Roundup of this week's wine reviews (28 August 2013)

Tasting is the order of the week, as you can see from this long list of wines we went through. Very heavy on the Bordeaux, Burgundies and Champagnes/sparkling wines.


Veenwouden Classic 1999
South Africa
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Ratings: 4.5 stars (out of 5); 93pts (out of 100)

Plush and complex cassis and tobacco notes on this elegant and poised beauty. Crafted with exquisite balance.


Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 2003
Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Ratings: 4 stars

37.5ml showing perfect age/maturity for this wine. Perfumed and complex cedar, cassis and compote notes greet one's nose and follow through on the palate. Secondary nuances also ave blossomed. Balanced and persistent and holding very well for this vintage.


Château de Fieuzal
Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 94pts

Dark ruby garnet with a prominent brick rim. Immediately delivers serious wafts of tobacco and cigar box over cassis. Fresh, layered and complex. Immensely enjoyable. This bottle was bought at the cellar door so provenance is pristine.


Château Lagrange 2005
Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Initially closed but quick to open up, displaying wonderful ripe and complex cassis, spice and cigar box notes. Tannins soften quickly. Looks like 2005 is coming of age!


Dom Perignon Champagne Brut 1998
Champagne, France
Main varietal: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 93pts

Fresh and youthful for a 15-year old. Lovely complex and persistent citrus, white flower and biscuity notes.


Dom Perignon Champagne Cuvée 1995

Champagne, France
Main varietal: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 93pts

Creamy biscuity notes over a zesty mineral bed. Great depth and balance.


Ca Del Bosco Terre di Franciacorta Cuvee Prestige Brut N.V.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Main varietal: Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero
Ratings: 4 stars; 92pts

Creamy biscuity notes with citrus and floral notes. Good power and focus.


Hospices de Beaune Pommard 1er Cru Cuvée Dames de la Charité 2005
Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 92pts

Seductive pinot cherry with enough savoury notes to keep it interesting.


Ponsot Chambolle-Musigny Cuvée des Cigales 2009
Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Deep and layered pinot cherry and spice. Great complexity for an AC wine. Nice evolution and still many years to go. As usual, points never reveal the actual enjoyment factor of a good burgundy.


Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 2000
Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 94pts

Deep pinot strawberry/cherry greet on first pour. Great depth and complexity without the farmyard notes. Will go for another 10 years.


Château Suduiraut 2003
Sauternes&Barsac, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 94pts

Amber/gold. Creme brûlée, lemon rind, stewed peach, caramel, butterscotch hint.


Happs Very Special Margaret River Old Muscat N.V.
Margaret River, Australia
Main varietal: Muscat
Ratings: 5 stars; 95pts

Layered preserved apricot, raisin, honey and fruitcake notes go on forever on this classic fortified wine. Wonderful acidity balances off this treat.


Jean Laurent Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut N.V.
Champagne, France
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Persistent mouth. Fresh and citrusy with a classy and long, long finish.


Segura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva Heredad N.V.
Catalunya, Spain
Main varietal: Macabeo, Parellada
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

A pleasant musty cloak over citrus and (white) stone fruit. A perceived sweetness in flavour but reasonably dry finish.


Gigondas La Cave Le Brut du Foudre 2007
Southern Rhone, France
Main varietal: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

Deep complex cherry and plum notes with wafts of white pepper.

Roundup of this week's wine reviews (21 August 2013)

From a bunch of playful and fun Old World whites (Pinot Grigio, Vinho Verde, Viura and other exotic-sounding varietals) to some seriously serious Burgundies that bring out the best in your roast duck, check out what our resident wino has been drinking...sorry, tasting.

Pasqua Collezione Pinot Grigio Garganega 2011
Valpolicella, Italy
Main varietal: Pinot Grigio, Garganega
Ratings: 3 stars (out of 5); 89pts (out of 100)

Round and pleasant.


Casca Douro Monte Cascas Colheita Vinho Verde 2010
Portugal
Main varietal: Vinho Verde
Ratings: 2.5 stars; 86pts

The nose is not clean but the palate has considerable presence. Complex notes. Good food wine.


MontGras Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Rapel Valley, Chile
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Ratings: 3 stars; 89pts

Pleasant cassis with a hint of complexity. Some presence.


Santa Rita Medalla Real Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Maipo Valley, Chile
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

A classy presentation with layered cassis and restrained complimentary green notes.


Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 1999
Langhe, Piemonte, Italy
Main varietal: Nebbiolo
Ratings: 4.5 stars

Rich, fine-grained tannins accord a serious backbone to this layered and complex treat. The wine took about 30 minutes to blossom and occasionally hinted at some oxidation, but all is forgiven as it took on and enhanced a homemade quatro formaggio (four cheeses) pasta.


Pinol Nuestra Señora Del Portal Blanco 2011
Tarragona, Spain
Main varietal: Garnaxta / Garnacha
Ratings: 3 stars; 88pts

Floral and green apple notes. Well-balanced and decently persistent.


Marqués de Cáceres Blanco Barrica 2011
La Rioja, Spain
Main varietal: Viura
Ratings: 2 stars; 83ps

Pleasant but fairly nondescript.


Carlos Serres Viura 2010
La Rioja, Spain
Main varietal: Viura
Ratings: 2 stars; 80pts

Some basic citrus notes. Simple.


Marqués de Cáceres Crianza 2009
La Rioja, Spain
Main varietal: Tempranillo
Ratings: 2.5 stars; 87pts

Soft cherry flavours with a mild hint of vanilla. Good balance, some persistence.


Santa Luz Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2010
Chile
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 88pts

Clean pinot cherry notes and nice layering with dark fruit flavors and some green notes adding to the complexity. However, it lacks structure and acidity somewhat. Could have been better last year.


Ponsot Morey Saint Denis Cuvée des Grives 2001
Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars

The initial Burgundy stink promised to behold some hidden delights and boy did they unfold! Great depth obvious from go. Complex secondary notes unfold through layers. The fruit is somewhat understated, but this is forgivable given its complexity and depth.


Palliser Estate Martinborough Chardonnay 2009
Martinborough, Wairarapa, New Zealand
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

Intense and minerally. Hint of butterscotch over pears.


Château de Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone White Le Poste 2009
Southern Rhone, France
Main varietal: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Picpoul
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Great breadth and nice complexity.


Robert Chevillon Les Vaucrains Nuits-Saint-Georges 2001
Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Drinks from go with complex yet clean pinot fruit, lined softly with secondary notes and supported by a bed of minerality. Went beautifully with roasted, smoked duck breast, and with roasted duck.


Domaine Faiveley Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru 1995
Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 93pts

Deep and complex pinot cherry notes ooze and seduce from this brooding Burgundy. Not shy, this one has aged and is drinking well.


Central Otago Pinot Noir Gold River 2008
Central Otago, New Zealand
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

A very pleasing pinot. Open from go with a hint of secondaries showing later. Would not cellar much longer. Fleshy with savory notes and a hint of minerality nicely balancing this offering.

18 August i-1-wine journey (I WANT WINE!): As storm clouds brew

Our arriving wine journey participants glance nervously at the gathering clouds, wondering perhaps if they should have opted for the No. 1 Malaysian activity on a rainy day - sleep.

Greeted by our usual array of tasting glasses and decanters though, they are soothed and even start to look forward to the private wine cellar tour that marks the initiation into this very private and exclusive of clubs: the KL wine lover.

Then the class starts in earnest! What are single varietals vs blends? How to recognise a wine fault? Is there a spicy edge to Chilean wines that's a distinguishing characteristic? How to go about organising a visit to a wine region? Are all wineries open to visitors, even the prestigious chateaux? How to open a bottle of bubbly? What is an "Ah-so" and how to use one? How to decipher those darned Italian wine labels? We discuss all these and more till the angry skies thunder us a warning and strongly hint that we should be moving onto the tasting.

A 9th bonus wine is added to the growing list of wines we taste, and soon our participants lose their initial shyness and reserve, getting into heated discussions of the flavours they smell and taste in their wines. The spittoons are seen as merely decorative items, and we're pleasantly surprised that none of the shiny glasses ends up in shards on the floor.

As dinner-time draws near and the storm clouds all spent, we proudly pat ourselves on the back to have swirled, smelled, tasted and debated the following wines:

• Nederburg Brut Sparkling Wine N.V., South Africa
• Pasqua Pinot Grigio Garganega 2011, Italy
• Ohau Gravels Pinot Gris 2011, New Zealand
• Santa Luz Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Chile
• Marqués de Cáceres Blanco 2011, Rioja, Spain
• La Forge Estate Syrah 2010, Pays d'Oc, France
• Manzoni Barbera D'Alba, Piedmont, Italy
• Fleur du Cap Merlot 2009, South Africa
• Carlos Serres Reserva 2005, Rioja, Spain

Roundup of this week's wine reviews (14 August 2013)

From a couple of delightfully fresh Sauvignon Blancs to some seriously plush and mocha-textured Pomerols and other Bordeaux blends, we certainly traverse the world with this week's set of wines.


MontGras Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Central Valley, Chile
Main varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Ratings: 3.5 stars (out of 5); 90pts (out of 100)

Capsicum and grass notes. Some sweetish floral notes and complexity. Mid-weighted and well-balanced. Not aggressive on the palate and quite pleasurable.


Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Tygerberg, South Africa
Main varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

Good presence with the usual sauvignon blanc pungency albeit a bit more perfumed than most. Good balance and persistence.


Legras & Haas Cuvée Prestige Exigence N.V.
Champagne, France
Main varietal: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

This bottle has further aged. Nice biscuit and lees notes with great persistence.


Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1998
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Ratings: 5 stars; 95pts

Complex and balanced New World expression of a Cabernet blend. My highest scoring and favourite South African wine to date. Still extremely youthful. Cassis with wafting hints of smoke, blueberries, vanilla and secondary notes. Incredible texture and layering.


Juniper Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Margaret River, Australia
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Ratings: 4 stars; 92pts

Brooding cassis and fruitcake notes. However, it is so tight that a decanter or better still a few more years would be required to allow this wine to optimise.


Château Le Bon Pasteur Pomerol 1998
Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 93pts

Very youthful in appearance and on the palate. However, it quickly evolves to show more mature notes. Rich mocha over cassis nose. Hint of cedar and fruitcake. Continually evolving. Tannins and mouthfeel a bit drying so not what I'd expect or enjoy in an older Pomerol.


La Gravette de Certan Pomerol 2007
Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Ratings: 4 stars; 92pts

Cassis over mocha with a hint of soya and other savoury stuff. Seductive on the nose. The palate is a bit disappointing initially, but subsequently develops weight and presence and length. Yummy.


Château Petit-Village Pomerol 2008
Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 94pts

This is a big boy! Cassis and fruitcake notes with cedar, tobacco and a whole host of other nuances. Great complexity and persistence.


Durbanville Hills Rhinofields Merlot 2009
Tygerberg, South Africa
Main varietal: Merlot
Ratings: 4 stars; 90pts

Mulberry cassis and mint. Good layering and depth. Nice length.


Trinity Hill The Gimblett 2008
Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 89pts

Good structure but fruit and other notes are rather shy.


Orlando Lawson's Dry Hills White Label Pinot Noir 2010
South Island, Australia
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Clean pinot strawberry notes with nice pinot spice slowly pitching into the offering.


Norte de Espana Rioja Cune Reserva 2008
La Rioja, Spain
Main varietal: Tempranillo
Ratings: 3 stars; 90ts

Mellow cherry-like notes with a hint of orange. Soft tannins and very palatable.


Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2011
Barossa, Australia
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Ratings: 2.5 stars; 88pts

Green apples and a hint of vanilla.


TerraVin Marlborough Te Ahu Pinot Noir 2009
Malborough, New Zealand
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Drinking straight from the bottle displaying pretty raspberry notes with subtle spice complexity.


Morgenhof Merlot Reserve 2001
Coastal Region, South Africa
Main varietal: Merlot
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 94pts

12 years old and fresh as a daisy! Inky deep layered cassis and blackberry notes. Superbly textured. Re-tasted this 3 days later and still marvelous! This will last another 12 years but is drinking at its very best today.