Tasting Notes for richard.stevens

Quite green in colour, petillance. Nose a little subdued, green apples. Crisp, quite high acidity. It's rich and a little sweet but balanced by the acidity. More apples, and citrus too. Long finish. Very drinkable now but also very young - will be interesting to see what it's like in 5 years or more.

Comment

Red

2007 Constantia Glen Three Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

8/31/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

89 points

Cedar, plums and vanilla on the nose. Vanilla and plenty of blackcurrant. Rather elegant - reminded me of a Pomerol - but with something distinctly South African about it too. Good stuff.

Comment

White - Sparkling

N.V. Berry Bros. & Rudd Champagne Grand Cru UK Cuvée (Mailly) Champagne Blend (view label images)

8/25/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

91 points

Rich, long. Apples and yeasty-biscuity nose

Comment

White - Sparkling

2009 Ridgeview Knightsbridge Blanc de Noir Brut West Sussex Champagne Blend (view label images)

8/9/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

85 points

This was a little disappointing. A bit light and floral for a BdN and a little simple. For the price, I expected more.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2007 Calcu Futa Colchagua Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (view label images)

7/31/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

Cab Franc freshness. Nice

Comment

White

2008 Domaine Jean-Claude Bachelet et Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Le Charmois Blanc Chardonnay (view label images)

7/31/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

Rather disjointed for first 30 mins but then knitted together into an elegant, understated wine

Comment

Red

2001 Château Olivier Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

7/31/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

Blackcurrant and leather. Still pretty youthful. Good

Comment

White

2008 Jean Noel Gagnard Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Sous Eguisons Blanc Chardonnay (view label images)

7/2/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

88 points

Deep golden colour. Lemons. Creamy. Lot of lees stirring, I think. Very good but maybe a bit light on the acidity so not one for the long-term

Comment

White - Sparkling

2006 Nyetimber Classic Cuvée West Sussex Champagne Blend (view label images)

7/2/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

90 points

Deep golden colour, citrus, biscuitty. Really good stuff, and great length. Good acidity

Comment

Red

2007 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel Red Rhone Blend (view label images)

6/27/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

92 points

Great stuff, and easily the best CdR I've had. Meaty with raspberry and pepper. Good acidity but softish tannins, alcohol was noticeable but just about balanced. Good length.

Comment

Red

2004 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero Tinto Fino, Tempranillo (view label images)

6/26/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

89 points

Tasted a little stewed... Rich, coffee. Not sure it will make it to the 2020 date below though

Comment

White

2008 Olivier Merlin Pouilly-Fuissé Terroir de Fuissé Chardonnay (view label images)

6/21/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

90 points

Rich, golden colour. Buttery, tropical nose. Rich, buttery tropical fruit but perhaps not quite enough acidity to balance it all out? Good length. Excellent

Comment

Rosé

2010 Ancre Hill Estates Seyval Blanc Wales

6/11/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

Strawberries and cream, but in a grown-up way. Good stuff

Comment

Red - Fortified

2005 Berry Bros. & Rudd Porto Late Bottled Vintage Port Blend (view label images)

5/29/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

Good stuff

Comment

White

2004 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Riesling The Contours Museum Reserve Eden Valley (view label images)

5/25/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

91 points

Classy stuff. I didn't get the rubbery notes mentioned. Citrus, petrol. Good length

Comment

Red

2004 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

5/25/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

Developing but should really have left alone

Comment

Red

2009 Berry Bros. & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret Bordeaux Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

5/25/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

89 points

Great stuff!

Comment

Red

1993 Château Les Ormes de Pez St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

5/15/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

No note

Comment

Red

2008 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend (view label images)

5/15/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

88 points

Strawberry and earth on the nose - could be mistaken for a Burgundy! Red and dark fruits, soft tannins and low acidity. All nicely in balance but didn't feel that it had much more to give

Comment

Red

2004 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva Tempranillo (view label images)

5/15/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

91 points

Classic

Comment

Red

2006 Château du Gaby Canon-Fronsac Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

5/15/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

89 points

More blackberry than blackcurrant but good stuff and evolving nicely. An ideal Sunday lunch claret

Comment

White

2010 Olivier Merlin Mâcon La Roche-Vineuse Blanc Chardonnay (view label images)

5/15/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

88 points

Apple, citrus. Should have opened a little earlier

Comment

Red

2007 Viña Santa Cruz Tupu Colchagua Valley Red Blend (view label images)

5/8/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

85 points

same as last note, nothing memorable and a bit of a chore after a time

Comment

White - Sparkling

N.V. Berry Bros. & Rudd Champagne Grand Cru UK Cuvée (Mailly) Champagne Blend (view label images)

5/2/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

91 points

Rich, bscuity, lots of apples. Great stuff and vgv

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2009 Château Grange Cochard Morgon Côte du Py Gamay (view label images)

4/26/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

89 points

Thought this was faulty when I opened it, but that passed after a minute or two. Due to carbonic maceration? I suggested waiting 6 months in my last note, but don't seem to have achieved that... This bottle was much better though. Still deep purple, spicy fruit and complex, but approachable (quick decant helped). Will be a 90 in a couple of months

Comment

Red

2009 Berry Bros. & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret Bordeaux Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

4/24/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

90 points

Next case on its way...

Comment

Red

2009 Château Grange Cochard Morgon Côte du Py Gamay (view label images)

4/18/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

89 points

Deep purple. Complex and impressive but a little hard-going at the moment, especially compared to their VV Morgon. I think that in 6 months or so this will be excellent.

Comment

White

2009 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay (view label images)

4/18/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

88 points

Good stuff. Seemed a little unbalanced to begin with, but settled into a good bottle after a couple of hours

Comment

Red

2007 Carbone Aglianico del Vulture 400 Some (view label images)

4/18/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

91 points

Best one to date. Almost cherries on the nose, along with dark fruit. Rich and long

Comment

Rosé - Sparkling

N.V. Bollinger Champagne Brut Rosé Champagne Blend (view label images)

4/14/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

92 points

Serious wine, stood up well to food

Comment

Rosé

2010 Ancre Hill Estates Seyval Blanc Wales

3/28/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

89 points

A grown-up rosé, not a sickly sweet cough syrup. Good food wine and went very well with chilli prawns

Comment

Red

2005 Château Haut-Bailly La Parde de Haut Bailly Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

3/28/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

90 points

Classic Bordeaux - cedar, blackcurrant, well balanced acidity and tannins and great with lamb. Still young, I'd be happy to have another half-dozen in the cellar

Comment

Red

2009 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley (view label images)

3/23/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

90 points

Classy stuff

Comment

Red

2009 Berry Bros. & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret Bordeaux Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

3/16/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

92 points

Really, really good. Very classy and probably the best sub-£10 claret I've had, ever. Plums and blackcurrant, with some oak and reasonable tannins. Doesn't have years ahead of it, but it isn't meant to. Will buy lots more!

Comment

White

2009 Olivier Merlin Mâcon La Roche-Vineuse Vieilles Vignes Chardonnay (view label images)

3/5/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

90 points

Last one unfortunately... Will get some 2010

Comment

Red

2008 Olivier Merlin Bourgogne Pinot Noir (view label images)

3/5/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

79 points

Disappointing, especially given how much I like his whites.

Comment

Red

2004 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

3/5/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

Getting there, but need to wait a while longer yet so won't mark it

Comment

Red

2009 La Serena Rosso di Montalcino Sangiovese (view label images)

3/2/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

88 points

Dark, cherries and darker fruit. A little heavy-going, at 14.5%

Comment

Red

2007 Bodegas del Marqués de Vargas Rioja Reserva Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo (view label images)

2/26/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

89 points

Good, but rather modern in style

Comment

White - Sparkling

N.V. Berry Bros. & Rudd Champagne Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Chardonnay (view label images)

2/23/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

89 points

Nervy. Good, but I prefer PN dominated Champagnes

Comment

Red

2008 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend (view label images)

2/8/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

89 points

Seemed a little more restrained than previous bottle, and certainly not a big, bold cndp. Very elegant, some meaty notes and perhaps some tar.

Comment

Red

2008 Château Sénéjac Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

2/8/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

87 points

Decent everyday/luncheon claret. A little green, perhaps?

Comment

Red

2008 Waitrose St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

2/5/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

86 points

Chocolate, plums. Soft tannins and med acidity. More choc and plums, plus some vanilla

Comment

Red

2007 Pulenta Estate Merlot II Agrelo (view label images)

2/5/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

87 points

Incredibly rich and decadent. Was hugely impressive to begin with but quickly became hard work. Maybe a single glass with a good steak would work well

Comment

Red

2009 Château Grange Cochard Morgon Vieilles Vignes Gamay (view label images)

2/1/2012 - richard.stevens wrote:

91 points

Very, very good!

Comment

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Tasting Notes for richard.stevens

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