10/22/2022 - dustbuddy wrote:

Needs quite a bit more time for me. Attractive nose but a little disjointed on the palate. Will return in 5 years.

11/28/2020 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Plenty of spice/herbs to go with sweet darker fruit notes. A hint of cola bottles almost - not as unpleasant as it sounds. Close to 14% but retains elegance. Lovely.

2/18/2020 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

I suspect that the earlier reviews did not wait long enough. Even now, this wine feels like it has room to evolve and develop. Rich, meaty dark fruit into a ripe supple palate. I think it might be a little more elegant if it were picked earlier with reduced sugar levels but nothing is out of balance. Bottle 6 of 12.

9/21/2019 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Delicious. In a great place right now. A mix of savoury olive and bacon in combination with sweet red fruit. A fantastic expression of the grape.

7/2/2016 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Tasted alongside a Beaucastel 1998 which felt in a much better place. Slightly mute nose with just hints of sweetness and strawberries. However, a very full palate which reminded me of a theoretical version of a herbal kirsch. I found the finish slightly hot but by no means unpleasant.

7/2/2016 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Tasted alongside a Clos des Papes 2006. Sweet (verging towards syrupy) red fruit is kept in balance by a hint of herbs. Hint of dark chocolate of the finish. Good example of CNP.

6/11/2016 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

I had to order this when I saw it on the menu and was not disappointed. Amber gold in hue. Hard to compare to anything other than, maybe aged Loire Chenin Blanc. Honey, herbs and a lovely balancing oxidative note. Lovely stuff.

6/15/2015 - dustbuddy wrote:

My mind immediately travels to northern rhone with meaty, peppery olive notes. Tannins feel pretty well resolved although I expect that there might be more to come over the next few years.

4/3/2015 - dustbuddy wrote:

Lovely and would seem to now be within its drinking window, particularly with some appropriate food to go alongside it. Everything is feeling pretty resolved and in place. White pepper nose with a full, rich palate with plenty of fruit and a stoney edge.

3/1/2015 - dustbuddy wrote:

Tasted via coravin. Not as rich and luxurious as the 2011 version of this wine. Instead a leaner and more direct proposition. Citrus and saline to the fore. Pleasant but not spectacular.

2/21/2015 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

If you were expecting a fruit forward new world expression of Syrah when you opened this bottle you would be in for a shock. Instead this is a dense brooding beast of a wine with more than a nod to N. Rhone. Meaty and vegetative aromas hit you hard into a dry lingering slightly peppery finish. Lovely stuff - More please Chile!

2/20/2015 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Decanted for about an hour. Really lovely. Fragrant with blackcurrant still to the fore but with interesting earthy notes just behind. Tannins are nicely resolved and the finish is long and luscious with a reminder of all the flavours that greeted the nose.

2/3/2015 - dustbuddy wrote:

Tasted via coravin. Not especially inspiring at the moment. Lemon sherbert into a powerfully acidic finish. A slightly furry mouthfeel as well. Not sure what to make of it!

2/1/2015 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Tasted via coravin. A wonderful contradiction of a wine beach acidity with a touch of honey. Best of all is the spicy/herbaceous notes on the palate and finish. Lovely stuff.

1/31/2015 - dustbuddy wrote:

Old vine Grenache. Very light on its feet and not showing too much evidence of alcohol. Inviting nose evoking the hedgerow. All berries and foliage. A peristent finish with a little heat but, more interestingly, a pleasantly fresh herbal note.

1/24/2015 - dustbuddy wrote:

A wine that feels like it might have some potential but never revealed itself on this showing. A sweet delicate nose with plenty of interest - vegetables amongst the fruit. The palate is much denser. Too dense perhaps - a wine of two halves which doesn't feel quite as integrated as it should.

1/17/2015 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Tasted via coravin. At first a little primary with plenty of black cherry in evidence. Finish a bit dry for my taste. However with some time the tannins have rounded out and more interesting sweet cured meat type aromas have come forward. Lovely stuff but could do with a bit more time I think.

1/10/2015 - dustbuddy wrote:

Tasted via coravin alongside the 2007 Corullon cuvée from the same winemaker. Unsurprisingly, far less powerful but arguably none the worst for it. Smooth vanilla amidst some dark fruit into a relatively short finish. Not as sophisticated as the senior cuvée and difficult to spot as being 100% Mencia.

1/10/2015 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Tasted via coravin. Dark ripe fruit, almost brambly? Retains a good amount of freshness amidst a creamy woodland palate and finish. It really coats the mouth - lovely stuff.

1/9/2015 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

This must be the most interesting Kiwi Pinot I have tasted yet. Raspberry perfume to start but lots of weird and wonderful earthy and mushroom aromas on the palate. Initially I thought this was a little soft but there are actually quite firm but fine tannins providing good structure as well.

1/6/2015 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Tasted via coravin. I really like this. Elegant with some cream/toast on the nose into a fascinating linear palate with a really interesting saline quality. I have tried the top Sorte O Soro cuvée from this vintage and this is not far from that quality.

1/5/2015 - dustbuddy wrote:

Tasted via coravin. Extremely fragment with raspberry and leafy/herbal notes. Taut structure which suggests this has plenty more to give with further age and characteristic foillard lift on the finish.

12/13/2014 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

A really enjoyable wine. Immensely drinkable but it is a wine worth pondering a while as well. Delicate fruit with an almost ethereal mouthfeel - full and flirty all at once. My first bottle. I look forward to the rest of th case with some relish.

11/21/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon (The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong): Delicate but maybe too delicate? Very slight red fruit. A little too sweet?

11/21/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon (The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong): Generous sweet plush fruit. Plenty of spice. A strong pull into a darker and brooding finish. Weird as the 2012 Applejack that was served was quite light by comparison to its 2010 sibling. This was just the reverse.

11/21/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon (The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong): My least favourite wine of the evening. However, it did have a beautiful perfume - cherry and maybe some floral notes (blossom of some kind?). However, on the palate, a little dull by comparison to those before and certainly not as much drive on the finish.

11/21/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon (The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong): Darker and more substantial than the 2012 that it was served alongside. A warmer vintage. Plenty of spice to accompany the red fruit (Liquorice perhaps?).

11/21/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon (The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong): Delicate red fruit to begin with some herbs/greenery as back notes. A little tart perhaps?. Zingy and mineral in the mouth with an interesting long finish. Pretty accessible right now.

11/21/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon (The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong): My favourite wine of the evening. Powerful, dense and earthy - everything you could wish for from an Otago Pinot. Just starting to develop but is so rich and decadent right now that you could leave it alone for some time to come.

11/21/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon (The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong): 5 spice and more delicate fruit to start. Then into the dense palate with characteristic puckering acidity. A real food wine. Difficult to assess at present.

11/21/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon (The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong): A bit closed right now? Puckering in the right way. Such density. Cherry and herb on the back palate. Lovely stuff. Good potential.

11/21/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon (The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong): Currently seems a bit closed as this is even more reticent than the other Rippons tasted. However, it has good bones with a classy mouth feel - a bit like a velvet glove it is forceful and playful all at once! Hints of bitterness which slightly detracts perhaps?

11/21/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon (The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong): More typical of central otago than the other rippon wines? Characteristic density of fruit amongst a herbs and undergrowth. It seems less tense than the younger vintages although you sense that there is still plenty to come.

11/22/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

From the dense and brooding breed of Pinot, although none the worse for it. Polished and juicy fruit into a powerful backbone full of tannins and acidity. A serious wine, although without some of the lightness of touch that a good Pinot can bring.

11/14/2014 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

This is pretty much a perfect Beaujoulais for me. Juicy cherry and raspberry to start with earth and herbs all tied together by well judged and well balanced acidity. So easy to drink that it should be wrong!

11/13/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

"America's First Growth" The Ridge Tasting (Tott's, The Excelsior): In a slightly adolescent phase for me. Cedar, tobacco and leafy aromas are more prominent than the 2011 that preceded it. However, with more time the wine is likely to develop further. Certainly no hurry.

11/13/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

"America's First Growth" The Ridge Tasting (Tott's, The Excelsior): Obviously nowhere near ready so only impressions for now. Balance is the word that springs to mind to me. Black currant which does not overpower. Spice and earth which compliments. Smooth tannins. Lovely.

11/13/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

"America's First Growth" The Ridge Tasting (Tott's, The Excelsior): Far finer than the zins that went before. Leafy, tobacco aromas stand out amongst fruit which give welcome complexity. All slightly too subtle perhaps but very easy to drink right now.

11/13/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

"America's First Growth" The Ridge Tasting (Tott's, The Excelsior): The blackberry cassis is still there but lifted by fresher leafy notes. Very approachable and fine. Lovely right now but could improve over the next couple of years.

11/13/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

"America's First Growth" The Ridge Tasting (Tott's, The Excelsior): Feels much more ready than the Lytton Springs 2012 that preceded it. Even more pungent with cassis notes carrying through onto the palate amidst spicy highlights.

11/13/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

"America's First Growth" The Ridge Tasting (Tott's, The Excelsior): Beautiful perfume of blueberries and vanilla. Palate is slightly flat but tannins are kept in check and surely this can only improve.

11/11/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

This was all a little one dimensional for me. Extremely acidic finish with some raspberry fruit and leafiness on the nose. Not much to get excited about - so many better examples of gamay in Beaujolais.

9/13/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Initially the sweet fruit aroma appeared likely to give way to alcoholic heat. However, this is surprisingly delicate. The fruit is hidden amongst herbal and pepper notes. Good length as well.

9/7/2014 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Powerful stuff. Dense mineral and garrigue flavours are to the fore with sweet dark fruit right behind. I am looking forward to seeing this develop in the years to come.

8/3/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Rare to see Sauvignon Gris as a single varietal - my only experience to date. Like its cousin varietal grassy, gooseberry notes are in abundant supply but with a hint of saline which adds pleasing complexity. The finish is uncomplicated but with refreshing acidity. An easy summer drink.

7/21/2014 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

Evocative nose. Full of meat, smoke and dark red fruit. Palate is very full with spice and pepper, some grip and not as hot as you might at first think. Really lovely stuff.

7/21/2014 - dustbuddy Likes this wine:

A real tang to this wine. A slightly saline nose but then a bright citric fruit cuts through everything. A wine for a summer's day. Lovely.

7/20/2014 - dustbuddy Does not like this wine:

Not sure if this was a defective bottle but if this is meant to taste like this, I am not a fan. Cidery aromas mask any real terroir influence resulting in just another 'natural style' white wine. At the price point, of very limited interest only.

7/9/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Mark Haisma Tasting (Magdalen Restaurant, London): Thin, delicate thread of bubbles, into a slightly bready nose with delicate citrus aromas. I am not a huge fan of champagne but this was lovely.

7/9/2014 - dustbuddy wrote:

Mark Haisma Tasting (Magdalen Restaurant, London): Port but not as we know it. A little bit anti-septic ribena? Interesting as a curiosity but not sure I will be rushing back.