88 points
Mosel, Germany. 8.5%
Young but has developed some character. The low alcohol is very difficult to spot – wouldn’t it be lovely if all wines of character could be made with only 8.5%. Well worth buying.
June 25, 2009
Le Dix de Los Vascos 2004
86+ points
Colchagua, Chile. 13.5%
Los Vascos by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) is a wine I occasionally have when in the USA, this Chilean wine is preferable to many Californian competitors, although the bottle int he retail store is usually very yound. So I was pleased to see this with a bit of age. Essentially it’s a reserve wine, made to celebrate 10 years of Rothschild operating in Chile. Unfortunately it wasn’t a lot of fun, dense fairly closed wine, lacking somewhat in elegance and certainly no distinctive style – it’s did not compare well against Grand Puy Lacoste 2004.
Give this 3 more years in bottle.
June 12, 2009
Torres Salmos 2005
88 points
Priorat, Spain. 14.5%
Liquorice sweet wine. A bit over the top.
Bellbird Spring home block white 2008
87 points
Waipara, New Zealand. 13%
An unusual blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat and Gwertztraminer. It’s oily and sort of sweetish, with tonnea of flavour. Not my style ( reminds me of Viognier a bit) but I enjoyed it.
June 1, 2009
La Motte shiraz 2004
90 points
It’s a strange mélange of sweet slightly syrupy fruit balanced by green notes and fresh acid with a very smokey overlay (which seems to be the fashion with top SA Shiraz). I’m being generous with the score because it’s interesting and, for me, novel – on another day I might be more critical.
Chateau Beychevelle 2002
89 points
Interesting. Lovely herbal notes. Good drinking now, should last a good while but I’m suspicious about the distinctive volatile acidity note so don’t risk cellaring for long.
Dominique Laurent Chambolle-Musigny vielles vignes 2004
90 points
Bigger more concentrated than the other Laurent Burgundies I’ve tried recently. Good stuff needs 2-3 more years.
