- 2006 Gabriel Meffre Gigondas La Payouse - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas (2017-01-20)
Still deep brick in colour, with just a touch of browning starting to happen.There's a beautiful, powerful nose of earthy cherries and plums, leather, garrigue, smoke and cola. The medium to full bodied palate is also excellent, still very young tasting, and with significant tannin. Mainly cherries, leather, iron and smoky plums on the palate too. Lots of acid lift. I was surprised how youthful this was, given the producer is not top tier. But this wine really over-delivered, a classic Gigondas with years left. Given the tannin levels, I'd wait around 2-3 years at least. (A-) - 2003 Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2017-01-15)
I didn't buy many 2003 CDP; I drank a few early and threw the rest in the bottom of the cellar in the hope some magical transformation would occur. Well, there was no magic with this bottle, but it wasn't a train wreck either. No heat/alcohol or overt sweetness sticking out, but the fruit tended towards the prune rather than cherry and plum fruits. And while the colour showed secondary characteristics, the medium bodied palate was well integrated but rather simplistic.This threw off a ton of sediment, so stand up or decant if you still have some. I'd drink up ASAP. (B) - 2015 Akarua Pinot Noir Rua - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago (2017-01-01)
Hazy notes from last night. It's hard to find good quality pinots at a lower price point. This is a great QPR pinot, with more 'pinosity' than most at this price point. Medium bodied with classic cherry and Asian spices, plush, with nothing out of place. (B+) - 2015 Domaine Lafage Cuvée Centenaire - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon (2017-01-01)
I spent a bit more time assessing this (but no notes taken at the time). The old vines are expressed by the nice weight and intensity shown by this wine, with yellow flowers, apricots, grapefruit and minerality on the medium-bodied palate. A nice long finish too. Again noticed that it improved as it warmed up a bit. Great QPR, will definitely buy again. (A-) - 2015 Domaine Vico Corse Blanc - France, Corsica, Corse (2017-01-01)
Didn't take notes, but this was a very good, fresh vermentino, with good concentration for a basic level wine. (B+) - 2006 Baron-Fuenté Champagne Grand Millésime Brut - France, Champagne (2016-12-29)
Hazy notes from two days ago. Impressive wine and good QPR for champagne. Fairly rich in flavours, with the classic toasty and nutty notes providing the richness and lemon and other citrus fruit and healthy acidity providing the foil. Would buy again. (A-) - 2003 Domaine Brusset Gigondas Les Hauts de Montmirail - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas (2016-12-23)
Nice bricking on the deep ruby colour. Lots of cherries and earthy notes on the captivating nose, and a hint of mint too. Also pure cherry liqueur, leather and earthy notes and garrigue on the elegant but full, concentrated palate. Lots of sediment thrown. This is drinking really well now, but could probably last another 7-10 years. Impressive for the vintage. (A-) - 2015 Vigneti Zanatta Vermentino di Gallura Orion - Italy, Sardinia, Vermentino di Gallura DOCG (2016-12-18)
Very nice Sardinian vermentino. It had an interesting oily texture, with yellow flowers and apricot on the medium bodied palate. Crisp and clean on the finish. Will buy again for the summer. (B+) - NV Michel & Damien Pinon Vouvray Brut - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (2016-12-18)
Similar notes as the last few bottles. This is a great QPR sparkler, with a lovely, rich palate and great balance. (A-) - NV Les Caves du Sieur d'Arques Crémant de Limoux Aguila - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux (2016-12-17)
An acceptable bubbly, but not much character here at all. Quite amorphous, in fact. For the price here, there are many other better substitutes out there. (B) - 2013 Château de Lancyre Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St. Loup Vieilles Vignes - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St. Loup (2016-12-16)
Hazy notes from last night. This opened up with air, becoming a medium-bodied wine full of mainly earthy red fruits, a hint of game and a nice plush texture. Always a solid QPR wine from the Pic St Loup region of the Languedoc. (B+) - 2014 Akarua Pinot Noir Rua - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago (2016-12-11)
Richer and riper than I was expecting. Earthy cherries and mushroom on the nose and rich, medium bodied palate. Not complex, but it's a solid pinot that has quite good QPR: it's hard to find a good cheap pinot. (B+) - 2015 Domaine Lafage Cuvée Centenaire - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon (2016-12-08)
Hazy notes from a few days ago. Just had a couple of glasses of this and wasn't paying too much attention, but this improved as it got warmer, when it developed a more complex range of flavours, moving from mainly citrus notes to deeper flavours and a concentrated, richer, medium bodied palate. Interesting dry style, a blend of old vine grenache blanc and rousanne. (B+) - 2008 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (2016-11-26)
Similar impressions as the last bottle, from my last bottle. Too much oak/tar and awkward tannins from the oak still linger, and not really expressive of the varietal or blend. Not bad, but not very exciting or memorable either. Not good QPR. (B) - 2007 WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Noir Pierre Léon - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton (2016-11-20)
This was impressive. I have tasted this twice before over the years, and it has improved each time. Outstanding nose on display, cherry and asian spices, and the medium bodied palate was wonderfully balanced, with generous fruit and acidity. Darker in colour than I would have thought for a 2007. Yet another 'shitty' 2007 OR pinot! A very nice surprise that was really enjoyed by all. No rush if you have some, but very good now, especially with a little air. (A-) - 2009 Hightower Cellars Red Wine Pepper Bridge Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (2016-11-20)
Hazy notes from last night. This started out slow but became a bit more focused as it got air. This turned into a big, bold, structured merlot that still tasted young. Low on complexity or elegance, but certainly grabs your attention, with its mix of red fruits, tannins, earthy notes and tar. Lots of time left. (B+/A-) - 2007 L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee Estate Seven Hills Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (2016-11-11)
Hazy impressions from last night. This seems ready now, all the parts integrating well, with black and red fruits in an elegant, smooth, medium-full bodied palate. Nice complexity and concentration now, but it will last years yet I think. (B+/A-) - 2009 Fidelitas Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills (2016-11-11)
Lots of reduction in the nose, but the palate seemed relatively unaffected. But this was not a perfect bottle by any means, so no score or notes. - 2003 Château de Chamboureau Savennières Cuvée d'Avant Moelleux Clos du Papillon - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (2016-10-22)
My second of three bottles. This turned quite golden in colour as soon as I poured it, and I was worried about oxidation, but thankfully this bottle dodged that bullet. Honeyed pears, wet straw and minerals on the lovely, powerful nose. Beautiful balance on the medium to full bodied palate, with a great viscous texture that Chenin often has. More honeyed pears, straw and minerals on the palate, and hints of botrytis; between off dry and sweet. Wonderfully integrated flavours and great complexity. I think this could be approaching its peak, but it should last a while too. I'll leave my last bottle for a couple of years. Outstanding wine! (A) - 2011 Château Gaudrelle Vouvray - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (2016-10-16)
Light straw in colour. Nice nose, with pears, apple, chalk and that telltale chenin funky/wooly note. Slightly off dry on the well integrated, well balanced, medium bodied palate. There's a real viscous texture too, which really adds to the existing intensity and concentration of the wine. Similar flavours as the nose. This is always a great QPR wine, and really improves over 3-5 years at least; it's a shame this wine isn't carried in my region anymore. I'll leave my last bottle of the 2011 for another 2-3 years, as this will continue to improve, which is pretty impressive for the 'basic' wine from this under the radar domaine. (A-) - 2005 McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Wines Sémillon Single Vineyard Lovedale - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley (2016-10-09)
Honeyed lemon and a green note and slight spearmint on the nose. Lots of lemon on the medium bodied palate too, with very good intensity thanks to the healthy acid. Nice length to this wine and an oily texture emerges as the wine warms up. But this is still very, very young, and a bit of a one trick pony right now, though tasty nonetheless. I'll bury my last bottle in the cellar and wait 7-10 years if I can last that long. (A-) - 2009 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge (2016-10-08)
Had this last night together with a Shea Block 5 from the same vintage. The Shea was a hideous monster of a wine to me, but this wine was far better. Lots of redfruits, nice freshness and energy for a 2009, medium to full bodied, with some asian spices.Not a shy wine, but it's controlled power. This should last many years. (A-) - 2008 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Clos du Papillon - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (2016-10-07)
I thought JonnyG's note described my bottle well too. I didn't take notes, but I thought this was still young, but there was a nice texture to this wine and the deep, nutty/funky/wooly character that quality Savennieres wines have. Great balance, freshness and intensity too. Great now but should improve in the medium term. (A-) - 2008 Dominio de Tares Tares P3 - Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo (2016-09-26)
Had this last week; brought it back from a Bierzo visit a few years ago. Didn't take notes, but this was a big wine in every sense. Very rich, very ripe, mainly black and blue fruits and a nice texture. Not a lot of complexity, but certainly not boring, and drinking well now. It didn't quite go over the edge in terms of over-ripeness, but it was close (for me). Good for the style. (B+/A-))
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