Search Results - Save This Search

Wine Type Vintage Name Variety Locale Date Posted Score Helpful Comments Comment Date Community Score More...
Red

2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904

Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more

11/16/2023 - king-bing wrote: NR

Riojathon (London SW11): Served in a flight of three 2001s. Very "Royal Box" says girlfriend. Yes, plush, velvety and expensive. Lots of vanilla, super red-fruited core. Later the nose really soars with it's perfume of vanilla and violets then some allspice. But is it rather out of balance? It seems very young and even after a couple of hours is very vanilla dominant. Perhaps not the best bottle? I did enjoy it in a lot of ways, but it came across a bit one-trick pony.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    11/17/2023 5:53:00 AM - Copyright Alice!

Red

2006 Le Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône Reserve

Red Rhone Blend more

10/22/2023 - king-bing wrote: NR

2/2 and 8 years on from the first when I did think it needed more time though other reports were that it would not get better. Sticky cork. Decanted for some fine sediment. This was a why-I-drink-wine bottle. It's finally lost the puppy fat of the 2015 bottle. Absolutely glorious and frankly better than most CdPs I have had of late. A focussed plush deep raspberry on the nose with warm earth & garrigue. The richness carries beautifully with no overripe or dead fruit tones, despite the 14.5%abv. A long and savoury finish. To be hyper-critical, it lacks complexity, but this isn't a wine for contemplation; it's a wine to lose oneself in. Sadly my last one.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    10/23/2023 8:03:00 AM - You are very lucky/wise!

White

2018 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Bourgogne-Aligoté

more

6/19/2023 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 91 points

Andrew recommended this, bought in DC, light yellow. Very pleasant well balanced Chardonnay, no noticeable oak, nice presence of apple and citrus fruit with a clean and tart finish

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    6/20/2023 7:04:00 AM - It's def not Chardonnay! It's Aligoté. Wrong wine?

White

2019 Reyneke Chenin Blanc Organic

Stellenbosch more

5/8/2022 - lozatron Likes this wine: NR

Enjoyed with my first home made ramen experiment. Straw / gold colour. Nervy - good acidity but balanced with a generous mouth feel. Went down very well. Not sure if this is the same bottling that Waitrose is currently selling for 8.99 - if it is, buy buy buy.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    7/9/2022 9:45:00 AM - AIUI, this is actually the biodynamic one that's about £20 in UK. Confusingly the Waitrose one is called organic but has a more basic label and is £10 ish.

Red

2017 Verónica Ortega Bierzo VO Versión Original

Mencía more

10/31/2021 - king-bing wrote: NR

Really top notch Mencia. Scented with real verve on the palate. This is proper wine. No obviously oak. Well made and balanced. Very much enjoyed by all.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    11/9/2021 7:04:00 AM - Hi Will. It drank well from opening and stayed in fine shape for 3-4 hours (when we finished it), slightly improving. From memory!

Red

2000 Domaine Gourt de Mautens (Jérôme Bressy) Rasteau

Red Rhone Blend more

3/6/2019 - pjaines wrote: NR

KABBBBOOOMM!! At 18 years years old this is a brute - so much so I would hate to think what was like in its youth. Not particularly finessed although showing some good evolution with leather, beef and sweet cherries.

It is, though, utterly massive. Hard going.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    4/6/2020 11:25:00 AM - Great note. I have always found this domaine hard going (as with nearby Soumade), despite critical acclaim. Glad I am not alone!

Red

2004 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel

Red Rhone Blend more

11/18/2017 - eboracum Likes this wine: 91 points

Sometimes I think that I enjoy Coudoulet more than Château and this is a case in point. There was probably less power but it was medium+ bodied, harmonious and elegant with complex cherry tinged and liqueur sprinkled fruit, fine minerals, suave texture, smooth acidity and decent length supported by ripe tannic structure. There were no signs of decay or fading on this bottle. Very good.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    3/23/2018 4:22:00 PM - Nice note; and I agree with your sentiment re the main wine. I've always ended up preferring the Coudoulet too. Which is handy! The 06 was fabulous...

Red

2001 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence

Red Rhone Blend more

1/7/2018 - Brain Capers Likes this wine: NR

Had this tonight, with 6 hour slow cooker beef tri tip. WOW! Opened up the 6 pack wooden box. Hand carried back from Pegau, from Laurence, after tasting with her, in their downtown Châteauneuf du Pape cellars. Remember hand carrying the box thru London Heathrow, after 911. Lot’s of comments by security to try a bottle out! WOW! WOW! And still 5 to go.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    3/13/2018 2:55:00 AM - Nice story but surely the timeline is confused? Are you sure this wasn't the 1998? It's not possible to have carried a 2001 Pegau Laurence through security on 9/11/2001, not least as they would not yet have picked the grapes for the 2001, let alone bottled it! :-)

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    3/18/2018 12:24:00 PM - :-)

White - Sparkling

NV Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut

Champagne Blend more

11/12/2017 - grapenomad wrote: 91 points

Popping Bolli for life's celebrations. Biscuit, brioche, yoghurt, white flowers and lemon on the nose. A 101 example of Champagne, a wine from one of the world's coolest climates - banging acidity, green apple-citrus fruit, chalky finish. Nice sparkler, well-balanced, but I'd say it needs a bit of a push & shove in character.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    11/12/2017 11:13:00 AM - Surely not flawed?

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    11/13/2017 4:21:00 AM - Lol. Easily done!

Red

2004 Vergelegen Cabernet Sauvignon

Stellenbosch more

7/4/2012 - cab blends wrote: 93 points

Totally agree with the comment on straddling the old and new world. Drank straight from the bottle. Clean chalky nose (strong but subtle) with dark fruit strong yet smooth tannins - feels like it is getting to its peak over the next few years. Very full and edible.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    3/19/2016 3:36:00 PM - "Drank straight from the bottle"? Not even using a glass!? :-)

Red

1999 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero

Tinto Fino, Tempranillo more

5/13/2015 - mattyboy_ wrote: NR

Faint VA aroma and a little stewy, maybe heat damaged. Earthy and thin, all the fruit completely stripped. Very acidic and austere. Extremely thin. Seems Missed the boat on this one at least 5 years ago.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    10/30/2015 3:55:00 AM - Sounds very much like a faulty bottle rather than something that's past it.

White

2013 Clervigny Arbois Reserve

Chardonnay Blend, Chardonnay more

9/11/2015 - king-bing wrote: NR

Didn't get on with this much. Not so much as others described. I found clean and watery. Touch of riesling and sweetness. But v underwhelming.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    10/25/2015 3:21:00 PM - Entirely possible, yes. It's dilution certainly surprised me as it had not been mentioned in any reviews.

Red

2005 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Red Rhone Blend more

3/9/2015 - rayq wrote: 93 points

After a poor performance by the 2003 this wine restores my faith in Charvin. It's a really moreish wine. Typical rich cherry fruit and garrique flavours as well as aromas. Rich with a touch of glycerin but in no way 'thick' or oily, in fact it's quite refreshing. Grenache quite obvious but not alcoholic and 'heady' as it can sometimes be. On the second day it's lovely too, almost, restrained. No rush to drink. Hides the 14.5%alc very well. Nicely balanced. A lovely southern Rhone wine.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    3/9/2015 11:22:00 AM - Thank for the excellent note. Charvin's all over the place, it seems: 2003 and 2007 have dodgy reputations. Nice to see the 2005 in a good place. Not tried mine yet.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    3/9/2015 12:24:00 PM - That sounds like sensible advice. I find the slighty 'weaker' vintages better for grenache; and hotter better for Mourvedre.

Red

2006 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial

Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more

11/10/2014 - SimonG wrote: 90 points

TWS Spain (Merchant Tailors' Hall): Quite sappy red berry fruit on the palate. Tightly velvety texture. Finishes well with dark red fruit, and the French oak is well handled providing a sense of structure without overt oakiness. ***1/2

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    11/11/2014 4:21:00 AM - Great notes as ever Simon. Like you imply in your notes, i've always found the Seleccional Especial a big step up from the straight Reserva - a wine I've always found a bit ordinary.

Red

2002 Domaine Jean Chauvenet Nuits St. Georges

Pinot Noir more

3/4/2013 - Too much practice. wrote: 89 points

Farewell you seductive little minx. I wish we could spend one more night together. I will miss you. I know I never appreciated you when you were around, but now that you're gone, I miss your silky charms. Even your scent fills me with nostalgia.
That's proper burgundy.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    2/7/2014 2:10:00 AM - A wonderful TN; the opposite of the too numerous technical notes that make you want to scream, "yes, but did you actually like it?!". Thank you.

White

2011 Marqués de Riscal Verdejo Rueda

more

7/23/2013 - dssmith wrote: 79 points

Very dry. Some fruit. Not very interesting

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    7/23/2013 2:09:00 PM - Got to let it breathe. Evolves superbly over 2-3 days.

  • Comment posted by king-bing:

    7/27/2013 4:04:00 AM - All I was saying is give it a chance. I think you could be pleasantly surprised. It's my girlfriend's house white; I really like it.

Loading wine details...
loading

×
×