Here's some recent tastes...
2002 Dopff & Irion Riesling Les Murailles - France, Alsace, Alsace AOC (12/17/2007)
Hazy notes. Served this to friends a couple of nights ago. Lots of petrol on the nose - it seemed rather advanced, actually. Very good concetration on the dry palate, with a mix of citrus and tropical fruits and more petrol. A little bitter at the end, which detracted for me, although this disappeared on day 2. A nice Alsacian riesling. (B+)
1999 Abadia Retuerta Vino de la Tierra Castilla y León Selección Especial - Spain, Castilla y León, Sardon de Duero, Vino de la Tierra Castilla y León (12/17/2007)
Didn't take notes, but I really enjoyed this wine. Intoxicating, complex nose, and that quality continued onto the palate, a mixture of redfruits, earth and smoke. Wonderful balance. Drinking very well now, but still has the structure to improve for several more years. Lovely wine. (A-)
2005 Cháteau la Courançonne Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu Gratitude - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu (12/16/2007)
I brought this to a party, not expecting too much, but this was a lovely wine. An interesting blend (40% grenache, and 30% each syrah and mouvedre) makes for a very interesting CdRV. From a new AC region for CdR-V, this really showed the mouvedre and shiraz, with earthy and gamy notes rather than the cherry dominant flavours from most grenache-based CdR-V. A little more concentration would be nice, but still a very nice CdR-V. Still young, with plenty of life left, so should improve(B+). I bought some more.
1999 Peter Lehmann The Mentor - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (12/8/2007)
Hazy notes from a while back, but I remember the lovely nose on this, and a silky smooth texture. Drinking very nicely now, with the oak nicely integrated. (A-)
2003 Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M. - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (12/8/2007)
Not an ooze monster at all. Quite structured and still very tight. A touch of barnyard on the nose and palate, and there's a bit of gamy notes as well. But this was shut down fairly tight right now. What was there was quite nice, however! But this should be better in a few years. (A-) This one opened up nicely on day two...
2000 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Rheinhessen (12/8/2007)
Didn't take notes on this first wine to be opened at a dinner party. The sweetness is starting to lessen, and one is left with a lovely balanced wine with a hint of aged characteristics; quite rich on the palate, with lots of tropical fruits, herbs and minerals. (A-)
1992 Warre Porto Vintage Quinta da Cavadinha - Portugal, Douro, Porto (12/8/2007)
Decanted for about 5 hours, this was the last wine at a dinner party.This was wonderful stuff, with great balance - no alcohol showing - and a blast of redfruits and chocolate. Very concentrated and very impressive. (A)
1999 Domaine du Closel Savennières Les Caillardieres - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (12/8/2007)
Slipped this in at a dinner party - everyone was very puzzled with this wine. I tried to show them the joys of savennieres, but I don't think I had much luck. This was a typically unique chenin, with wet wool everywhere, very slight oxidization, nutty notes and heaps of personality. I loved it! (A-)
2004 Kilikanoon Cabernet Sauvignon Block's Road - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (12/4/2007)
Had this over two nights a few days ago. Deeply coloured, with a nose of mint, red- and blue-fruits and cassis liqueur. A real fruit bomb, with little structure or varietal characteristics. A bit sweet on the palate as well, and the first night I really noticed what I think was added acidity; it toned down on the second night a bit. I thought this was a spoofilated (manufactured) wine, and didn't enjoy it at all. (B-)