2025 James Suckling Top 100 | Wine.com’s Selections

James Suckling 2025 #1 Wine of The Year

At the very top sits the 2022 Château d’Issan Margaux, named Wine of the Year, a reflection of Bordeaux’s exceptional 2022 vintage. Yet the broader story is one of diversity: wines that reflect their place, their philosophy, and the quiet mastery of those who make them. Below, we highlight Wine.com’s selections from the 2025 Top 100, bottles of significance for collectors and connoisseurs alike.

Chateau d'Issan 2022

Margaux, Bordeaux, France ● Bordeaux Red Blends

• 96 Decanter
• 96 Jeb
  Dunnuck
• 96 James
  Suckling
• 95 Robert
  Parker
• 94 Vinous

Sold Out - was $85.00

United States | Precision on the Sonoma Coast

There were 20 total wines from the United States, and the list features wines from the Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and Napa Valley, regions that showcase the country’s precision and balance in contemporary winemaking.

The Wine.com selections from the United States highlight the new standard-bearers of coastal Pinot Noir, producers who capture both the energy of the Pacific and the depth of California terroir.

Wine.com United States Selections

The 2023 RAEN Royal St. Robert Cuvée Pinot Noir ranks No. 2 in the world and earns the distinction of No. 1 U.S. Wine of the Year. Founded by brothers Carlo and Dante Mondavi, RAEN has redefined coastal Pinot through regenerative and biodynamic viticulture across 10 acres of Goldridge soils. Fermented entirely with native yeasts and 80% whole clusters, the cuvée yields only 1,800 cases per year. It stands as both a love letter to Burgundy and a blueprint for California’s next generation of terroir-driven winemaking.

Full Review (99 points): “An amazingly complex, dynamic wine that demands your attention from the first sniff to the lingering finish. Aromas of redwood forest, rosemary, purple flowers, and black cherries, then black tea, pomegranate, dark cherry, dried raspberry, and wild mushroom flavors. Fine-grained moderate tannins and crunchy acidity give it such a firm backbone. Drink now or hold.”

The 2023 Paul Hobbs George Menini Estate Pinot Noir, from the Russian River Valley, represents another milestone for meticulous, small-parcel winemaking. Planted in 2015 on Goldridge sandy loam with an eastern aspect, the site benefited from a 2023 growing season marked by abundant rainfall and delayed ripening, producing fruit of uncommon balance and aromatic depth. Hand-harvested at night, the wine was fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged 11 months in French oak (31% new), then bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Full Review (98 points): “Wow, a super well-structured, vital wine with oodles of generous black fruit flavors on a firm frame that will help it age well and improve with time. Black cherries, blackberries, blueberries, forest floor nuances, and a slight smoky, stemmy character from using mostly Calera-clone grapes, with 15% whole clusters and 30% new French oak. Great interplay between layered fruit and a fresh, crunchy texture. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.”

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  RAEN Royal St. Robert Cuvee Pinot Noir 2023
  Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California ● Pinot Noir
  • 99 James
    Suckling
  • 95 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 94 Wine
    Spectator
  • 93 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 Vinous
  Sold Out - was $90.00
• 
  Paul Hobbs George Menini Estate Pinot Noir 2023
  Russian River, Sonoma County, California ● Pinot Noir
  • 98 James
    Suckling
  • 95 Wine
    Spectator
  Sold Out - was $100.00

Italy | Old World Prestige and Provenance

There were 24 total wines from Italy, and the list features wines from Tuscany, Piedmont, and the Veneto, underscoring the country’s unmatched range from noble reds to textured, mineral-driven whites.

The Italian Wine.com selections this year span the full spectrum of excellence, from Brunello’s structured elegance to Barolo’s sculpted power and Soave’s refined texture.

Wine.com Italy Selections: Tuscany

In Montalcino, the 2020 Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso remains a reference point for classical Sangiovese. Sourced from Eocene marl soils at elevations of 240–360 meters, the wine undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel and glass-lined concrete tanks, followed by extended maturation in large oak casks and bottle refinement. It reflects the grace and endurance that make Brunello one of Italy’s great investment categories.

Full Review (98 points): “Intense, vibrant aromas of strawberries and raspberries, together with cola and flowery notes. Milk and mint nuances, too. Shows a lot of licorice elegance and blood-orange freshness on both the nose and palate with firm, velvety tannins and well-packed, brilliant acidity and a polished finish. Good aftertaste and amazing potential. Very classic. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.”

The 2020 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne offers a contrast in style, modern precision built on old-vine depth. The estate’s holdings in Pelagrilli (clay-sand soils, 350 m elevation) and Piancornello (warmer, pebble-rich slopes) bring together aromatic lift and structural intensity. Grapes are hand-harvested and manually sorted before steel fermentation and 24 months in 225-liter French oak barrels, followed by bottle aging. It’s a seamless blend of craftsmanship and place.

Full Review (98 points): “Aromas of black cherries, bark, black truffle, ink, and lead pencil follow through to a full body with perfectly integrated tannins that are caressing yet impressive and add intensity and focus to the wine. The silky tannins caress every inch of your palate. Savory finish. Drink or hold.”

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  Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso 2020
  Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy ● Sangiovese
  • 98 James
    Suckling
  • 96 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 94 Vinous
  • 93 Robert
    Parker
  • 92 Wine
    Spectator
  Sold Out - was $230.00
• 
  Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne 2020
  Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy ● Sangiovese
  • 98 James
    Suckling
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
  • 94 Vinous
  • 94 Wine
    Spectator
  Sold Out - was $160.00

Wine.com Italy Selections: Northern Italy

In Piedmont, the 2021 Ceretto Barolo Brunate continues the estate’s decades-long exploration of terroir transparency. The Brunate cru, straddling La Morra and Barolo, comprises 5.3 hectares of south-facing vines on ancient calcareous marl. Ceretto’s parcels, situated near the iconic LeWitt–Tremlett Chapel, produce wines of striking aromatic complexity and longevity.

Full Review (98 points): “Cranberries, dried herbs, underbrush, sage, minerals, and violets on the nose. Very aromatic and absorbing. The palate is medium to full-bodied with precise, linear, and elegant fruit. The tannins are firm and balanced, providing a compact, racy finish. Outstanding balance. Better from 2026.”

From the Veneto, the 2023 Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca delivers a masterclass in the evolution of Italian white wine. Grown on the Monte Rocchetta hill beneath Soave’s medieval castle, the 100% Garganega fruit comes from chalky-clay soils at 200–300 meters with southwest exposure. The late-harvested grapes are gently macerated, then aged one year in large oak barrels on fine lees, resulting in a wine that bridges texture and minerality in equal measure.

Full Review (98 points): “Classy and sophisticated wine with toasty and stony aromas, together with lemon peel, oranges, quince, and ferns. Medium-bodied yet weighty, with vibrant acidity balancing the strength. Long, silky finish of toast and white chocolate. Outstanding. Drink or hold.”

• 
  Ceretto Barolo Brunate 2021
  Barolo, Piedmont, Italy ● Nebbiolo
  • 98 James
    Suckling
  • 97 Robert
    Parker
  • 94 Wine
    Spectator
  Sold Out - was $150.00
• 
  Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca 2023
  Soave, Veneto, Italy ● Garganega
  • 98 James
    Suckling
  • 94 Robert
    Parker
  • 92 Wine
    Spectator
  Sold Out - was $55.00

Chile | The Legacy of Clos Apalta

There were 5 total wines from Chile, and the list features wines from the Colchagua Valley, led by the historic Apalta Vineyard, where old vines, granitic soils, and meticulous craftsmanship produce the country’s most collectible reds.

The Chilean Wine.com selection shines a spotlight on one of South America’s most enduring icons, Clos Apalta, a wine that continues to define both legacy and innovation in the region.

Produced by Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle, the 2022 Clos Apalta is a blend of 68% Carménère, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot, sourced from the estate’s terraced Apalta Vineyard in the Colchagua Valley, first planted in the early 1900s with pre-phylloxera French selections. The 2022 vintage, marked by a long, cool season, was harvested from March 13 to April 23, fermented in French oak vats and barriques, and matured 21 months in French oak (73% new). Its granite-derived soils and amphitheater exposure, flanked by the Tinguiririca River, produce wines of profound depth and longevity.

Full Review (99 points): “The carmenere character is more obvious and confidently transparent this year, but in a really complex and layered way. Cedar, black olives, graphite, paprika, and hints of pepper and iodine. It’s well-rounded, with a light sanguine note to the ripe fruit. The tannins are fine-grained yet polished. The lengthy finish doesn’t want to stop. 68% Carmenère, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot. Drink from 2027.”

Clos Apalta 2022

Colchagua Valley, Rapel Valley, Chile ● Bordeaux Red Blends

• 99 Jeb
  Dunnuck
• 99 James
  Suckling
• 98 Vinous
• 96 Decanter
• 95 Robert
  Parker
• 95 Wine
  Spectator

Sold Out - was $185.00

Wrap Up

The 2025 James Suckling Top 100 captures a world of remarkable balance, where tradition meets innovation, and where each bottle tells the story of its place. From the precision of coastal California Pinot Noir to the timeless craftsmanship of Brunello, Barolo, and Soave, and the enduring power of Chile’s Clos Apalta, these wines define excellence across continents. Together, they illustrate how the global pursuit of terroir-driven winemaking has never been more focused, expressive, or inspiring.