Sommelier Georgios Iordanidis selects his top northern hemisphere wines

Working as the head of wine at one of London’s most prestigious members’ clubs, Annabel’s, Georgios Iordanidis is no stranger to fine wine. Previously, he also held positions as head sommelier for the London outpost of Japanese fine-dining restaurant Zuma, and before that, he was serving members of Mayfair’s Arts Club. Given how at ease he is with recommending top bottles, it made sense to call on him for his pick of wines from the IWSC 2021.

It was Iordanidis’ first turn judging for the competition, and during northern hemisphere sessions, he was responsible for blind-tasting his way through wines from France, Italy and the USA.

Of those he tried, Iordanidis especially enjoyed Les Domaines Paul Mas, Les Neuf Pierres Roulees, Terrasses du Larzac, 2019. The judges scored it an impressive 96/100, and were charmed by wild blackberry and ethereal violet notes.

However, his personal favourite was from California, from Francis Ford Coppola Winery. He commented: ‘The Archimedes Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 was my highlight, as I felt it brought together all the aspects we expect from a great wine. The black fruit aromas were very well balanced with oak flavours of vanilla and spices; the long finish was accompanied by a lingering minerality and fresh acidity, and the tannins were not overpowering.’ Iordanidis also commended it for its structure and potential for ageing. ‘I can’t wait to taste it again in a few years and see how it evolves,’ he added.

Iordanidis was also pleased to see the quality of Rieslings on show, with three different Grand Cru sites making in into his top list below. Judges praised Bestheim’s 2018 Riesling for its notes of chamomile tea alongside freshly cut apple and nectarine, which balanced beautifully with the wine’s crisp acidity.

Read on to see Georgios Iordanidis’ top eight northern hemisphere wines from the IWSC 2021.