Gewurztraminer-like nose with lychee and hints of floral. Off-dry in the mouth and a little hallow. The finish seems to disappear before it even starts. Not worth drinking.
Cranberry and raspberry notes to start on the nose with some mineral and earthy aromas coming through after some time in the glass. Fresh and juicy flavours with nice acidity and medium length. I’m not sure this would fool an experienced taster but this was quite a decent Champagne imposter. Excellent.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Tasted blind. Flint and smoke jump from the glass while understated notes of citrus, flowers and stone fruits add to the complexity of this beautiful nose. Supple and almost fat in the mouth with a brawny and rich mouthfeel that could use more acidity to add some freshness and precision. The powerful, intense and extremely long finish is where this wine shines though. This was excellent, and a generous bring by Rasoul, but once it was revealed I felt a little disappointed. For what it’s worth I was thinking Meursault and 2007 would have been my last guess for vintage. Drinking surprisingly well now. Excellent.
Beautiful sea breeze and creamy lemon/lime nose along with ripe orchard fruit and hints of minerality. Tart and fresh on the palate with loads of acid and a crisp finish. This is a really good example of the vintage. Drinking really well right now but a previous bottle I opened a few weeks ago was even better on day 2 so this has potential to improve. Excellent. 90+
Rather oaky nose with some soft lemon and melon fruit notes. Palate was round and fairly weighty but with decent acidity and a fresh finish. I’ve had this before and seemed to like it better last time—perhaps following the 07 Batard and 08 Chablis didn’t do this wine any favours. Good.
Dark fruit nose that reminded me of granche with spicy and peppery notes as well. Soft in the mouth but has some verve from its excellent acidity. Pretty decent wine and a first for me with this variety. Good.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
While this was being poured I was grilling up some rib-eyes so I don’t have any formal notes. Concentrated and pure notes of dark red fruit, kirsch and pepper. Velvety in the mouth. Seemed to be an excellent example of the vintage that was drinking well but with years to go. Very good. 89+
While this was being poured I was grilling up some rib-eyes so I don’t have any formal notes. A big wine that was ripe and concentrated but not over-the-top or overripe. Quite similar in fact to the 06 Prefert CdP served before it. Drinking well but lots of time to develop and improve. Very good. 89+
Sweet and dense on the nose with loads of dark fruits and some dried fruit notes as well. Youthful yet somewhat soft in the mouth with more dark fruits to coat the palate. I had this back in ’09 and since then it has mellowed just a tad but still far from mature. This, along with some nice mild Dominican cigars was the perfect way to finish off the day. Excellent. 92+
Mature and developed aromas of red fruits and leather with fully resolved tannins and a soft and smooth mouthfeel. There’s ample acidity and while there was a good dose of oak here, it was well integrated and not dominating. This was really nice to sip on while listening to Jeff Beck. Excellent.
I thought the nose here was killing it. Poopy notes, mature red fruits and hints of cedar give an indication of this wines age and development on the nose but only on the palate did it show some faintness. It’s mellow and soft with resolved everything but not terribly past its prime. There was still great acidity on the finish and while mature, the fruit wasn’t faded or lean. Really nice nose and decent on the palate. This wine illustrates the benefits of buying on release and storing in perfect conditions. Very good.
I think I showed my age when I said I had never heard of this winery. My notes here got really simple. Mature and funky nose, darker fruits, fully resolved on the palate. Excellent.
2011 Spierhead Riesling 74 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley
Gewurztraminer-like nose with lychee and hints of floral. Off-dry in the mouth and a little hallow. The finish seems to disappear before it even starts. Not worth drinking.
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2006 Soter Brut Rosé 90 Points
USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
Cranberry and raspberry notes to start on the nose with some mineral and earthy aromas coming through after some time in the glass. Fresh and juicy flavours with nice acidity and medium length. I’m not sure this would fool an experienced taster but this was quite a decent Champagne imposter. Excellent.
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2007 Blain-Gagnard Bâtard-Montrachet 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Tasted blind. Flint and smoke jump from the glass while understated notes of citrus, flowers and stone fruits add to the complexity of this beautiful nose. Supple and almost fat in the mouth with a brawny and rich mouthfeel that could use more acidity to add some freshness and precision. The powerful, intense and extremely long finish is where this wine shines though. This was excellent, and a generous bring by Rasoul, but once it was revealed I felt a little disappointed. For what it’s worth I was thinking Meursault and 2007 would have been my last guess for vintage. Drinking surprisingly well now. Excellent.
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2008 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
Beautiful sea breeze and creamy lemon/lime nose along with ripe orchard fruit and hints of minerality. Tart and fresh on the palate with loads of acid and a crisp finish. This is a really good example of the vintage. Drinking really well right now but a previous bottle I opened a few weeks ago was even better on day 2 so this has potential to improve. Excellent. 90+
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2010 Mendel Sémillon 86 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco
Rather oaky nose with some soft lemon and melon fruit notes. Palate was round and fairly weighty but with decent acidity and a fresh finish. I’ve had this before and seemed to like it better last time—perhaps following the 07 Batard and 08 Chablis didn’t do this wine any favours. Good.
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2009 Argiolas Monica di Sardegna Perdera 87 Points
Italy, Sardinia, Monica di Sardegna
Dark fruit nose that reminded me of granche with spicy and peppery notes as well. Soft in the mouth but has some verve from its excellent acidity. Pretty decent wine and a first for me with this variety. Good.
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2006 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Collection Charles Giraud 89 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
While this was being poured I was grilling up some rib-eyes so I don’t have any formal notes. Concentrated and pure notes of dark red fruit, kirsch and pepper. Velvety in the mouth. Seemed to be an excellent example of the vintage that was drinking well but with years to go. Very good. 89+
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2009 Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas 89 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
While this was being poured I was grilling up some rib-eyes so I don’t have any formal notes. A big wine that was ripe and concentrated but not over-the-top or overripe. Quite similar in fact to the 06 Prefert CdP served before it. Drinking well but lots of time to develop and improve. Very good. 89+
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NV Plan Pégau Vin de Table Français Lot 2009 85 Points
France, Vin de Table Français
No formal notes. Simple and well balanced with good fruit and a perfect wine to sip on while dominating the field in bocce. Good.
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1986 Graham Porto Vintage Malvedos 92 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Sweet and dense on the nose with loads of dark fruits and some dried fruit notes as well. Youthful yet somewhat soft in the mouth with more dark fruits to coat the palate. I had this back in ’09 and since then it has mellowed just a tad but still far from mature. This, along with some nice mild Dominican cigars was the perfect way to finish off the day. Excellent. 92+
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1994 Flora Springs Trilogy 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Mature and developed aromas of red fruits and leather with fully resolved tannins and a soft and smooth mouthfeel. There’s ample acidity and while there was a good dose of oak here, it was well integrated and not dominating. This was really nice to sip on while listening to Jeff Beck. Excellent.
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1993 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
I thought the nose here was killing it. Poopy notes, mature red fruits and hints of cedar give an indication of this wines age and development on the nose but only on the palate did it show some faintness. It’s mellow and soft with resolved everything but not terribly past its prime. There was still great acidity on the finish and while mature, the fruit wasn’t faded or lean. Really nice nose and decent on the palate. This wine illustrates the benefits of buying on release and storing in perfect conditions. Very good.
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1986 Cuvaison Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
I think I showed my age when I said I had never heard of this winery. My notes here got really simple. Mature and funky nose, darker fruits, fully resolved on the palate. Excellent.
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