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

— 8 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
— 8 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
— 8 years ago

Chris England

8.9

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 13 🎄

🎅 Santa says “I was going to make a joke about this wine but I got a slap from Mrs Claus 👋”

📝 I say if you like dessert wines this is a fabulous nicely balanced drop for the money I’d sure have again with rich cheeses 😍

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Duval Leoroy Brut NV

📍A Sticky End Noble Sauvignon Blanc 2016

🏵 89 points

🍇 Sauvignon Blanc

🍷 Rich golden yellow

👃 Peach & pineapple driven tropical fruits

👄 Med+ body of sweet syrupy and sticky rich chewy honey & sugared tropical fruits w/ a green toffee apple caramel undertone, apricot jam & a citrus spank

🎯 Long long long sweet gooey creamy buttery honeyed tropical fruit fest w/ apricot, apple & citrus — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.0

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 10 🎄

🎅 Santa says “I thought I was a fruity chap but this blends got me beat Ho Ho Ho”

📝 I say a crazy blend that works really well to deliver a Choc cherry raspberry gateaux 🎅 “mmmmm Cake, Santa likes cake”

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Laurent Perrier Brut NV

📍 Mas de Daumas Gassac 2013

🏵 90 points

🍇 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5.4% Merlot, 5.3% Tannat, 3.8% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Malbec, 2% Pinot Noir, 9% other rare varieties

🍷 Deep opaque ruby

👃 An soft oak red & black fruit explosion through cocoa cream of black current/berry, blueberry, dark cherry & raspberry forming a black forest gateaux

👄 Med body of chocolate infused blackcurrant & dark cherry w/ raspberry & blackberry I med+ acidity

🎯 Med+ black cherry gateaux light linger
— 8 years ago

Chris England

9.2

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 07 🎄

🎅 Santa says this lovely wine would make him dance like the chap on the label, but naked of course for Mrs Claus 🤶 Ho Ho Ho

📝 I say this £42 halfy is at prime drinking & darn quafftastic 😍

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV

📍 Baron Philippe de Rothschild Chateau d'Armailhac 2004

🏵 92 points better than rated by “pros” in 2007 😉

🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 58%, Merlot 25 %, Cabernet Franc 14%, Petit Verdot 3%

🍷 Deep dark ruby

👃 Smokey oak, pencil lead, gravel & minerals through earthy blackcurrant & dark plum w/ herbs, raspberry liquorice, leather & mocha

👄 Med body of creamy ripe rich blackcurrant in cocoa w/ dirty liquorice, plum, red berry tones, blackberry & minerals

🎯 Long touch dry mineral infused plummy dark fruit mocha liquorice linger
— 8 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
— 8 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
— 8 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
— 8 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 — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.3

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 12 🎄

🎅 Santa says “This purple headed beast would warm me making deliveries but I don’t want a SUI yes Sleighing Under the Influence 😊”

📝 I say a powerful fruit filled annihilation on your senses that will please any big bold wine lover 😉

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Perrier Jouet Grand Brut NV

📍 Ridge Geyserville 2014

🏵 93-94 points

🍇 60% Zinfandel, 24% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah & 4% Mourvèdre

🍷 Deep blackened ruby

👃 A blackcurrant, blackberry & black cherry nasal slam w/ a blueberry & raspberry wallop followed w/ earth, spice, creamed violet, melted chocolate, light oak & damson plump plum smash 💥

👄 Full bodied juicy plump rich explosion of punchy powered black fruits w/ a red liquorice & mocha slap

🎯 Long creamy warming dark fruit 💥 & purple teeth stain w/ a red liquorice & mocha linger as the blackcurrant punches you again w/ a blueberry spank
— 8 years ago

Chris England

9.0

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 08 🎄

🎅 Santa says .... if only my plums shone as bright as Rudolf’s nose we’d be in plumtastic harmony 😍

📝 I say a good typical dark plummy black fruit chewy mouthful

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Billecart Salmon Rose NV

📍 Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse 2011

🏵 90 points

🍇 A bit more Cabernet Sauvignon than a little less Merlot

🍷 Deep dark ruby

👃 Blackcurrant, blackberry & sweet damson plum through light smoked oak & blueberry w/ raspberry, cocoa, mineral, gravel, pencil lead & vanilla liquorice

👄 Med body is smooth creamy black berry fruit & dark damson plum w/ a dry mineral tone & touch of mocha liquorice

🎯 Med+ touch dry plummy dark fruit in cocoa & mineral linger
— 8 years ago

Chris England

8.9

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 06 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Ho Ho Ho Hope you’re having fun with your Advent Calendar hic as I am 😊”

📝 I say a rather heavy presence of banana but still a lovely refreshing drop

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Pol Roger Reserve NV

📍 Jacques Saumaize Pouilly-Fuisse Les Vieilles Vignes 2015

🏵 89 points but on a summers day 90-91 potentially

🍇 Chardonnay

🍷 Clear golden yellow

👃 Sweet banana driven tropical fruits through soft apple & citrus w/ a subtle minerality

👄 Med body of rich smooth buttery sweet banana & tropical honeyed fruits w/ a green apple kick & touch of dry minerals

🎯 Long sweet banana, green apple & light tropical fruit coating w/ a light dry mineral backbone & kiwi fruit kick
— 8 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 — 8 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 — 8 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
— 8 years ago

Chris England

9.3

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 14 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Well this little explosive fruity beast 😈 sure made my cheeks & nose glow proper red 😊 Rudolf is jealous 🦌”

📝 I say I love Shafer 1 point 5 so Mrs E did good 😁

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Henri Giraud Brut Nature NV

📍 Shafer One Point Five 2014

💥 15.0% ABV

🏵 93-94 points

🍇 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 1% Malbec & 1% Petit Verdot

🍷 Deep blackened opaque ruby

👃 Rich blackcurrant, raspberry, chocolate goo & violet/lavender w/ punchy blueberry, cinnamon liquorice, spiced blackberry, minty cedar & damson cream pie

👄 Med++ body of rich silky creamy oozy black berry fruits galore bathed in raspberry chocolate w/ a violet, vanilla, blueberry & liquorice punch

🎯 Long warming ripe dark fruit annihilation w/ a raspberry & blueberry chocolate liquorice kick — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.2

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 11 🎄

🎅 Santa says “what’s Mrs Claus after giving me this lovely festive juice on a Tuesday 😊”

📝 I say this is drinking well young but I’d leave 5-20 years 😉

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Pommery Brut Royal NV

📍 Chateau Langoa Barton 2010

🏵 92 points w/ more potential

🍇 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc & 17% Merlot

🍷 Deep dark blackened ruby

👃 Smoked oak through blackcurrant & dark plum w/ a touch of raspberry liquorice, cocoa, black cherry, light blueberry & minerals

👄 Med body of rich ripe punchy blackcurrant w/ dark plum, cocoa & raspberry liquorice

🎯 A long blackcurrant driven dark fruit bomb with a real raspberry undertone & blueberry tickle
— 8 years ago

Chris England

9.4

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 09 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Opulent, Exotic & Spicy are also words Mrs Claus uses to describe me 😊 it is that Erotic 🤔 ”

📝 I say a wine I’ve been dying to try for donkeys years & it sure delivers but it’s darn expensive Ho bloody Ho - at least it’s not over syrupy like many from here 😉

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Nyetimber Brut Rose NV

📍 Kistler Vine Hill Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2014

🏵 94 points

🍇 Chardonnay

🍷 Golden rich yellow

👃 Soft melon & pineapple driven tropical exotic fruits, honey & vanilla w/ a touch of mineral, citrus, green apple, cut grass & a light smokey spiced oak & date backbone

👄 Med+ body of waxy opulent creamy tangy citrus & green apple through punchy tropical gooey fruits in med acidity w/ a fine mineral & honey touch

🎯 Long mouth coating citrus & tropical honeyed fruits linger w/ a touch of dry lime, green apple & minerality linger
— 8 years ago

Chris England

9.1

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 05 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Bubbles twice in one week, that Mrs Claus 🤶 is after something 😁”

📝 I say I’ve not had these bubbles before & they’ve aged more in the half bottle but a lovely NV champers is have again as a good buy 😉

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Champagne Thienot Brut NV

📍 Champagne Jacques Picard Brut Reserve NV

🏵 91 points (I agree with Parker 👍)

🍇 85% Chardonnay w/ rest mixed Pinots

🍷 Golden yellow w/ an orange hue

👃 Smoked burnt buttery brioche covered in cooked fallen apple, charred honey & minerals w/ citrus curd, vanilla & an oxidative backbone

👄 Med bodied mousse of short lived bubbles in creamy buttered old green apple & slight tart crisp citrus pie w/ a touch of dry minerals

🎯 Long dry crunchy burnt fallen apple & citrus toasty linger w/ a drying minerality
— 8 years ago