4/25/2024 - Duncan wrote:

A relief: a good condition bottle after the faulty 2020 I had recently. Vibrant mid-purple, not opaque. On the nose, plums and cherries and a good dose of sweet vanilla. The palate is surprising: sweet fruit and vanilla, yes, but unusually high acidity. (The 2020 had that too, as well as secondary fermentation and possibly brett.) I've never had an Aussie Shiraz that is so 'bright.' I think the winemaker just about gets away with it, but it's right on the edge of being out of balance. The relatively high alcohol adds to the wine's assertive attack. The fruit length is short, but the acid tingles on my tongue for quite some time. 14.5%, screwcap.

4/25/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Light gold with, I think, a glimpse of green. A strange and not very attractive nose: is it oxidised? It's *something* strange! The palate has that same unexpected and not very pleasant savoury, even metallic, nature. The merchant I bought it from said it wasn't in the style of other Torrontes; he was right: there is none of the glorious aromatics, the hedonistic fruit 'n' flower cocktail I love in the variety usually. (The back labels says I'll find those fruits - it's wrong, way wrong.) Medium-full bodied, some residual sugar, some acidity to balance. Round the edges of the drinking experience there's a suggestion of preserved lemon and lime - a hint of what might have been. Not sure if this is a bad bottle or a misconceived wine. Cork, 13.5%.

4/21/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Vibrant dark ruby. Attractive if imprecise berryish nose, with a large savoury oak component. On the palate it's sweet and rounded, with a touch of burn from the alcohol. Tannins are fine and there's a touch of acidity which brings a bit of freshness. It's a wine that makes an impact, but it's kind of monolithic. By which I mean, I think, it's a bit clumsy. Not bad but...not a wow. 12 months in French oak. 14.5%.

4/17/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Light lemony gold. Glorious Muscat aromas leap out of the glass, promising great pleasure ahead. The palate fulfils the promise beautifully: very sweet, a nip of acidity, flavours of lemon meringue pie. Very long, with a clean finish. Not the most subtle wine in the world, but surely one of the most joyous. I enjoyed it by itself, then with a piece of Roquefort. from a half bottle, 15%, cork. 'L199 ' printed on the label, but whether that refers to any particular vintage I don't know.

4/17/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Deep ruby, with a lovely brightness to it (not as dark as I expected!) On the nose there's a bit of cherry, and some smokiness - I think a touch of vanilla too. On the palate, dark cherries and dark chocolate. Not much tannin, but a hefty whack of acidity - happily balanced by the ripe fruit. First time I've had this, and it's making quite an impact, in a very enjoyable and typically Abruzzo way. I'll have it again... 13.5%, artificial compostable cork.

4/15/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Notes very much the same as previously. Full of coiled power - when will it spring out of the glass and really express its full energy?

4/13/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Notes pretty much the same as before. One of my favourite wines. This bottle seems a little tired or perhaps aged compared to others I've had over the past couple of years, but it's still a joy - just a slightly muted one this evening.

4/11/2024 - Duncan wrote:

The word Orowines appears nowhere on the bottle, but other details are identical, and the graphic on the front label is a version of the one used on previous vintages. So I think this is same wine. Vibrant ruby colour. A slightly jammy, slightly tarry, very fruity nose. Bright berries on the palate and a lot of acidity; it's the acidic bite that's the defining feature, really. But it's JUST in balance... Its an organic wine with no added SO2, and the label boasts of it being a 'low histamine wine < 1ppm' - never seen that before! Cork, 14.5% - though it wears its alcohol very lightly. Interesting!

4/11/2024 - Duncan wrote:

On opening, this failed to make much impression, but after 24 hours it has opened out beautifully. Straw coloured in the glass. Indistinct but very pleasant citrus-rind aromas: lemon and grapefruit. On the palate there's loads of citrus fruit, maybe a bit of melon, then a touch of pleasant oak bringing up the rear - perceptible as a creamy texture first, then a whiff of caramel. Very pleasant! Not 100% sure of the packaging, but 100% sure it's a good value, better than everyday Chardonnay. Cork, 13.5%.

4/10/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Light greeny gold. Lovely aroma that floats out of the glass in an enticing cloud: lemon, grapefruit, a touch of lees, whisps of caramel in the background. All those aromas and more are present on the palate, combining in an intense yet perfectly balanced whole. Very fresh, very long. Definitely one of New Zealand's top few Chardonnays. Joyous. Screwcap, 14%.

4/4/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Dark ruby. Fairly reticent nose: a whiff of cherry vanilla ice cream... The palate is fairly powerful, though it's hard to pin down where that sense of power comes from. The fruit is indistinct, the tannins fine, the acidity well judged, the finish reasonably long. It's pleasant, well made, but makes little imnpression. 14%, cork.

4/4/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Attractive deep purple colour. Not much nose, but an immediate fizz was audible as I leant towards the glass. This disappeared after a minute or less, but whatever was causing it has also caused the wine to be distinctly acidic. There is ripe fruit there, but its way in the background behind tongue-tingling acidity. Freshness is great, but this doesn't feel right to me - it's way out of balance. And is there a slightly unpleasant aroma creeping out after a few minutes in the glass? Something farmyardy... I can't believe they wanted their wine to make this impression. With that in mind, I'm marking it as flawed, otherwise it would get a very low score - much lower than others have awarded it in other vintages. Screwcap, 14%.

4/1/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Very pale in colour - close to water clear. An attractive grassy nose. On the palate, some residual sugar and a limey tang. Good length. A pleasant Sauv Blanc, somewhat in the Marlborough style. 12%, screwcap.

3/22/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Glowing straw. Assertive and attractive nose: lees, a touch of caramel, lemon barley sugar. The palate is medium to full bodied, a notion of crystallised or preserved yellow citrus. An assertive and full on - though not unbalanced - white. I really like this style and look forward to paying it more attention in future. 13.5%, cork.

3/21/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Deep dark purple. Intense and attractive nose: sweet cherish Tempranillo aromas and a hefty whack of oak. Pretty much the same on the palate, which is powerful and concentrated but well balanced. An ideal match for paprika-marinated pork chops. Cork, 14.5%.

3/18/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Attractive ruby, bright and light - translucent. Lovely nose of cranberries and red grapefruit. Or maybe that citrus fruit is more on the palate than the nose, the palate being notably acidic. I'm trying this with a tuna steak, and the distinct sharpness of the palate works well. However, there's not much body to the fruit, which has a pleasant juicy character but little complexity. It's short to medium in length. 2021 was a pretty wet and cool vintage, which might explain much of this wine's character. With the right food, and at this reasonable price, it's definitely worth considering. Its elevated acidity will allow it to age and mellow, I think. Alternatively, you could just wait for the 2022 to be released... Cork, 12.5%. (Hmm, yes, low alcohol: again a symptom of the vintage, and a cause of the somewhat thin character of the wine)

3/16/2024 - Duncan wrote:

On opening it seemed unexpressive, so I left it 24 hours before returning to find much more going on. Delicate but insistent nose of lemon and some vanilla. The palate is somewhat steely, with a long dry finish, but before that there are lovely intense citrus and even stone fruit flavours. Great value - and it's not often you can say that about the Cote d'Or. 2022 was, by all accounts, a great vintage, so I think it's safe to assume this will develop nice for five to ten years. But there's no need to wait: head for the hills! 12.5%, cork.

3/15/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Light gold. Refined but attractive nose of caramelised lemon. Lovely, generous but fresh palate. Good length, with an interesting savoury twist on the finish. Not the most complex white Burg I've ever had, but at this price it's very enjoyable and good value. I'll be interested to see how it develops over the next two or three years. Cork, 13%.

3/14/2024 - Duncan wrote:

A slight but unmissable touch of peachy pink to the otherwise pale straw colour in the glass. A nose of crystalised citrus with a pleasant hint of lees, which adds complexity. The palate is surprisingly complex too, for a wine of this price: fresh, limey, a touch of residual sugar on the finish. Great value for money and an adaptable food wine. I find many cheaper Tuscan whites to be bland and forgettable; this is much more interesting. Screwcap, 13%. (Apparently there is 15% Sauvignon Blanc as well as 85% Vermentino, though that is not mentioned on the label.)

3/7/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Lively ruby-purple, reminiscent to me of a Beaujolais Villages. The nose is attractive: plummy and brambly, with something smoky or toasty in the background. On the palate there's some lip-coating sweetness, followed by a whack of fine-grained tannin and generous acidity to keep it all fresh. A classic bistro wine and just the thing with chicken tagine. Tannat and Merlot, ratio unknown. Cork, 13%.

3/5/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Bright ruby. Indistinct but not unpleasant dark-cherry nose. Initially rather acidic, but after a while that tones down and sweet cherry fruit comes to the fore. If there's oak here it's very much in the background. Not very complex, but an enjoyable entry-level Bordeaux, that turns out to be pretty well balanced. Cork, 13.5%.

3/3/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Pretty much opaque, deep purple, with a bright purple rim. The nose is surprisingly tertiary, primary fruit all gone and instead a complex savoury aroma of forest undergrowth and raspberry jam that's been forgotten at the back of the cupboard for a decade. The palate is smooth, elegant, silky, with refined berry-fruitiness (yes, some fruit) and no apparent tannin. Low acid. Lots of fine deposit in the bottom, which I avoided by decanting (as the back label suggests.) A very good wine, but one I'd have guessed to be 19 years old rather than 9. Surprising, given the Mas's reputation for long ageing. Happily, I have another bottle of this so I can see if this one was ageing faster than most, for some unknown reason. 'Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Merlot 7%, Cabernet Franc 6%, Malbec 2%, Pinot Noir 2%, Nebbiolo 2%, Dolcetto 2%.' Cork, 13.5%.

3/3/2024 - Duncan wrote:

A relatively dark and enticing cherry pink. Strawberries and cream on the nose. The palate is lively, fruity and relatively full, no doubt helped along by the high alcohol level - which isn't otherwise apparent. If you like a pale Provencal style this isn't for you. If, like me, you enjoy a fuller, fruitier style of rose, this is well worth seeking out. 100% Garnacha. 10,000 bottles made. Cork, 14.5%.

3/3/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Another irresistible bottle of Greywacke Sauv Blanc. Pristine, citrussy, refreshing, persistent, linear, balanced: these are just a few of the adjectives that fail to do justice to the joy of drinking it. Screwcap, 13.5%.

3/1/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Lively cherry-ruby colour. Attractively fruity if hard to pin down nose. Delicious cherry fruit, light to medium body, a hint of something darker on the juicy, fine-tannin-ed finish. Amazing value for a very well made wine: simple, but not without character. Recommended. 13%, screwcap.

2/20/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Opaque, deep purple core with a lighter but still intensely hued rim. A nose of simmering dark fruits: brambles, black raspberries, plums. Maybe there's something like herby tapenade in there too. The palate is tightly packed but not unexpressive: there are very fine tannins, discreet acidity to balance the copious quantities of concentrated ripe fruit and black olives...and a tongue-tip burn from the alcohol. That's the one fault I'd pick with with this otherwise outstanding wine: does anyone really want a bottle at 15%? I'm sure there are a dozen reasons why that percentage was unavoidable in this vintage, but I would much prefer a fresher 14% or even 14.5% (as it was in 2019.)

2/18/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Opaque deep purple - no sign of age. Lovely aromas of plum compote and vanilla ice cream. A lush, full palate with fine tannins - more to the fore than I remember - but above all complex fruits of the forest in generous quantities. Pure pleasure. With lamb shank croquettes.

2/15/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Straw, with the slightest hint of peachy pink. An attractive if elusive nose: the closest I can get is crystallised lemon. There's a subtle touch of toasty oak in there too. The oak comes through on the palate in a slightly drying toastiness; on top there's a generous helping of lemon barley sugar. A very long finish, dry but rich. A very classy and elegant white. Quite hard to describe and categorise, but not at all hard to enjoy. At four years old it feels like it is just approaching its peak; I had a ten year old bottle recently and it had softened slightly but was still a very impressive wine. 13%, cork. (There seems to be some confusion with another wine with a very similar name; this is the correct name as on the label and the producer's website. It is also definitely 100% Xarel-Lo, and not a blend.

2/11/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Opaque and lively ruby. On the nose there's an immediate hit of sweet oak: vanilla and cherries. The palate is full and rich, characterised by generous fruits of the forest flavours, medium-grain tannins, just enough acidity to balance the ripe fruit, and lots of sweet oak (24 months in new American barrels, I read.) I don't know enough about Lebanon to say if this is characteristic; certainly it has much in common with a good Northern Rhone Syrah, and very little with, say, a Barossa Shiraz. Would I recommend it? Yes, but at about £40 it's a pretty hefty investment. There are many truly great Syrahs and Shirazes in that price area, and I'm not 100% convinced this has sufficient sophistication beyond its immediate bold appeal to make it worth that kind of price tag. By the way, it seems very youthful; it will age for another five years at least and probably ten. 14.5%, cork.

2/9/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Bright and attractive on the eye: dark cherry-red. A lovely nose of berries, sweet oak and spice-box: cloves, cinnamon, vanilla. On the palate there's a dark tang on the finish, after a silky smooth and very sophisticated mid-palate, during which sweet vanilla makes its presence felt. Very good length, and great balance. Medium bodied but highly accomplished: one of my favourite Grenaches. Recommended. Cork, 14%.

2/9/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Dark ruby of medium opacity. A lovely black-raspberry nose - speaking very much of Grenache, or rather Garnatxa. The palate is generous and well balanced: some fine tannins, plenty of acidity for freshness, a hint of sweet oak (though not much) and above all loads of plummy, dark-berry fruit. Not a fine wine, but a robust and characteristic one, with some sophistication. What a pleasure! With fricandó beef stew. Cork, 14%.

1/2/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Bright ruby. Aromas of redcurrant and maybe cranberry. The palate is vivacious with acidity and bright fruit. Not sure how to characterise this wine, with its partial carbonic maceration. Something like Brouilly meets Crozes-Hermitage. First time I've had it, and I'm intrigued, if not completely won over 90% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Franc. Cork, 13%.

1/1/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Opaque and velvety dark purple. A nose that majors on incredibly concentrated berry and currant flavours (wow, I just got a hit of intense blackcurrant, like crème de cassis was being dripped onto the tip of my tongue.) There is sweet oak there too, but it's very much in a supporting role. On the palate there are fine tannins, enough of them to make this a good match for hearty meat dishes, but fine enough that it's good with this charcuterie too. Just the right amount of acidity to balance the intense fruit. I've visited the vineyard; it's spectacular and meticulously managed. What I hadn't realised till now is that the superb Tempranillo harvested there has been sun-dried for a week or so before vinification, during which it loses about 10% of its weight/moisture. A tradition in many parts of the wine-making world, this is apparently innovative in Rioja. All I can say is, it's an experiment that has paid off! This doesn't have the enveloping generosity of Ontanon's conventional Riojas, but it is a stunning wine experience, one that lovers of Amarone would enjoy. Cork, 14.5%.

1/1/2024 - Duncan wrote:

Light gold with a distinct peachy pinkness. Aromas of marzipan, followed by more of the same, plus peach and apricot, on the palate. There are threads of minerality as it rolls over the tongue, and its noticeably full-bodied and super-ripe. A very pleasant and attention-grabbing wine; not like any Italian Fiano I've ever had, and I think its richness might have prompted me to guess its origin before I identified the grape. I think it would be a good match for chicken or fish in a creamy sauce: it doesn't have the acidity to go with the charcuterie and salad in front of me. A good wine, but at over £25 per bottle I don't think I'll be rushing back to it. Cork, 13%.

12/31/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Light gold. Attractive leesy nose - complex crystalised citrus aromas. The palate is an immediate wow: full-bodied, punchy, mineral as well as citrussy, with breadth and complexity (though little aroma) surely coming from old-oak ageing. Screwcap, 13.5%.

12/30/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Excellent, but less multi-dimensional than I expected - perhaps the acidity has faded a little too much. Sorry I did not take proper notes for this solitary half-bottle I have been hording for two decades!

12/27/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Another great bottle. If anything, even more impressive with another year in the bottle.

12/27/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Notes very much as for my last bottle, despite 17 months having passed. Tonight I'm noticing redcurrant aromas and flavours. Very good indeed.

12/23/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Another bottle of sheer joy. With roast pork in truffle sauce. Great year, great wine.

12/22/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Dark ruby. A shimmering nose that comes in and out of focus: one minute it's cherry liqueur, the next it's garrigue scorched under a southern sun. The palate is notably spicy, though with time (24 hours) a liqueur-like richness comes to the fore. Acidity is fairly high, tannins are fine, fruity is ripe but dark. A fascinating wine, not easy to love - it's too spiky for that - but holding great promise. Cinsault, Oeillade, Carignan, Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache 'sur un geologie tourmentee (schists, ruffes, gres, galettes).' 14%, cork.

12/21/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Notes very much as before. Serving too cold diminishes the appeal and complexity considerably...

12/19/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Dusty purple, medium intensity. The nose is very complex: musky, cherryish, with liqueur sweetness and also heat on the finish. Fine tannins, a nip of acidity, good length. There's a spiciness and a tang on the rather linear palate. Good rather than great - or at least that's how it strikes me tonight. I would like it to open out a bit, and I don't mind returning in a year or so to find out if it has. 14.5%, screwcap.

12/14/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Translucent, ruby with an almost tawny tint. The tawny is no bad sign: the wine is in beautiful condition. The nose is aromatic, very attractive; the palate is light but very persistent, the length mostly supported by acidity. Flavours of raspberries and notes of savoury briar. A very sophisticated wine. It's impossible not to think of a delicate Burgundy, possibly Chambolle-Musigny. It seems to me this is a wine of great potential, though whether the potential lies in this vintage, with further ageing, or future vintages, I'm not sure. Whichever, it is certainly one worth watching. For the moment, it has a linearity rather than an expansiveness (at least within the first couple of hours of opening) which keeps it at the excellent level rather than exceptional. It was too delicate for beef stew, and I set it aside; better by itself, or with mild cheese or maybe poached chicken. 12.5%, cork.

12/12/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Deep dark purple. Wow, what a superb nose: sweet oak, intense black cherry fruit - hold me back! The palate is perfectly judged: medium bodied but packed full of ripe fruit with a foundation of toasty oak. Tannins are there but restrained and fine. Very long. A simply joyous wine: you could try and ponder over it if you wanted to, but it's such an immediate sensuous pleasure all I can do tonight is surrender to its charms. 14%, cork.

12/7/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Straw. Assertive and attractive nose of lime sherbet. The palate is complex and delicious: multiple layers of citrus and stone fruit; subtle caramel; there's a touch of sweetness on the mid palate but the finish is savoury. There's a mouth-filling creaminess to the texture, perfectly balanced with freshness. This is the first time I've tried this, and I have to say it's a fantastic wine: much more presence than 99% of Southern Rhone blends I've had from the Southern Rhone! Its aromatic lift reminded me, more than anything, of a fine Riesling from Polish Hill or thereabouts. 49% Grenache Blanc, 15% Clairette, 15% Roussanne, 18% Picpoul, 5% Bourboulenc. 13% alcohol, screwcap.

12/4/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Light gold. A subtle nose of crystalised citrus peel. The palate flirts with oxidisation, I think, but this bottle is very much on the right side of the fine line. The flavours are reminiscent of bruised orchard fruit, and there's a distinct mineral twang on the back end. I'm not making it sound very attractive - but it is! It's just that it's complex and not immediately graspable: it demands attention, but does, I think, repay it. Medium bodied, with a long crystaline finish. A food wine. 14%, cork.

11/26/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Notes pretty much as before, though I find it a little thinner than I remember.

11/26/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Dark but translucent ruby. Slightly green nose and a whiff of smoke. On the palate there's an immediate hit of acidity and tannin. The fruit is thin. Even with fatty saucisson I'm finding this rather challenging: just not enough ripe fruit to carry the alcohol and tannin. Maybe it needs age... Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Kékfrankos, Cabernet Franc. 15% (says label) 14.5% (says producer's website), cork.

11/26/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Dark purple, almost opaque, but still vibrant and attractive in the glass. The nose is dark, intense and brooding; not full of the bright fruit and sweet oak of their Crianza, but in its own way just as enticing. The palate is marvellous: the extra year in bottle means the fruit has evolved tertiary, savoury, flavours, with the oak more to the fore - though still in balance. It feels complex and multi-layered: brambly fruit, charred oak, a nip of acidity, fine tannins, and back to blackcurrant and blackberry fruit. A good long finish, with acidity to keep it fresh. Yet another winner from Ontanon. Maybe a notch below the stellar 2010 vintage, but still an immensely enjoyable wine at a reasonable price. Cork, 14%.

11/19/2023 - Duncan wrote:

Translucent ruby in colour. A lovely nose of Garnacha raspberry and a touch of sweet oak. The palate is generous in its cherry and raspberry fruit, silky smooth, light but persistent. A dancer! 75% Garnatxa and 25% Samso AKA Carinyena. Cork, 14%.