WineAmateur

9.2

This is the red I have open for today’s #drinksatantonios It is an appealing ruby red, fading to red-orange at the rim. There’s crunchy red berry fruit on the nose, underpinned by darker berry and stone fruits. It has complex balsam and pine resin, a style I really like. On the palate it’s medium weight, with grip and freshness; the tannins are somewhat mouth puckering so it’s probably best with food. Lovely wine, that’s been evolving seductively in the glass even in the time I’ve been typing this. — 5 years ago

WineAmateur

9.4

2002. Really outstanding Champagne, delicate and refreshing but with a bit more oomph from the noir in the blend. Very moreish! — 7 years ago

WineAmateur

9.8

1983. Amazing youth, freshness and vitality for a wine in its 35th year. Could almost be the latest release - were it not for the multilayered complexity that slowly unfolded in the glass. Great typicity. Gooseberries, hay, then a luxurious almond/marzipan overlay. Magnificent. — 7 years ago

WineAmateur

9.5

Magnificent mature Wachauer Riesling, still beautifully fresh, with ripe peach, orange and Christmas spices over a yeasty, straw and mineral base. Long finish — 7 years ago

WineAmateur

9.0

Thought I’d start #drinksatantonios with this white wine made from Nascetta by Diego Conterno in Monforte d’Alba. It’s a luminous green-gold and has refreshing aromatics with grapefruit and other citrus fruit to the fore. It’s rounded out by lightly toasted almonds and it’s fresh on the palate but with nice weight and body. A really good example of this little known grape! — 5 years ago

WineAmateur

9.4

1998. The last of a case, and drunk with La Migoua of the same vintage, also the last of a case. La Tourtine has a higher percentage of Mourvedre (maybe 80%) and about about 10% each of Cinsault and Grenache, plus a dash of Syrah. This was lighter in colour, red fading to orange with a hint of brown, and initially more reticent on the nose. Like the Migoua, it evolved massively over several hours, and more than once I was questioning whether I'd poured the wrong wine into the wrong glass. (I hadn't.) Ultimately, I preferred the precision in the Tourtine, its fresheness and its subtle blend of black cherry, frangipani, citric peel, and apples maybe just turning to cider. One could very easily have called it as a Barolo. These impressions on the nose translated very nicely onto the palate, and there was just the right amount of acidity to sear the flavours into the memory. Such a great privilege to try these two cuvees side by side in their 20th year. — 7 years ago

WineAmateur

9.4

2004. The freshness and purity of fruit (white peach, pears) belied the dark copper tone. Great vigour. Sweet but perfectly in balance. A super example of a wine that sometimes leaves me underwhelmed — 7 years ago

WineAmateur

9.1

1998. The last of a case, and drunk with La Tourtine of the same vintage, also the last of a case. La Migoua has a lower percentage of Mourvedre (maybe 50%) and more Cinsault and Grenache. I deliberately didn't refresh my memory as to the cepage in the two wines, and was gratified to find afterwards that my impressions of this as more animal, more meaty, more Chateauneuf du Pape, were quite in keeping with the blend. It was quite liqueur like on the nose, with balsam and pine and a generally spicy character; something umani too. It had decent grip on the palate and a bright finish, though not quite the precision of the Tourtine. Still, a super wine, and a great privilege to try these two cuvees side by side in their 20th year. — 7 years ago

WineAmateur

9.2

2003. A genuinely surprising Beaune 1er Cru from a challenging vintage. This has the ripeness of fruit one might expect, but no hint of flabbiness, just real vivacity and no small amount of class. — 7 years ago

WineAmateur

9.3

1996. Ultimately, it's the perfect poise of this wine that lives in the memory. Everything in place, nothing flashy, though it has a lovely sheen. And just keeps calling you back to the glass. — 7 years ago