- 2007 Domaine Isabel Ferrando Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2021-04-15)
I'm not all that fond of CDP wines now - my palate has changed over the last few years. I'm slowly drinking through my dwindling stash, and I thought the triple barrel hit of CDP, the ultra ripe 2007 vintage and the 15.5% alcohol listed on the label would make this bottle particularly nasty. One sniff of the nose on this wine and all my doubts went out the window. What an incredible array of plums, game, garrigue, iron, leather, etc.! The silky palate also provided a very complex, layered suite of southern Rhone goodness; given it is 100% grenache, I was surprised at all the gamy, spicy and leathery flavours on show. Really quite a spectacular wine, ready now with some air but it will last quite a while I think. So much for preconceived notions! (A/A+) - 2012 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Temperance Hill - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (2021-04-10)
Cool vineyard site, warm year. I was somewhat surprised at the level of concentration and power of this pinot, reflecting the vintage I assume. But this was a very beautiful pinot, with great balance and a punch of cherry, raspberry, spices together with nice earthy notes, good acidity and slight tannins. This should last quite a while, but drinking very well now. (A-/A) - 2017 Stoller Pinot Noir Willamette Valley - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (2021-04-07)
Had this last night. I wasn't expecting too much from this young, entry bottling, but I was happy to be surprised. It had more concentration than usual in this level, and a nice, deep earthy note to go with the mainly cherry and strawberry fruit and red licorice on a medium bodied palate. Good QPR. (A-) - 2016 Synchromesh Riesling Thorny Vines Vineyard - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley (2021-04-03)
At about 5 years, this is becoming more integrated. There's a sweet entrance which then almost disappears with the arrival of the healthy acid: it ends just off dry. The fruit is a mix of citrus and stonefruits - lemon, pear, apples - and creates another very tasty Synchromesh riesling. This should last quite a while. (A-) - 2018 Liquidity Wines Chardonnay - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley (2021-04-03)
A nice but not outstanding chardonnay. It's certainly a new style of chardonnay, not overly oaked or buttery, with a mix of citrus and stonefruit flavours on the light to medium bodied palate. Improved with air, an elegant style that could use a bit more concentration. (B/B+) - 2005 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Exceptionnelle - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2021-03-31)
Still deeply coloured, with a little bricking. The nose is lovely, with lots of earthy smells, plums, leather, game, cinnamon and a herbal note. Medium bodied for a CDP and more freshness than usual; the earthy plums, leather, game and herbal note as well as a cherry liqueur note linger on the palate. Slight, ripe tannins at the end. I quite enjoyed this, as it wasn't as ponderous and overripe as many CDPs can be; my palate is changing, but this CDP bucked the trend. (A-/A) - 2010 Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2021-03-28)
I haven't opened many 2010s since release. This seems to be aging well. The nose and palate show pears, pineapple, mango and lemon, a bit from each fruit spectrum and some slate. There is a blast of sweet fruit at the onset, but then the 2010 acidity - now more integrated and harmonious - kicks in and it ends up ending just barely off dry on the finish. Tasty, and should last quite a while. (A-) - 2014 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2021-03-23)
Fairly deep brick/purple in colour. Classic blackcurrant, mint, herbs, tar, and a hint of alcohol on the nose. It's only medium bodied on the palate, which is a good thing, as Majella cabs can be over the top. Nice balance, with similar flavours on the nose (except the alcohol) and a bit of ripe tannin. Good QPR and it should last 3-5 more years at least. (B+) - 2005 Weingut Hirsch Grüner Veltliner Lamm - Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal (2021-03-19)
This does not taste like a 15+ year wine: the screw cap may have something to do with that. A nice nose of pears, mineral and apples, and such a refreshing, mouth watering, medium bodied wine with more pear, apple, fresh peas and a hint of truffle or mushrooms. Wonderful acidity and freshness, like a cold mountain stream. Quite delicious and it should last many years, but it's unfortunately my last bottle. (A-/A) - 2010 Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas La Louisiane - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas (2021-03-16)
Medium ruby in colour, cherries, garrigue and plum on the nice nose. There are earthy but bright cherries on the complex, medium bodied palate, along with gamy notes, garrigue, iron and still healthy, ripe tannins. Nicely balanced, even with 15% on the label. Maybe at plateau now, with the fruit fading a little perhaps over the last couple of years, but it isn't going anywhere fast. (A-) - 2017 Little Farm Riesling Pied de Cuve Mulberry Tree Vineyard - Canada, British Columbia, Similkameen Valley (2021-03-14)
Had this a few days ago. Much better than the equivalent chardonnay. Less cloudy, less natural tasting, with a mix of stonefruit and citrus right on the on a dry/offdry scale. (B+) - 2016 Cave Spring Riesling CSV Cave Spring Vineyard - Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA (2021-03-04)
Light golden/yellow in colour. A bit of lemon, lime, pear and beeswax and a wash of minerality on the nice nose. The palate is medium bodied, with similar flavours and great intensity. Outstanding balance is the key here, along with a wonderful mix of acidity and RS with a dry finish. This should have a great future, but drinking well now too. Lovely Niagara Riesling reflecting its limestone soils. (A-) - 2014 Domaine Pascal Aufranc Chénas En Rémont Vignes de 1939 - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Chénas (2021-03-02)
Medium brick in colour, red fruits (cranberry and cherry) and iron on the nose. The medium bodied palate shows earthy cherries, cranberries, iron and violets, with light tannins. Nice acidity lifts and freshens the wine. An elegant but tasty style of cru beaujolais that still seems young. (B+) - 1997 Domaine du Closel-Château des Vaults Savennières Les Coulees - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (2021-02-28)
I saved one bottle to test out much later. Well, as has happened with many of these older savennieres wines, it was completely oxidized. I waited a day just in case, but no luck... NR (flawed) - 2000 Château du Coing de Saint Fiacre Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Comte de St. Hubert - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine (2021-02-28)
This has aged well, but may at peak now. A light straw colour and a nose of minerals and slight rotten fruits (in a good way). Medium to full bodied, with good intensity, and a slight butterscotch note on the long, minerally finish. Almost a cross of Chablis and Muscadet. (A-) - 2017 Little Farm Chardonnay Pied de Cuve Mulberry Tree Vineyard - Canada, British Columbia, Similkameen Valley (2021-02-28)
I've seen some good reviews for earlier vintages of this wine, so I thought I'd give the new vintage a shot. My first time with this small producer of natural wines. Cloudy in appearance, light gold, with a classic chardonnay nose. Medium bodied on the palate, with primarily stonefruit and oak notes in evidence. The one thing that mars this wine is the warmth on the finish - the 14.5% really shows here and I think 1% less alcohol would lead to a better wine for my palate. (B) - 2016 Thirty Bench Riesling - Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA (2021-02-11)
Light straw in colour with a slight tinge of green. Red apple, pineapple, peach, lemon, lime and mineral on the light to moderate nose. The palate has improved since I last tasted it, with a great balance of fruit, acid and minerals. Off dry, with a complex suite of citrus and stonefruit flavours and a slight creamy texture in the mid palate. Really quite nice for a entry level riesling. It seems in no danger of decline anytime soon. (A-) - 2015 Delas Frères Crozes-Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (2021-02-10)
From second night open. Deeply coloured, with a bit of game, iron, plums and herbs on the nose; also a bit of grape jelly as well. Similar flavours on the concentrated, along with chocolate and black olives on the medium to full bodied palate, with a silky texture, and nice ripe tannins. Still young I think, but tasty with air; better on the second night. (A-)