89+ points
Barossa Valley, South Australia. 14.4%
Dark almost syrupy, very obviously Barossa Shiraz. A lot of sweet oak. After a very good deal of breathing it remains an opulent wine. A chocolate toffee of a wine.
Perhaps 2012 will see some savoury characters emerge, and the sweet oak take to the background.
89 points
Sauternes, Bordeaux, France. 14%
Approachable with some complexity for its youth. But lower acid and less zingy fruit than I’d have expected or hoped to see.
87 points
Barossa Valley, South Australia. 14%
This is supposed to be a break from most of the Penfolds SA Bin series wines. The concept is St Henri (higher altitude fruit) but with French Oak.
But it’s not so different. Over priced.
84 points
Minervois la Liviniere, France. 14%
Dark bold very Southern in style and flavour. A bit too much raisin.
Good if you like this style I don’t.
88+ points
Champagne, France. 12%
Pale very young. Rather classic acidic dry blanc de blanc. Good wine that demands some cellar time. I’ll report later on bottles of this case bought in late 2009.
88+ points
Cornas, Northern Rhone, France. 13.5%
Seemed lighter than when I tried it recently next to
92 points
Graves, Pessac Leognan. 13%
This is distinctly dilute reflecting some difficulties with the 2001 vintage but it’s awfully hard to complain as in this case all it has meant is the wine is drinking early. And so well.
Gorgeous left bank claret with fresh appetizing fruit, light flavoursome succulent even. Framed perfectly in unobtrusive oak. This really is very fine. Delicious now.
87+ points
Quite dense with a spine of acid. Dark colour. Leave until 2011 to try again.
87 points
Coonawarra, south Australia. 13.5%
Slightly confected oak and fruit sweetness but otherwise a quality wine. Coonawarra Cabernet is improving I think, less obvious eucalypt and other strange characters. Restrained alcohol, nice balance.
My key criticism is that this has the polish of a commercial white wine, a little too scrubbed. Perhaps with age complexity will emerge?
87 points
Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France. 13%
A minerally, iron-like, savoury claret – similar in style to previous vintages though with greater density and a little more weight. Less expressive than I expected, especially on the nose – which made me wonder about slight cork influence or bottle shock from travel.
Certainly bears little resemblance to the following (cask sample) reviews from 2006:
Robert Parker [WA]: 89-91 points, excellent to outstanding “Starting in 2005, the luxury cuvee, Karolus, will no longer be made as the proprietors believe they have raised the level of Senejac to that of a luxury wine. The 10,000-case 2005, made by well-known oenologist, Jacques Boissenot (a disciple of the late Emile Peynaud), is the finest I have yet tasted. Its saturated ruby/purple color is accompanied by rich aromas of licorice, forest floor, blackberries, and chocolate-infused black currants. This medium-bodied, moderately tannic, rich wine is clearly of classified-growth quality. It will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and last for 12-14 years.” Stephen Spurrier [Decanter]: 17 points, highly recommended “Deep colour, lively fragrant style with pure vineyard fruit and definite elegance. Drink 2009-18.”
90+ points
Pauillac, Bordeaux, France. 13%
Dark, intense, polished young claret, yet for all that surprisingly approachable – I suppose that’s what people have been writing about 2005 but I haven’t quite believed it, as young classed growth Bordeaux can be pretty much an intellectual rather than sensual pleasure. This could last 15+ years and really needs to be kept for a good while.
I’ve read reports that in 2005 this wine’s stablemate Chateau Clerc Milon is superiour – but these were reports from early tastings. It would certainly be fun to try these side by side, I doubt either would be in any way disappointing.
86 points
Napa Valley, California, USA. 14.2%
A famous producer, its Margaret vineyard cabernet featured in the 1970s “Judgement of Paris” tasting.
An 11 year wine, and on sale for half price in Philadelphia, quite a find.
It’s a mellow, almost cuddly sort of cabernet. Without complexity or power. Sweetish, but not bad by US standards. A little noticeably over alcoholic. Drink now.
89+ points
Mosel Saar Ruwer, Germany. 7.5%
Bracing acidity, complexity just starting to develop, gentle. Needs time. This was in great condition but I still wish they wouldn’t use cork I’ve had too many off bottles lately.
90 points
Eric’s Vineyard, Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, South Australia. 13.5%
Well flavoured quite fine Chardonnay. Good value for such quality fruit.
91 points
Haut-Medoc. 13%
Lovely wine drinking well now and for another 10+ years. Better than the 1996 richer. My estimation of the 2000 vintage is bouncing back.
91+ points
Wilyabrup Valley, Western Australia. 13.5%
A very impressive young Bordeaux blend 67% Cabernet, 17% Merlot, 16% Malbec. Powerful young berry fruit but unusual for Australia it’s quite savoury and the alcohol is moderate. The natural (?) acid is good and the overall balance is great. Like many great wines this will still drink well young but I’m going to try not to touch my case for another 10 years (2019).
90 points
Mosel, Germany. 7.5%
Lovely fruity, rather than mineraly, Riesling. Gently sweet quite forward. Enjoy now and over next few years. Cork.
77 points
Coonawarra, South Australia. 12%
The low alcohol is a nice change but this 13 year old wine is pretty tired. I did buy it only a year or so off retail shelves so did not expect much.
90 points
Pauillac, Bordeaux, France. 12.5%
Absolutely gorgeous oak aromas which seems a bit odd on a 13 year old wine and I don’t mean this is over-oaked. It’s a very nice clean clear table claret food friendly refreshing. The anti-thesis of many modern new world cabernets.
90 points
Oddly dilute for a 2002 Cabernet dominant Pauillac but still beautiful. Really charming.
85 points
Colchagua Valley, Chilie. 14.5%
Dark but not dense colour. Slightly syrupy but fresh and varietal Shiraz. Hard to drink too young. Gives a lot of Australian Shiraz very serious competition at the price!
88+ points
I was slightly underwhelmed by this until near the end of the bottle which was drunk over many months. Perhaps it needs more age!
Barely sweet, quite ethereal for this Boal style.
83 points
Tuscany, Italy. 13%
At first berry fresh acidity. But it didn’t improve with breathing or food. A bit plain. Odd.
87+ points
Coonawarra, South Australia. 14%
Dark oaky and quite dense, brooding perhaps but also simple. At least it lacks menthol euclypt. We shall see.
For a premium wine that has been very well reviewed by Australian critics It’s fairly priced but not the bargain they suggest.
85 points
Once this was awfully oaky now this seems to have all faded but leaving a wine surprisingly light in colour and flavour. Odd. Not unpleasant but underwhelming.
88 points
Heathcote, Victoria. 14.5%
A heathcote shiraz that isn’t a monster. The alcohol even feels moderate in the mouth. But there is an odd distracting dairy character.
88 points
Hawkes Bay. 14% cab merlot cab franc
Not perhaps the best Awatea. The colour is a little transparent bricky red. The nose a bit too vegetal. This was considered a good vintage in Hawkes Bay though I’ve often suspected that it produced wines a little higher in alcohol and yet less ripe than desirable.
88+ points
Médoc. Cru Bourgeois. 13.5%
A random buy from a supermarket. Aromas of fresh sawdust that breathe off. Dark, young claret but a little bit sumptuous. Will be very good drinking in 3 years or so. Bargain.
87 points
Sevre & Maine, Loire, France. 12.5%
Very nice wine, in a dry savoury light white Burgundy style. The 7 years of age has benefitted this wine. Drink now.
88 points
Northern Rhone, France. 13%
Delicious open knit wine, showing advanced maturity – drink now. Enjoyable but not as exciting as hoped.
