A blend of Parellada, Malvasia, Macabeo and Chardonnay, 12.5% ABV. Succulent, juicy fruit (pear, peach, green apple), soft but fresh, hints of spice and aromatic green herbs, good length. Lovely. Served during the AGM which precedes the annual dinner.

A blend of 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier. For some reason it is three years ago since I last tasted this and I remember it as a very delicate and refined rosé in every respect. This bottle seems to have a slightly deeper colour than I remember, and even though the style is mineral and fresh, with the customary aromatic profile of flowers, spiced strawberries and a hint of honey, there is also a deeper and fuller aspect to the fruit, with even a slightly candied quality. Does this represent a conscious style change?

"Sponti"-nose, typical Terrassen Mosel minerality, lots of spices and herbs as per usual at this estate, but also a soft and succulent texture supported by ample tropical fruit, harmonious, well-integrated nervosité, very good resonance and length. Open for business, drink now and over the next five years.

In July 2015, this blend from Les Clous (high up on the hill) and Les Crotots (just below Le Poruzot), was still quite tight and seemed to lack a bit of weight. Now, three years later, it is completely ready to drink. The nose needs some time to open up but remains rather modest in expression; the palate is essentially fresh and minerally, with a light structure and the tropical note which is so typical for many white Burgundies from 2013 (pineapple), well-integrated oak; smoky finish with excellent persistence. Drink now-2020.

This is much more Germanic in character than the fabulous 2009 and almost equally good 2012, which were clearly made in a powerful Côte de Nuits style. Fermented and aged in 100% new barriques for 18 months, this 2011 is aromatically intense but on the lighter side, with spicy slate, clean blue fruit and a lovely balance between freshness and a, slightly lactic, natural fruity sweetness, the oak is well but not perfectly integrated and it dominates a bit on the finish. Very good, but drink now and over the next 2-3 years.

I had completely forgotten that I also drank this seven years ago - I liked it then and I like it now, a very impressive wine that needs more time even now. Incredibly fresh and lively at 19 years of age, this still hides its secrets (it actually seemed more closed to me now than it did in 2011), masculine and powerfully structured, cool and mineral but with a spicy depth and hints of truffle and wet undergrowth, lots of drive and energy on the finish. Will develop its complexity and nuance over the next 5-10 years and should last for decades.

Older wood, cedar, slightly balsamic, vestiges of black fruit, black olive, very mature but good depth; very evolved palate, tannic and fresh but with chocolaty flavours. Tired. An imperfect bottle, or already a bit over the hill?

Deep and rich colour, youthful, concentrated but with floral freshness, also slightly balsamic, touches of tar and leather, tannic and structured. Powerful and impressive, but not as exciting as it was six years ago.

Uneasy, stalky, lightly oxidatve, not a good bottle.

Fresh and crisp structure, tight and youthful for age, develops notes of chocolate and balsamic, blackcurrants, firm but finely grained tannins, good length.

This is a fabulous Sauternes, the wine of the night for me. Youthful and relatively light, pale golden colour; deep and rich nose, tropical fruit (pineapple) and a lovely rôti, Tahiti vanilla from the oak; the palate is fresh and intense, with lots of peach and crème patissière, intense but still a bit unformed, perfectly absorbed oak; very long finish. Delicious already, but in maturity this will be such a beautiful marriage of power and finesse. Unfortunately that stage is still 5-10 years in the future.

Not as good as the bottle we had last year at the 62nd annual dinner in Leiden. The colour seems a bit deep and unusually evolved, with an amber touch; barley sugar nose, medium sweet palate with noticeable bitters, a bit hot, slightly muffled finish. Lacks both the radiance and the elegance which I remember from last year. Not rated.

Magnum. Deep orange gold colour, rich but lively; nose of honey, spice, orange peel and Alpine herbs; relatively dry palate with salty oak and slightly metallic acidity; drying finish.