| | - 2005 Domaine Laroche Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
Tasted blind – medium yellow colour. Citrus and oxidized apple on the nose. Soft entry but a great blast of acidity on the back end adds some freshness. Has a rich, slightly oily mouthfeel. Chard was guessed but nobody guessed Chablis. This was very nice but didn’t show much Chablis typicity. Drinking well now. Very good. (89 pts.)
- 2009 Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon
Tasted blind – from the nose it didn’t take long to guess ‘Beaujolais’ as the spicy, ripe but restrained dark red fruits and hints of earthiness and floral along with the colour seemed to scream gamay. Beautiful spice and minerality on the palate with excellent acidity. Been about a year since I had this and it seems to have shed a bit of baby fat since then. This is drinking extremely well right now but should age gracefully for years. Excellent. 91+ (91 pts.)
- 1996 Edmunds St. John Les Côtes Sauvages - USA, California
Tasted blind – dark colour but some browning/bricking at the rim. Syrah-like nose with darker fruits, pepper, floral and hints of burnt rubber. The structure is mainly resolved now although there just a touch of powdery tannins hanging around. A soft mouthfeel with excellent acidity and a sour strawberry and cherry finish round out the palate. This is a close to a Northern Rhone as I’ve had from any new world syrah. Drinking perfectly right now. Excellent. (91 pts.)
- 2001 Domaine Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Félix - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Darker colour with a bricking rim. Nice peppery nose with notes of garrigue, maturing red fruits and hints of herbs. Medium weight with some slightly gritty tannins, good acidity and a nice tobacco finish. I don’t think this will get any better but it shouldn’t fall apart anytime soon either. Excellent. (91 pts.)
- 2001 Tenuta De Angelis Anghelos Marche IGT - Italy, Marche, Marche IGT
Tasted blind – very dark colour. Dense nose, extracted dark fruits, black licorice and traces of green/dill. Loads on density and concentration on the palate but not over the top. Excellent acidity with dry tannins and a noticeably dry finish with notes of chocolate coming through. A heavy and somewhat modern wine. A good showing but atypical for this wine from what others at the table said. I, incorrectly, thought this might be syrah. Drinking well. Very good. (89 pts.)
- 1993 Errazuriz Special Reserve Don Maximiano - Chile, Aconcagua Valley
Tasted blind – sour mint nose with hints of American oak, dark fruits, vinyl and some greener notes had me thinking cab franc. Restrained in style with really nice red and black fruit flavours and lively acidity. This is at peak and drinking very well. Excellent. (91 pts.)
- 2004 Isole e Olena Syrah Collezione de Marchi Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Tasted blind – dark colour, almost purple. Ripe fruit on the nose with notes of cocoa and vanilla oak. Silky mouthfeel with a slightly warm finish. Very nice on the palate but nothing special and a wine that zero syrah typicity and comes across very ‘internationally’ styled. Good. (86 pts.)
- 2000 Kettle Valley Old Main Red - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley
Tasted blind – Nose of brandy, warm, almost spirit like. Palate is flat besides the warmth from the alcohol. Something went wrong here. (FLAWED)
- 1997 Domaine des Aubuisières Vouvray Moelleux Le plan de Jean - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Tasted blind – golden yellow colour. Beautiful nose of apricot, nuts and spice with dry flavours, good acidity and just the right amount of residual sugar. Very nice and drinking well. Excellent. (90 pts.)
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