Decanter Fine Wine Encounter

As I was in the UK I took advantage of the situation to attend the Decanter Fine Wine Encounter.

Minor cock up as I booked late and the only ticket combo included the Le Dome or a Champagne masterclass...devil and the deep blue sea...

Soooooo much joy in one room...rather than try and pick individual wines I'll mention a few producers - Castillo Ygay, Patache d'Aux, Siran, Lynch Bages, Tedeschi and the Disznoko Tokaji...

• 2018 Château Olivier Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Ripe gooseberry, a little peachy, cream, stone fruit, apple. Juicy, fleshy, a little lozenge quality, creamy textured, very pleasant.

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• 2015 Château Olivier Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Slight honey, woody notes, slight pear, gooseberry. Medium plus intensity acidity, textured burr is quite drying, the fruit has dropped away on the finish. Hmm.

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• 2010 Château Olivier Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  From Magnum. Honey, apple, slight sweet spice. Juicy, tangy, textured burr, weight wise it's a little like the 2018, a little lozenge quality. Hmm.

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• 2010 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Denser and more serious than the 2009, sweet spice, slight vanilla, slight balsamic, darker hued fruits. And dense on the palate; grippy drying tannins, slight alcohol warmth

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• 2011 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Medium plus intensity aromas of red and black hued fruits, slight vanilla oak, sweet spice, very slight savoury underpin, touch of balsamic. Juicy and bold on the palate, lots of fruit and tannins and good quality oak, yum..

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• 2009 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Vanilla, red berry, sweet spice, a little cherry. Yum nose, textured drying but persistent but quite silky, flavours as per nose. Generous/obvious depending on my mood…today it's generous…

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• 2017 Bodegas Roda Rioja Roda I Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Red berry, sweet spice, a tiny pencil shaving note over black fruit. Massive drying tannins are woody fruit just about show through, very tight and young.

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• 2005 Bodegas Roda Rioja Roda I Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Meaty and savoury, a little forest floor, savoury spice, red berry fruit and again big tight tannins are drying and slightly coarsely textured. Woof.

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• 2004 Bodegas Roda Rioja Roda I Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Meaty and savoury, red berry, touch of umami, a little raspberry, lovely nose. Juicy, dense, chewy tannins, alcohol warmth, fruit a little darker and savoury, umami notes on the palate as well. Yum.

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• 2010 Château Patache d'Aux Médoc

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc

  Blackcurrant, plum, woody spice, savoury, leather, black fruit, slightly drying tannins, tertiary/primary/secondary balance is very good. Yum.

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• 2016 Château Patache d'Aux Médoc

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc

  Ooh, quite mineral with blackcurrant, touch of jubiness, plum lozenge. Medium plus intensity acidity, super jubey fresh fruit, talc textured tannins persist long, front of mouth grip. Fresh, yum.

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• 2018 Château Patache d'Aux Médoc

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc

  Medium minus intensity aromas of wild blackcurrant, a little sweet spice, plums, slight alcohol prickle. In the mouth it's dense, drying, woody tannins with a lick of alcohol warmth - fruit plays second fiddle here. Boo.

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• 2019 Château Patache d'Aux Médoc

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc

  Blackcurrant and pencil shavings a, little rocky minerality backed by a smidge of cream and oak spice. Lovely nose. Similar profile to the 2016 though the fruit is darker hued. Long, slight non-intrusive alcohol warmth.

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• 2018 Château Siran

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  medium minus intensity aromas of blackcurrant, sweet spice, a little graphite. Juicy, fleshy, lots of woody, chalky tannins…in fact too much (currently) for the fruit. Alcohol warmth on the finish.

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• 2015 Château Siran

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Baked black currant and plum, woody spices, cream. Fleshy, wet, talc textured persistent tannins, medium minus intensity flavours. Hmm.

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• 2010 Château Siran

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  A little leather, forest floor, black hued fruit, cedar, perfumed top notes - nice nose. Savoury, a smidge of yeast extract, muted fruit, dry woody tannins but, unlike the 15 and 18, this has had an opportunity to integrate and is embellished by the tertiary characteristics...Nice

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• 2018 Château Lynch-Bages

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Polished oak and fruit, a little caramel, toast, sweet spice, blackcurrant, cassis. Palate more reticent, chewy tannins, under this there is good fruit, acid and, for the vintage, alcohol balance. Shows promise in about 10-15 years

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• 2015 Château Lynch-Bages

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Aromas of cassis, sweet spice, oak, slight buttery and creamy notes here as well. More settled than the 2018 but this is still very bold and bullish. Again, time for me.

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• 2010 Château Lynch-Bages

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Pencil shavings, leather, blackcurrant, very slight forest floor. On the palate this is rich, dense, massive - big fruit and tannins. Juicy acidity. Very nice but only with half a cow.

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• 2016 Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Capitel Monte Olmi

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

  Slightly oxidised, concentrated, savoury, black fruits, meaty and umami notes. On the palate it's savoury and meaty but with residual sugar and lashings of drying, woody tannins and a fair lick of alcohol warmth. Woof!

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• 2011 Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Capitel Monte Olmi

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

  Leathery, earthy, a little wild black fruit, slight alcohol warmth, a touch of yeast extract. Interesting nose. Medium plus intensity (with the alcohol adding to the mouth watering impression) lends freshness, fruit more present on the palate, all of those tertiary umami notes are here as well, tannins are drying persistent, all travel long, handles it's alcohol very well. This is exceedingly good and deeply pleasing.

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• 2005 Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Capitel Monte Olmi

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

  Clay, earth, slightly meaty underpin, sweet spice, slight vegetal notes on the palate do not mar an otherwise positive experience in the dry Port space. Woof

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• 2019 Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata

  Argentina, Mendoza

  Plummy, rich, slight caramel oak, slight chalky minerality, chewy, grippy grape and oak tannins, fruit integrated, simple, fresh nice.

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• 2010 Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata

  Argentina, Mendoza

  Slightly sour blackcurrant, Ribena, cream joins fruit on the palate tannins re drying, persistent but finely textured. Again this is quite simple.

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• 2004 Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata

  Argentina, Mendoza

  blackcurrant, slight cedar, sweet spice, smidge of plum and biscuit, sweet black currant on the palate, ripe but controlled, finely tooled tannins, slight alcohol warmth on the finish. Simple, balanced, okay. I'm a little surprised by the lack of tertiary characteristics here for an 18 year old wine.

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• 2010 Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon Coliseum Block

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  blackcurrant concentrate, polished oak, smells dense & a little overdone. On the palate its thick and overripe. Tastes like someone has boiled jam to a thick concentrate. Ugh.

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• 2019 Château Bastor-Lamontagne

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  A little sweaty and funky initially on the nose backed by cream and apricot…sweet on the palate, a little oaky textured burr but, again, that slightly funky note joins the cream and apricot. Hmm.

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• 2010 Château Bastor-Lamontagne

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Apricot, orange and mandarin marmalade, sweet spice, very slightly gamey. Juicy, medium plus intensity acidity, mandarin & orange marmalade, apricot, textured. Nice.

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• 2006 Château Bastor-Lamontagne

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Slight wood glue, orange marmalade, sweet spice, vanilla. In the mouth It's juicy and lusciously sweet - feels like there is a little too much sugar for the acid, tangy, marmalade, tannic burr on the mid palate is a touch woody. Hmm.

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• 2013 Disznókő Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos

  Hungary, Tokaji

  bitter orange and orange zest, cream, sweet spice, very slight bruised apple oxidation notes on the nose. Medium plus intensity acidity is offset by luscious levels of sweetness, very slight apricot, bitter orange marmalade, that little bruised apple note, fresh, glorious

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• 2007 Disznókő Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos

  Hungary, Tokaji

  Muted, medium minus intensity aromas of a little bitter orange and dried apricot. Sweet to the point of cloying on the palate - doesn't seem to have the acidity to support the residual sugar unfortunately.

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• 2002 Disznókő Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos

  Hungary, Tokaji

  Bruised apple, burnt orange marmalade made with brown sugar, sweet spice, slight candied citrus peel. Medium plus intensity acidity, residual sugar lends sweetness rather than lusciousness which means this is tartly enjoyable, that brown sugar note lends a slight almost black treacle savoury underpin, slight textured burr, lovely. A wine to spend time with.

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The VCM's were pretty appalling roided dross with no sense of place though the Le Dome's proved mostly okay - obviously even the most interventionist wine making struggles to pack woody mass on Cabernet Franc dominant blends.

Another minor gripe for me was the number of dirty/stale air glasses - the wines were all pre-poured so I just did some rinsing and juggling...

• 2012 Vieux Château Mazerat

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Slightly dusty glass. Sweet spice, plum, it of chocolate, vanilla oak, slightly jubey notes. Medium plus intensity acidity (presumably adjusted) which lends tartness to the palate, plummy fruit is quite muted, chalky tannins, alcohol warmth lends a slight portiness. Pretty unrepentant.

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• 2011 Vieux Château Mazerat

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Again a slightly dusty glass. Plummy, rich, dense smelling with a very slight herbaceous underpin, a little gameyness with time. Juicy, fleshy, tight textured drying tannins prove woody. Plenty of front of mouth grip. There may be fruit somewhere between the grains of the wood. Meh

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• 2010 Vieux Château Mazerat

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Plums, rich, dense, ripe, slight alcohol prickles, smidge of prune and a little pyrazines underpin. Juicy acid, tight chalky tannins are drying and close down the palate, ridiculously young enamel stripping stuff. Made with a good deal of hubris. Nope.

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• 2008 Vieux Château Mazerat

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Medium minus intensity aromas of oak, plum, sweet spice, very slightly gamey note with a herbaceous underpin, a little brambly note as well. Medium plus intensity mouth watering acidity, again preposterously woody tannins are chalky and dominate the palate. What is the purpose of this wine? Surely the idea is to sample the terroir of the grapes not the oak forest...

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• 2019 Château Le Dome

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Dirty glass/washing up liquid scent initially - more rinsing. Red and blackcurrant, fruit lozenge, slight herbaceous underpin, pencils shavings sweet spice,. Medium plus acidity, talc textured tannins, fresh, flavour profile as per the nose, very nice indeed, instantly engaging. Yum

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• 2018 Château Le Dome

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  dusty dirty glass. Medium minus intensity aromas are clean again red over blackcurrant slight plum underpin, sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, woody and grapy tannins, that are chalky textured, plenty of breadth, fruit persists plums, quite modern and also a little on the ripe side, finishes a smidge bitter...seems to be struggling with the weight and alcohol a little.

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• 2016 Château Le Dome

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Ripe, baked black over red fruit has a little jubey underpin, a little cream, sweet spice, plenty of very good oak…In fact this has ridiculous levels of oak…bit of a roided nose. Medium plus intensity acidity (adjusted?) Porty, ugly, fairly awful stuff, like sucking a lump of wood that has been waved in the general direction of some black hued fruit. Years may help to tame the oak but will the fruit persist?

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• 2013 Château Le Dome

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Medium minus intensity aromas prove slightly meaty, savoury, herbaceous/pyrazine notes, red over black fruit, sweet spice, a little pencil shavings. Fresh, fleshy, juicy, tight tannins are quite woody, chalky and drying though the fruit persist beneath this, a little chalky minerality. good for the vintage.

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• 2012 Château Le Dome

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Fresh blackcurrant and red currant, sweet spice, smells 'fresh'. Pretty nose. Medium plus intensity acidity, juicy, tangy fruit up from, fresh, tannins are dialled back, controlled, balanced, very slightly hard but this is rather splendid, bit yummy

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• 2011 Château Le Dome

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Oh hello! This is rather charming, a little red and blackcurrant, leather, pyrazine, earth, backed by very good oak - sweet spice, smidge of caramel. Juicy acidity, fresh fruit, fleshy, tight but relatively silky tannins support the fruit, finishes rather savoury but this is also very good.

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Phew. I didn't really have a plan so just started with a few of the Spanish offerings, worked my way through the Bordeaux tables, tried some of the US and some of the Italians before finishing with some Fortifieds with the odd 'wedgy' winery as I wandered around.

I regret not getting the opportunity to look at the greek wines but I just ran out of time...

• 2020 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Barrel Fermented

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Slight stone fruit, floral notes, a touch of salinity. Juicy, savoury, textured burr proves a little woody and is, for me, a little too much for the light weight fruit. Meh.

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• 2018 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Cune Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Medium minus intensity aromas of wild strawberry, slight sweet spice, pretty jubey red berries. Fresh, woody tannins. Hmm

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• 2017 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Chocolate and vanilla oak, pretty red fruit - strawberries and cherry. Juicy, medium plus intensity acidity, strawberries, cherries, chocolate and vanilla, tannins are talc textured and play a supporting role to the fruit. Yum.

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• 2017 Bodegas y Viñedos del Contino Rioja Contino Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Quite woody, slightly savoury red fruit…slightly savoury on the palate as well as some alcohol warmth, despite this it's a little flat and wet for me. Nah.

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• 2011 Bodegas y Viñedos del Contino Rioja Contino Gran Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  From Magnum. Oak is prevalent again offering vanilla over slightly oxidised red hued fruit, a smidge of sourness on the palate lends a touch of freshness, a touch of vanilla essence, wetly enjoyable, slight non-intrusive alcohol warmth on the finish. Okay.

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• 2018 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Medium minus intensity aromas of muted baked dark hued fruit. Jubey underpin. Tight tannins, muted fruit on the palate play second fiddle. Time should help but this is rather simple and a little out of whack

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• 2017 Bodegas Pintia Toro Pintia

  Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

  Savoury dark hued fruits, sweet spice, clay, earth. On the palate it's also quite savoury with tightly grippy textured tannins are a little high for the fruit at the moment but, like the Alion, I'm guessing that time will help here.

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• 2017 Château Tronquoy-Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Plum, blackcurrant, wet, clean though slightly dilute nose and so it proves on the palate, juicy, slightly dilute, simple, slightly short. Hmm.

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• 2015 Château Tronquoy-Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Slightly forward. Chalky minerality, leather, crisp crunchy blackcurrant. In the mouth it's savoury, chalky tannins, leather, there is some blackcurrant here as well though the Cabernet notes present more on the nose. Again this is a little forward for the vintage. Hmm.

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• 2008 Château Tronquoy-Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  From Magnum. Black fruits; plums over blackcurrant, earth, leather, forest floor, cedar, brambles. Medium plus intensity acidity, chewy, dense tannins, brambly fruit, medium plus length, nice.

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• 2020 Château Petit Bocq

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Very slightly jubey, black fruit, clay, earth. Medium plus intensity acidity, chalky drying tannins, fruit plays second fiddle, time required - at least 10 years.

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• 2019 Château Petit Bocq

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Meaty, savoury, black fruit plays second fiddle on the nose. In the mouth it's savoury, dense, chalky minerality, tight tannins, very young but shows promise.

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• 2018 Château Petit Bocq

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Slightly jubey, savoury underpin, ripe black fruit is slightly too concentrated. Medium plus acidity, chewy, chalky, woody tannins, fruit slightly muted on the palate which has a touch of alcohol warmth.

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• 2017 Château Petit Bocq

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Plums, sweet spice, chalky minerality. Medium plus intensity acidity, savoury and tight woody tannins, fruit a little muted on the palate. Hmm.

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• 2016 Château d'Armailhac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Meaty, savoury, blackcurrant, cedar on the nose. Medium plus intensity acidity, chalky tannins are very drying, fruit in the background here. Meh.

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• 2012 Château d'Armailhac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Blackcurrant cordial, slightly savoury spice, just showing a little leather tertiary note. The palate is super energetic - fresh, lightweight dark hued fruit and structured but talc textured tannins go hand in hand with a little tertiary note and travel very long. lovely

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• 2010 Château d'Armailhac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Medium minus intensity aromas of black hued fruits - blackcurrant, brambly, plum ,a little herbaceous underpin. Juicy, savoury, tight, not showing as well as Id expect for the vintage though I'm sure a decant would help.

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• 2017 Château Clerc Milon

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sour red berry and currant, cedar, cream, palate same as nose, fresh juicy acid, drying chalky tannins. Not one of the better 2017s I've had.

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• 2015 Château Clerc Milon

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Ripe with notes or Ribena, a little wild blackcurrant, bramble, plums. Juicy, savoury, talc textured persistent tannins, the fruit ripe on the palate but still retaining freshness, balanced. Still quite primary but shows promise for a long life. Rather lovely.

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• 2009 Château Clerc Milon

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Slight Brett, quite concentrated and ripe blackcurrant. Thick, savoury, juicy acidity, chalky tannins, black hued fruits. Hmm. Bit on the large side for me. Looks like my remaining bottles might end up at the auction house.

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• 2018 Duluc de Branaire-Ducru

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Slight stone fruit, floral notes, a touch of salinity. Juicy, savoury, textured burr proves a little woody and is, for me, a little too much for the light weight fruit. Meh.

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• 2017 Château Branaire-Ducru

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Medium minus intensity aromas with a fruit sweet core showing blackcurrants, a little savoury note, touch of sweet spice and cedar both in support on the rather nice nose. Medium plus intensity acidity, very slightly sour black and red fruit, grape and wood tannins are slightly chalky textured. Nice.

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• 2015 Château Branaire-Ducru

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Meaty & dense and initially on the nose with blackcurrant, cedar, sweet spice, savoury, meaty, chalky and woody tannins, dark hued fruits, still quite closed and reticent. Time required.

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• 2016 Château Lagrange (St. Julien)

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  blackcurrant, brambles, cedar, very very slight chocolate and caramel. Juicy, fruit sweet initially then more savoury with persistent tannic tug, all travel long, slight non-intrusive alcohol warmth on the finish. Balanced. Rather charming. difficult to spit.

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• 2011 Château Lagrange (St. Julien)

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Quite mineral with leather, brambly fruit, some savoury blackcurrant. Medium plus intensity acidity and medium plus intensity drying, grainy tannins, the black hued fruit is rather subsumed by these two structural components though this is fresh. I think protein will help. Okay.

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• 2016 Les Fiefs de Lagrange

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Wild blackcurrant, cedar, very slight pencil shavings. Wetly juicy, talcy tannins persists long, dark fruits, simple but nice.

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• 2016 Château Mauvesin Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc

  Plums, slightly wet and dilute smelling, a little blackcurrant and pyrazine in support. Touch sour on the plate, with chalky tannins, fruit muted, bit meh for me.

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• 2015 Château Langoa Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  A little cream, blackcurrant, red plum, sweet spice. Again a little sour on the palate with red currant, red plum, drying tannins are chalky. Nope

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• 2012 Château Léoville Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Oh hello classic Claret! Wild blackcurrant, cedar, slight Autumn leaves, fresh earth, saddle leather…Equally wonderfully yummy on the palate - fresh acidity, tooled but drying tannins with a leathery note, wild dark fruits, a sense of coolness and balance, tertiary characteristics lend complexity. Glorious.

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• 2018 Château Beaumont

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Plummy, sweet spice, clean, very sightly jubey notes here as well. Primary nose. Juicy, savoury, plummy, talc textured tannins persists long, finishes very slightly bitter. Simple. Nice.

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• 2016 Amiral de Beychevelle

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Jubey black fruit shows blackcurrant, plum. Equally jubey and fresh on palate, very slightly dilute, touches of clay and wet earth, very slightly chalky tannins and very slight bitter on the finish. Interesting. Pleasant.

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• 2016 Château Beychevelle

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Medium minus intensity aromas of plum, blackcurrant, slight lozenge underpin, slight cedar. Medium plus intensity acidity, tight chewy tannins, fruit is a little muted. Hmm

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• 2011 Château Beychevelle

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Wild blackcurrant, cedar, slightly herbaceous notes, red plums, smidge of leather. On the palate it's tannins are drying and rather dominant. Fruit is a touch muted. Hmm.

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• 2019 Château Rauzan-Gassies

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Medium minus intensity aromas of cream, blackcurrant, blackberry, slightly chalky underpin on the nose. Juicy, savoury, slightly flat though, hmm. Perhaps I have a little palate fatigue?

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• 2019 Château Croizet-Bages

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Black hued fruit, sweet spice, slight cedar. Sweetly fruited on the palate, juicy, a little graphite, slight talc textured tannins. Simple. Time. Hmm.

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• 2016 Château Cantenac Brown BriO

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Yeast extract, gamey, meaty, very slightly dusty spice, plums. Juicy, fleshy, wetly enjoyable, slightly coarse tannins plummy on the palate. Hmm.

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• 2010 Château Cantenac Brown

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  farmyard, cedar, concentrated with brambles, savoury, meaty, leather, plums and blackcurrant. In the mouth it's juicy, sweetly fruity, savoury underpin, leather, drying mid palate talc textured tannins. Nice.

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• 2018 Château Brane-Cantenac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Polished fruit and oak, blackcurrant, sweet spice, perfumed. Juicy, fresh, agile (especially for the vintage) chalky tannins, black hued fruits. Rather nice.

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• 2009 Château Brane-Cantenac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  biscuit, toast, savoury blackcurrant, sweet spice, slight cedar. Medium plus intensity acidity, again fresh, almost a little sourness, finely tooled talc textured tannins. Okay.

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• 2016 Château Brane-Cantenac Le Baron de Brane

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Medium minus intensity aromas show savoury blackcurrant, brambles, sweet spice. Juicy, it's a little more red fruited on the palate, talc textured tannins. Okay.

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• 2015 Château Giscours

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  slightly jubey blackcurrant, plum, sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, tight and unyielding tannins, black hued fruits, slight earthy notes. Hmm. Still showing very young.

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• 2011 Château Giscours

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Quite polished red over black fruit, slight sweet spice, leather, still quite tight on the palate, similar flavour profile, tannins drying, grainy, front of mouth grip. Hmm.

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• 2020 Château Brown Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  struck match, slightly meaty, muted fruit on the nose, reductive on the palate. Meh.

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• 2019 Château Brown

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Blackcurrant over plums, sweet spice, very slightly jubey/lozenge notes. Juicy, sweet fruited with slightly jubey notes. Talc textured tannins, balanced. Simple. Nice.

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• 2018 Château Brown

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Toast, biscuit, cream, plum over jubey blackcurrant, slight sweet spice. Juicy, quite tight, drying, chalky tannins, sweetly fruited but with very slight tomato leaf notes. Hmm.

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• 2016 Château Brown

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Slightly gamey, plummy, meaty, smidge of blackcurrant, muted sweet spice. Juicy, savoury, plum, chalky tannins are a little too much for the fruit. Time?

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• 2020 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  dusty glass, bah. Very slightly jubey, red berry, slight cherry, slightly metallic notes. Woody texture, fruit persists, young, time, slight alcohol warmth on the finish <shrugs>

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• 2018 Calera Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan

  slight toast, oak, slight alcohol prickle, ripe cherry, sweet spice, fruit jam on the palate with woody tannins and rather clumsily adjusted acid. Nah.

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• 2019 Paraduxx (Duckhorn Vineyards) Proprietary Red

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  blackcurrant, plum, dusty spice, cream, alcohol prickle, tight mouth fatiguing tannins…crikey.

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• 2018 Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  ripe blackcurrant, cedar, sweet spice, tight unyielding tannins, alcohol warmth <shrugs>

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• 2018 Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  And ripe blackcurrant again, alcohol prickle, black hued fruit in support, Tight woody, chalky tannins the fruit sits in support.

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• 2019 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Three Palms Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Plush, plummy, lots of sweet oak spice, jammy palate a reflection of the nose, fully roided stuff. Ooof

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• 2018 Duckhorn Vineyards The Discussion

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Cream, ripe black fruit, sweet spice, perfumed top notes. Tight tannins, juicy, a bit too much for me but this is the best offering from Duckhorn that I've tasted here.

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• 2018 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  corky notes over sweet dark hued fruits. FLAW

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• 2015 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Ripe blackcurrant and plum, cedar. Juicy ,with ripe concentrated fruit, woodier tannins…not for me

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• 2019 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Ripe blackcurrant and plum (as per the tapestry but even more so). On the palate it's big and boisterous with adjusted acidity. <shrugs>

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• 2019 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Ripe and concentrated blackcurrant backed by cedar and sweet spice. It's fairly thick, dense and unyielding on the palate. Perhaps an awful lot of time will help this come around…

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• 2021 Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc Old Vine Reserve

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  lemon, slight butter, bees wax. Medium plus intensity juicy acidity, citrus, plenty of textured rasp. Hmm

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• 2020 Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc The FMC

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  slightly gamey, citrus, slight apricot, bees wax, quite rich on the nose. In the mouth it's dry but with botrytis, lemon and apricot, slight orange marmalade, very slight textured burr, waxy notes…Yum

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• 2020 Bodega Garzón Tannat Reserva

  Uruguay, Maldonado

  Medium minus intensity aromas of baking spice, black fruits, slight liquorice. On the palate it has medium plus acidity and tannins - the latter showing chewy and drying, with muted black fruits, slight liquorice. Woof but also yum

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• 2020 Bodega Garzón Tannat Single Vineyard

  Uruguay, Maldonado

  Again medium minus intensity aromas on the nose slight muted black fruit and a bit of oak toast, Medium intensity plus acidity lashings of woody and grape tannins…obviously needs a couple of decades to settle down…based on this tasting I think I prefer the standard (reserve) tannat offering.

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• 2018 Le Rocher des Violettes Montlouis sur Loire Les Vignes de Michel

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur

  Waxy, slightly sour, oxidised bruised apple with a little citrus underpin…Palate shows the same fruit but is more prominent - lemon over bruised apple, slight burr. Hmm.

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• 2008 Henri Boillot Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru

  Farmyard, funky, gamey, meaty over black fruit. Medium plus intensity acidity, sour blackberry, chalky tannins, farmyard. Oof.

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• 1998 Château Carbonnieux

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Wet earth, Autumn leaves, slight cellar stink, blackcurrant core, dried brambles, sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, drying tannins are flour textured, long, autumnal tertiary notes, still broad, nice.

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• 2017 Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi

  Italy, Campania, Taurasi DOCG

  Gamey, funky, farmyard, umami and yeast extract. Medium plus intensity acidity and tannins, equally savoury ,farmyard on the palate but joined by a little chewy black plum. Kind of fun.

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• 2014 Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico

  Italy, Campania, Irpinia

  Meaty, savoury, yeast extract, black plum, gamey. Medium plus intensity acidity and tannins which are silky textured and drying, fruit present, all persists long. Quite polished. Hmm.

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• 2018 Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Marina Cvetić

  Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

  Medium plus intensity aromas of dense black hued fruit, slightly meaty, savoury notes. Medium plus intensity acidity, tight intensity tannins are quiet oaky, front of mouth grip, black fruit, enamel stripping stuff. A bit too much for me.

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• 2017 Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane Marina Cvetić Riserva Iskra

  Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane

  Plush, black fruits especially currant, cedar, slight caramel and sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, medium plus intensity chewy tannins, fruit present here, balanced, long. Lovely.

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• 2017 Masi Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Angelorum

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella Classico

  Low intensity aromas of muted red cherry, chocolate, sweet spice. Off dry, cherry & chocolate, liquorice, long, yum.

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• 2021 Elena Walch Pinot Grigio

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

  Clean nose with pear, slight sulphur. Juicy, tangy, slight sulphur, pear, clean, pure, simple.

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• 2021 Elena Walch Terlano Vigna Castel Ringberg

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Terlano

  Slight wild ferment funk, pear, meaty, chalky minerality, slight sourness to the fruit, textured burr, grippy…lees work(?) Hmm

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• 2019 Elena Walch Chardonnay Alto Adige - Südtirol Castel Ringberg Riserva

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

  buttery lemon over peach, toasted oak. Tangy, oaky, too much work for me.

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• 2020 Elena Walch Beyond the Clouds

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

  Feels chardonnay dominant…lemon peach over slight pear, medium plus intensity acidity, leesy notes, toast, same flavours as the nose, fresh, textured burr. Nice.

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• 2021 Elena Walch Pinot Nero

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

  Smells like oak water with a splash of berry juice. Nah.

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• 2019 Tenuta San Leonardo Terre di San Leonardo

  Italy, Trentino Alto-Adige / Veneto, Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT

  Slightly gamey, blackcurrant, plums, slight Eartha and herbaceous notes, slightly sweaty notes. Nice nose. Medium plus intensity acidity, chalky, drying tannins hand in hand with the fruit, young but pretty yummy.

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• 2017 Tenuta San Leonardo San Leonardo

  Italy, Trentino Alto-Adige / Veneto, Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT

  Slightly dusty, meaty, gamey, sweet spice, lacks fruit and this is reflected on the palate. I had high expectations which were not met. Disappointing.

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• 2017 Ramos Pinto Porto Late Bottled Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Plummy, porty, black fruit, slight herbaceous notes which are more prominent on the palate, slight residual sugar. Hmm.

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• 2000 Ramos Pinto Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Medium minus intensity aromas of plums, sweet spice, herbaceous notes, blackberry. Medium plus intensity acidity, still primary, great balance, talc textured tannins, residual sugar, yum.

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• 1997 Ramos Pinto Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Medium minus intensity aromas of biscuit, toast, leather over plums, herbaceous underpin, blackberry, the palate much of a muchness but, like the LBV, shows more herbaceous. Okay.

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• NV Ramos Pinto Porto 10 Year Old Tawny Quinta de Ervamoira

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Fresh charming, easy, dried fruits and nuts, controlled. Arguably a little simple but perfectly pleasant.

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• NV Ramos Pinto Porto 20 Year Old Tawny Quinta do Bom Retiro

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Umami initially, yeast extract, dark hued fruits, nuts, slight alcohol warmth on the finish but very nice.

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• NV Ramos Pinto Porto 30 Year Old Tawny

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Yeast extract, umami, forest floor, walnut, fig, sweet spice. Medium plus intensity alcohol, sweet, leather, umami, woody tannins. Woof.

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• 2016 Quinta do Noval Porto Late Bottled Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Liquorice, sweet spice, black fruits, plums, figs, dried fruits, slightly spirituous on the palate though the acid, tannins and sugar are well balanced. Okay

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• NV Quinta do Noval Porto 10 Year Old Tawny

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Medium minus intensity aromas show leather, walnut, fig, blackberry. Medium plus intensity acidity, served slightly chilled which really helps, figs, walnuts, the dark fruits present but more on the back burner. Balanced, nice.

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• NV Quinta do Noval Porto 20 Year Old Tawny

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Very much a reflection of the 10 year old but more nutty and with the addition of umami notes. On the palate a little rancio joins the fold, slight sweet spice. Off dry and rather glorious.

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• 2009 Quinta do Noval Porto Colheita

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  black fruits, dried fruits, nuts and also a ripe vintage port character. Dense, thick chewy like the vintage port but with more woody oak. Okay

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• 2016 Fonseca Porto Late Bottled Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Medium minus intensity aromas show coffee, slight leather, plums, sweet spice and touch of rancio. Medium plus intensity acidity, shows plums and a little prune, that sweet spice, smidge of rancio. Very nice.

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• NV Fonseca Porto 10 Year Old Tawny

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Medium minus intensity aromas show savoury with black fruits, leather, touch of dried apple, figs and walnuts. Medium plus intensity acidity, sweet, textured grip, dried fruits and blackberry. Balanced, slight texture. Yum.

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• 2000 Fonseca Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Still showing quite youthful plums, herbaceous notes, brambles and sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, slightly grainy texture, black fruits, slight alcohol warmth. Another one of those "why don't I drink more of this" moments…

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• NV Fonseca Porto Crusted

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  A slight faded version of the vintage port and on the palate it's a little almost sour and has slightly less residual sugar. Not so good for me.

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Wow. What a tasting. Absolutely marvellous. Superb. Lots of wonderful wines to try. I paced myself well and didn't go mad but could have happily carried on tasting for another few hours. Mostly a well behaved crowd as well...and I did get to appear in the 'galleries' photos in the magazine so that was another cheeky bonus.