12/25/2010 - rjag wrote:

Absolute stunner!

Not sure it was entirely typical, but my God this was good! Took me about 5 attempts to actually take a mouthful because every time I raised the glass, I was overwhelmed by the most powerful, beautiful perfume I've ever come across.

Perversely, it wasn't a wine to analyse and dissect, just one in which to glory and enjoy. My note therefore will record nothing but nose and greatness.

1/5/2011 - rjag wrote:

Almost stereotypical Aussie Shiraz. Huge dark ripe fruit on the palate, together with some definite, although tastfully done, vanilla. Much of interest, pepper, chocolate, coffe going on underneath, but at the moment rather overwhelmed by the fruit which, although not remotely jammy, is slightly domineering.

Not something I'd want to drink every day, but satisfies my very occasional craving for an "old fashioned" Oz beautifully. Who knows, in a few years, if the fruit takes more of a back seat, it may evolve into something quite special.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Well, 6 years on from the vintage and the fruit doesn't disappear in a hurry - this still has the sweet blackcurranty fruitiness of the younger vintages.

I think it's begining to take on some secondary flavours, but this wine, while obviously "serious" is still enormous fun. Kind of like the end of Mahler 2; by no means lightweight, but very easy to just get carried along by its overall feeling of joy!

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Very like the 07, but slightly more subtle. Slightly better structure?

I think I'd buy this over the 07...

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Has developed a sweet liquorice nose and palate compared to the 08. That lovely sweet black fruit is there again, but I just have a slight concern over whether this wine has the structure to age as well as one might hope.

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Absolutely explosive nose; the closest I can get is sherbet, but that rather insults what's on offer here.
The palate is rather like the 07 Vieux Telegraphe, relatively severe and restrained compared to the nose, but softens on the finish.

All 4 of the Avril wines tonight (08, 07, 06, 04) have strong juicy blackcurrant fruit. My first taste of Clos des Papes; it won't be my last.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Condrieu style nose.

This is by no means a bad wine, but I think there are better wines available here for the same price.

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Like the 08, this is good. Actually, it's very very good.

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Best 08 on show after the Clos des Papes. Blackberry palate and decent structure. All in all something of a surprise.

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Burgundian fruit and grace on the palate with a blackberry nose that is curiously Rhonish.

Very Good.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Very good, but lacks a bit of body.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Very ripe, almost Australian in style. A nother good wine at a fair (£192) price.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Sweete fruit and pepper. Soft and easy drinking, but too expensive at £156

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): This has a much fruitier nose than the straight CNDP, but I'm rather worried that it's a bit lacking in structure.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Hints of chocolate. Very good balance and structure. Will improve?.
Lovely in full mouthful.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Another of tonight's stunners.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Needs time. At the moment, it's showing alcohol and not much else. Everything is in the right place and this will probably be delightful in due course.

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Sweet black fruit on the nose with a blackberry apalte and very soft tannins.

Great value at £132

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Burgundian crunchy strawberry fruit, but with tannin. Utterly fantastic value!

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Condrieu nose, but more elegant and mioneral. The palate's completely different though; really full bodied and opulent with a pleasant sourness, but not excessive.

Probably one to buy old, if one can find it anywhere.

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): It's kiond of like a Burgundy; bucketloads of tannin, but elegant and pure. Good on a non typical Rhone way. Mineral notes.

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Much sweeeter than the Montirius Vacqueryas. Will make lovely young drinking.

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Peppery Rhone nose. Another stunning wine!!

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Peppery nose, but limited fruit. A little mean?

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Salty and restrained, it gives nothing away. Seems classy though.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Sweet orange and grapefruit nose. The palate is mineral and restrained with good structure. Made from just Marsanne, I reckon this wants 4-5 years before drinking.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Sweet, opulent red/black fruits on nose. Palate matches nose; good balance, tannins and acidity.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Gunpowder and pepper nose. White pepper palate, but lacks the interest of the 07.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Good simple fare. Drink now. Very good value.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Drink young. Does nothing for me. Sweet and simple.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Not great. Flabby. Could be because I tasted it out of order, but I won't be buying.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Proper Rhone yumines. Disturbingly sof tannins - they are there, but they're phenomenanally soft.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Much more like Cornas than some on show tonight. Decent price, but there are still better wines on show tonight.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): White pepper and rounded tannins.

Might well develop?

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): This wine gives nothing away. Slight mint on an elderflower! dominated nose. Palate has intense, raspberry dominated red fruit.

3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Pepper game and blackcurrants on the nose. Very tannic but intense dark soft fruit on palate. Good.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): That Condrieu nose is all there, but the palate has gone to glycerol and all the interesting nuances of the younger vintages seem to have disappeared.

I wonedr whether this wine will come again?

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Alcohol is slightly out of kilter again, reinforcing my concerns about the 08. A glance at the bottle reveals this is only 13% which shows it's all about balance and that this ain't got it. Interesting nuances on the palate, but it's a fight to appreciate them over the alcohol.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Quite a vivid cranberry colour again. Much softer than the Ogier Cote Rotie. I think it will drink much younger. Less good than the Ogier.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Nose is more restrained than the Ogier Condrieu. Honey on palate with caramel finish. Well structured and very good. Slightly too alcoholic with a hint of burn, but this may well fade before the lovely crispness disappears too.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Like La Rosine, but more so on nose. More intense and tannic on palate. It needs the spicy oak and tannins to integrate, but it could be very good once they do.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Cranberry colour. White pepper on nose and palate. Proper NOrthern Rhone syrah.

3/1/2010 - rjag wrote:

Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Wonderful apricot nose. Orange peel and honey palate. Beautiful acidity. Stunning, but drink young.

1/13/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

BBR 2008 Burgundy tasting: Clear difference in class between this and the Latricieres -Chambertin. Very good and I'm happy I've got a case of this squirrelled away.

1/13/2010 - rjag wrote:

BBR 2008 Burgundy tasting: Not bad, but I can't taste why this is a Grand Cru. Not really a crticism of the wine I susect, just my inexperience at tasting GC Burgundy.

1/13/2010 - rjag wrote:

BBR 2008 Burgundy tasting: Warm and comforting again. No great fruit on show at the moment, but very competent indeed.

1/13/2010 - rjag wrote:

BBR 2008 Burgundy tasting: So tight!, but velvety and lovely. Very Good!

1/13/2010 - rjag wrote:

BBR 2008 Burgundy tasting: This is just like the straght Village wine, but better. In fact, it's absolutely lovely.

1/13/2010 - rjag wrote:

BBR 2008 Burgundy tasting: Now I understand where the metalic elemnet in some of the other wines was coming from and where it was tring to get to. I'm still not utterly convinced by it, but I would be fascinated to try this again in a few years.

1/13/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:

BBR 2008 Burgundy tasting: Deeper and stronger nose than Les Baudes. Less giving at the moment, but still very, very good.