Cloudy Bay
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
2023 - Now owned by LMH the style has somewhat reverted to the herbaceous style of the 90s that made it famous, so pleasant surprise- citrus, melon, lime, and grasses- like it
One of the earlier ratings is 10 and several 7.2, so overall rating is skewed to lower side
Delectable needs to eliminate these outliers to make average ratings meaningful — 25 days ago
Dominique Gallois
La Combe Aux Moines Gevrey-Chambertin Pinot Noir 2014
Decanted separately two bottles for Christmas lunch
Took time to open and second showed benefit of longer time to open with notes of wood with earth, cassis, black cherry and a hint of earthy floor. Showed excellent performance and flavours that also possessed benefit of cellaring and results in tremendous length and finish.
Top notch and likely will develop further — a month ago
Domaine Sebastien Dampt
Chablis Chardonnay 2020
Nice pale gold appearance in glass. Nose of apple, pear and melons . Dry, with good acidity on palate, plus tangy citrus flavours as well as good steely mineral hints.
Reasonable value with ever increasing Burgundy prices and expecting a high landed cost here in Oz for the recently released 23s so glad I have quite a few of these and some of this producers premier Crus
Just the taste for a sunny summer afternoon — 6 days ago
Château Musar
Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2011
It’s 10 years since Serge. Hochar’s death whilst swimming in Acapulco on NYE 2014 and I think it’s appropriate to celebrate his legacy that is the modern Chateau Musar.
I first tasted Lebanese wines in London circa 1986 when I used to go to a couple of Lebanese restaurants in Shepherds Market near Mayfair in London
Al Hamra is still in business
I’ve been to Beirut several times and always stock up at the airport duty free
So a toast to a departed icon of the wine world
Since my last 2011 4.5 years ago (see note) this has aged wonderfully and I’ve up my rating several points
Another few years and it will be further improved
Optimal decant time was around 3.5 to 4 hours
Ethereal stuff — 25 days ago
Meerlust
Rubicon Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016
Bordeaux blend: 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Dark ruby with nice mulberry and vanilla notes, soft integrated tannins the Merlot. & Cab Franc soften the whole experience giving the wine great balance and finesse.
Good length and finish
Last tried 2020 and still have several its maturing well and be interesting to taste again in say 2 and another 5 years — 7 days ago
Felton Road
Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2019
This is the third bottle each two years apart and this opened very nicely after about an hour or so
I’ve increasingly liked this wine although given it the same rating
It’s well structured aromatic and just an all round good expression of well made Central Otago Pinot
Probably open the next three each with a year or less further age — 15 days ago
Escarpment Wines
Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018
Light bodied ruby colour 13% alc with good nose of berry flavours, great integrated tannins and good balance of fruit and acidity with quite a long lingering finish
We are fortunate that Australia is flanked by NZ and South Africa and all three have great Pinots that can stand tall with the wines of Burgundy at very affordable price points 🤗 — a month ago
David White
Earthy nose with rich berry hints. Mouth-filling with smooth soft tannins and tobacco and forest floor flavours. Finnish long and moorish. Great at 10 yrs and maturing nicely. — 15 hours ago