20 ITALIANS ON THE “INTERNATIONAL WINE REPORT” RANKING “TOP 100 WINES OF 2017”. BAROLO TOPPED BRUNELLO AND THREE ITALIANS ARE IN THE TOP TEN -VIETTI BAROLO RAVERA 2013, POGGIO DI SOTTO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2012 AND MEROI MALVASIA ZITELLE DURÌ 2015

The old year has just ended together with last wine ranking in 2017 from the US portal “International Wine Report” (www.internationalwinereport.com). The ranking analyzes wines and tasting notes from the most important wine regions in the world in its “Top 100 Wines of 2017” listing the best wines on the market, according to three criteria. First, quality, expressed in hundredths; second, “excitement”, i.e., the factors related to the producer, difficulties of the vintage and the wine territory, and third, value for money. The USA, France and Italy dominate the ranking at 29, 24 and 20 wines, respectively. There is of course, the “traditional” duopoly between Barolo and Brunello, which saw the close “victory” of Langhe’s Nebbiolo over Tuscany’s Sangiovese (6 to 5). Three Italian wines are firmly in the top 10: Vietti Barolo Ravera 2013 (spot 4), Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino 2012 (spot 5) and Meroi Malvasia Zitelle Durì 2015 (spot 10). The USA is at the number one spot with Cayuse Red Wine God Only Knows 2014 (Washington), ahead of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien 2014 Bordeaux) and Tor Kenward Proprietary Red Oakville 2014 (Napa Valley).
The next Italian wine on the ranking is in position 17, Sandrone Barolo Aleste 2013, and at number 21 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Prephylloxera 2015, followed by a “Montalcino” trio: at spot 26, Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli 2012, at 27, Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 2012, and at 28, Salvioni Brunello di Montalcino 2012. Tenuta di Trinoro Palazzi 2014 is in position 29, while Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore Vineyard Monte Lodoletta 2010 takes number 35, then Azelia Barolo San Rocco 2013 at number 40. An Umbrian wine, Paolo Bea Sagrantino of Montefalco Cerrete 2009 is in position 44, while two Langa labels close Italian wines in the first half of the ranking: E. Pira Chiara Boschis Barolo Cannubi 2013 (47) and Oddero Barolo Rocche of Castiglione 2013 (50).
In the second half of the top 100, a legendary wine of the Italian wine Renaissance, Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Ornellaia 2014 is in spot 63, followed by Fattoria le Pupille Saffredi 2014 at number 71 and Passipisciaro Franchetti 2014 at 75. Another Brunello, Lisini Brunello di Montalcino 2012 at position 78, followed by Luigi Pira Barolo Vigna Rionda 2013 at 81 and Ronchi di Cialla Rosé di Cialla 2016 at number 96.