Blind. Jun 22 disgorgement. Straw, lemon, vanilla and honey on the nose. Palate has bristling acidity, clean cut and nicely controlled balance. Focussed and really nice drinking.
Honey, belon, orange and sea spray on the nose. Palate is mineral driven with great fruit power and very good depth. Really well put together with all the elements working nicely in unison. Very happy with how this is drinking.
Blind. Fresh nose with lemon, apricot, florals and a little toasty note the only sign of age. Palate is a little bit rounder with the fruit quite pillowy but with good depth and length. Getting into a pretty good spot for drinking but no hurry either.
Lemon, saline and white florals on the nose. Palate has good flow with a little flint to it. Solid, well made, not super exciting but ticks a good number of boxes.
Blind. Flint, spice, white florals, blackcurrant and some smoke and oyster shell - plenty of interest on the nose. Tight and stoney palate, with a kick of fruit through the middle but ending with crunchy acidity. Time should see this showing really well.
Blind. Oyster shell, lemon, violets and some mint. Rich, plenty of pure and high toned fruit flavour, very good carry and length. Could see this being called a very good Meursault blind, though the fruit profile still had me leaning new world. Stood shoulder to shoulder with the 18 Raveneau Foret.
Blind. Buttery popcorn, smoke and orange on the nose. Palate is tangy and quite rounded with plenty of rich fruit and oak. Medium length. An interesting data point.
Blind. Rubber, lemon, sweaty nose. Medium bodied, with limited depth and carry. Not a lot of interest here, it's drinkable but not a lot of spark to it.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Blind. Skinsky, orange peel and spice. Palate has good texture from the skin contact, a little bitterness on the finish but it's not out of place. Good interest for the price.
Golden coloured. Pineapple, spice, lime and slate. Palate is a lovely mix of sweetness with acid cut. Drinking at a mid point, it's open and giving and while there is plenty of acid it feels well integrated without having gone to the next stage of development.
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
Blind. Strawberry, cherry and some tea leaves. Unique on the palate, plenty of red fruit, some tannin and the sweetness here is helping to hold it upright. Drink now!
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Blind. Bright, juicy nose with licorice and almost a bubblegum type thing happening. Palate is sweet and juicy, there is a bit of tannin but it remains somewhat disturbingly citrusy on the palate. I don't get it.
Blind. Redcurrant, blackberry, gravel and plums on the nose. Tannins are purposeful, with lovely acidity and drive. Super structured still, this needs another 10-15 years easily.
Blind. Pepper and graphite, feels lively and bright. Palate is classic Syrah style with that pepper and black fruit profile. The spice and ripeness mesh well together and this is already drinking well.
Blind. Raspberry, redcurrant, smoke and herbal stems. Ripe and full, this feels like it is trying to extract a lot through winemaking from fruit that doesn't have that much to give.
I didn't love the 2019 of this and the 2020 leaves me with the same doubts.
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Blind. Blackberry, bright violets and plum on the nose. Palate is sweet and densely flavoured, while maintaining a fresh edge to it. Full length and feels like it has strong potential to develop well.
Blind. Bright nose with cherry, roses, raspberry and a light smoky and mint overlay. Finely balanced, stands out from the pack with lovely detail and drive, the acid and the red fruit flavour keep things bright and brisk. Impressive but only 400 bottles made.
VA, nail polish, coconut and cola on the nose. Palate also has a cola profile with the oak wrapping over the fruit. The description makes it sound less appealing than I found it, there was something interesting about it.
Blind. Smoky, mint/eucalypt, cherry and some roses. Palate is sweet edged, plenty of plush fruit driving that element. Nicely composed even though it is approachable now.
Tobacco, smoke, char and licorice on the nose. Quite amplified on the palate, both the fruit and the structure with a trace of bitterness that the wine seems unapologetic for.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Still bold and flashy 21 years in with blueberry, blackcurrant, cherry and oak spices. The palate is a little more developed but its still sweet and punchy. Feels like it's in a good spot as I wouldn't want the fruit to fade too much.
Truffles, earth and violets on the nose. Still with some vibrant sweet edges on the palate and the structure is holding up - though I'm not sure it'll get too much better from here.
Savoury, cherry, spice and leather on the nose. Medium bodied, gently proportioned and with good length - very comfortable and well positioned to drink now.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Blind. Redcurrant, briar, graphite and licorice. Palate is medium bodied, with the fruit and acid holding together nicely and with good length. No hurry but also wasn't unapproachable tonight.
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Blind. Camphor and mint, orange and redcurrant on the nose. Palate is more to my taste with clean red fruits and woody spice. Tannins are present and holding well. It's a good wine, though it won't be for everyone.
Lifted red fruits on the nose with white pepper, violets as well. Light and lithe on the palate, some cherry fruit but it's quite taut otherwise. Medium length.
On the nose it has charred characters, funk, earth, VA and an aged red fruit character. Palate is medium bodied and holding up well all things considered. Drink now.
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western
Animale, cherry, graphite, cherry and blackberry on the nose. Palate is sweet fruited but has plenty of spark to push through, good length and finish. Lovely.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Earth, violets, roses and some smoke on the nose. Savoury and earthy palate, plenty of freshness to go along with the complexity as well. Great carry and length. In an excellent spot.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Violets, tropical notes with pineapple and mango. The palate is better balanced than the 2010, still with some spirit but the sweetness feels better integrated. Medium length. I don't normally like the Wendouree muscat but this was pretty good!
NV Agrapart Champagne Grand Cru Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Blind. Jun 22 disgorgement. Straw, lemon, vanilla and honey on the nose. Palate has bristling acidity, clean cut and nicely controlled balance. Focussed and really nice drinking.
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2013 David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru l'Amateur Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Honey, belon, orange and sea spray on the nose. Palate is mineral driven with great fruit power and very good depth. Really well put together with all the elements working nicely in unison. Very happy with how this is drinking.
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2009 Tyrrell's Sémillon Vat 1 91 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Blind. Fresh nose with lemon, apricot, florals and a little toasty note the only sign of age. Palate is a little bit rounder with the fruit quite pillowy but with good depth and length. Getting into a pretty good spot for drinking but no hurry either.
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2009 Tyrrell's Chardonnay SFOV 89 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Blind. Touch of herb, wax, vanilla and toast on the nose. Palate is toasty as well, nice fruit here but I think it's ready for drinking now.
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NV Pieter van Gent Verdelho 86 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Mudgee
Blind. Floral, tropical, fruit salad and mango. Bright palate, plenty of sweetness to it. Pretty drinkable for what it ends up being.
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2017 La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
Lemon, saline and white florals on the nose. Palate has good flow with a little flint to it. Solid, well made, not super exciting but ticks a good number of boxes.
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2018 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Les Forêts 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
Blind. Flint, spice, white florals, blackcurrant and some smoke and oyster shell - plenty of interest on the nose. Tight and stoney palate, with a kick of fruit through the middle but ending with crunchy acidity. Time should see this showing really well.
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2021 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill 92 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Blind. Oyster shell, lemon, violets and some mint. Rich, plenty of pure and high toned fruit flavour, very good carry and length. Could see this being called a very good Meursault blind, though the fruit profile still had me leaning new world. Stood shoulder to shoulder with the 18 Raveneau Foret.
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2017 Otronia Chardonnay III & VI 88 Points
Argentina, Patagonia
Blind. Buttery popcorn, smoke and orange on the nose. Palate is tangy and quite rounded with plenty of rich fruit and oak. Medium length. An interesting data point.
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2017 Jermann Vintage Tunina Venezia Giulia IGT 86 Points
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT
Blind. Rubber, lemon, sweaty nose. Medium bodied, with limited depth and carry. Not a lot of interest here, it's drinkable but not a lot of spark to it.
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2021 Torzi Matthews Trebbiano Vigna Cantina 88 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Blind. Skinsky, orange peel and spice. Palate has good texture from the skin contact, a little bitterness on the finish but it's not out of place. Good interest for the price.
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2012 A.J. Adam Hofberg Riesling Kabinett 91 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Golden coloured. Pineapple, spice, lime and slate. Palate is a lovely mix of sweetness with acid cut. Drinking at a mid point, it's open and giving and while there is plenty of acid it feels well integrated without having gone to the next stage of development.
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2005 Pankhurst Rosé 87 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
Blind. Strawberry, cherry and some tea leaves. Unique on the palate, plenty of red fruit, some tannin and the sweetness here is helping to hold it upright. Drink now!
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2021 Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Cincuenta y Cinco 88 Points
Argentina, Patagonia
Blind. Pepper, redcurrant, sweet red fruit on the nose and palate. Medium bodied, with a simple red fruit style to it. Nice but a bit predictable.
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2021 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Reframed Shiraz X Riesling 84 Points
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Blind. Bright, juicy nose with licorice and almost a bubblegum type thing happening. Palate is sweet and juicy, there is a bit of tannin but it remains somewhat disturbingly citrusy on the palate. I don't get it.
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2013 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
Blind. Redcurrant, blackberry, gravel and plums on the nose. Tannins are purposeful, with lovely acidity and drive. Super structured still, this needs another 10-15 years easily.
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2019 Delas Frères St. Joseph Cuvée Francois de Tournon 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
Blind. Pepper and graphite, feels lively and bright. Palate is classic Syrah style with that pepper and black fruit profile. The spice and ripeness mesh well together and this is already drinking well.
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2020 Sylvain Cathiard Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Les Dames Huguettes 87 Points
France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits
Blind. Raspberry, redcurrant, smoke and herbal stems. Ripe and full, this feels like it is trying to extract a lot through winemaking from fruit that doesn't have that much to give.
I didn't love the 2019 of this and the 2020 leaves me with the same doubts.
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2021 Vanguardist Wines Grenache Blewitt Springs 91 Points
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Blind. Blackberry, bright violets and plum on the nose. Palate is sweet and densely flavoured, while maintaining a fresh edge to it. Full length and feels like it has strong potential to develop well.
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2019 Alkina Grenache Polygon 3 92 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa
Blind. Bright nose with cherry, roses, raspberry and a light smoky and mint overlay. Finely balanced, stands out from the pack with lovely detail and drive, the acid and the red fruit flavour keep things bright and brisk. Impressive but only 400 bottles made.
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2010 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera Reserva Especial 90 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
VA, nail polish, coconut and cola on the nose. Palate also has a cola profile with the oak wrapping over the fruit. The description makes it sound less appealing than I found it, there was something interesting about it.
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2018 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Vigna Francia 90 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba
Blind. Smoky, mint/eucalypt, cherry and some roses. Palate is sweet edged, plenty of plush fruit driving that element. Nicely composed even though it is approachable now.
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2008 Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Secco Pagliaro 90 Points
Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino
Tobacco, smoke, char and licorice on the nose. Quite amplified on the palate, both the fruit and the structure with a trace of bitterness that the wine seems unapologetic for.
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2001 Torbreck RunRig 92 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Still bold and flashy 21 years in with blueberry, blackcurrant, cherry and oak spices. The palate is a little more developed but its still sweet and punchy. Feels like it's in a good spot as I wouldn't want the fruit to fade too much.
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2004 Seppelt Shiraz St Peters 91 Points
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Grampians
Truffles, earth and violets on the nose. Still with some vibrant sweet edges on the palate and the structure is holding up - though I'm not sure it'll get too much better from here.
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2007 Meerea Park Shiraz Alexander Munro 90 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Savoury, cherry, spice and leather on the nose. Medium bodied, gently proportioned and with good length - very comfortable and well positioned to drink now.
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2012 Wendouree Cabernet Sauvignon Clare Valley 92 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Blind. Redcurrant, briar, graphite and licorice. Palate is medium bodied, with the fruit and acid holding together nicely and with good length. No hurry but also wasn't unapproachable tonight.
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2011 Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon Alex 90 Points
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Blind. Camphor and mint, orange and redcurrant on the nose. Palate is more to my taste with clean red fruits and woody spice. Tannins are present and holding well. It's a good wine, though it won't be for everyone.
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2020 Moric Blaufränkisch 89 Points
Austria, Burgenland
Lifted red fruits on the nose with white pepper, violets as well. Light and lithe on the palate, some cherry fruit but it's quite taut otherwise. Medium length.
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1994 Viña Tarapacá Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 89 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley
On the nose it has charred characters, funk, earth, VA and an aged red fruit character. Palate is medium bodied and holding up well all things considered. Drink now.
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1987 Seppelt Shiraz Show Sparkling Great Western 92 Points
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western
Animale, cherry, graphite, cherry and blackberry on the nose. Palate is sweet fruited but has plenty of spark to push through, good length and finish. Lovely.
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2000 Morris Vintage Port 90 Points
Australia, Victoria, North East, Rutherglen
Violets, redcurrant and spirit on the nose. Palate is sweet and dense with clean spirit character punching hard. Long length, lots of intensity here.
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2008 Wendouree Shiraz 92 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Earth, violets, roses and some smoke on the nose. Savoury and earthy palate, plenty of freshness to go along with the complexity as well. Great carry and length. In an excellent spot.
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2018 Tokaj Hétszőlő Tokaji Szamorodni Édes 88 Points
Hungary, Tokaji
Apricot, lime, lemon and honey. Medium bodied palate with fairly light depth.
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2010 Wendouree Muscat of Alexandria 86 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Orange, musk, celery and lemon. Spiky alcohol on the palate with a punch of sweetness that sits to the side of the rest of the flavours.
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2018 Wendouree Muscat of Alexandria 89 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Violets, tropical notes with pineapple and mango. The palate is better balanced than the 2010, still with some spirit but the sweetness feels better integrated. Medium length. I don't normally like the Wendouree muscat but this was pretty good!
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