Pale straw. Classic old world Sauvignon nose, mineral and detailed but restrained. Similar on palate, mineral and zesty with a strong line and good length. There's quite a lot here, and room for it to grow further. ****
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Blind. Deep straw. A ripe, evolved nose with some custard apple vanilla spice. Pretty advanced. A ripe vintage in the Macon? Oh, no, that's a surprise, it's clumsy for Puligjny, but probably a combination of the vintage and verging on the edge of pox. **
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
Blind. Mellow, earthy, slightly meaty red fruit with sous bois and a touch of caramel. Complex and quite long. Very attractive. Could be Burg or maybe Oregon. Ah, apparently I've had another bottle from this case previously, but none the wiser. ****
Blind. Mid to full cherry red. Vibrant and bright nose of dark red fruit, white pepper and a top not of kirschy cherry. Smooth and silky attack, similar profile to the nose. Syrah? Gosh, that's a surprise. When revealed I can see the Italianate acidity but even with hindsight wouldn't pick it as such. Lovely wine, with lots there. ****
France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune
Blind. Bright, mid ruby, quite light. Lovely nose of strawberry. Palate suggests this is a light Pinot, which indeed it turns out to be. Fresh, joyous uncomplicated fun with a bit of depth to it. ***
Magnum. 2/3 double decanted approx five hours in advance. Nicely vibrant, briary plum and mulberry red fruit with a lick of spice. Full and plush and ripe and full, but holding it in ok without heat on the finish. Long and crying out for chargrilled bloody meat. Bare ****
Deep ruby. Slky texture. Good acidity and tightly wound fruit with fine tannins. All there, but it still needs a little time. Just starting to uncoil slowly. **(**)
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon
Amber. A honeyed nose with a faint whiff of botrytis. Rich but actually not that sweet seeming on the palate. Quite intense, but more a cheese wine than a pudding one. After the initial fresh marmalade it maybe lacks some complexity and depth, but it's very drinkable and holds one's interest. ***1/2
NV Robert Moncuit Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut 91 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Magnum. Creamy chardonnay with a floral quality. Just starting to show some creamy breadth to the focused, mineral line. Lovely. ****
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Peter Dipoli Sauvignon Voglar 91 Points
Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol
Pale straw. Classic old world Sauvignon nose, mineral and detailed but restrained. Similar on palate, mineral and zesty with a strong line and good length. There's quite a lot here, and room for it to grow further. ****
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2006 Gilles Bouton Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne 83 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Blind. Deep straw. A ripe, evolved nose with some custard apple vanilla spice. Pretty advanced. A ripe vintage in the Macon? Oh, no, that's a surprise, it's clumsy for Puligjny, but probably a combination of the vintage and verging on the edge of pox. **
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2000 Arcadian Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
Blind. Mellow, earthy, slightly meaty red fruit with sous bois and a touch of caramel. Complex and quite long. Very attractive. Could be Burg or maybe Oregon. Ah, apparently I've had another bottle from this case previously, but none the wiser. ****
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2001 Montevetrano Montevetrano Colli di Salerno IGT 92 Points
Italy, Campania, Colli di Salerno IGT
Blind. Mid to full cherry red. Vibrant and bright nose of dark red fruit, white pepper and a top not of kirschy cherry. Smooth and silky attack, similar profile to the nose. Syrah? Gosh, that's a surprise. When revealed I can see the Italianate acidity but even with hindsight wouldn't pick it as such. Lovely wine, with lots there. ****
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Maison En Belles Lies Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune
Blind. Bright, mid ruby, quite light. Lovely nose of strawberry. Palate suggests this is a light Pinot, which indeed it turns out to be. Fresh, joyous uncomplicated fun with a bit of depth to it. ***
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Ridge Geyserville 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Magnum. 2/3 double decanted approx five hours in advance. Nicely vibrant, briary plum and mulberry red fruit with a lick of spice. Full and plush and ripe and full, but holding it in ok without heat on the finish. Long and crying out for chargrilled bloody meat. Bare ****
Read 3 Comments / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Domaine de Montille Pommard 1er Cru Les Pèzerolles 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru
Deep ruby. Slky texture. Good acidity and tightly wound fruit with fine tannins. All there, but it still needs a little time. Just starting to uncoil slowly. **(**)
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2002 Domaine Jo Pithon Coteaux du Layon Botrytis Les 4 Villages 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon
Amber. A honeyed nose with a faint whiff of botrytis. Rich but actually not that sweet seeming on the palate. Quite intense, but more a cheese wine than a pudding one. After the initial fresh marmalade it maybe lacks some complexity and depth, but it's very drinkable and holds one's interest. ***1/2
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue