- 2007 Tahbilk Marsanne - Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes (2023-02-13)
This bottle was probably the best (most ready and developed) Tahbilk Marsanne I have had. I know some complain about the screw cap slowing development, but I'm very happy to not have cork notes affecting the wine. Nice honeyed honeysuckle and buttered toast notes, still nice acidity, a slightly waxy texture, great balance and drinking well now. But it should last for quite a while under the screwcap. (A-) - 2018 Greystone / Grey's Peak Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara (2023-02-08)
Light ruby in colour, with spices, cherry, pomegranate and a slight earthy note on the nose. Light to medium bodied on the palate, but with good intensity and more spices, cherries and a herbal note. There's a nice balance, with slight tannins and nice acid to create lift. Nice QPR at the sale price here. (B+/A-) - 2019 Charles Baker Riesling Ivan Vineyard - Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench VQA (2023-02-05)
This showed a little differently than the previous bottle; this might be closing up a bit. There was a real sweet/tart thing going on with this wine last night. A wash of sweet fruit at the front palate, followed by near dryness on the back palate. Mainly citrus fruits and still lots of minerality, but it didn't seem as integrated as the previous bottle. Still a nice just off dry, medium bodied and refreshing riesling. (B+/A-) - 2018 Château de la Roulerie Coteaux du Layon Chaume 1er Cru Chaume - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon Chaume (2023-02-03)
Didn't take notes, but the main memory is of a dessert wine that wasn't too sweet or cloying in any way; more off dry than sweet. Typical apricot, orange flavours, medium bodied, slightly viscous texture, classy and tasty. Drinking well but it has many years ahead of it. (A-) - 2006 Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de la Reine des Bois - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2023-02-03)
Still dark in colour, with tar, garrigue and deep cherry on the nice nose. Medium to full bodied, with a velvety texture but still a few ripe tannins as well; similar flavours as in the nose, as well as some gamy notes too. In a good spot now but should last many years. Second favourite in a Southern Rhone tasting. (A-) - 2018 Sperling Vineyards Riesling Old Vines - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA (2023-02-01)
Hazy notes from a couple of days ago. I quite enjoyed this dry riesling from the Okanagan. It had the most minerally nose and palate of any BC riesling I've tried; maybe a reflection in part of the old vines (1978)? A pure, refreshing riesling, with mainly those mineral notes as well as some lemon and lime and other citrus flavours on show. Nicely balanced acid and fruit. I'll buy more. (A-) - 2019 Hidden Bench Riesling Late Harvest - Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA (2023-01-29)
Quite a light colour for a late harvest riesling. Classic nose, with a mix of citrus and stonefruit, and not too sweet on the palate, but showing rich flavours and texture and lots of orange notes from the botrytis. But at the end of the palate, there is a slightly off putting taste; perhaps some non-noble rot got in there as well? Good, but not great. (B+) - 2010 Château de la Gravelle Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Gorges - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine (2023-01-29)
Hazy notes from last night. This was in a great place last night. Light gold in colour, with stonefruit, citrus and salinity on the nose. medium bodied on the palate, with that rotten fruit taste one often gets in older white wines, some additional roundness from the aging but still a powerful muscadet with telltale minerality/salinity but certainly less fresh/acidic than a more recent vintage. But I love aged muscadet, so really enjoyed this wine at this stage. Will last for quite some time. (A-) - 2006 Nik Weis / St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2023-01-27)
Deep copper/gold in colour. The high botrytis 2006 vintage really shows here. There are orange notes of botrytis and slate on the nice nose, and the medium bodied palate has more orange/tangerine flavours along with a little pineapple and stonefruits; a viscous texture with a bit of tannins too. It's rich but has the acidity to keep it balanced and not too sweet. I'd drink up fairly soon. (B+/A-) - 2020 Odyssey Chardonnay Reserve Iliad - New Zealand, North Island, Gisborne (2023-01-22)
Hazy notes from last night. This was an old school kind of chardonnay, lots of oak, some buttery notes, low acid, low complexity. Age may improve it, but I doubt it will improve very much, other than the oak notes becoming less overt. Not horrible, but not a rebuy. (B) - 2016 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2023-01-19)
A beautiful wine, this was incredibly refreshing, a cool mountain stream version of kabinett. Lovely nose with citrus and stonefruit, and a mouthwatering palate that was both light on its feet and concentrated; pineapple, peach and strong minerality on the medium bodied palate. Very glad I have more: drinking well now but will last many years. Outstanding, right in my wheelhouse (AP 27 17). (A-/A) - 2020 Whitehaven Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough (2023-01-17)
A good budget Pinot is hard to find. I tried this last night as it was on sale here. Fairly light ruby in colour, with nice pinot scents of cherry and herbs on the nose. Light to medium bodied, with again cherry, raspberry, spice and herbal notes on the palate. Certainly a solid wine for the price, a little light, but tasty. The local reviewers were, as usual in NZ, about 5 points high, but this is certainly a good effort for an entry level pinot. (B+) - 2009 Craggy Range Sophia - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels (2023-01-12)
Brought to a tasting. No one was impressed, and I have to agree. This was a ripe red that could have been from anywhere in the New World. There was nothing 'wrong' with it per se, no faults, but just a rather boring, international wine. (B) - 2012 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2023-01-12)
Just starting to integrate, this is a very well balanced, complex, off dry wine. Stonefruit and tropical fruit but with healthy acidity. This will last many years. (A-) - 2005 Domaine Cauhapé Jurançon Ballet d'Octobre - France, Southwest France, Jurançon (2023-01-11)
A ‘surprise’ find in the cellar. I left this too long, as it was still drinkable, but quite faded. Copper in colour, just off dry now, lots of botrytis still, a hint of creaminess, and still in balance. The intensity had diminished considerably, however. Drink up ASAP. (B) - 2010 Balnaves of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2023-01-11)
My last note in 2020 still reflects the wine. Little sign of aging in the deep colour, and a strong black fruits nose, full bodied palate, with tannins still giving structure to the blackberries and little oak notes. Not complex, but the rich texture, great fruit and structure make it a great cab. I think this still has a few years, but probably at peak now. Glad I had a few bottles of this. (A-) - NV Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Platine - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (2022-12-29)
Golden in colour, this was a fairly rich style, with stonefruit and brioche and a balanced, intense, elegant palate. Very nice champagne and a good QPR at the sale price. Disgorged 7/2019; L 334222. (A-) - 2010 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Clos du Papillon - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (2022-12-28)
Hazy note from a couple of days ago. This was a fairly rich and ripe style of Savennieres, with a mix of citrus and stonefruit on the medium bodied, waxy palate. A bit of alcohol warmth on the finish was the only negative. (B+/A-) - NV Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Brut - France, Champagne (2022-12-28)
Clean, solid champagne that could use more time in cellar. Nothing out of place, with nice balance of fruit and acid and a hint of toasty notes. (L2210529). (B+) - 2010 Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2022-12-26)
My previous note still sums this up. 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. Still not quite fully integrated though. (A-)