Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Bright gold in colour this wine shows tropical fruits and a hint of lemon on the nose. The palate is sweet, but crisp. Good acidity, not overbearing or cloying.
Deep purple in colour this wine shows sweet purple fruit on the nose. The palate displays plum character, toasty oak, vanilla and a hint of smoke. Was expecting a little more lift and fragrance from the Viognier.
Bright purple in the glass, this Sangiovese initially shows a typical strawberry nose. The palate shows more berry fruit character, toasty wood and a little smoke. Elegant and delicious.
Deep purple in colour this Shiraz shows sweet berry fruit, especially cherry, on the nose. The palate shows savoury characters including capsicum and cigar box. Deep and intense. Long finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon with a hint of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Shiraz this wine is deep purple, almost black, in the glass. The nose shows intense blackcurrant and dense wood. The palate shows jammy berry fruit and tobacco characters. Big, bold tannins. Very dry.
A single estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Errazuriz's Maipo valley location. Bright purple in the colour, the nose showed extracted berry fruit and wood. The palate was soft, pure and delicious.
Made from 100% Shiraz this wine is bright purple in the glass. It's aged in oak for 18 months and displays plum, cherry and tobacco characters on the nose. The palate is savoury, and a little green. Astringent tannins. Not really ready for drinking - definitely needs bottle age.
Well aged, the nose on this wine was awful - vegetal and brie characters. The palate was a real surprise - smooth, supple and elegant. Leather and mushroom characters.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Deep purple in colour, this is a classic St Emilion. Sweet berry fruit on the nose, with a little oak. The palate shows rich, supple flavours and a hint of spice.
A Classic Bordeaux blend this wine is deep purple in colour. The nose shows dense plum fruit and a little smoky-spice. The palate shows more characteristic fruit, but is mainly savoury. It also shows the typical South African burnt rubber character.
Rupert & Rothschild's top Bordeaux blend, this wine is made with the fruit from older vines and is matured in new French oak for 24 months. Deep purple in colour, the nose shows bright fruit character and tobacco characters. The palate is full of plum fruit, smoke and spice. Dense. Needs more time to mellow out.
A delicious Bordeaux blend which shows blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant characters on the nose. The palate is rich and smooth - well integrated oak and supple tannins.
A predominantly Merlot based blend (40%) this wine shows excellent berry fruit character on the nose. The palate is rounded and delicious - supple fruit and supple liquorice characters.
An unusual variety for South Africa, this very small production Sangiovese is being produced by Morgenster Estate's new Italian owners as an experiment. A successful one in my view. Bright purple in the glass, it shows tobacco and cherry tomato characters on the nose. The palate shows some excellent berry fruit character, smoke and Chinese five spice.
Another unusual variety for South Africa, this very small production Nebbiolo is being produced by Morgenster Estate's new Italian owners as an experiment. Reminiscent of great Barolo, this wine shows mainly savoury characters on the nose. The palate shows cooked fruit, especially prune, and well integrated wood. Good length.
A fairly uninspiring Shiraz - deep purple in the glass. Sweet berry fruit and smoke on the nose. The palate is pretty green - capsicum, white pepper and bold tannins.
Deep purple in colour this wine shows sweet cherry and liquorice on the nose. The palate shows plum fruit, spice and smoke. Could have been more uplift from the Viognier.
Deep purple in colour, this merlot shows sweet berry fruit on the nose. The plate is mainly savoury, and shows a lovely liquorice character. A little smoke on the finish.
Made from younger vines this is a Cabernet-Merlot Bordeaux blend. The nose shows deep fruit character. The palate is brooding with savoury capsicum, smoke and burnt rubber.
Meerlusts's premier wine - this Bordeaux blend shows good fruit character and toasty oak on the nose. The palate is very dry - mainly savoury with smoke and tobacco characters. Rounded on the finish.
Deep purple in colour, this Zinfandel shows excellent berry fruit and liquorice on the nose. The palate is more restrained than I was expecting - subtle fruit character, spice and a hint of sherbert.
Deep red in colour I found spicy plum and cigar box characters on the nose. The palate was deep and brooding with intense tannins and a long dry finish.
Very deep purple in colour this Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend shows sweet fruit and vanilla oak on the nose. The palate shows dense purple fruit and deep tannins.
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
Deep purple in the glass this wine showed expressive strawberry and raspberry characteristics, as well as some creamyness on the nose. The palate was mainly savoury - capsicum, white pepper, spice and a little vanilla. Dense wine. Good finish.
Light red in colour, this wine could almost be chilled in summer! Soft, fragrant berry fruit on the nose. Concentrated cherry fruit on the palate. Well integrated - good acidity. A very nice easy drinking wine.
Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc this wine is deep purple in the glass. I in initially found berry fruit and vanilla, then earthy, mineral characters. The palate showed dense blackcurrant fruit and a little spice. Nice, nothing special.
Deep purple in colour, this wine shows sweet berry fruit and vanilla oak on the nose. A lovely expression of Nero d'Avola on the palate - black fruits and mineral characters. Smooth, supple and rich.
Dense purple in the glass. The nose shows clean plum fruit and a little menthol. The palate is dry, supple and elegant. Velvety fruit, eucalyptus and a hint of spice.
Made from a blend of Nero d'Avola and Frappato, this wine shows very sweet strawberry on the nose. The palate shows sweet red berry fruit and a hint of gooseberry. A pretty generic red.
Deep purple in colour, this wine has a savoury nose - woody, spicy and earthy. Dense raspberry and strawberry characters on the palate. Great cellar potential.
Made from a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, this wine spends 18 months in French oak. The nose shows red berry fruit, pepper and spice. The palate shows well extracted strawberry, dense liquorice, smoke and white pepper.
Made from a blend of Touriga Nacional and Tempranillo this wins is deep purple in colour. The nose shows strawberry, raspberry and white pepper. The palate is mainly savoury, and very elegant given the cooler climate.
Made from a blend of Touriga Nacional , Merlot and Petit Verdot this wine shows extracted berry fruit and a hint of smoke on the nose. The palate is supple and delicious.
Deep purple in colour, this wine is made from a blend of Aragonês, Trincadeira and others. The nose shows sweet berry fruit and liquorice on the nose. The palate is smooth and nicely balanced.
Made from the Baca grape, this wine is a small 4000-bottle production. The nose is dense - displaying tobacco and white pepper characters. The palate shows good oak integration and restrained tannins.
Still maturing in the barrel, this wine was especially bottled for this tasting. Made from old vines, it is displaying great fruit character, colour and structure, but I can understand why the producer expects it to spend another 12 months in the barrel.
Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange
Inky black in colour, this wine shows jammy berry fruit and a hint of spice on the nose. The palate is nicely dry with toasty oak and liquorice characters.
Deep purple in the glass, this wine shows blackcurrant and plum fruit on the nose - it was almost slightly porty. The palate shows clean red berry fruit and toasy oak.
Honey yellow in colour, this wine shows brazil nut, walnut, caramel and maple syrup characters on the nose. The palate is dry and oxidised, showing nutty and coffe characters.
2007 Peter Lehmann Sémillon Botrytis 86 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Bright gold in colour this wine shows tropical fruits and a hint of lemon on the nose. The palate is sweet, but crisp. Good acidity, not overbearing or cloying.
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2005 Yalumba Shiraz - Viognier Hand Picked 83 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Deep purple in colour this wine shows sweet purple fruit on the nose. The palate displays plum character, toasty oak, vanilla and a hint of smoke. Was expecting a little more lift and fragrance from the Viognier.
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2005 Errazuriz Sangiovese Single Vineyard 88 Points
Chile, Aconcagua Valley
Bright purple in the glass, this Sangiovese initially shows a typical strawberry nose. The palate shows more berry fruit character, toasty wood and a little smoke. Elegant and delicious.
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2006 Errazuriz Syrah Max Reserva 86 Points
Chile, Aconcagua Valley
Deep purple in colour this Shiraz shows sweet berry fruit, especially cherry, on the nose. The palate shows savoury characters including capsicum and cigar box. Deep and intense. Long finish.
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2005 Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve 86 Points
Chile, Aconcagua Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon with a hint of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Shiraz this wine is deep purple, almost black, in the glass. The nose shows intense blackcurrant and dense wood. The palate shows jammy berry fruit and tobacco characters. Big, bold tannins. Very dry.
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2005 Errazuriz Viñedo Chadwick 86 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley
A single estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Errazuriz's Maipo valley location. Bright purple in the colour, the nose showed extracted berry fruit and wood. The palate was soft, pure and delicious.
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2005 Montes Syrah Folly La Finca de Apalta 86 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Made from 100% Shiraz this wine is bright purple in the glass. It's aged in oak for 18 months and displays plum, cherry and tobacco characters on the nose. The palate is savoury, and a little green. Astringent tannins. Not really ready for drinking - definitely needs bottle age.
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2005 Montes Alpha M 89 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine spends 18 months in new French oak. Berry fruit on the nose. Deep, dense, brooding palate. Smooth tannins.
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1995 Château d'Issan 84 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Well aged, the nose on this wine was awful - vegetal and brie characters. The palate was a real surprise - smooth, supple and elegant. Leather and mushroom characters.
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2004 Château L'Arrosée 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Deep purple in colour, this is a classic St Emilion. Sweet berry fruit on the nose, with a little oak. The palate shows rich, supple flavours and a hint of spice.
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2006 Rupert & Rothschild Classique 84 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region
A Classic Bordeaux blend this wine is deep purple in colour. The nose shows dense plum fruit and a little smoky-spice. The palate shows more characteristic fruit, but is mainly savoury. It also shows the typical South African burnt rubber character.
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2004 Rupert & Rothschild Baron Edmond 85 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region
Rupert & Rothschild's top Bordeaux blend, this wine is made with the fruit from older vines and is matured in new French oak for 24 months. Deep purple in colour, the nose shows bright fruit character and tobacco characters. The palate is full of plum fruit, smoke and spice. Dense. Needs more time to mellow out.
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2004 Morgenster 90 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
A delicious Bordeaux blend which shows blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant characters on the nose. The palate is rich and smooth - well integrated oak and supple tannins.
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2004 Morgenster Lourens River Valley 89 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
A predominantly Merlot based blend (40%) this wine shows excellent berry fruit character on the nose. The palate is rounded and delicious - supple fruit and supple liquorice characters.
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2006 Morgenster Sangiovese Tosca 89 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
An unusual variety for South Africa, this very small production Sangiovese is being produced by Morgenster Estate's new Italian owners as an experiment. A successful one in my view. Bright purple in the glass, it shows tobacco and cherry tomato characters on the nose. The palate shows some excellent berry fruit character, smoke and Chinese five spice.
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2006 Morgenster Nebbiolo Nabucco 89 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
Another unusual variety for South Africa, this very small production Nebbiolo is being produced by Morgenster Estate's new Italian owners as an experiment. Reminiscent of great Barolo, this wine shows mainly savoury characters on the nose. The palate shows cooked fruit, especially prune, and well integrated wood. Good length.
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2007 La Motte Shiraz 80 Points
South Africa, Western Cape
A fairly uninspiring Shiraz - deep purple in the glass. Sweet berry fruit and smoke on the nose. The palate is pretty green - capsicum, white pepper and bold tannins.
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2007 La Motte Shiraz-Viognier 80 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Franschhoek Valley
Deep purple in colour this wine shows sweet cherry and liquorice on the nose. The palate shows plum fruit, spice and smoke. Could have been more uplift from the Viognier.
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2004 Meerlust Merlot 82 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
Deep purple in colour, this merlot shows sweet berry fruit on the nose. The plate is mainly savoury, and shows a lovely liquorice character. A little smoke on the finish.
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2004 Meerlust Red 82 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
Made from younger vines this is a Cabernet-Merlot Bordeaux blend. The nose shows deep fruit character. The palate is brooding with savoury capsicum, smoke and burnt rubber.
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2004 Meerlust Rubicon 85 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
Meerlusts's premier wine - this Bordeaux blend shows good fruit character and toasty oak on the nose. The palate is very dry - mainly savoury with smoke and tobacco characters. Rounded on the finish.
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2005 Heitz Cellar Zinfandel 86 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Deep purple in colour, this Zinfandel shows excellent berry fruit and liquorice on the nose. The palate is more restrained than I was expecting - subtle fruit character, spice and a hint of sherbert.
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2007 Les Domaines Paul Mas Marsanne La Forge Single Vineyard Collection 84 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Lemon yellow in the glass this Marsanne shows melon and citrus characters on the nose. The palate shows spice and toasty vanilla.
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2007 Les Domaines Paul Mas Malbec La Forge Estate 84 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Deep red in colour I found spicy plum and cigar box characters on the nose. The palate was deep and brooding with intense tannins and a long dry finish.
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2007 Jean-Claude Mas Arrogant Frog Ribet Red 83 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Very deep purple in colour this Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend shows sweet fruit and vanilla oak on the nose. The palate shows dense purple fruit and deep tannins.
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2007 Les Domaines Paul Mas Coteaux du Languedoc Château Paul Mas Clos des Mûres 84 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
Deep purple in the glass this wine showed expressive strawberry and raspberry characteristics, as well as some creamyness on the nose. The palate was mainly savoury - capsicum, white pepper, spice and a little vanilla. Dense wine. Good finish.
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2007 Planeta Sicilia La Segreta Rosso 85 Points
Italy, Sicily, Sicilia
Light red in colour, this wine could almost be chilled in summer! Soft, fragrant berry fruit on the nose. Concentrated cherry fruit on the palate. Well integrated - good acidity. A very nice easy drinking wine.
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2005 Planeta Sicilia Burdese 84 Points
Italy, Sicily, Sicilia
Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc this wine is deep purple in the glass. I in initially found berry fruit and vanilla, then earthy, mineral characters. The palate showed dense blackcurrant fruit and a little spice. Nice, nothing special.
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2006 Planeta Noto Santa Cecilia 85 Points
Italy, Sicily, Noto
Deep purple in colour, this wine shows sweet berry fruit and vanilla oak on the nose. A lovely expression of Nero d'Avola on the palate - black fruits and mineral characters. Smooth, supple and rich.
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2006 Planeta Syrah Sicilia 85 Points
Italy, Sicily, Sicilia
Dense purple in the glass. The nose shows clean plum fruit and a little menthol. The palate is dry, supple and elegant. Velvety fruit, eucalyptus and a hint of spice.
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2007 Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria 80 Points
Italy, Sicily, Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Made from a blend of Nero d'Avola and Frappato, this wine shows very sweet strawberry on the nose. The palate shows sweet red berry fruit and a hint of gooseberry. A pretty generic red.
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2004 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Castello di Brolio 87 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
Deep purple in colour, this wine has a savoury nose - woody, spicy and earthy. Dense raspberry and strawberry characters on the palate. Great cellar potential.
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2006 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Brolio 86 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
Deep, rich cherry and wood characters on the nose. The palate shows dense berry fruit, toasty oak, spice and earthy characters. Delicious!
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2004 Barone Ricasoli Casalferro Toscana IGT 86 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Made from a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, this wine spends 18 months in French oak. The nose shows red berry fruit, pepper and spice. The palate shows well extracted strawberry, dense liquorice, smoke and white pepper.
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2007 Duorum Douro 81 Points
Portugal, Douro
Light purple in colour, this is a young, light, fruit and fairly acidic wine which shows some good fruit characters for easy drinking.
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2007 Falua Tejo Conde de Vimioso 87 Points
Portugal, Ribatejo, Tejo
Made from a blend of Touriga Nacional and Tempranillo this wins is deep purple in colour. The nose shows strawberry, raspberry and white pepper. The palate is mainly savoury, and very elegant given the cooler climate.
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2005 João Portugal Ramos Vinho Regional Alentejano Quinta da Viçosa 85 Points
Portugal, Alentejano, Vinho Regional Alentejano
Made from a blend of Touriga Nacional , Merlot and Petit Verdot this wine shows extracted berry fruit and a hint of smoke on the nose. The palate is supple and delicious.
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2005 João Portugal Ramos Marquês de Borba 86 Points
Portugal, Alentejano, Vinho Regional Alentejano
Deep purple in colour, this wine is made from a blend of Aragonês, Trincadeira and others. The nose shows sweet berry fruit and liquorice on the nose. The palate is smooth and nicely balanced.
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2005 Quinta de Foz de Arouce Vinho Regional Beiras Tinto 86 Points
Portugal, Beiras, Vinho Regional Beiras
Made from the Baca grape, this wine is a small 4000-bottle production. The nose is dense - displaying tobacco and white pepper characters. The palate shows good oak integration and restrained tannins.
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2007 Duorum Douro Reserva Vinhas Velhas 86 Points
Portugal, Douro
Still maturing in the barrel, this wine was especially bottled for this tasting. Made from old vines, it is displaying great fruit character, colour and structure, but I can understand why the producer expects it to spend another 12 months in the barrel.
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2006 Glaetzer Anaperenna 84 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Deep purple in colour, this wine shows sweet berry fruit and cigar box characters on the nose. The palate is well integrated and vanilla oak.
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2006 Philip Shaw No. 17 85 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange
Inky black in colour, this wine shows jammy berry fruit and a hint of spice on the nose. The palate is nicely dry with toasty oak and liquorice characters.
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2006 Elgin Vintners Syrah 86 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
Dark purple fruit, spice and vanilla characters in the glass. The palate shows sweet candied plum, glace cherry and pepper.
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2005 Bodegas Pinord Priorat +7 84 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
Deep purple in the glass, this wine shows blackcurrant and plum fruit on the nose - it was almost slightly porty. The palate shows clean red berry fruit and toasy oak.
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2007 Château Rouquette sur Mer Coteaux du Languedoc 84 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
Deep purple in colour, this wins shows plum and herb characters on the nose. The palate shows dense fruit, white pepper and savoury capsicum flavours.
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NV Taylor (Fladgate) Porto 40 Year Old Tawny 84 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Honey yellow in colour, this wine shows brazil nut, walnut, caramel and maple syrup characters on the nose. The palate is dry and oxidised, showing nutty and coffe characters.
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