Following on the success of unveiling ten top wine discoveries last year at their New York Matter of Taste event, the review team at Robert Parker Wine Advocate take this initiative a step further, announcing their best newly discovered, under-the-radar wines of the year: Top 100 Wine Discoveries 2020. True to Robert Parker Wine Advocate’s vision to independently evaluate and highlight wines from all around the world, this innovative move means to encourage wine lovers to explore new territories and learn about the passionate work of often previously unheralded wine makers.
From over 30,000 wines reviewed by the ten-strong team of wine critics over the last year, this Top 100 Wine Discoveries list complements the 100-point rating system developed by Robert Parker Wine Advocate back in 1978, spotlighting not the well-known, highest scoring wines, but those singular wine gems revealing unexpected greatness or fresh, exciting new takes on familiar labels.
The selection discovers a number of wines produced from lesser-known grape varieties and/or in non-traditional growing regions, and also rediscovers dozens of renowned marques that are making significant innovations, such as in sustainability and terroir-driven decisions, that are informing the taste of the new generation. Wineries in the Old World regions such as France and Italy show plenty of innovation, while the United States has emerged as one of wine’s most innovative frontiers.
“The results of our assessment highlighted to us that there are wines that are not necessarily our top-scoring wines, but have compelling stories behind the bottle. So much change and innovation is currently happening in regions around the world, whether new like California or those with a long history like Bordeaux. Even if the labels are not at all new, what’s happening behind those famous names and all that regional tradition is occasionally quite innovative. These stories and innovations are what consumers are increasingly motivated by when they seek out new discoveries—hence the creation of what we offer our readers as our Top 100 Wine Discoveries,” said Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Editor-in-Chief.
Deciding the Top 100 Wine Discoveries
As the world’s most recognised authority on fine wines, the Robert Parker Wine Advocate team of wine critics cover the entire globe in their quest to inform readers of the most noteworthy wines, including the major wine-producing regions of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the United States and more.
This year’s Wine Discoveries were handpicked by all 10 reviewers from over 30,000 wines reviewed between October 2019 and October 2020. The selection criteria for the Top 100 Wine Discoveries are founded on wines that come from outside the mainstream or are new, and have one or more of the following attributes: value, age-worthiness, sustainability, and wines that represent innovative approaches, whether in the vineyards, winery or otherwise. Not every wine region will be equally represented, and not every vintage is created equal.
“The regional composition of this list will vary considerably from year to year, depending on local weather conditions and the number of wines reviewed from the different parts of the wine-growing world,” said Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Managing Editor.
Top 100 Wine Discoveries List: USA Selection
For more information, including the complete global list of Top 100 Wine Discoveries, visit: www.RobertParker.com
| Region | Wine | Vintage |
| California | Desperada Sauvignon Blanc Fragment | 2018 |
California, Central Coast | Fingers Crossed Syrah Off the Record | 2018 |
| Napa Valley | Hertelendy Cabernet Franc Heavy Metal | 2018 |
| Napa Valley | Modus Operandi Antithesis | 2018 |
| Napa Valley | Trois Noix Noisette Cuvee | 2018 |
| Napa Valley | Cervantes Blacktail Proprietary Red Blend MMXVII | 2017 |
North Fork, Long Island, New York | The Lenz Winery Cuvée RD | 2005 |
Paso Robles | Benom Origin | 2017 |
| Paso Robles | Giornata Fiano | 2019 |
| Red Mountain | Aquilini Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain | 2017 |
San Luis Obispo County, Edna Valley | Lady of the Sunshine Chevey | 2019 |
Santa Cruz Mountains | Sante Arcangeli Pinot Noir Split Rail Vineyard | 2018 |
Sonoma County, Russian River Valley | Bob Cabral Wines Pinot Noir Troubadour | 2017 |
Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast | Vivier Wines Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast | 2018 |
| Virginia | Glen Manor Dry Petit Manseng | 2019 |
| Walla Walla Valley | Elephant Seven Yellowbird Vineyard Syrah | 2017 |
Walla Walla Valley | Echolands Winery Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine | 2018 |
Willamette Valley | 00 Wines Chardonnay VGW | 2018 |
Willamette Valley | Hundred Suns Pinot Noir Bednarik Vineyard | 2018 |
| Yakima | Cairdeas Winery Caislén an Pápa | 2017 |
About Robert Parker Wine Advocate
For more than 40 years, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, and later RobertParker.com, has been the global leader and independent consumer’s guide to fine wine. The brand was established by world-famous Robert M. Parker, Jr., the only critic in any field to receive the highest Presidential honor from three countries—France, Italy and Spain. Robert Parker Wine Advocate provides a wealth of information to its subscribers, including a searchable database of more than 400,000 professional wine ratings and reviews plus articles, videos, daily news content, online retail availability and pricing, an active, professionally moderated bulletin board, a mobile app for easy access to the comprehensive online database of reviews, and much more.
In 2016, Robert Parker Wine Advocate partnered with Michelin to launch MICHELIN Guides in Singapore and other Asian markets. It provides full support in the form of a digital platform, a series of exclusive dining events and editorial support to increase the footprint of MICHELIN Guides in Asia. In 2019, Robert Parker Wine Advocate became fully owned by the Michelin Group joining the four pillars of the “Michelin Experiences” centered around food & beverage, hotels, travel and mobility.
For more information, visit www.RobertParker.com.
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