Chateau Croix Figeac 2009

85+ points

St Emilion, Bordeaux. 14%

Ultra ripe fruit, not blowsy but heroic. Not charming. Very hard to drink.

Hopefully time will tame.

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Cape Mentelle shiraz 2001

94 points

Margaret River, WA. 14.5%

One of Australia’s great shiraz. Distinctive style, a sort of North South Rhone mix. Opulent yet fresh.

For a good while I though the 99 superior to the 2001 but now I think this has not only improved but now surpassed the 99.

I very much anticipate the 2007+ vintages which were superb. They just need 12 years or so in bottle, if you can resist enjoying them earlier.

Pavillion Rouge du Chateau Margaux 1996

92 points

Margaux, Bordeaux. 12.5%

Many bottles from this case have been disappointing. A good but rather plain, obviously Merlot oriented wine. Out of company with other left-bank 96s.

But now at 17 years old it is starting to blossom. Rich but now with savoury and green hints, making a very attractive wine.

For a 2nd wine showing this sort of longevity is a surprise to me. I wrote this wine off too early. Very pleased to be found wrong.

Bernard Faurie Hermitage (assemblage) 2005

90++ points

Rhone, France. 13%

This is fine wine, effortlessly balanced. Very impressive winemaking and viticulture. This is natural, low intervention wine.

Distinctly cool climate floral notes though this is ripe, medium bodied fruit.

Very young. It will always be an elegant wine. Needs another 5 years and may last decades after that, power and extract aren’t needed for longevity.

Penfolds Bin 90A 1990

91 points

Coonawarra Cabernet & Barossa Valley Shiraz. South Australia. 13.5%

When I lasted tasted this wine it was in Bordeaux in the company of some old claret and this wine stood out as quite a freak. Not because of the shiraz, but the American oak, the eucalypt mintiness, and the added acid.

Today a few years later and alongside a Coonawarra Cab it’s less freaky but still a very unusual wine. It’s so obviously built for long aging. Very concentrated and with lots of tannin, both grape and oak, and the acid of course.

I think this really does have the potential to turn into something dry and more ethereal, as very old food friendly table wine. But it’s 23 years old already and it still tastes manufactured, not complete relaxed wine.

The Blok Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

87 points

Coonawarra, South Australia. 14%

Very blackcurrent/red current sweetish. Fresh, enjoyable now. Will age though may not benefit much from it.

Chateau Simone 2007

89 points

Provence, France. 13.5%

Interesting, food friendly. Sweet ripe Southern flavours with a distinctly acidic finish that is quite attractive and interesting.

Not simple, but not hard to appreciate. The near perfect restaurant/cafe wine? And maybe will benefit from a little more age.

Alloomi Jarrah Shiraz 1998

93 points

Frankland, Western Australia. 12.5%

There is a French saying that there are no great wines just great bottles. If the cork gods are smiling, if the mood is right, if you open the wine at just the right age…

Other bottles of this wine were interesting. A distinctly cool climate wine with plenty of acid, low alcohol.

This bottle, my last (of course) was superb. Like a great Northern Rhone the aroma was beguiling and the taste savoury, complex, refreshing.

From 30+ year old vines, 18 months in new French oak.

Joseph Drouhin Clos des Mouches 2002

90 points

Beaune, Burgundy. 13%

Very enjoyable aged burgundy. Lovely relaxed style. But not profound.

St Helga Riesling 2012

87 points

Eden Valley, Adelaide Hills, South Australia. 12.1%

Nice but disappointing compared to other 2012 South Australia rieslings. This seems a bit dilute.

Chateau Haut-Batailley 2008

90+ points

Pauillac, Bordeaux. 13.5%

Classy wine. Very young but a gentle seductive style. Great future in spite of the less powerful, concentrated nature of 2008.

Turkey Flat Mouvèdre 2008

87 points

Barossa Valley, South Australia. 14.5% screwcap

Surprisingly distinctive house style, or at least the modern era of Turkey Flat red. French oak and restrained warm climate fruit.

I had expected more oomph. This is soft, medium bodied, low tannin, drinking now.

Tyrrell’s Stevens Vineyard Shiraz 2007

90++ points

Hunter Valley, NSW. 13.5%

Bright shiny intense wine. With great cool but ripe flavour. So young. Great potential to turn into a complex, savoury, not heavy classic wine.

Domaine Gilles Barge Côte-Rôtie cuvée du plessey 2005

88 points

Northern Rhone, France. 12.5%

Good wine. Distinctly Northern Rhone. Just less intensely flavoured and exciting than I had hoped given the price nd the vintage.

Turkey Flat Shiraz 2010

87+++ points

Barossa Valley, South Australia. 14.5%

Terribly young but cool fruit aromas. Impressive. Shows great promise. Quite savoury.