The most beautiful wines of 2018

What beautiful wines I've tasted this year! I keep a pretty good record of what I'm drinking on my Instagram (@leclubdesvins), so if you'd like more inspiration, feel free to check out a look .

Below, I've compiled a list of the finest wines of 2018. It's impossible to put them in any order, so I'll just keep it chronological as much as possible. Here it comes.

Heucq, Champagne Brut Nature, non-vintage

In March, I went on a trip to Champagne with the Wijnstudio. In three days, we visited Seven Champagne houses . That seems like a lot, but let's be honest: can you ever get enough of Champagne? I certainly can't. An unknown producer, but whose Brut-Nature (100% meunier) I still remember like it was yesterday, is Heucq.

Meet the grape: ASSYRTIKO

In early 2018, I visited Athens with @iamelef and was introduced to Assyrtiko, the white grape from Santorini. One of my favorites is the Gaia's Assyrtiko . So wonderfully fresh, yet a full-bodied wine. Let this be the summer wine of 2019!

Athens is big, but so beautiful. One moment you see a billboard and a modern building, the next a pillar or temple from thousands of years ago. That's awesome. And if you're considering going, go in early June and take it easy. Athens Wine Festival along.

Agusti Torello, Kripta Cava 2008

Of course, the cavas from Agusti Torello couldn't be missing from this list. The Kripta Cava, in its unique amphora-shaped bottle, is the flagship of this cava house. Wow, the aroma: apple and nut pie fresh from the oven, baked apple, vanilla. Mmmm...

Earlier this year I tasted the entire series at Wijnhandel Peeters.

Meet the grape: LAGREIN

Wine tasting and skiing. Isn't that the best pairing ever? Last year I was invited to a Wine Ski Safari in South Tyrol. This year it's planned again. March 24th . If you love winter sports and wine, this is your vacation. Success guaranteed. This is where I truly discovered how delicious lagrain can be.

Louis Roederer Cristal 2009 and Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé 1988

Cristal Champagne was created by a Russian Tsar. Nicholas II of Russia appointed Louis Roederer to his court and commissioned the house to make a wine from their finest grapes. As befits a true Tsar, he wanted to distinguish himself from the commoners (and other Tsars). This had to be reflected in the bottle. So, crystal was used to make the bottle. It's transparent and has a flat bottom; crystal is so strong that it doesn't need a soul.

These days, Cristal Champagne has a huge fan base in the hip-hop world. I can't blame them. I'd rather pop a bottle of Cristal than Moet & Chandon, wouldn't you agree? But the truly special one was the 1988 Cristal Rosé, which I tasted in early April of this year. My tasting notes describe it as "citrus, raspberries, baked peach with caramel."

Chateau Musar

For those unfamiliar with this wine, it's a must-try. Be patient, because the longer you wait, the better it gets. In mid-2018, Vinites invited me to a dinner featuring the wines of Chateau Musar. What a stroke of luck!

What I'll never forget are the rosés. We tasted a 2014 and a 2004 side by side. It's possible you've never seen the rosé, because they only make it in good (read: cool) years. On average, that happens three times every ten years. It's a rosé for aging, and it has a special detail: it's a blend of white and red wine. That's completely illegal in France, but luckily we're in Lebanon, and those rules don't apply. It's also a bit of a stretch. After all, they do it themselves in Champagne too.

Chateau Musar proves once again that it's possible, if you do it right. The difference between the two vintages—2004 and 2014—is enormous. The 2014 has a slightly bitter edge, just like natural wine sometimes does. Not surprising, since they also use minimal intervention here. But in the 2004, it's completely different. The aroma reminds me of orange peel and dark chocolate.

Trimbach Cuvée Frederic Emile 2008 and 2011

In the 1960s, the Trimbach family decided it was time for a second, grand Riesling to complement the renowned Clos Ste Hune, and they created Cuvée Frédéric Emile. Unlike Clos Ste Hune, the FE comes from two Grand Cru sites: Geisberg and Osterberg. Both plots have soils of clay and limestone over sandstone. This creates intense minerality and powerful acidity.

We tasted two vintages, 2008 and 2011. This tasting session showed that this cuvée also has great aging potential. The 2011 is still a bit closed, though the aromas of nectarine, ripe apple, and coriander are promising. In the 2008, the aromas are more pronounced, and toasted bread also emerges. What wines!

Jean Francois Ganevat Cuvée Florine

For ages, I'd been wanting to dine at De Klepel. With Job Seuren and Niek Beute as sommeliers, it was a guaranteed pleasure. Karin from Vinoblogie and I sat down for a dinner featuring some AMAZING wines. Job Seuren introduced me to Jean Francois Ganevat's Chardonnay – Cuvée Florine. A household name from the Jura region, I'd never heard of it. It opened up a whole new world for me!

Fanny Saber Cuvée Anatole 2017

Oh gosh, can I go back to this wonderful campsite in Burgundy? Although wonderful. The campsite might not have been our best choice, but we had everything we needed, and we practically overlooked the Nolay vineyards. It wasn't particularly warm in the evenings, so we didn't necessarily need the light white wine.

I came across Fanny Sabre's name in Pommard, where she runs a small wine shop/wine bar. What do you know? She's both a female winemaker and one of the few who makes natural wine in Burgundy. She has plots in Pommard, Volnay, and Meursault. I find that remarkable, because that's not making things easy for yourself. This Cuvée Anatole isn't a big name—it's "only" an IGP—but it was exactly what we needed at the campsite.

Domaine Prieur-Brunet Meursault Charmes Premier Cru 2014

At that same campsite, we also crack open a bottle of Meursault. We're here now, after all. Just the smell fills me with love. Love for this wine, the region, and life itself.

I wrote a blog about it, an ode to Meursault .

Jacquesson Champagne 740

Could this be my favorite NV Champagne? Perhaps. But it would be right next to Agrapart & Fils Terroirs Extra Brut, mind you. Another gem.

This Jacquesson Champagne 740 is for those who appreciate a robust champagne. Every year is different, and so are the non-vintage champagnes, which are always numbered. On the Jacquesson website, you can find out exactly what each champagne is made of. Unlike the larger houses, Jacquesson doesn't strive for a consistent style every year.

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosato 2016

Of course, the rosé from Provence still holds a special place in my heart, but this year I also discovered this Sicilian rosé from the volcanic vineyards surrounding Etna. It adds complexity and length to the wine.

Chateau Palmer (and also Alter Ego and also Chateau d'Angludet)

The common denominator of these wines is that they are made by the Sichel family. None other than David Sichel came to Wijnhandel Peeters to give a masterclass on these wines. That was the first time I tasted Château Palmer, and it was, of course, an epic moment. Mr. Sichel admitted that 2015 might be the vintage of the century. Could be. We'll only know for sure in about thirty years, of course. A bit more within reach is Chateau d'Angludet. It still costs a few tens of euros, but you get what you pay for.

Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape 2008 and 2001

In November, I was invited to tour Château de Beaucastel with the Wijnstudio. The vineyards with their galets , the cellar, and all the wines made a huge impression. But the two older vintages were the most impressive: 2008 and 2001. I could smell them for hours. We were all speechless for a moment.

Want to know more about Chateau de Beaucastel? Read the blog ' A look inside Beaucastel'

Make something beautiful tonight!

Because hey, sometimes you just have to take life as it comes. Right?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!