- 2016 Orofino Vineyards Riesling Hendsbee Vineyard - Canada, British Columbia, Similkameen Valley (2020-08-31)
The back label actually nailed this wine I thought, talking about peach (although I thought more pear), lime cordial and minerality. Indeed, this wine is more about minerality and acid then fruit, although there certainly is some mainly citrus fruit there. Medium bodied, lively, refreshing and quite tasty. I wouldn't be afraid to age this a few years at least. (B+) - 2006 Domaine Lorenzon Mercurey 1er Cru Champs Martin - France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey 1er Cru (2020-08-26)
Hazy notes - the wine is looking browner than last time (5 years ago), but was showing well, with a nice nose of earthy cherries and strawberries that echoed on the medium bodied, velvety palate. The third, last, and best bottle of this. Again, nothing too flash, but a solid aged pinot. (B+) - 2008 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills (2020-08-23)
Didn't take notes, but this was a big, ripe Bordeaux blend from WA that still had a good amount of tannins. A mix of black and red fruit (mainly the former), with not a lot of oak notes showing now. It still needs air to show its best, and still tastes on the young side. Once again, the cork broke into about 50 pieces (grrr) (A-). - 2001 Château de Pibarnon Bandol - France, Provence, Bandol (2020-08-18)
Hazy note from a few days ago. This was slightly browning, but still fairly youthful looking. Lots of gamy notes and plums on the nose, and with an explosion of more gamy goodness on the medium to full bodied palate. Tannins are present but very ripe and well in the background, and there was a nice velvety texture to the wine. Both a sauvage and elegant wine, ready now, probably at peak, but will likely have a long plateau. (A-) - 1998 Pol Roger Champagne Vintage Brut - France, Champagne (2020-07-11)
No sound when opened, and most of the bubbles/mousse were long gone. Still drank reasonably well as more of a still wine, although there was some oxidation as well. Flawed but still drinkable. Based on this bottle and other recent notes, time to drink up ASAP. NR (flawed) - 2005 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese * - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2020-07-11)
My last bottle, drinking very well now. As with the previous bottle, nice complexity here, and a less creamy and sweet version of an auslese. There were lots of pineapple notes, some botrytis, and different stonefruits on this medium to full bodied, elegant, well balanced wine. Still has lots of life left. (A-) - 2004 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2020-07-09)
From a 500 ml bottle. I haven't had a lot of luck with CDPs lately, as I have found them increasingly heavy and painful to have more than one or two glasses. This bottle was different. It was open for business almost right away, with a smooth, velvety texture and classic Pegau plums, garrigue and a hint of brett/funk. Certainly not light, but much lighter and more balanced than other CDPs I've had lately. Ready now, certainly in secondary mode, but lots of life left. (A-/A) - 2017 Tantalus Vineyards Blanc de Noir - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA (2020-07-05)
Hazy notes from last week. This starting out refreshing and crisp, but as it warmed the wine because rather sweet and cloying. Too much dosage here? Maybe it is still quite young and just needs time to integrate? Not impressed with this bottle. (C+) - 2011 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton (2020-07-05)
Didn't take notes, but this was singing last night. Still fairly dark in colour. On the absolutely intoxicating nose, there's a sous bois celebration, along with raspberries and earthy cherries. Medium bodied, as the vintage tamed the usual extremely ripe style of the vineyard, and almost as tasty as the nose; light tannins and elegance frame the long finish. Beautiful pinot that displays the quality of this cool vintage. (A-) - 2005 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2020-06-28)
Didn't take notes, but this was very, very tasty last night. It's a powerful wine, with considerable richness and sweetness, but I thought it was still well balanced. Starting to enter its secondary phase, with integrated, mainly tropical fruits and some botrytis I think. More of a dessert style, but quite impressive in that realm. Still has a great deal of time left, but drinking well now too. Wish I had more! (A-) - 2004 Quinta do Crasto Douro Reserva Old Vines - Portugal, Douro (2020-06-28)
Lots of comments about this being on the old side, but I'm not so sure. But I have found Douro wines don't really improve with age, thery just 'change', although it is early days for Douro red wines. This is quite tannic and rather rustic. It's not showing any imbalance or over-ripeness, but it certainly is a big, powerful wine with significant alcohol levels. A mix of red and black fruit, lot of tar, earthy notes and, again, lot of ripe tannins on the full bodied palate. I used to enjoy this style, but not so much anymore, so as always, your mileage may vary. (B) - 2013 Craggy Range Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels Vineyard - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels (2020-06-24)
I didn't pay too much attention to this, but it was a solid New World Bordeaux blend. A fair bit of green herbal notes on the nose and medium bodied palate, along with some black and red fruits and a spicy note. Probably at peak now. (B+) - 2015 DeMorgenzon Maestro - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch (2020-06-24)
Didn't take notes, but this was medium-full bodied, oaked version of a SA white blend. Quite rich, but with good acidity too, and complexity from the different varieties used in this blend. A blend of stonefruit and tropical fruit flavours on show. Drinking well now. (A-) - 2013 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc Reserve To-Kalon Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (2020-06-24)
Didn't take notes, but this was a nice oaked version of SB, medium bodied and with a creamy texture. Ready now but will certainly last too. (A-) - 2005 Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Valmur - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru (2020-06-21)
Similar impressions to the bottle I had last year. It's a very nice aged chablis, still in a secondary phase, that has yellow fruit and butterscotch notes and a nice creamy texture. Not a lot of minerality showing, but no oxidation either. Very good, but not quite at normal grand cru level of concentration or intensity. (A-) - 2004 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Auguste Favier - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2020-06-20)
All I got from this bottle was porty, overripe fruit and a very heavy impact on the palate. The alcohol didn’t stick out, but that’s about the only positive I can think of. A flawed bottle or just not my style anymore? I’m unsure, but I got little to no pleasure from this wine. - 2008 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Clos du Papillon - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (2020-06-19)
Hazy notes from last night. A lovely wine just starting to enter a secondary phase, with all the parts starting to integrate and with a great balance of acid and fruit. Some Savennieres can be a bit ponderous, but this was light on its feet but yet powerful. Some butterscotch is starting to appear on the medium-bodied palate, and there is a minerality as well. Drinking well now but will definitely last many years. (A-) - 2011 St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2020-06-14)
Didn't take notes, but this was drinking well, with all the parts starting to integrate. A combination of mainly stonefruit and some tropical fruit flavours and enough acidity to keep it fresh. Nice now, but will certainly last many years. Always a good wine and good QPR. (A-)