Wine Collecting: My TOP TEN Wines of 2024!

In this video, John Jackson, DipWSET a/k/a Attorney Somm reveals his top ten wines for 2024! These are the best of the best! In addition to identifying his top ten wines, Attorney Somm provides tasting notes and insights regarding each of these wines as well as less expense alternatives that will be useful for wine collectors and those contemplating buying these wines.
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[@vrudik13]

Top wine for me was 1947 Cheval Blanc. The level was low shoulder, the capsule looked rough, the cork was slightly raised...but the wine was magnificent. Almost port-like and probably could have lasted another decade in bottle. Truly exquisite.

[@AttorneySomm]

What a fantastic experience! Sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing!

[@Adrian802]

oh wow what an experience, and you'd got many here drooling. It's sad that back then it was sold off as buck and it was only 5 francs a bottle back then.

[@kevingeeting4011]

The fact that you tasted 3,000 wines is astonishingly impressive! And to narrow it down to a top 10 says a lot about the impression those 10 wines had on you.

[@AttorneySomm]

Thank you! Do my best to evaluate as many as possible. Lots of winery visits and trade tastings.

[@mrphil1956]

I always perk up when I see one of your new postings. Alas, I'll have to continue to live vicariously through you, John - i do enjoy your content. Keep up the good work!

[@AttorneySomm]

Thank you! Appreciate the kind feedback! Cheers! 👍🍷

[@wren460]

Wow, what a list !!! I am so happy you had the chance to drink all those excellent wines. I am not sure about naming top 10 but I will list the best wines I had this year regardless of price or pedigree. Haut Brion 1970 Leoville Poyferre 2018 Domaine De Chevallier 2018 Petrolo Galatrona 2011 Maybach Materium 2019 Torbreck Runrig 2005 May you have the best 2025 John !

[@AttorneySomm]

@@wren460 Thanks very much! And thanks for sharing your list! Looks like a fantastic wine year! Best wishes for 2025!

[@vinvoyage]

At last, the unveiling of your much-anticipated Top 10 Wines of 2024 - and it’s every bit worth the wait! I’m especially thrilled to see some of the most revered French producers in the world including Ch. Latour, E. Guigal, Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, Haut-Brion, and your magnificent Top 3 especially Château Margaux. As always, the depth of your expertise, sense of elegance, and impeccable taste are on full display, making this list a true delight - and an excellent guide - for any wine enthusiast. Each choice reflects your refined palate, extensive wine knowledge, and the thoughtful approach you bring to wine selection. Your ability to pick the best of the best and spotlight the “crème de la crème” makes this list both extraordinary and compelling. Fantastic video - what an incredible way to end the year! Congratulations, John! (P.S. As for my own favorite wine experiences in 2024, some of them are outstanding bottles from Malartic-Lagraviere, Pagodes de Cos, Comtesse de Lalande, Pio Cesare, Penfolds, Château Grand Barrail Lamarzelle, G.D. Vajra, Saint Cosme, Dauzac, Clos du Marquis, Famille Perrin, Hospices de Beaune, Ch. Belgrave, Patriarche, Beronia, Lustau, Sordo, Bollinger, and many other Bordeaux and Burgundy beauties, among others.)

[@AttorneySomm]

Thanks very much, Margaux! Sounds like a top 100! 😅 Appreciate your support and kind feedback. A French-centric year this year but I have no doubts about this top 10. Cheers!

[@Justin-sm5cc]

I’m glad some have enjoyed the Pagodes de Cos as I thought it was one of the best along with the domaine de chevalier 2020

[@AttorneySomm]

@@Justin-sm5cc Yes, both excellent wines! Just visited Cos a few weeks ago and have an even deeper appreciate for Pagodes now (as well as Cos). And Domaine de Chevalier has been on a tear! I feature them in my most recent video (published on Jan. 4).

[@rjlang2919]

Jealous of your list! This year I had a 2010 Ovid that was amazing. The winery is worth a visit on your next trip to Napa

[@AttorneySomm]

Thank you! Was very impressed with the Ovid wines I tried last February. I’ll definitely try to taste more of them!

[@glenn228]

Refreshing to hear a list of truly great wines only. Well done, John, you inspire me to seek out better wines in 2025.

[@AttorneySomm]

Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed it and very glad to hear it re 2025! 👍🍷

[@jakopete1]

Seeing your top ten list make me presume that your life as a wine journalist is more exciting than practicing your attorney profession... Thanks for so many useful and entertaining videos in 2024, on my 24 top ten video list, You definitely are very strong represented!!

[@AttorneySomm]

@@jakopete1 Thanks very much! Greatly appreciated! Glad you enjoy the videos! 👍🍷

[@ronmcmartin4513]

My 3 favorite wines tasted this year: 2012 Aubert UV-SL vineyard Chardonnay: Big, powerful, rich, but also elegant. Best at about 50 minutes. Drink now. 97+ points 2009 Smith Haut Lafitte: Decanted. Lafite-like, but with Graves flavors rather than Pauillac. Best at about 40 minutes, and started to fade at 60. Best now--2028. 98 points. 2016 Avril Clos des Pape: Huge, dark black & red fruit. Closed slightly at 20 min, then balanced and elegant(!) at 40 minutes. Best at 60 minutes. Drink now--2026. 98 points.

[@AttorneySomm]

Aubert can be so special with that much age! Thanks very much for sharing and the useful timing insights for all three wines from world-class producers!

[@jonathanhart8046]

Some great wines . You must have had some Nvidia stock ! I tried the 2008 Cristal this year and felt it was a little young. As you say, it has a long life ahead of it, especially in Magnum. I share your love of Rayas and will be opening a couple of bottles on New Years day .Kicking off with some well aged bottles of Chave Hermitage Blanc. Happy New Year and keep up the great work.Thanks

[@AttorneySomm]

@@jonathanhart8046 Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video! The tasting group makes it all possible! Hope you enjoy the Rayas and Chave Blanc! Happy New Year!

[@barath4545]

Didnt know you also had a YT! Subbed, i know you from IG! I've tasted 1600 wines I bothered to note about (non pizza wines) since 1998 and you had TWICE that in ONE year, dang and the quality is skyhigh. Best young wines for me this year: 2015 Yquem (99-100), 2019 Mouton (98), 2015 Tertre Roteboef (98), 2013 Gran Enemigo Gualtallery (99) Best mature wine: 1970 Vega Siciilia! (98-99)

[@AttorneySomm]

@@barath4545 Thanks very much! A fantastic year! Appreciate you sharing and subscribing! Happy New Year!

[@craigmetcalfe1749]

Hey JJ! A pleasant discovery this year were growers Champagnes and the most recent example was Larmandier-Bernier Longitude Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut Premier Gru. At the tasting where we discovered this gem, they were decanting some other bottles which I had never seen done with Champagne before. A pleasant cheaper Champagne discovery was Duperrey Brut Premier Cru. I hope you had a great Christmas. My New Year's resolution is to reduce my Champagne consumption to only those days that end in a "y". Cheers!

[@AttorneySomm]

@@craigmetcalfe1749 Ha! I like how you think! 😅 Yes that is a fantastic Champagne! I featured it here a few years ago. Happy New Year my friend!

[@hoei79]

Excellent wines you had in 2024! My best four wines of this year were the Hyde De Villaine Hyde vineyard 2014, Domaine Tollot Beaut Corton-Charlemagne GC 2014 and Quinta do Cachao vintage port 1983. The Markus Molitor Bernkasteler Graben Trockenbeerenauslese 2006 deserves special mention. This wine is an etherial nectar with super complexity and an aftertaste I literally still tasted an hour later.

[@AttorneySomm]

@@hoei79 Thank you kindly! And thank you for sharing your favorites! That Markus Molitor sounds like it was breathtaking! Cheers!

[@peterlue9274]

What a spectacular list. I wish I knew more about wine when I was buying it 20-24 years ago. At least now I know more.

[@AttorneySomm]

@@peterlue9274 Thank you! Yes I’d do things very differently if I could re-do my first 5 years!

[@peterlue9274]

@@AttorneySomm I did pick up some good wines but I did buy wines in off vintages and I missed out on the Margeaux and Latour in 2000 because I was really not aware how important the scores are.

[@dougronald561]

You had me on the edge of my seat up until the final second of the video.

[@AttorneySomm]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! 👍🍷

[@thecanuck11]

You definitely drank very well this year. I need to look into a local tasting group.

[@AttorneySomm]

Thank you! The tasting groups make all the difference! Definitely the best way to try lots of these bottles without spending a fortune.

[@albertosparrows.6065]

Great names! Very French oriented. You have a great tasting group :)

[@AttorneySomm]

Thank you! The group is fantastic! Just the way it worked out timing wise there weren’t as many high end Italians or Spanish wines this calendar year.

[@riverrussell6825]

It’s wild that the 1988 la Landonne was so good with the vineyard only being 13 years old

[@AttorneySomm]

@@riverrussell6825 Agreed! Sometimes the terroir and winemaking is so strong even younger vines can produce something special!

[@mickeylee2624]

Making my way through my wine journey and waiting for the flagship wines to age in the cellar, my favorite wines of 2024 were primarily "Cellar Defenders" with a crazy value wine mixed in 😁😉 1. 2019 Mondavi The Estates CS 2. 2021 Ch Ste Michelle Dry Riesling T-3. 2019 Luca Old Vines Malbec T-3. 2021 Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 5. 2022 Donnhoff Tonschiefer Dry Slate Riesling 6. 2022 M Minuty 6. 2019 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte 6. 2019 Mondavi Napa CS 9. 2022 Brundlmayer Riesling Terrassen Kamptal 10. 2020 Pichon Comtesse Reserve

[@ronmcmartin4513]

I have the 2017 Zuccardi Concreto Malbec. Solid wine. Drink thru 2025, so you have another few years on the 2021. 2019 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte. I have the 2018 & 2022. The drinking Window for 2019 seems to be 2023-33. But the 2018s I've tasted seem to be as long-term as the 2019. Your opinion on the 2019 drinking window? I find that 2nd wines are not as good a value as cheaper 1st wines in a great vintage(Latour Martillac or St Emilion wines). But I like Graves.

[@AttorneySomm]

Thanks for sharing! An excellent list with some familiar names! I tasted the 20 Pichon Comtesse recently and it is already stunning!

[@mickeylee2624]

@@ronmcmartin4513, I still favor younger wines usually go by Wine-Searcher's recommended windows (also CellarTracker back when it was openly available). However, in the case for the 2019 Le Petit Smith, it may not be relevant anymore since I already opened it! 😁

[@mickeylee2624]

My pleasure,@@AttorneySomm! Certainly, those "familiar names" have your influence on them (also tied for 10th was the 2022 Diatom).🙏🙏 As for the 2020 PCR specifically, I couldn't find the grape distribution anywhere except with Jeff Leve, who noted that it was 47% CS, 43% Merlot, and 10% PV! The hue and color density certainly would reflect such an unusually high amount of PV as it was dark and dense with anthocyanins!!😳😋

[@AttorneySomm]

@ Yes! They are using way more CS in the top wines so lots of Merlot and PV for the reserve.

[@Yeoldelole]

Loved this video!

[@AttorneySomm]

Thank you kindly! Cheers!

[@ricknelsteel]

Great line up of wines. I thought you would have included a USA wine to be diplomatic but best is best. The most memorable wine I had this year was a Maremma Cab Franc 2017 and no, I'm not going to tell you which one, I still want to be able to afford it in 5 years time.

[@AttorneySomm]

@@ricknelsteel Thank you! Had two USA wines in the top 25 (last week’s video), but none in the top 10. For my top 25 I don’t worry about diplomacy. 😅 Sounds like a great wine! Don’t blame you for not revealing it. Happy New Year!

[@carlhornberger1839]

Beau Vigne has a great line up of wines...their Cult was very good..but overall...just a wonderful group of red wines..!!!

[@AttorneySomm]

Thanks for weighing in! Cheers!

[@jd5410]

I had a 1995 Château Le Tertre-Roteboeuf that really stood out this year. I feel it's in it's prime right now but still has some life left, maybe a decade even.

[@AttorneySomm]

Thank you for weighing in! Sounds fantastic!

[@matthewzimmer8960]

Great wines!!!

[@AttorneySomm]

@@matthewzimmer8960 Thank you kindly! Cheers!

[@littlesweetbeanbun]

Thanks for the video! I am curious about your thoughts on the 2007 Rayas, how it compares with the 2008? Also, would you be doing a review and ranking of the Rayas vintages from your vertical tasting?

[@AttorneySomm]

@@littlesweetbeanbun Thanks! I actually did that video about 7 months ago. Here it is! Chateau RAYAS REVELATIONS: 6 Takeaways for Wine Collectors kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHe7qWiBnp6ihs0

[@navarra4]

I have the 82 Pichon at home. I want the 90 haut brion but only have the 98

[@AttorneySomm]

The 98 HB is excellent too! Hope you enjoy the 82 Pichon Contesse as much as I do!

[@KALVINKOOL]

Have you tried Roy Piper’s wines? I enjoyed the 2014 Cab along with his new and delicious Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir.

[@AttorneySomm]

@@KALVINKOOL I tried a couple last February, including his PNV wine, but nothing with some good aging. I’ll try to change that. Have a couple in the cellar I could try.

[@evashelton3162]

Interesting collection

[@AttorneySomm]

Thank you kindly! Cheers!

[@alishariat1435]

1996 Chateau Margaux. At its refined and opulent height.

[@AttorneySomm]

A phenomenal wine! Thanks for weighing in!

[@PeterPuno]

My top wine of all time is the 2000 Latour, it’s only your #5 of 2024? I have to drink more.

[@AttorneySomm]

@@PeterPuno I think ultimately it will be better than the 1982, but that 1982 Latour was truly mind blowing!

[@navarra4]

Did you say the 1990 or 98 cheval blanc

[@ronmcmartin4513]

1998. The bottle shown was 1990(one of the best I've had).

[@AttorneySomm]

I said 98 but didn’t have a pic of that one. The 90 was high on my list a year or two ago.

[@AttorneySomm]

I said 98 but didn’t have a pic of that one. The 90 was high on my list a year or two ago.

[@rgiamboi]

2012 Gruaud Larose

[@AttorneySomm]

Thanks for weighing in! A fantastic producer!

[@rgiamboi]

@AttorneySomm what is your absolute, favorite Bordeaux house?!

[@AttorneySomm]

@ Great question! Historically it was Haut-Brion. But after my week in Bordeaux a couple weeks ago, it is probably Ch. Margaux with Pichon Comtesse not far behind.

[@rgiamboi]

@AttorneySomm funny you mentioned Margaux...been leaning towards picking up a bottle! When I was in Bordeaux bank in August- my wife and visited a wine bar/cellar called "Vignobles et Chateaux" in Saint Emilion and tasted Figeac...incredible!

[@AttorneySomm]

@@rgiamboi I would definitely encourage it! Even the Pavillon is stellar. Figeac has definitely picked it up significantly in recent years and is on a hot streak.

[@kevingeeting4011]

Now you need to do a best value top 10 under $40

[@AttorneySomm]

I just did a top 13 wine cellar defenders for 2024 video last week. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6PNhYt5a7qDaLMsi=xaOCyy-CaWOyuK0e

[@JamesWilliamson-w8y]

The best wines rarely get a mention because they are from countries that wine snobs won't touch. Greece and Cyprus have been producing wine since before reliable records exist and France and Germany did not exist. Try Mavrodaphne, Morrisons stock, it at just £7.50 a bottle, or Commandrea from Cyprus' but you will need a specialist importer to get it.

[@AttorneySomm]

@@JamesWilliamson-w8y Thanks for weighing in! They sound terrific. Not sure if you’re implying I’m a wine snob but I have featured wines from Greece, Slovenia and Lebanon, among others. I also publish a number of underrated wine videos each year where I focus on wines that do not get as much publicity.

[@joeljensen5421]

Dear Mr. atty Somm, Is there a style of wine you can't stand to drink. Matt Kramer said that a connoisseur is some who can say this wine is great but I can't stand it.

[@AttorneySomm]

Great question! Yes, I try to separate my personal thoughts from my evaluations when assessing wines. That was important in my DipWSET tasting exams. For me still rosé is something I very rarely enjoy.

[@Watcher8888]

Amazing selections. Would you do another one with more approachable prices? Thanks.

[@ronmcmartin4513]

What kind of wines?(St Emilion--Bordeaux, has XLNT wines for $25-45)

[@AttorneySomm]

My video from Wednesday was just such a list! kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6PNhYt5a7qDaLMsi=1gVOf1hSusemQt7g

[@WNR-x5v]

Same (or so) twenty labels appear on everybody's social media profiles. It shows very little effort to bring anything interesting to the curious (non expert) average drinker.

[@AttorneySomm]

@@WNR-x5v I have other videos on underrated wines and wines from different regions all over the world. Those contain numerous wines not featured elsewhere. This was a video based on the best wines I tasted this year so different criteria. And I don’t see that many other accounts who had 82 Latour or the 91 Leroy 1er.