Chris England

9.8

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 24 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Well sorry folks, I’m staying in and drinking this love juice tonight 😍 see you next year, Love Santa xx”

📝 I say what an epic treat 😍 30yr old d’Yquem that went perfectly with some mixed cheeses 🧀

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Krug Rose KrugID 314047 wines 2002-2007 bottled 2014

📍 Chateau d’Yquem 1989

🏵 98-99 points - stunning just stunning

🍇 80% Sémillon & 20% Sauvignon

🍷 Golden orange w/ a brown hue

👃 Burnt smokey apricot & orange through maple syrup, charred creme brûlée, fallen apple tart tatin, pear compote, brandy, sherry, pineapple, honey & creme caramel

👄 Med+ syrupy creamy voluptuous decadent sweet explosion of sticky apricot jam, mulled orange & caramelised pineapple w/ aged toffee apple, sticky toffee pudding, creme caramel, thick honey & spiced peach tones

🎯 Long long long sweet smily linger of the above

— 6 years ago

Chris England

9.1

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 19 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Prefect for a sunny Christmas BBQ in New Zealand 🌞 🎄 🍗 I’ll stop by on the 24th 😁”

📝 I say for £22 RRP for 75cl this is a cracking Chardonnay you can’t go wrong with at this price 👏

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Ruinart Brut NV

📍 Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2016

🏵 91-92 points & should improve

🍇 Chardonnay

🍷 Light straw yellow

👃 A burgundy-esq delicate fresh clean nose of oak free fine chalky minerals through soft citrus, light green apple & peach w/ honey tones, flint, melon, mango, smokey puff & lemongrass

👄 Med body of smooth creamy crisp citrus fruits intertwined with mashed green apple in slight dry minerals w/ melon, peach and green lemongrass tones in med acidity

🎯 Med+ touch mineral chalky dry finale of green lemon, apple, peach & unripe honeydew melon
— 6 years ago

Chris England

9.3

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 16 🎄

🎅 Santa says “People should leave me this this instead of a mince pie & milk 😊”

📝 I say a rather delicious showing for this vintage & went lovely with some gooey melting Epoisses cheese & Charcoal sourdough crackers 😍 ⏩ scroll for pic on Instagram 🧀

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Taittinger Rose NV

📍 Chateau Canon 2011

🏵 93 points

🍇 70% Merlot & 30% Cabernet Franc

🍷 Deep opaque blackened ruby

👃 Dark creamy damson plum through smoked oak, rock minerals & gravel w/ pencil lead, blackcurrant, liquorice, raspberry, herbs, soggy earth & mocha

👄 Med body of blackcurrant driven dark plummy fruits w/ a touch of fresh wild raspberry, mineral & cocoa

🎯 Med+ red & black fruit fresh filled finale w/ a light dry minerality & cocoa tickle
— 6 years ago

Chris England

9.4

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 23 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Mrs Claus told me I should get wrapping so here goes .. I'm coming down the chimney like a Santa should, I’m giving da presentz to the kidz in the neighbourhood! word to ya Christmas 👊💥”

📝 I say this Halfy has aged well in its little bottle and is a great way to make younger burgundy more approachable 😉 but wow Mrs E a halfy of Echézeaux 😍

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Louis Roederer Rose 2011

📍 Maison Roche de Bellene Echézeaux Grand Cru 2010

🏵 94 points

🍇 Pinot Noir

🍷 Clear ruby with brick hue

👃 Rich soggy earth & smoke oozing through a blackberry bush w/ cherry, herbs, warm leather, loam, soot embers & fig

👄 Med body of creamy red cherry & earthy blackberry w/ red berry fruit, mocha & a hint of fig & date

🎯 Long touch dry earthy mocha cherry, blackberry, date & figgyness
— 6 years ago

Chris England

8.6

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 20 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Gosh 4 nights to go .... better get Rudolf’s red nose skin exfoliation and quad-hoof manicure & pedicure done 🦌 Ho Ho Ho 🔴”

📝 I say I’m a huge fan of Leoville Barton & this is my first try of their second wine 🤔 it’s ok as a 2nd but not one I’d buy 😁

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV

📍 La Reserve de Leoville Barton 2014

🏵 86 points

🍇 71% Cabernet Sauvignon 25% Merlot & 4% Cabernet Franc

🍷 Deep blackened ruby

👃 Bright ripe fresh fruity blackcurrant w/ blueberry, dark plum, raspberry & cocoa in light oak

👄 Med body of juicy med+ acidic blackcurrant w/ raspberry, plum, cocoa & stalky greenness

🎯 Short+ acidic blackcurrant & plum cocoa simple clean green finish
— 6 years ago

Chris England

9.3

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 18 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Musar is Musar & Santa is Santa 😉”

📝 I say Musar is always better with 15-25 years age but this 8 year baby is quite gluggable

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Veuve Clicquot NV

📍 Chateau Musar 2010

🏵 92 points

🍇 33% Cinsault, 33% Carignan & 34% Cabernet Sauvignon

🍷Rich deep ruby

👃 Raisin, date, fig & herb through blackcurrant, strawberry, raspberry & blackberry w/ mint, light smoke, oak shards, earth, spice & cherry expressed best in a Zalto Burgundy glass

👄 Med body fruit explosion of black & red berry/currant fruits w/ a touch of mocha & a fresh clean mint repeat red fruit follow through then a hit of fig & date in med acidity

🎯 Med+ slight sweet & dry clean fruit bomb refreshing linger
— 6 years ago

Chris England

9.6

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 15 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Looks like I’ve been a good boy for Christmas to 😃”

📝 I say this is drinking stunningly now in a Zalto Burgundy glass but will age amazingly - truly one of the best chardonnays out there 😍

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Bollinger Rose NV

📍 Gaja Gaia & Rey 2015

🏵 96 points w/ bigger potential

🍇 Chardonnay

🍷 Clear straw yellow

👃 Tropical mango fruits through green apple & citrus in soft mineral rock w/ a smokey backbone, peach, honey & a light herb oxidative baked brioche tone

👄 Med+ creamy smooth silky body of apple cream, honey butter & citrus curd w/ tropical marmalade w/ a touch of minerality in med acidity

🎯 Long buttery tropical, green apple & citrus balanced creamy coating linger w/ a mineral & herby peach tickle — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.1

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 22 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Two more sleeps boys & girls 😊 I hope you’ve all been good! I have so I’m going to pop these bubbles 😉”

📝 I say this has aged quick in the baby bottle and very oxidative reminiscent of a Bollinger with 10 years age - a good new find 👍

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV

📍 R&L Legras Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV

🏵 91 points but would like to re-evaluate on a 75/150cl bottle vs 37.5cl

🍇 Chardonnay

🍷 Golden yellow straw

👃 Oxidative toasted brioche, smoke, fallen apples, honey & burnt citrus curd biscuit w/ a cream caramel & mineral undertone

👄 Med+ bodied rich ripe fine bubbled mousse of caramelised apple, honey, citrus biscuit, grapefruit & dry mineral

🎯 Med++ touch dry burnt caramel apple tarte tatin, citrus curd, grapefruit & mineral linger — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.2

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 21 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Three days to go so just had Mrs Claus do my sack, back & crack - gotta be beech ready for some regions I deliver 😉”

📝 I say My favourite 🇺🇸 Merlot that’s not a Merlot 🤣 not as pungent & in your face as the 2012/13 and a bit easier going 👍 You can’t go wrong with this wine 😍 especially with 🥩 I’d give this 3-5 years but good now to 😀

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Bruno Paillard Premier Cuvee NV

📍 Shafer Merlot 2014

🏵 92-93 points

🍇 78% Merlot, 14% Malbec & 8% Cabernet Sauvignon

🍷 Opaque black ruby

👃 Dark damson plum, black cherry & blackcurrant w/ raspberry, cloves, cocoa, spice, liquorice, mint & gravel w/ a touch of smokey oak lingering

👄 Med+ super smooth silky spiced blackcurrant, dark plum, dark cherry, blueberry & cocoa cream w/ a sweet raspberry undertone w/ a touch of green stalk & coffee kick

🎯 Long ripe black fruit finish covered with dark chocolate, raspberry & blueberry sprinkles — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.2

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 17 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Rudolf’s got his eyes & big red nose on this one 😁”

📝 I say for a retail price of £14 for 75cl this is a cracking quaffer of a Chablis - a real winner for spring & summer 👍

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Ayala Brut Majour NV

📍 Domaine du Colombier Petit Chablis 2015

🏵 92 points

🍇 Chardonnay

🍷 Light straw yellow

👃 Fresh & crisp cut green apple, pear, vanilla & soft citrus w/ a touch of chalky mineral, hints of tropical fruits, nuts & apricot w/ no oak evident

👄 Med body of creamy fresh punchy green apple & citrus w/ conference pear, vanilla & a hint of apricot

🎯 Med+ fresh zingy & creamy slight sweet pear driven green fruits w/ a touch of vanilla citrus & chalky mineral
— 6 years ago