2025 Wine Disruptors Top Wines of the Year

By the numbers:

Washington State:5, Oregon 3, Australia 3, California 3, Italy 2, France 2, Germany 1 & Argentina 1.

Most Expensive: 1996 Chateau Margaux ($800)

Least Expensive: 2014 Result of a Crush Red ($15)

Number One:  Winery discover of the year and thanks to Seth Long from Morgen Long winery as I asked him if you could pick one winery to visit in Willamette what would you visit?  Abbott Claim.  In my life have only had a surreal experience drinking a wine and that was the 96 Chateau Margaux many years ago.  Loved that they saved all the wines for 3 days for me.  This wine would rival anything from Burgundy and yes I said that!!!

2022 Abbott Claim Chardonnay Temperance Hill Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills (11/28/2025)

Day 1: On the pop and pour the nose was off the charts/palate ok. Nose was 98 and the palate was 90. Well once this got to room temperature how the game has changed. This is for sure top 3 if not wine of he year. By landslide wine of the tasting. Electric nose with match stick, wood, minerals, dust, wet stone, orange peel and sour apple. At room temperature the palate matched the nose. One of the best domestic Chardonnays. I have ever tasted. 97.5 points

Day 2: Served at room temperature again and wow! These are such electric wines that give me shivers. Matchstick, gun powder, tangerine, wood, minerals, wet stones, delicious golden apples and white flowers. Long finish and just a joy to drink. This is not quite at 98 but really close. 97.75 points

Day 3: Surreal wine with shells, matchstick, lemon, wood, spices, sour apple, minerals, wet stones, orange peel, tangerines, earth, white flowers and pear. Long finish and laser focused acidity. This just got the .25 points it needed and is now the highest rated white wine I have ever tasted. 98 points

Recommendation: YES! (98 points)

Number Two: Well Jason is one of the most generous people in the Twin Cities wine scene.  Poured this at a larger gathering in May and what a great wine.  Had this prior and was the only 99-point wine I have ever given.  No, I am not James Suckling.  Wow!

1996 Château Margaux – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (5/10/2025)

Jason Opens some Bangers! (96 Margaux, 13 Marcassin & Chateau de Fargues) (Eagan, MN): Beautiful wine featuring funk, blueberries, charcoal, dust, earth, cigar, dried flowers and dried leaves. Long, long and long finish. Amazing. (98 points)

Number Three: Debated for over an hour to put 12 Clos des Papes at 98 points.  The other clown critics would have given this 100 without thinking.

2012 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (12/12/2025)

Day 1: Natural cork. Had a year ago. Wow the Brett is strong on this one on a pop and pour but that will go away. Blueberries, spice, Garrigue, stone, red flowers, earth, clay and spices. Very complex offering and love it! I should age for another 20 years or more. 95 points

Day 2: Strong Brett on first glass on day 2. After blowing off 15 minutes later reveals, stone, blueberries, earth, white pepper, dried flowers, cherry, clay and black licorice. Medium plus finish. This wine is still very young. 95 points

Day 3: This is why I do 3-day wine review. The rewards can be mind-blowing. The pour is ready unlike day 1 and 2 where it needed 15 minutes for the Brett to subside. Funk, spices, Garrigue, minerals, stone, white pepper, dried flowers, smoke, bacon fat, dust and blue currants. Super complex and wow wine. As I am getting ready to put my top 20 of the year together this would have not made it at an offline event. Over 3 days no brainer. 97+

Recommendation: So tough not to put this in the 98 zone but will try a glass during the Vikings game to see if it gets there. Top 10 wine of the year for sure!!! Will remain at 97.75. (97 points)

Number Four: Well, I am super generous.  Opened this for a few friends who came by to wish Sunfish Cellars the best and hopefully get back in the game.

2015 Vietti Barolo Ravera – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (11/1/2025)

Sunfish Cellars Last Call; 11/1/2025-11/2/2025 (Sunfish Cellars/I Nonni Minneapolis, MN): Day 1: Well poured this at the last official day at Sunfish Cellars/ I Nonni Restaurant. My crew were the last to drink wine there. Shared with Michael Miller who is trying to relocate the shop. This is super fragrant and fabulous right now with another 15 years of aging. Floral, white pepper, spice, tar, leather, raspberries, blue currants, mild smoke and wood. Super complex wine and 2-minute finish. One of the best Barolo’s I have tasted in years and wish they had another bottle but last one. 96 points

Day 2: One of the longer finishes on a wine this year. Almost as polarizing as some of the Abbott Claim Chardonnay’s this past summer. Wow! Smoke, tar, rose petals, dust, raspberries, a touch of pepper, leather, blueberries, wood and exotic spices. Long finish. This is enjoyable right now however a few more years might benefit this wine even more. Top 10 wines of the year nomination for sure. 97 points (97 points)

Number Five: No one in the world plays with wine over 3 days like me but this one is also about my playing with serving temperature.  When first opened good but it sat towards the end of this tasting and was at about 65 degrees.  This was off the carts and number five of the year.  Again the day thing works and in this case day 4!!!

2018 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River (10/11/2025)

Aussie, Aussie Aussie Part 2 at Lori’s (Lori’s House Twin Cities): Day 1: Electric Chardonnay with lemon, spice, wood, grapefruit, tropical fruit, stone and white flowers. Outstanding effort. 94+

Day 1:25: So had this at the end of the tasting and off the charts. Warmer serving temperature and much better. Needed some air and it delivered. Stone, tropical fruit, wood, spice, white flowers, dust, orange peel, lemon, minerals and vibrant acidity. Just changed and improved and really hard to describe how great this evolution was. One of the best Chardonnay’s I have tasted all year and had a lot of great ones. This will cellar for 15 plus years. 97 points (97 points)

Number Six:  When you think Result of a Crush and Reynvaan there is no one on the planet as big of a fan as me.  Prove otherwise.  This wine is amazing.

2019 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Hills – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (7/3/2025)

Day 1: Excellent wine and no surprise as In the Hills & In the Rocks are their best wines. Savory wine with green olives, stone, blue currants, dust, earth, violets and tar. Super complex wine and long finish. Drinking great young but see this going 15 plus. 95 points

Day 2: Very elegant wine and showing rocks, green olives, white pepper, blueberries, strawberries, dust, violets, earth, minerals and tar. Super tasty wine and hats off to Matt and the team for making some of the best Syrah’s in the US/World for the money. 95 points

Day 4: Reward for patience. This is wine of the year candidate for the money. So elegant featuring green olives, perfume, white pepper, minerals, stone, blueberries, cherry and tar. As good as this was on day 1 and 2 way better on day 4. 97 points (97 points)

Number Seven:  Well, who would think an Oregon Chardonnay would retail at $300 and drink well seven days later.  Well Seth and John Glas would.  While I can’t afford this often it was amazing stuff.

2023 Morgen Long Chardonnay Eyrie – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (7/8/2025)

2023 Morgen Long Chardonnay Tasting (Morgen Long Winery, Willamette Valley): Diam 10. 50 six packs produced. Mind blowing wine and tasted on day 7!!! A little bit left that Seth saved me for my visit today. $299 a bottle and one of the best Chardonnays from the US I have ever tasted. Oak, saline, minerals, earth, dust, white flowers, stone and lemon. Super concentrated wine and nice acidity. This should age for 15 plus years. Outstanding!!! (97 points)

Number Eight:  Well Haskell’s Minnetonka with Lee and Mitch rocked 2025 with the best tastings in the nation for $30.00.  Again these “critics” are wrong as the 2022 Napa Wine are off the charts from the good producers.  Here is one. 

2022 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red – USA, California, Napa Valley (11/11/2025)

Haskell’s Features Pahlmeyer Winery (Haskell’s, Minnetonka): Pahlmeyer tasting and instant. Natural cork. Dark purple. 18 months French oak. Beautiful wine with blue currants, floral, spice, perfume, cherry, oak and minerals. Long finish. So balanced and smooth. Can’t reveal the price. Top 10 for sure. (97 points)

Number Nine: Slam dunk winery of the year Abbott Claim has two in the top 10.  This wine is amazing and made be shiver when trying in their barrel room and at 3 day headquarters.  An electric wine for sure!!!

2021 Abbott Claim Chardonnay Temperance Hill Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills (9/9/2025)

Day 1: WOW! This is off the charts. Matchstick, flint, lemon, spice, sour apple, orange peel, crushed shells and subtle wood. I am not sure if other drinkers think this is going to be a Napa Chardonnay but these are about as close to Burgundy as you will get other than maybe Morgan Long. 96 points

Day 2: Vibrant wine and briming with massive flavors featuring matchstick, spice, sour apple, lemon, chalk, minerals, crushed shells and subtle wood. A Grand Cru Chablis but with more intensity. 96.5 points

Day 3: Wow and wow! Matchstick, minerals, lemon, spice, crushed shells, wood, dust, lime, sour apples and burnt toast. Super complex wine and I need more! 97 points

Recommendation: Run and get this wine as it is amazing. The winery served this on my visit on day 3 and it is exactly as I remember from July. (97 points)

Number Ten:  Again, Haskell’s Minnetonka delivering with great wine events. The second wine in my top ten of the year.  Ovid is amazing stuff. 

2021 Ovid Red Wine – USA, California, Napa Valley (11/19/2025)

Silver Oak/ Twomey/ Ovid Tasting (Haskell’s, Minnetonka): Top 20 of the year candidate. This was a mixed bag tasting tonight but this was the rockstar by a landslide. While not 100 points by these critics it is outstanding. 20 months in French oak. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. A rich but balanced wine. Blueberries, minerals, spices, bitter chocolate, perfume, dust, cherry and wood. Long and concentrated finish. Excellent!!! (97 points)

Number Eleven:  So one of the best tastings in MN this year was my Aged Aussie Tasting.  Jason threw a curveball and brought a Cabernet Blind.  The 04 is amazing and makes eleven on the list.

2004 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Aphrodite – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (10/11/2025)

Aussie, Aussie Aussie Part 2 at Lori’s (Lori’s House Twin Cities): So had the 05 recently and not very good. This was rocking tonight and a top wine of the year for sure. Bright and exciting wine. Dark currants, pepper, spice, floral, dark chocolate, dust, wood, charcoal and minerals. Complex and medium plus finish. Would have never guessed Cab blind but that is what it is and showing great. (97 points)

Number Twelve: No one is a bigger promoter of Walla Walla then me.  This wine is one of the greatest QPR’s of all time.     

2016 Elephant Seven Syrah Yellow Bird Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (11/6/2025)

Day 1: Natural cork. Via auction. Ok had this before but this bottle off the charts for $35 round trip pricing. Rich dark fruits, iodine, white pepper, spices, rocks and black olives. This is big, bold and beautiful. What a great auction purchase. 95 points

Day 2: Holding form. One of my top 10 wine surprises of 2025 with white pepper, crushed rock, blue currants, iodine, black olives, red flowers and exotic spices. What an amazing wine. Top 20 candidate for sure. 95.5 points

Day 3: Rocking and top 20 wine of the year at any price point. I should have saved this for an under $50 tasting coming up as it would have easily won first. White pepper, dried olives, blue currants, smoke, exotic spices, blue currants, iodine, dust and rocks. Super concentration and long finish. A masterpiece and sad to see Elephant Seven no longer in business. 96 points

Recommendation: Please don’t outbid me from an auction. (96 points)

Number Thirteen: Biggest fan of Result of Crush on the planet.  No one has more notes then me.  My brother poured this blind and wow for sure!!!  Too many judge a wine based on price and this rivals anything from this vintage Cayuse or Reynvaan did. 

2014 Result of a Crush Red Wine – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (7/12/2025)

4 Blind Syrah’s/Shiraz (Results Impress); 7/11/2025-7/12/2025 (Seattle, Washington (Brother’s House)): Tasted blind and again I have said these wines get lower scores because of price. This beat 2010 Reynvaan in the rocks and the 2022 Mark Ryan Wild Eyed. Rocks, green olives, white pepper, green pepper, dust, stone and red currants. Off the charts and excellent wine. Long finish. (96 points)

Number Fourteen: This was my official 10,000 tasting note on Cellar Tracker and what better place to open and share with others than Sunfish Cellars.

• 2018 Ettore Germano Barolo Riserva Lazzarito – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (10/25/2025)
  10,000 Note/ Sunfish Cellars Closing, Total Wine Tastig and Tom & Bruna’s Halloween Party; 10/25/2025-10/26/2025 (Minnepolis, MN): Last official day open at Sunfish Cellars. Hopefully they find a new location.
  10,000 tasting notes on cellar tracker!
  Day 1: Very elegant with clove, spice, raspberries, minerals, tar, earth, rose petals and mint. 96 points
  Day 2: Wonderful nose on this wine. Fragrant flowers, tar, minerals, spice, clove, earth, leather, red currants and raspberries. Medium plus finish. For a Riserva drinking great right now but will cellar for 15 plus years. 96.5 points
  Day 3: Only proper way to do a 10,000 tasting note when you are 3 Day Wine Review. Outstanding. Can’t quite justify the 97 but close. So elegant for a Barolo with dried cherry, perfume, rose petals, tar, spice, clove, raspberries, minerals and earth. Medium plus finish. 96.5 points
  Recommendation: Yes buy and need to get another one for my 20,000 note. (96 points)

Number Fifteen: Put this in blind against the Penfolds Grange 98 and see what happens.  Been buying this via auction and outstanding value.  Under $80 with shipping and yes please.

1998 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (5/25/2025)

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie at Lori’s House (St. Paul, MN): Wine of the night by almost everyone. This is an amazing effort and one of the great Shiraz wines from Australia. Other vintages are not even close to this level. Natural cork and 14.5% alcohol. Black licorice, eucalyptus, black pepper, tar, red currants, dust and spice. Medium to long finish. 30 minute decant and had to removed sediment. Seek some out as it has another 5 plus years of enjoyment. (96 points)

Number Sixteen:  I post a note on this and a week later WineSlash is sold out.  Yes my reviews matter and should be taken more seriously than anyone making money on theirs.  Rockstar offering. 

2020 Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata – Argentina, Mendoza (4/4/2025)

Day 1: WineguyX’s note inspired me to open this and I am really glad I did. This is so much better than the Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Nicasia Vineyard (don’t buy that) and stock up on this wine. Might be a top 20 of the year candidate. Pop and pour and explosive in a good way. Funk, minerals, blueberries, dust, cherry, floral, dark currants, mild spice and tea leaves. Super concentration and long finish. Drinking well right now but will go another 15 plus. 95 points

Day 2: Even better. Funk, stone , tea leaves, blueberries, tobacco, dried rose petals, spice, mild oak, dust and cherry. Long finish and nice acidity. Beautiful wine. 96+

Recommendation: Buy it. (96 points)

Number Seventeen: A steal for under $50.00 on Winebid.  Wow was this good and wish I had more. 

2018 Maison Bleue Syrah Gravière Stone Valley Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (1/4/2025)

Day 1: Diam 30. Off the charts amazing. Had this at the Syrah Grand Tasting in 2022 in Walla Walla. This is why you do tasting notes so you can capture great purchases. Bacon, smoke, roasted meats, cassis, blueberries, minerals, dust and floral notes. Super complex and one of the better Syrah’s in the past year. 95 points

Day 2: Holding strong and super concentration. Smoked bacon, black pepper, cassis, blueberries, rose petals, stone and dust. Long finish. More please. 95+

Day 3: Amazing. Soy, black pepper, stone, smoke meats, black olives, rose petals, earth, dust and floral notes. Picks up a little charcoal on the finish. I drink a lot of Rocks Syrah’s and this one is one of the best to date. 96 points

Recommendation: One of the better values out there in the Syrah category. (96 points)

Number Eighteen:  Wow 3 day does it again.  Had this past summer and rockstar there but over 3 days even better.  Matt does it again.

2010 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Unnamed – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (12/20/2025)

Day 1: Still holding form and natural cork. Little bricking. White pepper, stone, blue currants, iodine, floral, green olives and tar. Medium plus finish. Most enjoyable. 94 points

Day 2: Winning again on day 2. More intense and exciting. Green olives, blue currants, smoked brisket, tar, white pepper, floral, earth, exotic spices and stone. True Walla Greatness. What a beautiful wine. 95+

Day 3: OK just made the 3 Day top 20 of the year. This is why I do 3 Day and if you are not doing it you are missing out! Majestic with green olives, white pepper, dust, exotic spices, stones, crushed rocks, blue currants, tar, smoked brisket and iodine. Long finish and amazing. Thanks to Matt and the team. 96.5 points

Recommendation: Back up the truck. (96 points)

Number Nineteen:  So when I posted on Facebook no one makes a good California Rose Adam Lee chimed.  He sent me a few bottles of his wife’s Rose and the rest is history.  I bought six bottles of her wines (mostly Pinots) and this one rocked it!  Only top 20 Pinot in the top 20 this year.

2024 Morét-Brealynn Pinot Noir Lakeview Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (12/9/2025)

Moret-Brealynn Zoom Tasting with Moret Brealynn; 12/9/2025-12/11/2025 (Edina, MN): Day 1: Screw Cap. The second I tasted this it screamed classic Russian River Valley Pinot. Strawberries, smoke, rose petals, matchstick, cherry, earth and dust. Super complex wine and a real stunner. One of the better Pinots I have tasted from California in a while. 94+

Day 2: My favorite of the lineup. Wafer, forest floor, oak, cranberry, strawberries, mushrooms, spice and violets. Medium plus finish. Very small production. Medium plus finish. 94+ points

Day 3: Savory wine with soy, forest floor, wafer, cranberry, strawberries, mushrooms, violets, spices and dust. Complex wine and balanced is the key word here! Medium plus finish. Wonderful effort and great new discovery in 2025. 95 points

Recommendation: Not many Pinots achieving a 3 Day Review at 95 or higher in 2025. Cheers.

5 barrels of this wine. 80 cases total. Natural yeast and unfiltered. Wonderful! (95 points)

Number Twenty:  German Riesling is maybe the best value on the planet and this one for sure delivers. 

2018 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese – Germany, Nahe (1/25/2025)

Day 1: This is off the charts good. Better than all the Cabs that were $75 or more at the tasting earlier tonight. Laser focused acidity with lime, slate, orange marmalade, spice, lemon, tangerine and ripe peaches. This is easily a top 10 wine of the year candidate for 2025. 95+

Day 2: Spritzy in nature with lime, green apple, peaches, tangerine, slate, subtle spice, orange marmalade and dust. Medium plus finish and so balanced. Amazing wine. 95+

Day 3: For sure a riper style on this wine than some other Spatlese’s but I like that. Nothing has faded on day 3 as these great wines hold up nicely.

Recommendation: Germany always produces worldclass wine without worldclass pricing. This quality would be $150 in Bordeaux, $250 in Burgundy. (95 points)