CHAPTER 1: July Tasting

Domaine Des Lambrays Les Loups Morey-St-Denis Premier Cru 2002
Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 93pts

Farmyard introduction promised greatness and the wine delivered. Palate cleansing and mouthwatering acidity. Complex, focused, deep, layered and laced with delightful secondary and tertiary notes. Exquisite food partner. Orange peel towards end. Delicate persistence.

Geantet-Pansiot Gevrey-Chambertin En Champs 2007
Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 89pts

Initially comes across as a well made basic burgundy with some muscle. Slowly a rustic complex meaty note emerges and changes the game. Clean pinot cherry backbone.

Gérard Bertrand Château L'Hospitalet La Réserve Red 2008
Gérard Bertrand, Languedoc-Roussillon , France
Main varietal: Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache Noir, Mourvedre
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

Drinking wonderfully at almost 6 years old. Juicy and uncomplicated yet interesting. Dark stonefruit laced with pepper and meaty hints on a balanced amd seductive palate. Secondary notes slowly creeping through to add to the excitement.


Francois Villard Saint Peray Version 2010
Domaine Francois Villard, Rhone, France
Main varietal: Marsanne
Ratings: 4 stars; 92pts

Initially very closed but slowly (1hr) reveals a complex potpourri of white stonefruit and floral notes with lovely citrus hint providing an invisible backbone.


Sogrape Offley Late Bottled Vintage Porto 2007
Sogrape Vinhos S.A, Douro, Portugal
Main varietal: Malvasia, Touriga Nacional,Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Amarela, Rufete
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 89pts

The wine masks the 20.5% ABV effortlessly. Layers of attractive preserved red berry and prune notes.


Camino Real Valle De Cachapoal Etiqueta Negra Gewürztraminer 2011
Viñedos Del Camino Real, S.A., Valle De Cachapoal, Chile
Main varietal: Gewürztraminer
Ratings: 3.0 stars; 88pts

Dry entry well made. Dark - Golden straw with a greenish hue. Complex with floral and lime citrus notes. More tropical fruit when served warm. Almost off dry.


Greywacke Kevin Judd Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010Greywacke Kevin Judd, Marlborough · New Zealand
Main varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

Typical SB. Grass, bell peppers, hint of passion fruit.


Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Robert Mondavi, Napa Valley, United States
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 3.0 stars; 87pts

Nice Balance cept fruit bit recessed from age. Toasty oak sticks out a tad.


Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve 2010
Errazuriz D.O. Aconcagua Valley, Chile
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz/Syrah, Petit Verdot

Ratings: 4.0 stars; 91pts

Complex cherry and balanced oak related notes.


Santa Rita 120 Coleccion Independencia Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Santa Rita, Valle de Maipo, Chile
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 89pts

Vanilla and wood with cassis. Attractive but lacks balance.


Morande Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2010
Vina Morande, Valle de Casablanca, Chile
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 89pts

Vanillin butterscotch over white stonefruit notes. Some tension on palate but lacks balance.


Ravenswood Vintners Blend Chardonnay 2009
Ravenswood, California, United States
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

2nd bottle opened not oxidised. Mature with complex peach notes with a soft citrus hint.
This bottle probably not ideally stored. Hinting oxidative notes over attractive white stonefruit notes.


Dom Pérignon 2004
Champagne, France
Main varietal: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 91pts

Youthful and lacking age complexity but already Very pretty citrus and floral notes.


Yarra Ridge Eye Spy Chardonnay 2013Yarra Ridge Eye Spy, Port Phillip, Australia
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 89pts

White stonefruit and oak dominate nose. Palate reasonably balanced. Good midpalate. Fair length.


Vieux Telegraphe Châteauneuf-Du-Pape Vieux Mas Des Papes 2008
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, Southern Rhône, France
Main varietal: Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache Noir, Mourvedre
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 89pts

Soft with complex cherry and secondaries.


Produttori Del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano 2008
Produttori Del Barbaresco, Piemonte, Italy
Main varietal: Nebbiolo
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 92pts

Rich deep cherry and tar notes with hints of spice. Drinking well. Good length and layering.


Luis Felipe Edwards Colchagua Valley Merlot 2013
Luis Felipe Edwards, Valle de Colchagua, Chile
Main varietal: Merlot
Ratings: 3.5 stars;89pts

Good plum and berry notes. Round with decent balance.


Luis Felipe Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Luis Felipe Edwards, Valle de Colchagua, Chile
Main varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Ratings: 3.0 stars;86pts

Nose bit pungent with passion fruit and hint of cat pee over capsicum and grass notes. Palate round but mostly indistinct. Some length.