Nothing earth-shaking, but this was a very pleasant, food-friendly Pinot Grigio. The nose was certainly very pleasant, with notes of stone fruit and beeswax, some white flowers, nectar maybe, and then a little twist of flinty mineral at the sides. The palate was nice too. Less fruit-forward, showing little shades of stone fruit and melon, a nice blush of florals, and then a deeper spine of mineral and citrus blooms orange zest leading into a sprightly finish just kissed with a touch to spice. There was some weight and heft on this, along with a nice bright acidity, all lending to a nicely food-friendly mouthful.

A mature gem. It had a lovey old Babaresco nose, with drifts of red cherries and berries, roses and violets, spice and smoke, even a touch to honey, all playing against a lightly savoury backdrop or broiled meats and forest floor. It was really lovely on the palate too. Not a blockbuster, but really elegant, with fine-boned tannins and fresh acidity strung through still lovely notes of red cherries and wild berries, these liberally seasoned with dashes of spice, earth and just a hint of those florals moving into an orange peel finish. Absolutely lovely stuff, drinking beautifully now. A touch lighter than the great vintages, but boy this was super for its year.

This was really good. Given the vintage, it may have been mixed with some Rhone varietals, but it nevertheless made for a really nice drop. The nose was matured but pleasant, with drifts of earth and meat, spice and wilted flowers, trailing behind a core of dried cherries and berries, maybe a blush of herbs. Old but attractive. The palate was lovely. Clearly old, but still very alive, with bright tingly acidity and fine-boned tannins framing still bright flavours of dark cherries and berries, earth and meat, and a cute little infusion of spice and herb leading into a nicely lengthy finish. With the weight and creamy depth this had, this really tasted like a cross between Burgundy and Rhone. Really good stuff though, and drinking superbly well now.

Very nice, especially for its age. This had a mature Burg nose of earthy sous bois, menthol and wood spice swirling around a core of dark cherries and berries, and then a lift of violets. Lovely stuff. The palate was perhaps just a tad less exciting, but still lovely nonetheless, with dark cherries and red fruit, and then sweet floral touches, all these seasoned with a sprinkle of herb and nice bit of spice dancing into a lively finish. Really alive, and punching above its weight. Yummy.

Decently good, but perhaps a half-step or more behind some of the lovely 1970s wines we had on the night. The nose was very funky, gym-sock-like when opened, but slowly fanned out into nicer notes of meat and earth, dark berries and cherries, tars and wilted roses. I liked the palate more than the nose. Fresh, lively, with velvety tannins and really bright wrapped around a core of dark cherries and berries touched with haw flakes and dried figs, roses and smoke. Deliciously moreish. All in all, a good wine, fairly yummy with food on the night - but it did feel quite a bit tired than the fabulous last bottle I had a decade ago.

Really enjoyable - this was what a mature Margaux should taste like. It had really nice left bank nose, with cassis and blackberries, maybe a touch of florals, these laced with bits of earth and tobacco, earth and bramble. Delicious on the palate too, with fresh acidity and fine tannins making a lovely backdrop for juicy notes of cassis and berries, earth and just a little soupçon spice leading into a satisfyingly fresh finish. Just a tad thinner than the strongest vintages, but this was superbly satisfying. Drinking at absolute peak now as well. Lovely.