Jancis Robinson
Henschke
Hill of Grace Vineyard Shiraz 1996
Still a very dense crimson with no tawny rim, at 28 years of age but the tawniness is beginning. A certain feral, Animale, earthy note. Palate is ultra smooth, medium bodied / very savoury yet with a sweetish earthy note with a hint of raspberry. Jancis Robinson was invited by Stephen Henschke to a vertical tasting at the winery in May 2013 to cover vintages back to the late 1950’s. She described the 1996 as “pure hedonism “ and gave it 19/20. Medium plus intensity on the delicious palate with those gnarled old 160 year vines showing through. An absolutely stunning wine - one of the best we’ve had this year. — 2 years ago
Château Troplong Mondot
St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
Robinson Road w/ HughLin - May 29, 2021 — 5 years ago
Ata Rangi
Petrie Wairarapa Chardonnay 2015
Smoky sulphides, struck match notes with Cashew nut and stone fruits. On the palate medium plus intensity bordering on profound. Peachy flavours with traces of Pineapple juice. Wonderful length and persistence. Have raved before on Delectable about the quality of New Zealand Chardonnay and this wine reinforces that view. Great QPR at only $30. Jancis said it’s like a good traditional Meursault. Excellent new world Chardonnay. Tasted again 15 weeks later on 1st October 2020 with consistent notes. Great QPR as stated above. Hard to understand why their excellent Pinot Noir is more than twice the price. — 6 years ago
Moss Wood
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 1995
From Magnum. Had been decanted for about an hour and s half. Quite stinky which largely blew off to reveal leafy herbaceous characters with mint. Just medium bodied but such good balance and harmony. At that stage of just “damn good claret “ with nothing in particular standing out. A few years ago it was stunning and more powerful. Jancis Robinson still scores on the old 20 points score and gave this wine 19 points, a score generally reserved for 1st Growth Bordeaux and Grand Cru Burgundy. Great wine but time to drink it. — 7 years ago
Cullen Wines
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 1999
My final bottle of 6 I bought on release and the best. Deep crimson in colour - quite dark for 19 years of age. Notes of violets and all the classic Cabernet descriptors of Bay leaf and cassis. On the palate a beautiful mature Cabernet blend at the peak of its powers. Really enjoyed this. Jancis Robinson MW compared this to Margaux. A tradition of female Wine making with Di Cullen as Winemaker from 1971 until 1989 when daughter Vanya took over and continues to this day. Consistently one of Margaret River’s better Cabernets. — 8 years ago
Wittmann
Morstein Großes Gewächs Riesling 2015
Very much a dry German Riesling at 13% ABV. Arguably opened too early - guided by a window from Jancis. Her colleague, Julia Harding (through to 2030) was more accurate. Yellow orchard fruit aromas; under ripe peach on the palate-some spice and mineral - still carrying quite some acid. The palate is delicate and balanced. A pleasure to drink now with that GG quality coming through. I would’ve liked to try another bottle in 4 to 5 years. — a year ago
Château Pavie
Saint-Èmilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2006
A very dark Ruby colour. Rich flavours on the full bodied palate. Jancis said a Bordeaux trying to be Californian - a fair comment IMO but delicious nevertheless. Not particularly Saint Emillion as the fruit is way riper than usual. Black plum, mulberry and a hint of sweet pipe tobacco. Even at 18 years of age I may have drunk this a little early. 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The next night still rich and powerful. — 2 years ago
Tardieu-Laurent
Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2016
Initial aromas of black plum, black pepper, herbs (thyme) a hint of bacon. Medium plus bodied palate with spicy, bloody flavours. Good density with ripe fruit from the 2016 vintage. Fine persistent tannins. This wine is still quite youthful and primary - possibly drunk a little young. Next in at least 2 years. Potential to be 95+ in the future. 18.5/20 from Jancis which is a high score from her. Had a second bottle 2 years later almost to the day. Similar notes to above without being a standout. Still can’t see how Jancis scored this at 18.5. I will do a more detailed note for the last bottle in 2 years +. — 4 years ago
Cullen Wines
Kevin John Margaret River Chardonnay 2016
Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com
Lovely #chardonnay from #margaretriver it is the #benchmark for the region and Jancis Robinson tasted it blind and preferred it over Chardonnays from all around the world Top. Margaret River Chardonnay is recognizeable for its concentrated ripe fruit, high acidity and balance between the two. — 6 years ago
Château L'Evangile
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
Aromas of Tobacco and Cedar, a little manure and unfortunately a tiny amount of wet cardboard/cork taint. The 2004 was 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc so I presume this 2003 - a very warm year - was similar. Medium weight - more savoury than fruit driven at this age. Jancis Robinson had a tasting of 2003 Bordeaux a while ago and with a few exceptions said Drink Up. L’Evangile has 34 acres and is a neighbour of Cheval Blanc. Footnote: I notice the blend from Vinous was 79/21 Merlot/Cabernet Franc for 2003. — 7 years ago
Domaine de la Côte
La Côte Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2021
“La Côte” of Domaine de la Côte is a DREAMY Pinot Noir from the Santa Rita Hills AVA of California’s Central Coast region.
Here pacific coastal breezes stretch inland and cool the sun-soaked vineyards. Domaine de la Côte has a collection of 6 vineyards on the western edge of Santa Rita Hills. On the back label you see a map of several of their vineyard blocks, including “La Côte” which is organically-farmed and nestled on a steep southeast-facing slope, where it absorbs the radiant sun during the growing season.
The grapes that went into this wine were harvested by hand, cluster-by-cluster, affording a gentler handling of the fruit with reduced risk of oxidation and microbial spoilage.
This wine was then fermented in a concrete vessel using 100% whole clusters (stems and all) thanks to the process of wild, ambient yeasts in the vineyard, winery, and on the skin of the berries…
The result is a positively perfumed and pristine berry-fruited profile with concentrated notes of black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, boysenberry, hibiscus, rosewater, cherry blossom, and anise balanced by a firm backbone of acidity and reserved alcoholic profile (13.1% ABV).
Following fermentation, this wine matured for 10 months in oak (30% new oak), lending delicate secondary notes of vanilla, clove, and cardamom.
The Domaine de la Côte “Bloom’s Field” was among the wines featured in the Somm 3 movie; it was blind tasted next to other French and California wines in a 2018 retake of the 1976 Judgement of Paris that culminated in a tasting of wines by a panel of luminaries of the wine world: Fred Dame, Jancis Robinson, and the late, great Steven Spurrier, who organized the Judgment of Paris back in 1976.
It is a captivating wine and has the structure to age, though we are loving it in its current state. It’s a delicious pairing with the herb-crusted salmon, roasted asparagus, and crème fraiche / chive mashed potatoes.
Cheers!
— 2 years ago
Smokey Robinson
My Girl Chardonnay
Smooth and buttery! Drank with my parents at their home for the holidays — 4 years ago
Domaine Bart
Marsannay Rosé Pinot Noir 2020
Everything you want in a rosé.Crisp, refreshing, opens up as the meal goes on. This got lost in the bday blizzard but was returned to, time and again.
According to Johnson & Robinson @World Atlas of Wine, Rosé accounts for just 1% in Burg, but is a specialty in Marsannay.
I see why. — 4 years ago
Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia
Valbuena 5° Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 2002
Jancis robinson was right! Fruit is well preserved. Opera of a wine. — 6 years ago
Domaine de la Côte
Bloom's Field Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2013
Thought it would be good timing to finally try Rajat’s 2013 Bloom’s Field.
The nose straight out of the decanter gave a strong presence of potpourri laced candle wax. That has subsided now. The fruits are ripe, ruby; blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, some dry cranberries, raspberries with blackberries pulling up the rear. Nice evenly, soft, layered baking spices; clove, cinnamon, light nutmeg and gentle vanilla. Mixed dark berry cola, understated, black licorice, whiff of lightly grilled meats, black, fruit tea, limestone alluvial soils, dry crushed rocks, dark turned earth, dry herb blend, light, fresh tobacco notes, worn leather with a nice bouquet of; red, dark, purple and blue florals.
The body is, round, ruby and just full. Tannins still have adolescent teeth. The structure, tension could use some more time in bottle...length and balance have just hit their stride. Gorgeous mouthfeel. The fruits are ripe, ruby, a little gluey; blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, some dry cranberries, raspberries with blackberries pulling up the rear. Nice evenly, soft, layered baking spices; clove, cinnamon, light nutmeg and gentle vanilla. Mixed dark berry cola, dark spices, understated, black licorice, lightly grilled meats, black, fruit tea, limestone alluvial soils, dry crushed rocks, dry pebbles, moist, dark turned earth, dry herb blend, light, fresh tobacco notes, worn leather with a nice bouquet of; red, dark, purple and blue florals with gentle lavender on the back end. The acidity is a gentle rain shower. The beautiful finish is straight up; elegant, well balanced, seamless and persists nicely for minutes.
Paired with Kentucky Bourbon Marinated Chicken Skewers and Wild Rice.
Photos of; Bloom’s Field Vineyard, The Sommeliers Altas of Taste that Rajat & Jordan Macrat wrote. Good read if you are so inclined & of course, Master Sommelier/Owner/Winemaker-Rajat Parr.
Additional notes; Rajat has always loved Pinot and its many expressions from all over the world. After becoming one of the better & more well known Master Somms, it was his dream to make world class Pinot Noir. He is succeeding as his last few vintages have gotten very high notoriety. It was his 2015 Bloom’s Field that Master Sommelier Dustin Wilson featured in Somm 3 in his recreation of the Judgment of Paris with some of the best palates in NYC and again separately with The Godfather of Master Somms-Fred Dame, Author-Jancis Robinson & Steven Spurrier. — 7 years ago
Kieran Robinson
Le Voyageur Syrah 2010
Dark purple. Expressive nose of dark berries, black olive, violets, and black pepper. Juicy dark fruit and earth on the palate are supported by very soft, fine grained tannins and only 12.9% alcohol. Made from 50% whole clusters fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged 16 months in 50% new French oak. $43. — 8 years ago
Pinotman /// Andreas
Like a Burgh - no difference. Franken Pinot (FP). Schlepped this all the way from this super remote winery my 2nd bottle. Stumbled onto this wine because Jancis Robinson recommended this (after all she used to be the Sommelier of the Queen of England). Suitcase import. 13.5% world class - really. Roses on the nose. In the glass faint cherries, blackberries, elderberry (just bought a plant we used to make jam), red currants. Back palate hard to define Za'atar (the plant) - Screw Cap (a strange choice for such quality juice). I know this wine is inaccessible for most folks on this website - sorry. But Franken is a very interesting wine region. The soil is by the way limestone - so it is classic for Pinot. I walked the vineyards - very off the beaten path - even for Germany. — 10 months ago