James Halliday's Top 100 wines of 2022
by James Halliday
Top whites over $30
by James Halliday
19 Nov, 2022
The over $30 category includes all the classics, plus a pinot gris and a grüner veltliner.
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"The spoils chiefly shared between eight chardonnays and six rieslings, then two each of Hunter Valley semillon and Margaret River sauvignon blanc, ending with a pinot gris and a grüner veltliner."
The following wines were chosen from a total of 168 submitted.
2022 Ministry of Clouds Clare Valley Riesling
Free run juice cold-settled and cool fermented. Obviously dodged most of the rain: this has an exceptionally rich, layered and complex palate, acidity piercing the veil of citrus fruit on the lingering finish and aftertaste.96 points | $32 | Screwcap | 12.3% alc. | Drink to 2042 | Halliday profile | Ministry of Clouds
2022 Freycinet Riesling
A truly lovely example of East Coast riesling with a long history of success. This has an abundant and fragrant lime/lemon bouquet which is front and centre in the mouth. Tasmanian acidity is there, of course, but it's folded into the bosom of the fruit.95 points | $35 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2037 | Halliday profile | Freycinet
2022 Mount Horrocks Watervale Riesling
Very much on song with its white flower, apple and lime blossom aromas. While it isn't the least uncertain in the mouth, it grows rapidly on the back palate and finish, with palpable structure to its lime-drenched flavours and acidity.96 points | $39 | Screwcap, 13% alc. | Drink to 2035 | Halliday profile | Mount Horrocks
2022 Henschke Julius Eden Valley Riesling
This is always a wine of utmost quality. It's flowery, fragrant lime and lemon aromas soar from the glass, the palate with its spear of unsweetened lime and lemon finish and aftertaste underlining its intensity and quality.97 points | $49 | Screwcap | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2037 | Halliday profile | Henschke
2021 Jim Barry The Florita Clare Valley Riesling
Transfixes you with the first sip and builds its intensity without effort, its length even more so. Riesling and naked power seldom come to terms with each other, but here the wine's deep-set layers of steely acidity are underlined with lime/lemon essence through to a finish without end.98 points | $55 | Screwcap | 12% alc. | Drink to 2051 | Halliday profile | Jim Barry
2022 Grosset Polish Hill Clare Valley Riesling
As usual, this is finer in every way than its Springvale sibling. The lime blossom-filled bouquet sets the ball rolling, the palate achieving the seeming impossible of simultaneously presenting delicacy and intensity, the riddle solved by its balance (and its vintage).97 points | $75 | Screwcap | 12.9% alc. | Drink to 2042 | Halliday profile | Grosset
2017 De Iuliis Aged Release Single Vineyard Hunter Valley Semillon
Only 150 dozen. Aged? Prime of its life, with yet more to come. It was an excellent vintage, and the wine is perfectly poised with its elegance and balance. The first signs of honey are on display in its mouth-watering, citrus-infused, lingering finish.97 points | $50 | Screwcap | 11% alc. | Drink to 2032 | Halliday profile | De Iuliis
2017 Mount Pleasant Lovedale Hunter Valley Semillon
Bright, but deep, straw-green; from Block LO-07. The wine immediately presses the pleasure button. While it will continue to develop for years, the balance of youthful freshness and the honeyed toast is impeccable now. The price is totally justified.97 points | $90 | Screwcap | 11% alc. | Drink to 2032 | Halliday profile | Mount Pleasant
2021 Domaine Naturaliste Sauvage Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc
Barrel fermented in new and used French puncheons which contribute to both the flavour and texture of this very appealing wine. It's savoury and dry, but the lemon zest and fruit flavours are the prime movers in showing what can be done even in a vintage that wasn't easy.96 points | $35 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2029 | Halliday profile | Domaine Naturaliste
2021 Windows Estate Petit Lot La Terre
Hand-picked sauvignon blanc fermented in clay eggs and barrel, a small portion on skins; 70 per cent matured in used French barriques, 30 per cent in clay eggs. Has tremendous complexity and intensity, reaching a high point on the finish of the palate with lemon zest and electrifying acidity.96 points | $39 | Screwcap | 12% alc. | Drink to 2030 | Halliday profile | Windows Estate
2021 Dappled Appellation Yarra Valley Chardonnay
Apart from Dappled's usual minimal SO2 (nothing else added) declaration, this is an impeccably balanced and pure chardonnay that has highlighted the opening of the Peacock's Tail on its soaring finish. White peach, pink grapefruit and cashew provide the flavour.96 points | $37 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2030 | Halliday profile | Dappled Wines
2021 Mewstone Hughes & Hughes Chardonnay
Sourced from the north west, Derwent and Coal River Valleys, pressed direct to barrel for a wild yeast fermentation and lees maturation. The immediately complex bouquet leads into a vibrantly crisp palate with a particularly satisfying finish nourished by vibrato acidity. Grew and grew.96 points | $37 | Screwcap | 13.2% alc. | Drink to 2031 | Halliday profile | Mewstone Wines
2021 Murdoch Hill The Tilbury Adelaide Hills Chardonnay
Winemaker, Michael Downer, son of owners Charlie and Julie, has made an immediately attractive wine, with fresh, vibrant varietal fruit in the grapefruit/white peach spectrum. Oak is a minor contributor, acidity an important driver to the finish and aftertaste. All up purity.95 points | $51 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2036 | Halliday profile | Murdoch Hill
2019 Dawson & James Chardonnay
Hand-picked ex Meadowbank vineyard in the Derwent Valley. Whole bunch-pressed, and seems to have the secret of eternal youth, poised on the midpoint of citrus (grapefruit) and stone fruit (white peach). High quality French oak has been absorbed into the fabric of the wine.97 points | $64 | Screwcap | 13.2% alc. | Drink to 2039 | Halliday profile | Dawson & James
2021 Hoddles Creek Estate 1er Yarra Valley Chardonnay
The bouquet is ethereal yet arrests attention, but it's the amazing intensity of the wine on the palate that’s breathtaking. The grapefruit/white peach duo meet their match with the electrifying acidity, creating layers of flavour that are welded together, yet never say too much.98 points | $65 | Screwcap | 13.2% alc. | Drink to 2041 | Halliday profile | Hoddles Creek Estate
2013 Geoff Weaver Aged Release Lenswood Chardonnay
Chilled before whole bunch-pressing, 50 per cent mlf, matured for 12 months in French barriques (50 per cent new, 50 per cent second use). Gleaming yellow-green hue; grapefruit, apple and white peach drive the very expressive and complex palate. A rare chance to see a 9yo chardonnay.97 points | $70 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2027 | Halliday profile | Geoff Weaver
2021 The Lane Vineyard Heritage Chardonnay
Wild yeast fermented, matured for nine months in French oak (86 per cent new). This is in a class of its own – balance, line, length; the varietal expression is in that midway point between stone fruit (white peach) and citrus (grapefruit) bolstered by the natural acidity of a classic vintage.97 points | $100 | Screwcap | 12.8% alc. | Drink to 2036 | Halliday profile | The Lane Vineyard
2021 Penfolds Reserve Bin A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay
Fermented and matured in French barriques (50 per cent new, 22 per cent 1yo). This wastes no time in establishing its extreme quality – and complexity. It is a complete wine, its power, focus and length welded together, white peach and pink grapefruit allied with a shaft of cleansing acidity.97 points | $125 | Screwcap | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2036 | Halliday profile | Penfolds
2021 Scotchmans Hill Bellarine Peninsula Pinot Gris
35 per cent wild yeast fermented in used French barriques, five months on lees, 65 per cent fermented in tank at 13˚C, lees contact for 4 months. An intensely flavoured and complex pinot gris; has a pear, citrus and minerally palate that finishes as emphatically as the first sip.96 points | $38 | Screwcap | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2025 | Halliday profile | Scotchmans Hill
2022 Hahndorf Hill Gru Adelaide Hills Grüner Veltliner
A very complex wine with a starting point of six clones, with multiple fermentation and maturation pathways. A distinct swish of perfume and cinnamon spice on the bouquet; the palate is mouthfilling to begin, but then swells aromatically to the finish and lingering aftertaste.96 points | $32 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2033 | Halliday profile | Hahndorf Hill Winery
See the complete list of Top 100 wines.
Shop wines from the 2022 Top 100 at Sense of Taste.
Join us at Sydney's Campbell's Stores on November 29 to celebrate James Halliday's Top 100. Taste some of the wines crowned in the Top 100, along with other standout offerings from the wineries. Speak to the winemakers, and purchase directly from the producers. Tickets are $149 (+ booking fee) and are available from Eventbrite.
James Halliday’s Top 100 features in The Weekend Australian Magazine on November 19.
Some wines in this year's selection also feature on this site with notes by other Tasting Team members – as reviewed for Halliday Wine Companion.
Image credit: Wine Australia.
