The James Suckling Great Wines of the World tasting event took place on June 15 & 16 and was held at the Altman Building event space at 135 West 18th Street in Manhattan.

James Suckling is a journalist, wine and cigar critic that has established online wine and cigar related websites.

This was a two day walk around tasting of highly rated wines from 195 producers from the top wine regions of the world.

As per usual when I attend a tasting with this volume of wines, I focused on Bordeaux and Napa Valley Cabernet but sampled wines from other regions as well.

Old World

2012 Bertani Amarone (Veneto): Clear light brick, earth and dark chocolate on the nose, silky black leather on the fruit, great balance.

2015 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc (Piedmont): Clear light brick, toasty tar on the nose with dusty fruit ending with firm tannins.

2015 Chateau Leoville Las Case (St Julien): Clear medium brick, pretty nose of tar and leather, tight red fruit ending in mouth puckering tannins.

2016 Chateau Malatric Lagraviere (Graves): Opaque medium red, ripe crushed black fruit on the nose with silky red fruit and firm tannins.

2016 Phelan Segur (St Estephe): Opaque medium red, dusty crushed rocks on the nose with dusty black fruit ending with silky tannins.

2017 Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany): Clear medium red, smoky red cherry on the nose, silky and spicy fruit with a long finish.

2017 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany): Clear light red, barnyard notes on the nose, tight with earth notes on the fruit, nice balance.

2018 Phelan Segur (St Estephe): Clear dar red with a brick rim, tobacco and graphite on the nose, tight dusty fruit with bitter cherry notes on the long finish.

2018 Chateau Meyney (St Estephe): Opaque dark red, ripe camphor on the nose, dark and juicy with bitter almond notes, long finish.

2018 Chateay D’Issan (Margaux): Clear dark red, closed nose of strawberry. dusty, bright red fruit, good balance.

2018 Chateau Gran Puy Ducasse (Paulliac): Opaque medium red, tar and ripe black fruit on the nose, dusty, silky red fruit with a balanced finish.

New World

2009 Clos de los Siete (Mendoza): Opaque dark red, crushed ripe red fruit on the nose, chewy dark red fruit, silky tannins.

2017 Secret Door Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Vally): Opaque dark red, tar and ripe red fruit on the nose, juicy, silky black fruit with a long finish and nicely balance.

2018 Newton Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Mt Veeder (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red, dried herbs and crushed rocks on the nose, concentrated and silky ending with firm tannins.

2019 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon “Red Rock Terrace” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red. smoky black fruit on the nose, silky bright red fruit with a tarry, balanced finish.

2019 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon “Volcanic Hill” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, perfume of tar and crushed rocks, juicy fruit with tar and black licorice notes ending with a tarry, moderate to long finish.

2019 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mtn. (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red, closed nose of dirt and dark chocolate, chewy, dark chocolate fruit, with a good grip

2019 BV Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve (Napa Valley): Opaque medium red. minty dark chocolate on the nose, concentrated with dark chocolate notes ending with silky tannins.

2019 BV Cabernet Sauvignon “George de Latour (Napa Valley): Opaque medium red with a purple rim, dirty camphor on the nose, tight, concentrated dusty fruit with a good grip and a long finish.

2020 Garzon Single Vineyard Tannat (Uraguay): Opaque dark red, smoky dark chocolate on the nose, chewy fruit with slate notes and silky tannins.

2022 Chacra Pinot Noir (Patagonia): Clear light purple, crushed blueberry on the nose with crushed blueberry fruit ending with nice silky tannins.