in rosés. The main grapes are Alicante, Grecanico and Minella which are blended with other local grape varieties to make an intensely refreshing, yet mouth-filling rosé with a palate of fresh strawberries, citrus zest, rose petals and just a slight touch of sage.

Red Wines

Jumpin’ Juice, Half Full, Patrick Sullivan 2015

Patrick Sullivan makes wine fun! No wonder why he calls it jumpin’ juice – after a (half) glass of this refreshing fermented fruit drink you will either jump or dance. An Australian cocktail of a blend, taking advantage of the Pinot Noirs ability to shine with red fruits and freshness, adding an aromatic touch with Sauvignon Blanc and enriching it with Sangiovese and Syrah. We love how the Aussies couldn’t care less about conventional blends. How come the wine glass is always half full?

Morgon Côte du Py, Foillard 2014

Jean Foillard is an excellent producer that Linn had the pleasure of meeting this summer for a lovely wine tasting with his son, Alex, followed by a traditional French family lunch that she’ll never forget. Foillard was among the famous gang of four in Beaujolais and a pioneer in the natural wine movement. There’s just something about well-made Gamay grown on granitic and volcanic soil in this part of Beaujolais. From the honesty of the wine, the consistent quality from year to year and the way Foillard really makes the Gamay shine in all of its glory from different terroirs. Driven by mature, yet cold cherries and berries from the wood, you will also find notes of herbs. Perfectly complex, yet so easy to drink. A luxury companion for red pizzas, and at the same time an excellent choice for any kind of grilled meat. Always look for this in the wine list of a good restaurant. It’s usually a bargain when it comes to price/quality. Worth every cent.

El Pino Rojo, Barranco Oscuro 2014

Who would have thought that elegant and vibrant could be made in Andalucia, Spain? This high altitude pinot noir is deeply colored, vibrant with red, ripe fruits, spice and vanilla and an edge we haven’t seen with Pinots before. Yet, still so elegant that also the general Pinot lover will crave more from this Spaniard. To be honest, we will have anything from Barranco Oscuro if we find it.

Y’a Bon the Canon, Ganevat

Together with his sister, Ganevat is making great negotiant wines with grapes mostly sourced in Jura, sometimes in Loire. This is a blend of Gamay, Poulsard and Trousseau that makes us go “what and how?” and “please, more now.” Juicy and refreshing and just wild enough to be intellectually stimulating. Kriek, red currants, and candy – this is a true fruit bomb!

Arbois Pupillin, Poulsard, Bruyere-Houillon 2015

Let’s start with the color, because it’s impossible not to fall in love with the bright red of a young Poulsard. Although they say you can play football with the Poulsard grape because of the thick skin, the color extraction is minimal and the wine is sometimes mistaken for a rosé. Mostly found in Jura, and the world capital of Poulsard, tiny Pupillin outside Arbois, this wine is so zesty and fresh that its wilder sides just keeps you wanting more. A delicious harmony of red fruits driven by kriek, cranberries, and red currants.

VN Partida Creus 2014

An Italian winemaker in Spain that prefers old indigenous varieties with personality rather than industrial wines. The wines can sometimes be on the wilder side, but we like how the Creus wines are always edgy and often fruit-driven with a sufficient acidic spine. A wine that makes you feel alive. For experimental souls.

Classe, Mas Coutelou 2013

Mas Coutelou is the name of a relatively small vineyard in Languedoc. The producer has deep respect for the environment and the terroir, and is a minimum interventionist by winemaking philosophy, both in the vineyard and the cellar. Classe is a decent GSM (Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre) with a deep ruby color. It smells of ripe fruit and forest berries, it’s spicy with black pepper and a solid dose of rooibos tea. It has a body and mouthfeel that is sometimes lacking in natural wines, which tends to be very juicy. We’d have this any day, either in front of the fireplace or with a grilled entrecôte.

Ànima Negra Àn/2 2013

Who would have thought this year’s winter red came from Mallorca? Ànima Negra is rich and just what you need when you snuggle up in the sofa with a wool blanket to watch your favorite romantic comedy (Linn’s words, not mine). Plums and raspberries are sufficiently backed up by acidity and just the right amount of sweet spices like vanilla and nutmeg to really call it a winter wine. On the other hand, it would also match your summer barbecue perfectly.

Savagnin, Overnoy, 1998 (Bottled in 2010)

Overnoy is the famous, natural winemaker, often referred to as the Pope of Jura. If you ever come across Overnoy’s wines, now co-branded with the winemaker Houillon, don’t hesitate to go for it! Famous for their low intervention approach combined with long elevage before bottling, these wines are made for aging. Still, they will always be ready for consumption upon release. Linn says the 1998 Savagnin may just about be the best wine she ever drank. Savagnin is a grape that develops so much in the course of 15 years that it is hardly recognizable from its fruity and floral youth to the curry, raisin and spiced version that develops with time. Always ask for Overnoy if you visit a restaurant in Jura!

Have you drunk any of our favorites? Please leave a comment and share your opinion. Also, if you’re a restaurateur who has any of these wines in your cellar, or a Norwegian wine importer that can get hold of the most unavailable ones through special order – please let us know!