My Top 15 Wines of 2024: When Great Wines Meet Unforgettable Moments

As I sit down to write my second annual "Top 15 Wines" post (check out last year's post here), I can't help but smile at how much has happened in 2024. Before diving into this year's selections, I should mention that while most of these wines earned their spots purely on merit, a few made the cut because they were part of truly extraordinary experiences.

After all, isn't that what wine is really about?

SORRY, JANUARY, THIS PARTY'S NOT STOPPING

Oh, and before we dive in - yes, it's January 1st, and no, I'm not participating in "Dry January." Never have, never will. Life's too short to skip a month of great wine, especially when there are so many amazing bottles to be shared!

FROM MICHELIN STARS TO NFL STARS: A YEAR OF "DID THAT REALLY JUST HAPPEN?"

This year has been particularly special as my wife Dio and I have deepened our involvement with the High Museum Wine Auction, culminating in her being named co-chair for 2025. The year was filled with memorable moments, starting with my 50th birthday celebration at Talley Vineyards in February. March brought our first visit to Blackberry Farm, where the wine pairing dinner and wine and cheese tasting exceeded our already high expectations.

Early June found us at High Hampton, where we had the pleasure of meeting former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe, now making exceptional wines under his "Doubleback" label. Drew proved to be incredibly down-to-earth and his wines were outstanding - check out the full story here.

Late June was a whirlwind. We hosted three Joseph Jewell wine events in just two days in Atlanta, which led to a wonderful friendship with winemaker Adrian Manspeaker. This connection would later result in one of the year's culinary highlights when Adrian took us to Cyrus in Geyserville in August. With just one Michelin star currently, the creativity and execution of that meal suggests more stars are in their future.

The end of June was equally memorable, with the Arrow&Branch Winery investor grand opening and a return visit to The French Laundry that surpassed our first experience there (read about it HERE).

September brought us back to High Hampton for a Paul Hobbs wine event (you can read about that HERE) and early November took us to Austin where we experienced the Chef's Counter at Barley Swine (blog post coming soon). Just weeks after our casual but elevated dinner at Barley Swine, they received their first Michelin star - I suspect reservations will be quite hard to come by now!

Late November brought what I dubbed our "UK Marathon" - three Michelin three-star restaurants in three days: dinner at The Ledbury in London, followed by lunch at The Waterside Inn and then dinner at The Fat Duck in Bray. Each offered outstanding wine pairings, and I'm still hard-pressed to pick a favorite (look for detailed posts on each coming soon).

We closed out the year with some Italian excellence, enjoying lunch and wine pairings at the three-star Da Vittoria in Brusaporta, followed the next day by dinner at Andrea Aprea in Milan. While Andrea Aprea currently holds two stars, based on our experience, a third star wouldn't surprise me at all.

Now, onto the top 15 list.

THE LIST

#15 - 2022 Raymond Burr Cabernet Sauvignon Gustafson Vineyard (92 points)

Sometimes the most memorable wine experiences come from being in the right place at the right time - for example, at Cyrus with Adrian Manspeaker! When he, during dinner, invited me to join their first-ever bottling day at Raymond Burr winery, I jumped at the chance. Not only did I help on the bottling line, but I also became the proud owner of their very first estate-bottled wine. The wine itself? A beautiful Cab blend showing gorgeous red fruit and surprising complexity for its youth.

#14 - 1974 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (90 points)

My first birth-year vintage wine, enjoyed during my 50th birthday dinner with Brian Talley and his mother, Rosemary, Dio, and some great friends at Ember. After acquiring three different 1974 wines at auction (hoping at least one would show well), this Mondavi proved that sometimes both wine and wine lover can age gracefully. Not too shabby for a 50-year-old!

#13 - 2016 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rincon Vineyard (93 points)

Speaking of Talley, this wine was the standout during a weekend of exceptional wines at the estate. After discovering their wines at last year's High Museum Wine Auction winemaker's dinner at the Delta 747 Exhibition (check out last year's list for the full story), Talley continues to impress, especially with this perfectly mature Pinot that showcases just how exceptional Central Coast wines can be.

#12 - 2012 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Grand Cru Louis Salmon Brut Blanc de Blancs (94 points)

The only sparkling wine in this year's list made such an impression that Dio featured me pouring it in her annual Christmas card illustration! When my wine-skeptical wife not only enjoys a wine but suggests buying a case on the spot, you know it's something special. You can read the full story in my blog post "The rarest Champagne in town at the best restaurant in Atlanta you've never heard of?"

#11 - 2017 Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard (95 points)

Our relationship with Arrow&Branch deepened this year, starting with their participation in the High Museum Wine Auction. During a pre-auction private winemaker dinner with close friends, this wine stood out as the evening's star. Having tasted many of their wines across different vintages, this remains my favorite A&B wine to date.

#10 - 2002 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese (95 points)

Our first experience at the 2024 Austin Rare & Fine Wine Auction, which we attended at the invitation of friends we met during our stay at High Hampton, introduced us to this gem shared by others at our table. A perfect example of why aged Riesling deserves its legendary status, showing complex petrol notes balanced with sweetness and vibrant acidity.

#9 - 2008 Château Latour Grand Vin Pauillac (95 points)

Bordeaux remains my favorite wine region, and this Latour demonstrates why. Shared with new friends at High Hampton, it exemplifies what First Growth producers can achieve even in modest vintages. The evening prompted a blog post titled "You know you've chosen well when even the Somm is impressed" - and indeed, watching our sommelier's face light up as he decanted this beauty was almost as enjoyable as drinking it.

#8 - 1974 Kopke Porto Colheita Port (95 points)

My second birth-year wine of 2024, this gem was a birthday gift from our Borgo Bonelli partner Michael Kennedy. Shared with some of my close friends in our hotel lobby in LA, it proved that great wine needs no fancy setting - just good friends and good conversation. After last year's revelatory Taylor Fladgate experience, this bottle confirmed my newfound appreciation for Port.

#7 - 2021 Ellman Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley (96 points)

During the Arrow&Branch Winery grand opening celebrations, they arranged a tasting at Ellman that turned out to be the highlight of our wine country trip. Learning that Andy Erickson (of Screaming Eagle fame) was the winemaker was a delightful surprise, made even better when I later met Andy at a Favia tasting in Atlanta and got to see his enthusiasm for the project firsthand through photos on his phone.

#6 - 2013 & 2017 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre (96/95 points)

During a High Museum Wine Auction event featuring Dan Kosta and Rich Aurilia, our generous host shared not one but two vintages of Raveneau. The progression from the brilliant 2017 to the even more impressive 2013 was a masterclass in why wine lovers speak of Raveneau in hushed tones. I finally understood why all Chardonnay gets compared to Raveneau - it's simply the benchmark.

#5 - 2021 Palisades Canyon Chenin Blanc Calistoga (96 points)

A recommendation from a fellow CellarTracker user I'd met at an Arrow&Branch event led us to include Palisades Canyon in our cultivation trip with the High Museum. Steve and Felicia's hospitality, the historic ghost winery tour, and this exceptional "serious" Chenin Blanc made for an unforgettable afternoon. Made by Graeme MacDonald in the "Death and Resurrection" style, this wine changed my perspective on what Chenin Blanc can be. Check out this blog post to read all about the tour and tasting!

#4 - 1990 Château Léoville Las Cases (97 points)

Sometimes the best occasions are the ones you create yourself. On a cold, rainy Sunday in Atlanta, we gathered with friends for an impromptu lunch featuring three wines from the legendary 1990 vintage. This LLC proved to be the star, showing why it's considered one of Bordeaux's "super seconds." As I always say, pop those corks on the good stuff - you're not promised tomorrow!

#3 - 2021 Palisades Canyon Petite Sirah Calistoga (98 points)

From 60-year-old head-trained vines comes this stunning wine that instantly earned a spot in my top 10 of all time. Tasted during the same visit as their Chenin Blanc, this Petite Sirah showcases what old vines and talented winemaking can achieve. Dark, concentrated, and perfectly balanced, it's a wine that stops conversations and demands attention.

#2 - 1979 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese (98 points)

As I wrote in my blog post "A Truly Extraordinary Evening," some of the best wine experiences arise from the most casual situations. This bottle was my eleventh pour of the evening, yet it left an indelible impression. My tasting note from that night says it all: "Wow. This has transcended wine. It's on a different level." It was the moment I truly fell in love with Riesling.

#1 - 2000 Domaine Leroy Clos Vougeot (98 points)

The evening had already been exceptional, with rare Raveneau Chablis and engaging conversation about wine with Dan Kosta and Rich Aurilia. As we finished the Raveneau in our host's cellar, we opened this stunning bottle. The wine itself was transcendent - the finest Burgundy I've ever experienced. But what made it truly special was sharing it with fellow wine lovers, diving deep into discussions about Burgundy, vintages, and what makes certain wines legendary. Later, when I looked up the current market price, I had to smile - was the wine alone worth that astronomical sum? Probably not. But the experience of discovering a wine of this caliber in such company? Absolutely priceless.

Looking back at this list, I'm struck by how many of these wines were enjoyed with friends both old and new. From helping bottle wine in Sonoma to celebrating my 50th birthday, from cultivation trips to impromptu Sunday lunches, each bottle tells a story bigger than what was in the glass. Here's to another year of wine discoveries and stories worth sharing!