CHAPTER 2: July Tasting

Fieuzal Péssac-Leognan Granc Cru Classé De Graves 2005

Château de Fieuzal, Graves, France
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 91pts

Soft and ready. Complex and friendly cassis notes


Fieuzal Blanc 2011
Château de Fieuzal, Graves, France
Main varietal: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

Initial brightness gives way to lovely white stonefruit. Complex, intense and long.


Fieuzal Pessac-Leognan Vin De Graves Grand Cru Classe 2008
Château de Fieuzal, Graves, France
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdo
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 92pts

Lovely creamy texture and secondaries. underlying minerality.


Climens Grand Vin Sauternes Barsac 1er Cru 2007
Château Climens, Sauternes, France
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 92pts

Rich and unctuous. Complex and with great length


Haut-Brion Graves Premier Grand Cru Classé 2007
Château Haut-Brion, Graves, France
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 92pts

Dense, structured and long. Complex with plum notes


Cape Winemakers Guild Thelema Auction Reserve 2003
Cape Winemakers Guild, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 91pts

Wonderful balance. Cassis, tobacco and a hint of mint. Complex and long.


Norte De Espana Gran Reserva Rioja Imperial 2005
Compañía Vinícola Del Norte De España, La Rioja, Spain
Main varietal: Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 92pts

Elegant and with great secondaries. Balanced.

Jean Grivot Les Lavières Nuits-St-Georges 2004
Domaine Jean Grivot, Côte de Nuits, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 89pts

Traditional and juicy. Wonderful balance and gentle savory note.

D Yquem Y Bordeaux Blanc 2006
Château d'Yquem, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 92pts

Yellow coloured. Great depth and complexity. Creme brulee, ripe apricot, honey and floral notes.

Oliverhill McLaren Vale Jummy Section Shiraz 2007
Oliverhill Winery, MrLaren Vale, Australia
Main varietal: Shiraz
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 91pts

7 years tapers the fruit to a good balance. Dense complex plum smokey and oak notes.

Alois Lageder Gewürztraminer 2011
Weingut Alois Lageder, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

Main varietal: Gewürztraminer
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 89pts

Clean rose and litchi notes. Palate follows nose.


Delatite Dead Mans Hill Gewürztraminer 2008
Delatite, Central Victoria, Australia
Main varietal: Gewürztraminer
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

Hints of lychee and chalky notes with some melon and floral inclinations.

Amisfield Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011

Amisfield Wine Company Ltd, Central Otago, New Zealand
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 93pts

A poised and deep pinot with oodles of layers. Dark complex stonefruit unmarred by oak. Great length.

Akarua Central Otago Pinot Gris 2010
Akarua Winery, Central Otago, New Zealand
Main varietal: Pinot Gris
Ratings: 4.0 stars; 91pts

Elegantly expressive with fresh tropical fruit nuances and reasonable complexity. Potential to age well. 

Ponsot Clos de La Roche Cuvée Vieilles Vigne 2000
Domaine Ponsot, Bourgogne, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 94pts

Deep pinot strawberry/cherry greet on 1st pour. Great depth and complexity without the farmyard notes. Will go for another 10 years