8/22/2023 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

This is developing well, tannins still a bit course, but beginning to integrate well

7/24/2023 - Port & Cheese wrote:

Nose is fresh and floral, first taste is a burst of elderflower, with high acidity. Flavours develop in the mouth citrus and green pear, with a slightly saline finish. Makes a good appertif or with light tapas.

7/19/2023 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Last note on this is Dec 2022.
Decanted into clean bottle about an hour before, lots of sediment.
Still holding the deep ruby colour, hint of age starting to show at the rim.
Nose is intense, with the bright ripe fruit of cherry, raspberry and bramble.
Palate gives good acidity keeping the wine tasting fresh, tannin still high but softer than previous bottles. Flavour still pronounced with cherry, clove, brambles, with leather, charred wood and liquorice, finish is long with caramel and coffee coming through.
I’d say reaching a peak, will see how the final bottles hold out over the next year or so.

7/19/2023 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Deep Ruby colour, pronounced nose of violets, cherries and hedgerow fruits.
Palate gives high acidity, high tannin which are soft and fine-grained and well integrated into the wine. Flavours mirror the nose with added layers of dried fruits, leather, liquorice and caramel.
The finish is long as the layers of flavour unwind in the mouth.
Unfortunately this is the last of the 2007, hopefully the 2015 I have reaches the same heights of quality !

5/14/2023 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Brought from the winemaker at his shop in Vouvray
Unusual new oak matured (9 months) Vouvray Chenin Blanc.
Aroma is predominantly citrus with lemon peel and grapefruit, with some of the vanilla from the oak coming through. Palate is again citrus but with apricot and melon, the oak is subtle, providing structure, with hints of vanilla and almond. Acidity while high is not detrimental but keeps the fruit fresh and balances out the oak, alcohol at 14% is well integrated. Feel this is drinking young and would cellar well for another 5-8 years, developing those vanilla and nut flavours and the apricot and honey tones. At €9.10 this is a bargain, a tremendously well made wine that has complexity, drinking well now, but has the elements to age as well.

5/6/2023 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

This has developed beautifully, smooth and still full of fruit, with a touch of liquorice and chocolate on the finish.

4/8/2023 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

First taste of the 2011, decanted for an hour, small amount of very fine sediment.
Bright ruby colour,
Nose is floral, with violets and fresh herbs, some cigar box and toasted oak and vanilla.
Tannins are med+, but silky smooth
Fruit is still quite tart, giving the impression of more acidity.
Raspberry, redcurrant, plum with some black hedgerow fruits coming through on the finish.
Oak maturation is evident but not overly stronge. The start of some tertiary flavours coming through on the finish, tobacco and coffee.
Finish gives a slightly sweet note, long and leaves you wanting more!
paired with beef wellington, great combination !
Plenty of years left in this wine.

11/16/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Tasted as part of WSET practice
Nose became more pronounced as it warmed up in the glass a bit. Lots of white blossom and floral notes.
Dry with high acidity and pronounced flavour intensity. Well defined fruit across citrus and stone fruits. Some bottle age flavours starting to develop (raw almond and hazelnut). Wine is well balanced and fresh tasting, good fruit filled finish.

11/16/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Tasted as part of WSET practice tasting.
The nose was somewhat subdued , still plenty of ripe fruit, but not jumping out the glass as expected. Some bottle age flavours of raw almond, hazelnut and dried apricot. The loss of some of its flavour intensity does leave the 14.5% ABV discernible on the finish. Agree with the CT estimate of 2021 as end of drinking window. Still very good, but I think getting past it.

11/14/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

This took a little while to really open up once poured. Possibley decant for an hour next time.
The tannin structure is ripe and smooth, layering flavours of bright red and black berry fruit, with eucalyptus, liquorice and dried herbs. The finish is long, bringing out the oak flavours of vanilla and cigar box, with the friut turning to more of a cooked profile. There is some leather and tobacco beginning to develop, plenty more years left in this.

11/14/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

A well balanced Graves, honeysuckle and jasmine on the nose, fresh grapefruit, lime, pear and gooseberry flavours with hints of vanilla, clove and white peach, a little nutmeg and raw almond on the finish. Was better with food, mushroom risotto went well.

11/14/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Whilst a fairly simple wine, it showed good varietal character of Sauvignon Blanc, well defined lime, pear and elderflower, drink young.

11/14/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Pronounced aromas and flavours of apricot, honeysuckle, grilled pineapple, honey and caramel. Some sweet spice of cinnamon and nutmeg, with white chocolate into the long finish. This was great on its own lightly chilled, but also went well with some strong Stilton and honeyed walnuts.

9/7/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Not as good as the 2015 last week, but still holding up well, the merlot plum character still there but heading towards more stewed than fresh. Lots of sediment so the last glasses were a bit cloudy .

9/7/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

The fruit concentration is huge, comparable to any good quality LBV, but with the lower residual sugar it becomes very drinkable, fresh on the palate with no discernible alcohol taste despite still being 19.5 ABV.

8/31/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Beautiful old vine Zin, intense compot of black cherry, raspberry and blueberries , smooth soft tannins , good acidity and smooth despite its nearly 15% ABV.
Great on its own but also with filet steak

8/31/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

A good example of the appellation , rich plummy fruit with hints of blackcurrant and blueberries , soft tannins and medium long finish

8/31/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

A little beyond its recommended drinking window, however this extra time has smoothed off some of the rough edges experienced with previous bottles, smooth ripe plum and cherry, with cedar and vanilla makes for a very easy drinking Bordeaux. Medium length finish with friut intensity lasting throughout Went well with Tomato pasta.

8/28/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

On opening it had a bit of a orange wine nose, this dissipated once in the glass for ten minutes . Palate was smooth with intense red fruit, some impressions of sweetness on the medium finish. An interesting wine that I think would benefit from further aging.

8/28/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Still young, full of interest and intense fruits both on the nose and palate
Good example of the region

8/28/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Nice aromatic Margaux, good flavour intensity

8/28/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Fresh citrus and grass, good on its own, and would work with lighter dishes.

7/29/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

For me this is the pinnacle of Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, rich full bodied month-feel, packed with fruit, but also texture from lees. Very easy drinking despite its 14% ABV.

7/29/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Final bottle of the 2016, holding beyond its recommended window rewarded with a rich and intense fruit filled glass, should have kept more.

7/29/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Still developing, rich dark fruit with layers of vanilla , cedar, cigar box - has lost the wet leaf nose. Long lingering finish - will try again in six months

7/18/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

First taste of the 2014.
Aroma was initially slightly closed, but opened up in the glass to give the characteristic Margaux floral/perfume
Slightly herbaceous at first, but soon revealed rich blackberry, plum and black cherry, some red fruit coming through on the long finish. Oak influence evident but subtle with fruit dominating. High tannin, but very fine and well integrated , some alcohol detectable on the finish.
Drunk over a day, final glasses had lost some of the aromatics, but palate had become more complex.

6/13/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Tasted at Chateau Thieuley with lunch
Medium gold colour, aromas still holding fruit more towards dried (apricot), some hazelnut and vanilla
2012 was 70% new oak maturation.
Palate showed more of the dried fruit/nuts character, lemon peel and peach/apricot
Tasted with cheese course, went particularly well with the alpine cheese.

6/13/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Still showing deep ruby colour, aroma packing ripe red and black fruit, with some cedar and vanilla. Tasted with food (Lasagne), still plenty of fruit but tending more towards the ripe cooked end, flavours from maturation well integrated, vanilla and cedar. Starting to show some tertiary characteristics of tobacco and cigar box . Medium plus to long finish is well rounded.

6/12/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Drunk at Le Grand Barrail on the terrace.
A little musty on first smell in the glass, which blows off quickly . Damson and red plum , with some vanilla and cedar appearing.
Palate is rich, with tart red cherry and cranberry , developing into more savoury notes with cigar box and box wood finish.
Decent finish and good acidity , plenty more years left to develop further

2/20/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

The nose gives cinnamon and cassis overlaid with some herbal notes of thyme and eucalyptus. Good flavour intensity straight out the bottle, but still fresh and mineral, lifted by the medium + acidity. Palate is again cinnamon and cassis with a compote of crushed red berries.
Long finish with light chocolate and coffee, with the fruit ever present.

2/20/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Good acidity to counter the sweetness, floral on the nose, elderflower and white blossom. Lime and peach/nectarines , long finish, went well with Thai green curry.

2/20/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Good acidty and tannin structure, fresh on the palate. Damson and plum, quiet coral on the nose. After it had been in the glass for a while the black pepper (reminiscent of a good syrah), this became more evident when had with food, complexity expanding the longer it was open.

1/22/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

An unusual vintage and aged BdV.
Nose is of sweet treats cooking, butterscotch / flapjack, with some hints of floral blossom .
Palate is not overly sweet, with dried fig, toasted almonds and grapey florality typical of muscat.
Finish is smooth, with sweetness and acidity well balanced. While still very good, probably approaching end of its peak.
Great with strong cheese, but would also pair with fruit tart.

1/22/2022 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Fresh and bright, honeysuckle and jasmine on the nose, with some citrus and apple blossom .
Palate is a pleasing mix of citrus (lime/grapefruit), green apple and pear, with some stone fruit adding richness and texture.
Not overly complex, or long finish, but very pleasant drink, easy to sip and savour.
Good value.

12/27/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

A great example of BdM, initially on opening has that trademark sour cherry nose and palate. Decanted for an hour and the nose develops into slightly cooked cherry and redcurrants, some cigar box and sweet spice. Palate is rich with medium plus acidity, intense cooked and dried fruits, long soft finish.

12/27/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

A great Moscato , fresh and bright on the nose, with white blossom and jasmine . Intense fruit filled palate with that trade mark grapeyness. The sweetness well tempered by the high acidity keeping the palate fresh with a long long finish. Great as an aperitif but also matched well with the alpine cheese and quince jelly had later in the day.

12/20/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Almost 18 months since the last bottle, decanted for 1 hour (tall slender decanter, smallish surface area), pronounced blackberry and leather on the nose, with cedar and vanilla in the mix.
Palate gives more of the blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant intensity, still with the leather, cedar and vanilla giving body and texture, some sweet spice (nutmeg and mace) lingering to a long finish, tannins are still quite grippy, but beginning to soften.
Beginning to climb towards its peak, tasting more over the next 3, 6 & 9 months to monitor development.

12/4/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Crisp minerality , with lime and zest. Better when just chilled, too cold and flavours became a little flat.

11/20/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Part of tasting with Chris Blandy:
While the least favourite , it was still very good. Complex flavours of dried fruits and molasses, very sweet, would have benefited from being slightly chilled . Long long finish , went best with the fruit cake with caramel sauce. Didn’t really work with the savoury food so much

11/20/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Part of tasting with Chris Blandy:
2nd favourite of the six.
Seemed sweeter than the Bual 2003 Colheita, but more complex, with layers of fruit and dried fruits, caramel and cacao, tending towards sweet dark chocolate on the very long finish. Would have scored higher, but sweetness was a little cloying without some food, fennel biscuits, goats cheese went very well adding freshness to the finish.

11/20/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Part of tasting with Chris Blandy:
The 2nd sweetest of the flight, but still with good acidity, keeping it fresh, better when chilled slightly below cellar temp.
More marmalade and pain aux raisin, with honeyed fruits of peach and apricot.
Needed the sweeter food to match, fruit cake and caramel sauce, the Stilton worked as well, but felt very rich.
5th favourite

11/20/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Part of tasting with Chris Blandy:
By far the favourite of the flight, caramel/cacao, slated dried fruit (fig/damson/date), spice and some wood shavings.
Smooth clean high acidity finish , with lingering caramel and chocolate .
Food matching with strong hard cheese, fruit cake and even stood up well to the caramel sauce .

11/20/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Part of tasting with Chris Blandy:
4th favourite out of the six.
Citrus/peach, with dried fruit (raisin/fig) and some spice (cinnamon / mace), long finish with a slight saline/iodine flavour. Again went well with the fried chicken , but also fennel biscuits and goats cheese.

11/20/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Part of tasting with Chris Blandy:
Driest of the flight, aroma and palate of brandy, citrus, white peach, with long nutty/caramel finish.
3rd favourite out of the six
Paired well with fried chicken.

9/18/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

The nose is mainly dried black fruit, blackberries and cherry, but some dried raspberry coming through as well, Cigar box and leather in the background, first night the fruit was fresher, second night more on the dried and cooked spectrum.
The palate is intense and powerful, black cherry and damson dominating, with that cigar/box wood and leather finish. The high acidity keeping the wine fresh on the palate, long long finish heading towards dark chocolate and coffee. Plenty more years left in this wine I would think - if I can stop myself from drinking it !

9/12/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

The fruit here seems slightly cooked on the nose- blackberry with strawberry but still freash on the palate with good acidity and soft tannins and as the name suggests a mineral feel on the finish, definitely one to buy again, went well with roast venison.

9/12/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Found this to be an exceptional Bourgogne, high acidity, subtle oak and MLF, good flavour concentration.

7/25/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Good fresh acidity, minimal oak , apple and citrus with hints of dried herb on the finish. Good quality value for money white Burgundy

7/18/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Red fruit and minerality on the nose. Red cherry and cooked plum on the palate again with an undertone on minerality. Charming and value Priorat

7/18/2021 - Port & Cheese Likes this wine:

Herbal with some stone fruit on the nose. Medium acidity with a slightly creamy finish