The Top American Wines, According To The Decanter World Wine Awards
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Six American wines took top honors at the Decanter World Wine Awards. Two California wines received Best of Show honors, while four wines earned Platinum medals. Below are brief descriptions and tasting notes on the six wines that Decanter judged the best in America.
Clos du Val is a historic Napa Valley estate, renowned since the 1970s for crafting elegant Bordeaux varietals. Their Stags Leap District Cabernet Franc combines site-specific finesse and structured richness. The wine is a blend of 84% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, and 2% Carmenère.
The wine features aromas of dark cherry, graphite, and fresh herbs. The palate showcases flavors of plum, subtle oak spice, with silky tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is long and polished with lingering black fruit notes.
The DWWA Judging Panel described the wine as 'a show-stopper: opaque black, with a carnival of scent in which spice, flowers and damsons mingle with carefully schooled abandon. On the palate, the wine has splendid depth and width, just as its Cabernet Sauvignon offspring so often does in Napa; the difference is a lightness of touch here, an aerial grace, and a lithe ease of line to the tannins; the acidity remains tenderly supportive. Rarely does a wine from Stag's Leap leap so gracefully; the result is memorably drinkable.'
Kenwood Vineyards is deeply rooted in Sonoma winemaking. The Six Ridges series highlights the distinctive mountain ridges that define Sonoma's terroir. This Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows the impact of regional terroir on California cabs.
The wine features notes of ripe blackberry, cassis, and hints of mocha. The palate is rich and full-bodied, showcasing ripe dark berry richness, integrated oak, firm tannins, and a brisk acidity. The finish is long and structured, with lingering notes of red and black berries.
The DWWA Judging Panel described the wine as showing 'a significantly different style to Napa: amply fleshed, yes, but with a savory, mountain wildness to that flesh, and with a different acid emphasis. The blend, with its seasoning of Petite Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, surely also plays a role in lending this wine its intriguing complexities.'
'It's black-red, with open, affably fruity aromas lent depth by a dry-forest warmth; on the palate, the wine has both breadth and depth as well as a compelling inner sweetness. The acidity is low but soft, while plump tannins with that distinctive savory nuance bring the wine resolution and balance.'
Aerial view of vineyards in the Napa Valley wine country of CA as shot from a hot air balloon. Napa County is known for hundreds of hillside vineyards. Hot air ballooning is a popular activity for tourists.
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Four wineries, all based on the West Coast, were awarded Platinum medals at the 2025 DWWA. All four wines received a score of 97 out of 100 points. The tasting notes are drawn from the official Decanter Judging Panel's comments.
Walla Walla-based Echolands Winery focuses on expressive, terroir-driven wines. The Blue Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc showcases the valley's bright fruit and refined structure.
The wine is floral on the nose, featuring vibrant aromas of red currant and raspberry, with subtle notes of green pepper. The palate is medium-bodied, with fresh acidity and polished tannins. The finish is long and clean, with lingering minerally notes.
Chandon California, the American arm of Moët & Chandon, has pioneered méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine since 1973. Etoile Brut is their flagship cuvée, aged extensively for layered complexity. It was selected as the highest-rated American sparkling wine.
The wine features a fine mousse, exhibiting aromas of baked apple, brioche, and almond. The palate is creamy yet bright, with flavors of pear, citrus zest, and toasted nuts. The finish is long, elegant, and crisp, with lingering notes of apple and brioche.
Cupere is a boutique label in the Sonoma Coast AVA, renowned for its minimalist winemaking approach. 'Faces' reflects coastal Pinot Noir's purity, with vivid fruit and earthy nuance.
The wine features aromas of wild strawberry, cranberry, and a subtle hint of forest floor. The palate is light-bodied and silky, showcasing pronounced red berries with soft tannins and a brisk acidity. The finish is long, clean, and refreshing, with lingering notes of red berries.
Domaine Serene is a benchmark Oregon producer acclaimed for its polished Pinot Noir and Chardonnay bottlings. Yamhill Cuvée highlights the best lots from estate vineyards across Yamhill County in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
This wine is typically expressive and aromatic on the nose, featuring aromas of black cherry, rose petal, and baking spice. It's medium-bodied on the palate, with a silky texture that showcases layered red fruit notes and subtle oak nuances. The finish is usually long and elegant, with lingering notes of red fruit.
The Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is one of the world's largest and most influential wine competitions, organized annually by Decanter magazine since 2004. It attracts thousands of entries from over 50 countries, judged blind by top wine experts, including Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers.
Renowned for its rigorous judging process and international credibility, a medal from the DWWA is a mark of exceptional quality and global recognition. Winning wines often gain significant attention from collectors, retailers, and wine enthusiasts alike.
These six red wines, from three of the most exciting wine AVAs on the West Coast, were judged America's top wines. If your preference is for red wines, these six wines are not to be missed. They offer the layered, nuanced complexity characteristic of superb winemaking as well as an authentic representation of their regional terroir. Whether your passion is for Oregon's superlative Pinot noir or California's world-class Bordeaux blends, these wines are truly at the pinnacle of American winemaking.
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