- 2006 Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon Cuvée Guy Moreau - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru (2021-07-06)
Light straw in colour, this is still quite young, entering its secondary phase, evidenced by a bit of butterscotch and truffle on the intense, concentrated, medium bodied palate, along with a great deal of minerality. The warm vintage and wood this cuvee sees does not show at all now. Elegant and powerful, and it should last another 10 years, but drinking very well now - give it a good decant, as it talks some time to open up. Lovely chablis at 15 years. (A-) - 2019 Massolino Moscato d'Asti - Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti (2021-06-19)
This wine brought back memories of the many glasses of Moscato D’Asti I imbided on our first trip to Piedmont many years ago. The nose screams muscat with its floral notes, and the balance of this sweet wine is nice. It’s just a wine that brings a smile to your face: way too easy to drink, totally not serious, but at 5%, just a lot of summer fun. (B+) - 2010 Januik Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills (2021-06-12)
This bottle didn't show well a few nights ago: too much oak, and thus fairly monolithic in terms of complexity or taste. Oak, blackfruits and oak. Same impression over two nights. (D) - 2016 Chapel Hill Shiraz - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (2021-06-07)
I haven't opened a SA shiraz for a few years. Unfortunately, this bottle reminds me why. This is a big, big wine that shows heat, oak and a lack of balance; scratchy tannins at the end don't help. The nose is similar, with very ripe red fruits, oak notes and a hit of alcohol. Will this mellow with age? Possible, but not probable. I know not all SA shiraz are like this, but this was a example of the 'bad old days'. Not rated. - 2019 Lock & Worth Winery Sauvignon Blanc - Semillon - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley (2021-06-06)
Definitely agree this is a crisp and bright wine, helped by healthy acidity and fruit that includes grassy and citrus notes. The semillon doesn't really appear at all, at least not yet. Refreshing on a hot day! (B+) - 2015 Dr. Loosen Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Großes Gewächs Alte Reben - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2021-05-30)
Interesting. This seemed a bit disjointed, with the fruit, minerality and acidity appearing a little out of phase, and the wine being a bit blurry, for lack of a better word. That said, there is good material here, and the old vines provide good concentration. It tasted like it had a fair bit of lees contact as well. Fruit was in the citrus and stonefruit range, nicely balanced on the dry - but not too dry - finish. Hopefully this will integrate more with time. (B+/A-) - 2018 Little Farm Rosé Blind Creek Vineyard - Canada, British Columbia, Similkameen Valley (2021-05-30)
An interesting rose, my first time trying one from this producer. All cabernet franc, another person immediately mentioned smoke on the nose, as many other note writer have mentioned. I noticed this as well, and it did negate my enjoyment a little. But there were other savory and fruit (strawberry, pink grapefruit) notes that were the main feature of the wine. A nice rose overall. (B+) - 2012 Januik Cabernet Sauvignon Ciel du Cheval Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain (2021-05-26)
Still deeply coloured, with earthy blackfruits and tar on the fairly light nose. It has that velvety, creamy texture that Januik reds usually have, a medium to full body with milk chocolate and coffee notes, along with plenty of blackfruits and a little too much oak; some ripe tannins on the finish. (B+) - 2015 Château de Lancyre Pic St. Loup Vieilles Vignes - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Pic St. Loup (2021-05-24)
First night, I was thinking this might be getting old, as it didn't have the usual punch or panache: it seemed like the 35% Grenache was leading the way, making for a fairly boring wine. The second night, it was all game, meat, iodine and blood, with the 65% Syrah coming through finally. Medium bodied, velvety texture and still some tannins on the second night. I'll give my remaining bottles time - this took a while to open up. (A-) - 2012 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese trocken * - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2021-05-23)
A beautiful, elegant wine with class. Mainly stonefruits and apples on show, with a bit of mango and pineapple on the medium bodied, well integrated, slightly creamy yet minerally palate. The balance and precision here are excellent. Loved this. (A-) - 2002 Domaine aux Moines Savennières Roche aux Moines Cuvée des Nonnes Moelleux - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières Roche aux Moines (2021-05-19)
A disturbingly strong copper colour: scary. But there's no oxidative notes on the very nice nose, which has honeyed red apple and pear notes. Still quite sweet on the medium bodied palate, with honeyed kumquat and pears, a spicy, peppery note (jalapeno?), a waxy, viscous texture (botrytis?) and a very slight note of oxidation which seemed to disappear on the second night. An interesting, unique wine: you don't see many sweet Savennierres. I remember bringing this back from the winery in 2006; drink now. (A-) - 2010 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis-sur-Loire Remus Plus - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire (2021-05-17)
Hazy notes from several days ago. This wine continues to evolve. It seemed more graceful and somewhat less intense than previous bottles, but was still an interesting, lovely chenin with great balance, complex flavours in the classic Loire chenin mode and a long finish.Lovely as usual. (A-) - 2008 Tahbilk Marsanne - Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes (2021-05-16)
What a change the screwcap makes for this wine. This bottle did not seem close to 13 years old, fresh as a daisy and only starting to develop secondary flavours. Great intensity to this wine, with some honeysuckle, buttered toast, lime and a slightly waxy texture. Healthy acidity helps make this crisp and clean tasting. Great with halibut with mango salsa, this will last many years yet. (A-) - 2010 Vinyes del Terrer (Joan Morell) Tarragona Terrer d'Aubert - Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona (2021-05-12)
Wish I would have bought more of this! Deeply coloured, with the outstanding nose providing lots of back and blue fruits, and earthy/herbal note, dark chocolate and minerality. The medium to fill bodied and very velvety palate echoes the same flavours, and there's enough acid and healthy tannins to give it structure. A very interesting version of cabernet, and great QPR. This will age well. (A-/A) - 2017 Purple Hands Pinot Noir Lone Oak Ranch - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (2021-05-03)
An interesting wine, my first from this producer. It had more concentration and fruit than a normal relatively entry level wine, but nothing over the top. Cherry cordial was the main ingredient on the medium to full palate, with a hint of oak and black tea as well. Not overtly complex or elegant, but tasty. (A-) - 2009 St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2021-05-01)
This showed really well last night. The nose isn't too expressive, but there is mango, pineapple and slate. The palate is more powerful: all the elements are well integrated, the creamy texture is more Spatlese in style, but the tropical fruits notes are met with lime and minerality that create a long, smooth, rich finish. This will last many years yet. (A-) - 2007 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Mont - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (2021-04-25)
Hazy notes from a couple of days ago. Rather closed at first, but it did eventually start to open, albeit in a somewhat grumpy fashion, into a medium bodied, refreshing, right on the edge of dry/off dry mix of honeysuckle, pear, apple and honeyed mineral notes. Nice balance to this. Didn't really scream chenin or Vouvray, but certainly was quite tasty with air. I'll wait a few years on my last bottle. (A-) - 2010 Januik Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills (2021-04-22)
I find Januik reds to be high oak, low acid and tannin, and that's how this showed at first. On the second night, the oak has toned down a bit and the fruit dialed up - slight tannins appear on the finish. But it's a tasty, rich and ripe blend of black and red fruit with considerable tar and coffee notes. Not complex, but a concentrated, smooth WA cabernet. (B+/A-) - 2015 Villa Maria Chardonnay Taylors Pass Vineyard - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Awatere Valley (2021-04-21)
Similar to my previous notes, this is a nice, medium bodied, creamy and nutty chardonnay with nice balance, some intensity and a mix of stonefruit and tropical flavours. Drinking well now but should last a few years. (A-)
