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.
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