8/26/2022 - JeandeTroyes Does not like this wine:

3 out of 6 half bottles badly corked - the other 3 cooked and prune-like. I acknowledge they are a bit old for drinking and being cooked could be down to storage, but having half the bottles corked betrays very poor quality control. Shouldn't happen in this day and age.

3/29/2016 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Cork disintegrated and the wine was corked. A serious problem with quality control this vintage (too many people are experiencing the same problem for it to be normal). I'll avoid Tyrrell's in the future as a matter of principle.

3/3/2016 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Corked. In my experience FAR too many Italian wines suffer from being corked. It's avoidable and urgently needs to be addressed by the industry. Wines such as Castel Giocondo are too expensive to be worth the risk (my 2nd experience with this particular maker).

4/16/2015 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

A number of years ago a colleague of mine who is a wine buff suggested to me that wines don't get better with age, they just change. I disagreed with him then, and this wine proves my point. As I mentioned 2 years ago, in its youth this was a very unpleasant wine. I have since watched it develop and improve to a stage where it has become an outstanding wine. Aromas of old chesterfield and a length that is just perfect. I can't agree with other recent reviewers - to me this is a stonkingly good wine. It may have a few more years left in it, but it is certainly drinking fabulously now. Easily the best non-Grand Cru Bordeaux (i have tasted) on the market. Life enhancing, in fact!

3/8/2015 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

A wonderful expression of unoaked chardonnay. Served slightly chilled (ten minutes in the glass at room temperature from the fridge) - plenty of structure to keep going for 3 or 4 more years, but drinking wonderfully now. Good value for money and highly enjoyable.

3/6/2015 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

A bit of a disappointment, to tell the truth. I've been watching this decline over the last 6 years, hoping that it would get a 2nd life eventually (given the strength of the vintage and the quality of this winery). Alas, it's not to be. I'm in complete agreement with the reviewers who comment on the funk/barnyard flavours. They had blown off by the 2nd night and the wine was actually quite nice, I just look for a longer finish from premium wines like this. Unfortunately the flavour disappears immediately after swallowing. Time to drink up my remaining bottles and hope the much vaunted riserva from the same vintage lives up to expectations!

3/6/2015 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Identical to my notes for the 1992 back in 2014. The finest straight shiraz I've ever tasted - a really fine balance between fruit (yes, there's still plenty there), acidity and tanins. Great secondary flavours coming through and a very long and persistent aftertaste. Still has 2 - 3 years left under its belt before it starts to fade, in my opinion (it hadn't declined in the least by the 2nd night).

2/14/2015 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

I wish people wouldn't rate wines compared to other wines! On its own merit, this is a fabulous wine. A little closed and acidic on day one (after 40 minutes on the glass and consumed over an hour), this had developed into something extremely special by day 2. A great (and underestimated, in my opinion) vintage in Tuscany, this had silky smooth tanins and layers of flavour which lingered for ages. A perfectly balanced and very special wine, this easily has a few more years left before reaching its peak.

1/28/2015 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Categorically in the style of Old World wines with smoky overtones, bouquet and taste of old leather and cigar-box, and still plenty of tanins (and some acidity). Perfectly balanced and the equivalent in quality (and a fraction the cost) of a 2nd or 3rd growth Bordeaux. Given that this wasn't that strong a vintage it's an impressive effort. Just my cup of tea!

1/27/2015 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Let breathe in the glass for an hour before consumption. Lovely nose and still a pleasant taste, but very thin on the mid palate. Some tanins but very little acidity. This had faded right away by day 2 (despite careful resealing). I have a strong preference for aged wines and Tahbilk have an excellent reputation for longevity, but this is now in decline and needs to be drunk straight away (and in one sitting).

1/14/2015 - JeandeTroyes Does not like this wine:

Perfectly serviceable but with very little character. The taste disappears straight away, although the surprisingly strong tanins linger for a minute or two. All in all a major disappointment (Bochaccio Cellars recommended this to me a few years ago) - particularly given the the strong vintage. Another Burgundy dud - I'm getting heartily sick of forking out $50 - $80 for totally forgetable wines (whether they be Village class or premier crus). I need an affordable burgundy to come along and knock my socks off before I go down this road again. As for the drinking window being between 2015 and 2025? Absolutely ludicrous. Already past its prime in my opinion.

1/12/2015 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Clos Triguedina produce some of my favourite wines, but - having said that - the Prince Probus has been somewhat problematic over the years. Their website claims an extreme longevity which can be misleading, and their wines DEFINITELY are prone to "sleeping". Tried this vintage in 2013 and just couldn't extract any flavour from it - but my recent experience was a huge relief. A distinctive and flavourful nose, with leather, strong espresso and liquorice on the palate. Plenty of silky smooth tanins, just a hint of acidity, and elegant in every respect. A glorious wine but beware - these wines definitely have a dull period during development and need patience. Of course it all depends on vintage, and this one happened to be a cracker! A visit to the winery is also highly recommended. Life-enhancing stuff.

1/7/2015 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

I've watched this develop over the last 3 or 4 years and was surprised to discover that the tanins have really come alive now. It must have been dormant a few years ago as it is now quite a tanic monster - just about overwhelming everything in its wake. Some powerful fruit sitting there in the background and sure to develop into something extremely special in about 3 - 5 years time. Don't touch!

Additional: Actually, I got this one wrong. By day 2 it had faded significantly - I suspect it's ready to drink now, but just needs a longer and more aggressive decant (mini-decantered it through a pouring vessel and left it to sit for 1 hr - probably needs 2 - 3 hours). Clearly I'm not much of a judge!

1/5/2015 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Personally I find that grenache can be bitter and unpleasant without a lot of years under its belt, so I found this wine absolutely smack bang in the middle of its drinking window. Chocolate-mocha characteristics and perfectly integrated, but I recommend against decanting. Very good upon opening, but at its best (for my taste) by day 3.

1/5/2015 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Restrained for an Australian shiraz, but up to expectations from Penfolds (who seldom fail to deliver). Beautifully balanced, elegant, some background fruit and - although there's little tanins or acidity left - remarkably strong in the mid-palate region. A lovely wine (despite the weaker vintage) and well worth having. It will continue to deliver for a few years to come.

12/26/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

I love older wines, but this one was well past its prime. Opened (pristine cork indicating that it had been well cellared) and poured into a glass 45 minutes before the first consumption. Little development over the next 45 minutes (2 glasses) and (after recorking) no change 6 hours later. Fading even further on the 2nd night, with little bouquet and some interesting flavours mid-palate. No acidity or finish (disappeared as soon as it was drunk), but leaving the mouth very dry (presumably from lingering tanins, although this isn't immediately obvious). Surely 2 - 4 years past its peak and, whilst not unpleasant, certainly not recommended. Don't be tempted to decant it or keep it.

12/22/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Similar to previous review. Loads of cola on the palate and still going strong by day 3. Mouth puckering tanins still dominate - lots and lots of years left in this one.

12/13/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Highly instructive experience with this wine. 12 months ago it was tannic, overly acidic, and poorly balanced. A very unpleasant experience. Today the tannins have settled down (ie, disappeared), there's very little acidity, and the flavour has knitted together into a lovely drinking experience. Let breathe for just half an hour in the glass, there was very little bouquet to speak of but a wonderful taste of violets and blueberries in the mouth. Just goes to show that even modest wines (this is pretty well entry level chianti) need a little bit of time to come together. Perfect drinking window at the moment - don't leave it any longer.

12/9/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

A timeless classic. Poured and let sit in a glass for just 20 minutes (I have a strong belief that aged wines require very little breathing). Intriguing nose of bootpolish, brambles and restrained blackcurrant which carries through without change onto the palate. Slight acidity which is just enough to provide weight and aged stewed fruits to balance it off, offering interest to both the front and middle portions of the mouth. Long, lingering aftertaste that comes back to haunt throughout the evening - just like a good aged wine should. Not quite up to the standard of the wonderful Cab Savs from this producer, but a mighty fine wine nonetheless.

12/6/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Even though I poured it through a mini-decanter and left it over an hour, this was so tannic that it left my mouth dry. Interesting nose and plenty of fruit on the palate, but this needs another couple of years, I think. Pleasant enough but not particularly memorable.

11/30/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Let breathe in a glass for half an hour before drinking - should have left it longer. A little closed at first, and one of those very rare creatures (in fact, I'd never come across it before) that actually tasted better than it smelt. The nose remained somewhat subdued over 3 days, but the flavour on the palate developed and changed constantly so that it was difficult to keep up with. By day 2 there was a distinctive aged-leather characteristic almost reminiscent of a 15yo Bordeaux - curious! Nice fruit and acidic backbone, and just enough tanin to keep you interested. Great value for money and a really good example of this style of wine. Glad I've got a couple more bottles - drink over the next couple of years.

11/28/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Drinking dates for this wine are totally incorrect - not only is it not past its drinking window (it is suggested that it is best enjoyed by 2013), it's actually still a bit too young. An unrecognisable beast to its lowly (and utterly characterless) brother (Village Beaujolais), this surprised me with its medium-bodiedness and flavour profile. Purplish-tinge and slight blueberry nose, it was a bit too coarse and vegetal for my liking on day 1, but had settled down into something a bit more approachable by day 3. Wish I'd ignored the drinking dates on this website and held onto it for a few more years - it could be quite interesting by about 2016-2017. Won't be investing in another bottle, though - it's just not good enough to worth worrying about.

11/22/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

I thought I knew this wine well (from previous vintages) but this one threw me. I even had a suspicion that it was mislabeled, particularly as there wasn't a hint of oak (which is the defining characteristic of an Italian Riserva wine). "Decanted" into a glass one hour before consumption. Very light and fruity on the nose, light burgundy-like colour with no hint of bricking. Light bodied in tasting as well - I could have sworn this was a young cabernet (hence my mislabelling suspicion above). Never would I have guessed that this was a Riserva NDM in a blind tasting. Long finish, nice acidity, and very fruity on the palate as well. I'll reassess my opinion on the second night. It might just be too young (a great vintage for Tuscan wines).

Day 2: Cabernet was completely wrong - this is Pinot Noir through and through. Nothing like a Carpineto Riserva NDM, or any type of Sangiovese Grosso for that matter. Keen to hear if any one else has come across this phenomenon. Impossible to rate this wine.

11/7/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Quite a distinctive chablis - definitely not to be mistaken for a Meursault or Montrachet! Way across on the steely-minerality side of the spectrum (no oak, I believe). Nice acidity and a slightly bitter (in a pleasant way) grapfruity finish. Lovely on the palate but not as mouth-filling as some chardonnays, which makes you suspect that the finish will be short. It lurks there in the background and haunts you for about half an hour - all pure chardonnay with no bells or whistles (ie, vanilla-oak). Something a bit different and very enjoyable. It took a while to open up and became better as it approached room temperature, but I suspect it has the structure to continue to develop for a few more years yet.

11/2/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Don't understand the previous reviewer - all my research suggests this vintage was fine! A fabulous Amarone in a terrific place at the moment and many years left under its belt. A perfect balance of dried raisins (not too over the top but nevertheless distinctive), acidity, prunes and that unique mixture of initial sweetness and dry finish (but not too dry). Decanted into a glass one hour before consumption and one of the loveliest Amarones I've tasted. High alcohol? No surprise - just read the label! If you don't like high alcohol steer away from Amarones and don't complain that it delivers exactly what it promises (duh!). An absolute hedonistic delight and strongly recommended (but don't worry - there is definitely no hurry!)!

10/26/2014 - JeandeTroyes Does not like this wine:

Off-dry, unpleasantly bitter on the front of the tongue and empty in the mid-palate, some typical lychees on the nose, but it doesn't deliver at all in the mouth. Glycerine-dominant texture and little acidity to speak of, there's very little to like about this wine. I admit to being a real fan of a good gewurztraminer, but it seems to be a rather elusive beast. Think I'll stick to the sweeter style in the future.

10/25/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Slow-oxd in the bottle for half an hour, followed by another half hour in the glass. The high acidity and firm structure of the wine suggests to me that it is just entering its drinking window - possibly even 1 or 2 years off its peak. Agree with the description provided by the previous reviewer - but I don't think there's a raging hurry to drink it. Nice entry level chianti that may open up and improve with a little more time.

10/23/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

An alluring, fruity nose upon opening, decanted into a riedel burgundy glass for one hour prior to drinking. In the mouth there was far less fruit, to be replaced by some funk, mushroom/forest floor flavours, and firm acidity. Full bodied for a PN and quite complex. The taste was subtle, but what there was tended to linger. Quite elegant and definitely an Old World style. Nevertheless quite overpriced and not up there with similarly priced Premier Cru Vosne Romenees (similar earthy styles). I don't think I'd buy it again, which isn't to say it's not very nice. May still have a couple of years left (that's what the winemaker claims, and I'm not expert enough to argue with him).

Additional: By day 2 this was as dead as a doornail. No way it has any more life in it (despite the claims of the winemaker) - drink now.

PS Absurdly overpriced at nearly A$100!! Much better wines available at less than half the price.

10/21/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

This is a fruit driven, early drinking modern style that I usually detest. I was all ready to hate this wine, but - by day 3 - I found that it was perfectly acceptable. The blackcurrant flavours weren't as dominant as I'd come to expect from Australian shiraz's (more blue fruits than red fruits, in fact). Left to breathe in the glass on the 1st day for 1 hour, it was still pretty fruity but unusual enough to be interesting (if a bit one dimensional). Like I said, it had settled down a bit by day 3, which suggests it still has a couple of years left in it. Having said that, I prefer the fruit of my shiraz's and cabernet's to be less pronounced and in the background, so if you're a fruit-bomb lover you might consider it already past it's prime. A pleasant-ish surprise, but I won't be buying another bottle. It nevertheless has me curious about some of the better quality wines from this maker. May not be as loathsome as I once thought!

10/17/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

A surprisingly complex wine which still hasn't quite integrated. Blueberries and oak stand quite separately from each other and it needs a few more years to knit together. I'd never have spotted it as a Nd M at a blind tasting (given the blue fruits), and it certainly developed the longer it sat in the glass. I'd given it 45 minutes, but a good decant and another half hour would have been beneficial. Another Carpineto winner with at least 6 more years life in it yet. My advice is not to touch it until 2015-2016.

10/13/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

"Decanted" into a glass half an hour before drinking, then consumed over 3 days. Restrained fruit but still a distinctive blackcurrant flavour with little discernible oak. A very nicely balanced and silky feel in the mouth, although somewhat lacking in acidic backbone. Tanins have largely melted into the background so I guess it's on now the decline. Still a very pleasurable drink with none of that "over the top" fruit-forwardness that many Australian shiraz/syrahs go in for these days.

9/22/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Gosh, I couldn't disagree more with Startinoz - we obviously have very different tastes. For me this is the perfect example of how a humble, entry level chablis splatters its Australian counterparts to the four winds! At this price you're really struggling to come up with a decent Australian chardonnay (I can think of one or two exceptions), and - hey! - it's a chablis! Of course it doesn't have any oak. Just the pure minerality and varietal expression of chardonnay. Lots of mouth-filling flavour of citrus with a hint of buttery nuttiness to finish. No acidity in 2014, so I don't expect it will age particularly well. Drinking beautifully at the moment.

9/21/2014 - JeandeTroyes Does not like this wine:

One of my favourite wineries, but I'm afraid their website leads the reader astray on this particular wine. It claims that the 1985 vintage is ready to drink now or may be held, but the truth is that this is many years past its "use by" date. Absolutely nothing of interest left in the tank and devoid of any character to comment on. The strange thing is that, whilst I am an enormous fan of the basic Clos Trig wine (and I had several bottles of the '88 a few years ago and it was stunning), I can't honestly say that I have EVER had a Prince Probus (the next level up) that I've enjoyed. eg - the 2000 is still closed with little to commend it, whilst once again the same vintage of the Clos Trig is simply stunning. It sometimes happens - the premium wine of a winery seems to compromise taste and character for structure, with the result that the lesser wines are much more appealing. Go figure.

9/18/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Probably (to my taste) the nicest, best balanced and most elegant shiraz I've ever had. Almost meaty on the nose with none of that overpowering backcurrantness which plagues most Australian shiraz's. Clear edges suggest it's on the decline, and "legs" on the glass which confirm it's pedigree. Wonderfully balanced on the palate, with enough acidity and tanins to hold it together. Just a hint of bitter blackcurrant in the aftertaste, but initially subtle fruit and plenty of complexity. Used to be a big fan of all Grant Burge wines - this has helped renew my faith. A much more pleasant experience than my recent encounters with that other Aussie flagship shiraz, Wynn's John Riddoch. This one even has a few more years left in it, I think.

9/11/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

What a great little bargain. The bottle recommends drinking from between 6 - 10 years of age and is absolutely correct. Firm, gripping tannins unusual for an inexpensive pinot that offer a distinctive peppery note on the palate (I'm sure that if it was any younger it would be overpowering). Great depth of flavour - sour cherry (kirsch) predominating but not overly fruit-forward for all that - and a persistent after taste. It will live for another 3 - 4 years easily, and no concerns about corking (it's screwtop!). I wouldn't have believed that a pinot could delivery such pleasure in this price range. Heading out now to buy a few more bottles!

PS: Sad to learn that the winemaker has retired and it is no longer possible to purchase these wines. Bugger.

9/2/2014 - JeandeTroyes Does not like this wine:

At this early stage an extremely confused and unpleasant wine. Bought from the winery itself near Montefalco (apparently it was voted best European winery in 2013 by Wine Spectator - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), it was easily surpassed by the lovely 7 euro 2006 supermarket Sagrantino I'd bought the day before (go figure). Ok - it may need a lot more time (in fact, it definitely does - don't go near it for at least another 5 years), but you'd expect an 11yo to have come to grips with itself in some form by now. A strange amalgam of very sweet and very dry, it doesn't quite know what it wants to be. Food pairing is almost impossible as a result, and the staggering price is outrageous. I acknowledge that I could be eating my words in 10 years time, however, but there's no inkling of such promises at this stage.

9/2/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

A fairly weak entry level Amarone with very little characteristics of the genre. I'd never have spotted it as an Amarone in a blind tasting - which is astounding given that the style is (normally) extraordinarily distinctive. Coarse like a commercial sangiovese or average quality Ripasso, by day 3 it had settled down and was pleasant enough. Given that, it may improve with a few years under its belt, but it will always lack the punch and depth of flavour which I adore in this type of wine. I worry about the standard of the Zonin Ripasso's I have stashed away, though!

9/2/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Simply glorious! Wonderful expression of an aged Cahors. Old leather on the nose which delivers the identical experience in the mouth. Lingering aftertaste with a viscosity on the tongue like a fine port. Yum yum yum. A bit weak mid palate and just a hint of acidity, which suggests that it doesn't have that much longer to go. 2015 sounds just about right.

8/6/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Graemeg got it wrong all those years ago (see previous review from 2004) - the Redman Claret (counter-intuitively) was the shiraz, and the Cab Sav has always been labelled as Cab Sav. Aged Redmans never fail to intrigue and can be relied on to develop into something interesting. This one's new to me, though - it is remarkably like a vintage port! I kid you not, and it is an extremely disturbing experience. Is it flawed? Is it oxidised? Someone with more skill than me would have to be the judge of that. Flawed or not it was delicious. No fruit whatsoever (not a drawback for me, as long as something else has taken its place) and distinctive grain/cereal overtones (barley?). Looooong finish which coats the mouth. Like I said, this is so unusual it may have actually been flawed, but it serves to reconfirm my faith in aged Redman wines (both Cab Savs and Shiraz/Clarets).

4/28/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Seriously underrated wine. Enjoys a very strong reputation in France, but is curiously under-appreciated out in the New World by those looking for black-currant fruit bombs. This wine has developed very nicely over the past few years and is beginning to reveal those wonderful old-leather characteristics so typical of good Bordeaux's. Plenty of structure, balance, tanins and acidity that will continue to develop over the next 6 - 10 years. Had a bottle from the legendary '82 vintage several years ago, as well as a '93 more recently - both wines proving the potential longevity of this wine (especially from strong vintages such as this). A very refreshing change from overpriced, sickly Barossa Valley Cabernet's and Shiraz's of recent times. Excellent value for money.

4/24/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

A nice shiraz which is much more restrained, balanced and less fruit-forward than others of its ilk (including some of the more expensive wines from this winery). Some elegance here without the sickeningly-sweet, jammy blackcurrant flavours that seem to be the fashion in today's new world shiraz's. A good effort. Drink now.

4/21/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

A wine I find bitter and very unpleasant when young - surprised to find that the over-the-top menthol/mint and mouth-puckeringly dry finish of its youth has mellowed into a much more approachable beast (some leather charactersistics beginning to shine through). Unmistakably cool climate (not my favourite but still preferable to the over-extracted, blackcurrant jams of the Barossa Valley), a little short on the finish (definitely beginning to decline) and not too bad at all. Still not sure I would bother replacing this wine, I would prefer to spend a bit more on a nice Bordeaux. Extraordinarily narrow drinking window (don't like it any younger, and will be pretty non-descript in a year's time, I think). Keen to compare it to my bottle of the flagship Domaine A Cab Sav I have percolating in the cellar.

4/14/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Ok wine that drinks fine but offers little beyond its primary flavours. Agree with other reviewers that it offers more on the nose than in the mouth, with plenty of acidity and pleasant tanins. Weakness in the middle palate suggests that it may be beginning to decline. I wouldn't expect it to be getting any better than this.

Additional note: by day 2 this had faded quite a bit. Upon reflection a bit coarse and not that great - although quite inexpensive and reasonable VFM. 87 points.

4/12/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Interesting to watch this wine's development over the last 4 years. Still plenty of acidity and fruit with another 4 years at least ahead of it. Wonderful bouquet and delicious on the palate - modestly priced but punching well above its weight. A classic brunello from a wonderful vintage.

4/8/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

6 years on from the previous review and very little has changed. Agree entirely that it leans more towards the fruit (sour cherries) than earthiness flavours, and that it lacks any real complexity. I found it quite short on the finish and not a lot of depth of flavour - but that's probably because it's beginning to fade. They told me recently at the winery that this vintage should be drunk soon, and I was disappointed that such an expensive wine doesn't offer greater longevity. I'm a fan of Lubiana wines, but the price tag just isn't justified in this case. Nice but hardly memorable.

4/5/2014 - JeandeTroyes wrote:

Wow, what a monster. The mind boggles what this must have been like 10 years ago! Extremely sweet (even for an Amarone) - reminiscent of a Sagrantino Passito. Huge alcohol, extremely sweet stewed fruits, highly acidic. You'd swear it was bottled yesterday. Not to everyone's taste, I imagine, and very, very decadent. Didn't go particularly well with pizza - not sure what you could satisfactorily pair it with, to be honest. I expect it will continue to develop for another 3 - 5 years at least. You need to be prepared to have your socks knocked off, and avoid salt (it would be truly disgusting with a washed rind cheese, for instance). Very hard to score.

3/29/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Quite suspicious about this wine. 1st bottle great, 2nd bottle truly dreadful, 3rd bottle corked, and the latest bottle terrific. Points range from 78 to 91 - I have never come across such bottle inconsistency. My latest experience offered a wonderfully complex nose which carried through to the palate. Lots of berry fruits, acidity and silky smooth tanins - none of the astringic, under-ripe cabernet characteristics of the previous 2 offerings. Being a highly commercial operation (they seem to produce a version of everything available on the Italian peninsula), I seriously wonder if t they get their bottling mixed up at times. Truly, the last 2 bottles were nothing like the 1st and latest. I wonder what my last bottle holds in store for me? Based on my most recent experience, I'll hold onto it for a couple more years. Good luck, fellow drinkers! It's a real pig-in-a-poke.

3/25/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

I have enjoyed every Rothbury Barrique red I've had from around this period over the past 4 or 5 years. My most recent experiences have been with the 91' vintage and they were hugely enjoyable. Unlike their Barossa counterparts, there's a lot more going on here than mere fruit - and at a fraction the cost. Old leather, boot polish, a touch of liquorice - and (of course) plenty of integrated oak. Still drinking very, very nicely. Proof positive for me that I much prefer aged Hunter Valley shiraz's over anything being offered from South Australia. Finesse, balance and age-worthiness. Great!

3/15/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Mostly sangiovese, with a little cab sav and merlot. These days Tignanello would qualify as a chianti - but as it was responsible for establishing the reputation of super tuscans way back when, and as the reputation of super tuscans now exceeds that of chianti by a country kilometre - why bother? This was just an ok vintage for Tuscany, so the quality of this wine took me quite by surprise. Fabulous aromas of old leather and liquorice on the nose, and a palate that shifts subtly with each sip. Quite savoury (which is typical of the variety), and still with some acidity and a hint of tanins. Will it last until 2033? Can't see it myself. Another couple of years at most, I'd guess. The truth is that it is a stunner of a drink now - a real life-enhancing experience. Can't wait to try the 1999 in a few more years (a much stronger vintage), and perhaps the 2008 on my deathbed (hopefully a very long way off). Can't think of a better way to exit this world!

3/10/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine:

Stunning white wine. Don't be fooled into thinking that this is past its prime - its drinking wonderfully now and has a couple of years left in it in my opinion. Glorious texture of soft glycerine with a toasty/yeasty bouquet that is carried through onto the palate. Despite its critics, I find Yattarna to be consistently reliable and to a standard comparable to a top class Mersault or Montrachet. Great with seafood, but also highly enjoyable on its own. Savour it!