The Enthusiast 100: Our Top Wines of 2020 | Wine Enthusiast
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The Enthusiast 100: Our Top Wines of 2020

The Enthusiast 100: Our Top Wines of 2020
Photos by Tom Arena / Animation by Eric DeFreitas Photo by Tom Arena

This is it, folks. The end of 2020 is in sight. At the finish line of such a difficult year, it’s cathartic to remember some positives that occurred in the last 12 months.

This year, for example, our global team of editors and tasters cumulatively reviewed more than 25,000 wines. Last month, we used those selections to put together a list of the Top 100 wines for $15 or under. We then followed that up with a list of the Top 100 wines to stash away in the cellar.

Now comes the ultimate, The Enthusiast 100.

A ranking of the top wines we tasted over the last 12 months, this roster represents some of the most exciting finds on the market today. Well-loved categories like Argentine Malbec, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and California Pinot Noir are present and accounted for, but there’s also plenty to discover beyond the mainstream, with Italian Lambrusco, Washington Grenache, Tasmanian sparkling wines and beyond.

At the number one spot this year is a Napa Cabernet icon that delivers on its immense level of quality, attainable price and wide availability—a trifecta that is often hard to come by in such a premium wine region. The list as a whole is built to please a range of palates and budgets, so you’ll find everything from widely available, attractively priced bottles to small-production, natural offerings that wine lovers are geeking out over and everything in between.

With an average score of 93 points and average price of $34, these selections are ripe for the picking.

Click here for a downloadable PDF of The Enthusiast 100 of 2020.


What Is Blind Tasting?

All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from 5-8 samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide context—vintage, variety or appellation—but never the producer or retail price of any given selection. When possible, products considered flawed or uncustomary are retasted.

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About The Scores

*Products deemed unacceptable (receving a rating below 80 points) are not reviewed.

98-100

Classic
The Pinnacle of quality

94-97

Superb
A great achievement

90-93

Excellent
Highly recommended

87-89

Very Good
Often good value; well recommended

83-86

Good
Suitable for everyday consumption, often good value

80-82

Acceptable
Can be employed