Along with some others I thought this was quite Krug-like. Rounder and richer than the ‘99, but with beautiful precision. Powerful and complex with some secondary development from ageing. Stunning wine.

More linear and tensile than the ‘98, in line with what I usually expect from Comtes. Nice saline drive, very good for an unheralded vintage. Still very youthful and fresh but a slight step below the stunning 1998.

Still some fruit left but dominated by generic old sherry notes.

Broad, rich and oxidative; thought this was a Bollinger as it didn’t have Dom’s signature reduction. Hedonistic and drinking well today, but not as complete as the ‘02 that I had last year.

Too alcoholic and syrupy, lacking acidity. Consistent with my previous experiences with this maker - disappointing.

Guessed 1990 Huet - vibrant but resolved fruit that suggested a strong vintage, high acidity with slight woolly notes that made Chenin an obvious guess. Superb for its age, fresh with sweetness that wasn’t overbearing. Shame I didn’t get much of this since I couldn’t drink much more at this stage.

Brought as an extra. Extremely reductive on opening, so would suggest giving this a lot of air as it blew off after a few hours. Very pale colour. Pure, weightless fruit on the palate, no sign of the warm vintage at all. Drinking beautifully despite its youth, loved the seamlessness and focused drive on this.

Guessed 2005 Chambolle since I thought the pair was same producer and plot but of different vintage. Didn’t feel like a Burg at first with a moorish, almost Loire-like nose. Masculine and not very refined, sour cherry fruit was a little out of balance.

Guessed 1999 Chambolle since I thought the pair was same producer and plot but of different vintage. Higher acidity and more balanced than the 2005, but still was a little rustic and lacked elegance/excitement. Quite a forgettable pair.

Thought this was a Nebbiolo at first from the VA; had an incredibly perfumed and lifted nose. Palate also had high acidity and tannins. But when it was revealed to be a Burgundy, guessed 2002 CSJ because of the dark, sappy and refined fruit. Still very structured, will last for a long while yet. Very much in my wheelhouse.

Guessed ‘06 Gevrey weak GC. Cork wasn’t in the best condition apparently so this was a compromised bottle. Slightly advanced with a strange mint note.

Guessed Pommard from the 1970s because of the iron notes and glimpse of its previous structure. Surprisingly alive, despite obviously having mainly tertiary notes such as mushroom and forest floor. Agreed with the others who said that this probably wasn’t a 100% Pinot haha.

Finally a 2019 that is drinking well, haven’t had much luck with them so far. Still a little over-exuberant for me but at least it wasn’t just one-dimensional primary, jammy fruit. Met expectations for its level.

Thought it might have been a Bordeaux at first but the sweet fruit slowly emerged to make clear that it was a Napa. Smoky, dark cherry fruit, gained structure and asserted itself more with air. These old Napa Cabs have consistently been a treat; love how they evolve so differently from aged Bordeaux but are equally enjoyable.

Wow everyone guessed a high-class Burg for this. So perfumed, silky and with velvety tannins I thought it had to be from a very good maker like M-G. I adored the red-fruited nature, supreme elegance and sensual finish here. Agreed with the person who brought this that Chave in cool years might be the play here, and another northern rhone that was mistaken for a Burg to add to the list. One of my best wines of the year.

My contribution. 76% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre, 6% Grenache and a whopping 16.7% alcohol. Most managed to identify this as an American Syrah. Still quite youthful, most guessed that this was around 10 years old. A huge, powerful wine with dark cherry fruit but in a restrained rather than hedonistic manner. Not my style but could drink this, unlike more modernist makers that swing towards more oak, extraction and blue fruit.

Some greenness but with sweet maraschino cherry fruit. Guessed late-90s Tuscan Bordeaux blend because of the sweetness and polish but this was still very much a restrained wine. Unlike the '96 that I tried previously, definitely will not be mistaken for a Bordeaux. Well-resolved and firmly in its drinking window.

At least we managed to land on northern Rhone for this one - very similar to the old Guigals that I have opened so guessed 1991 Hermitage. Deep, smoky dark red fruit with some savoury bacon notes. In excellent shape for its age but lacked the extra gear of the Guigals of the same era.