Chateau D’Armailhac 2005

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.

Heitz Cellar Napa Valley Cabernet Bella Oaks Vineyard 1998

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.

Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Rieslinf Auslese 2002

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.

Pfitzner Chardonnay 2005

90 points

Eric’s Vineyard, Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, South Australia. 13.5%

Well flavoured quite fine Chardonnay. Good value for such quality fruit.

Chateau Cantemerle 2000

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.

Woodlands ‘Margaret’ 2007

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).

Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2004

90 points

Mosel, Germany. 7.5%

Lovely fruity, rather than mineraly, Riesling. Gently sweet quite forward. Enjoy now and over next few years. Cork.

Jameson’s Run Reserve 1996

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.

Chateau Lynch-Moussas 1996

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.

Chateau Haut Batailley 2002

90 points

Oddly dilute for a 2002 Cabernet dominant Pauillac but still beautiful. Really charming.

Montes Alpha Syrah 2006

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!

Fortnum and Mason boal over 40 years old Madeira

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.

Carpineto Chianti Classico Reserva 2004

83 points

Tuscany, Italy. 13%

At first berry fresh acidity. But it didn’t improve with breathing or food. A bit plain. Odd.

Yalumba The Menzies 2006

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.

Henri Germain and Fils Meursault Clos des Mouches 2002

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.

Domaine Chandon Shiraz 2006

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.

Te Mata Estate Awatea 2002

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.

Chateau Haut-Maurac 2005

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.

Monnieres Saint-Fiacre Muscadet 2005

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.

Jean-Michel Gerin Champin Le Seigneur Cote-Rotie 2004

88 points

Northern Rhone, France. 13%

Delicious open knit wine, showing advanced maturity – drink now. Enjoyable but not as exciting as hoped.

Domaine Auzias 2005

82 points

Vin de Pays de la Cité de Carcassonne. 12.5%

An intruiging blend of 50% Cab/Merlot with Grenache, Cinsault and Alicante gives a lifted slightly herbal nose. A somewhat dilute wine (to be expected I suppose given the price) with some nice fresh crunchy acidity. Lacks the depth of the similarly priced wines from Gerard Bertrand.

Gérard Bertrand terroir Corbieres 2005 les cailloutis

86 points

Corbieres, South of France. 13.5%

Well made. Rather classic Southern flavours. Not as exciting as his identically priced (very cheap) Minervois. Great value still.

Domaine Georges Bertrand Corbieres 2008 vinifié en barriques

88 points

Corbieres. 13.5%

Another Gérard Bertrand wine (this one given the name of his father). Surprisingly drinkable given its youth, the oak fermentation has emparted subtle oak character. It tastes of the South without being burnt or showing alcohol out of balance. Great value.

Chateau Pontet- Canet 2004

90++ points

Pauillac. 13%

Every wine critic speaks highly of Pontet-Canet today. It’s the new Leoville Las Cas, that is, it’s regularly compared to the first growths. In which case this vintage is a bargain.

Well to the wine. It’s super concentrated cassis and new oak, but with a freshness that is more like Hawkes Bay NZ than California. It’s different than much Bordeaux I drink because it is just so young and concentrated. Best left until nearer 2020. If you bought this en primeur you got one of the best Bordeaux deals this decade.

Les Pends Crozes-Hermitage 2005

90+ points

What a surprise, purple deep colour. Dense aromas. Yet a drinkable wine (none of the spicy fruity qualities of Southern Rhone) though still far more concentrated than the typical Crozes which tend to exploit the Hermitage name and deliver dilute wines. Must try this again. Good stuff.

Chateau D’Escurac 2005

82 points

Medoc. 14%

Very disappointing. Much closer to their 2003 than to the lovely vibrant 2002. Dense ripe wine. Perhaps it will open with time but I suspect this is just too extracted.

Reviews of other vintages of D’Escurac.

Chateau Marjosse 2006

87 points

Entre-Deux-Mers. 12.5%

Characterful, shellish minerality. Would be great with oysters. Good wine.

Chateau L’Hospitalet 2006 la reserve

90 points

Dark rich strong fresh. Liqorice characters. Slight herb aromas Very good value. Needs a couple more years in bottle.

Cigalus 2001 Gerard Bertrand

89 points

Lovely because of its maturity – drink now.  But unexciting considering that this is one of Gerard Bertrand’s very top wines, and priced much higher than his other worthy wines.  Also 2001 was a fine vintage in the south of France.

Chateau La Haye 2002

86 points

St Estephe. 13%

A little green and light but very good for its price. Drinking well now but there is no hurry.