A writer for Decanter argues that Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley are the best in the world. Pinot Noir originated in Burgundy, but it can express the subtleties of wherever it is grown. That is music to my ears. As the world is inundated with atrocious weather this year — from astronomical heat in the UAE to blizzards in the NE US, floods all over, and biblical rain in central Australia — I wonder if we will have our first crop of Pinot Noir this year.
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| Visitors Catherine Ann, Craig and Kieran |
Below is a selection of top-scoring wines from the 2025 Decanter competition, with many more awarded Pinot Noir wines to discover on their results site, awards.decanter.com.
Pinot Noir:
20 top-scoring wines to try from DWWA 2025
Best in Show
Albert Bichot, Hospices de Beaune Cuvée Cyrot Chaudron, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Burgundy, France 2023
Best in Show, 97 points
The chance to look at Grand Cru Burgundy in our judging process feels like an unusual luxury — but our scrutiny takes into account the wine’s eventual retail price band, and the consumer expectations that go with that. It’s by no means a given that wines of this calibre will fetch up in our Best in Show selection. Three such red wines have made it to the Top 50 Best in Show in the past, but none since the 2020 DWWA. When we came to look at this Clos de la Roche, though, we felt that we had met a worthy wine and an outstanding example of the compelling appeal of the Côte de Nuits. It’s dark, indeed almost opaque in colour, with a dense, tapestry-like weave of beguiling fruits. The palate is deep, searching and sumptuously fruited, too, with a rich inner glow that sensitive oak handling is shaping for the future. Best, if possible, to wait most of a decade in order to enjoy this bottle at its best; nonetheless the tannins are soft and plush enough to make early drinking over the next year or two a possibility here. Alcohol 14.5%
Craggy Range, Martinborough, Wairarapa, New Zealand 2024
Best in Show, 97 points
Of the six Pinot Noirs from New Zealand to feature in our Top 50 selections since 2018, this is the third to come from Wairarapa’s Martinborough (the other three, unsurprisingly, have been Central Otago wines). This is an uncompromisingly dark wine that plays to New Zealand’s strengths in terms of purity and vivacity of fruit: raspberry, cherry and plum come streaming from the glass, and the fine meshing of fruit and oak in this wine adds to its lustre and appeal. In the mouth, the wine is both long and broad but not in any way clumsy, and the fruit flavours (raspberry to the fore again) are hypnotic. Svelte tannins are barely palpable, so there’s no textural barrier to entry. Alc 13.5%
Australia
Bay of Fires, Tasmania 2023
Platinum, 97 points
Displaying unrivalled panache and charisma: brilliant raspberries and black cherries undulate over the smoked oyster decadence and fold ceremoniously into the focused oak frame. Utterly delicious with succulent acidity, cashmere tannins and a red berry finish. Alc 13.5%
Ossa, Tasmania 2023
Gold, 96 points
Flamboyant floral and ripe red fruit notes fold into the rapturously silky texture with its fleshy tannins aplenty and soft sousing of oak. Top shelf. Alc 13.5%
Beyond the Wilderness, Cool Climate Pinot Noir, Tasmania 2024
Gold, 95 points
Sweet raspberry, pomegranate and dark cherry fruits are encased in a lightly spiced shell with charcuterie notes seeping into the abundant silky tannins and vivid acidity. Alc 14%
Soumah, Equilibrio Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Victoria 2024
Gold, 95 points
Brilliant cherry, strawberry, plum and crushed raspberry fruit adorn the mellow, creamy texture and taming graphite tannins, with lithe acidity and a red liquorice length. Alc 13.5%
Canada
CedarCreek Estate Winery, Platinum South Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia 2022
Gold, 96 points
Stunning layers of black cherry, berry and baking spice flavour; crammed with intensity and character. Expansive and plush with satin tannins and a graphite finish. Alc 13%
Hidden Bench Estate Winery, Pinot Noir, Beamsville Bench, Ontario – Niagara Peninsula 2022
Gold, 95 points
The true essence of Pinot Noir: redcurrants, cherries and a scattering of sweet herbs swirl over the sumptuous palate with supple tannins and a juicy finish. Alc 13%
Chile
Cono Sur, Ocio, San Antonio 2022
Gold, 96 points
Alive with red cherry fruit and vibrant florals with delicate herbals lapping at the edges. Firm and serious on the palate with divine pencil shaving tannins. Alc 14%
Terranoble, Algarrobo, Casablanca Valley 2024
Gold, 96 points
Charming red plums, sour cherries and decadent florals billow over nose and palate with a crunchy cranberry acidity, silky tannins and a delightful seaweed tang. Alc 12.5%
France
Domaine Evenstad, Les Feusselottes, Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru, Burgundy 2022
Platinum, 97 points
Glowing with purity: vivid violet florals and bright cherries and berries glide over the nose and palate in tandem with a charm of pristine minerals. Bracing in its youthful power, the elegance and finesse sustains unfalteringly. Alc 13.5%
Domaine Jean Monnier & Fils, Clos de Citeaux, Pommard 1er Cru, Burgundy 2022
Platinum, 97 points
Gleaming with sweet dark cherries, pomegranates and violets which tumble over the burgeoning tannins, silky texture and shiny acidity. Full of youthful exuberance with a spark of lively paprika spice on the long, arresting finale. Alc 13%
Domaine Saint Remy, Grand Cru Hengst, Alsace 2022
Platinum, 97 points
A thrilling brood of black cherry, warm blackberry and earthy tar swirls effortlessly across the nose and entangles energetically with the plush, fleshy structure, supple tannins and impeccable line of acidity. Beautifully long and memorable. Alc 13%
Domaine Gille, Les Cailles, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru, Burgundy 2022
Gold, 96 points
An impressive profile of strawberry and raspberry fruit with perfumed, earthy tones. Confident and complex with rich, rustic tannins and an understated classy oak core. Alc 13%
Prosper Maufoux, Echezeaux Grand Cru 2022
Gold, 96 points
A luxurious splurge of black cherry, wild raspberry, espresso and pipe tobacco with a tight, graphite minerality and finely knitted tannins. Grandiose and utterly delicious! Alc 13.5%
Jean-Max Roger, Vieilles Vignes, Sancerre, Loire 2018
Gold, 95 points
A glowing spectacle of maturity, exhibiting bramble fruit, dark chocolate, liquorice and leather aromas and a rewarding cedar oak presence which slithers delicately over the silky tannins. Alc 13%
Germany
Fritz Wassmer, Roter Berg Kenzingen Spätburgunder, Baden 2022
Platinum, 97 points
A thriving floral perfume of red roses and violets allied with sweet ripe fruit. Hugely intense and powerful on the palate with expertly handled acidity, fine-grained tannins and a savoury mocha swirl which edges towards the finish. Alc 13.5%
New Zealand
McArthur Ridge, Southern Tor, Alexandra Basin, Central Otago 2023
Platinum, 97 points
Phenomenal layers of crushed raspberry, plum, black cherry and dried herbs amid moments of vanilla and baking spice. Stately and plush with juicy acidity and scores of ardent tannins which lay the foundations for ageing. Divine. Alc 14%
Te Kano, Northburn, Central Otago 2022
Gold, 96 points
A melange of black cherries, plums, violets and dried herbs in a frame of graphite tannins and silky structure, with a disarming spice note to end. Alc 13%
United States
Domaine Serene, Yamhill Cuvée, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2022
Platinum, 97 points
A masterstroke of Pinot Noir making! Deftly placed crunchy red cherry and raspberry fruit with a generosity of sweet oaky spice which unfurls and weaves around the supple tannins and texture, with bristling acidity and a lengthy finish. Alc 13.8%
