Chateau Haut-Batailley 2006

For dinner a 5th growth from Pauillac. Opened to fine aromas of black cherries, plum, chocolate, currants, licorice, minerals and smokey oak. The palate was again quite fine, and relatively light with well defined fruit over silky tannins. Finished clean and bright. A fine and elegant Pauillac.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Chateau Cantemerle 2006

Trying another Bordeaux from the 2006 vintage, this time a 5th growth GCC from Haut-Medoc, Macau. On the bouquet it was quite pretty, with bright red and black fruits, menthol, oak, cream, mineral and some earth. The palate held fairly big tannins, which were slightly bitter, with fruit fleshy and robust. Good length on the finish made this a solid and good value wine. Should develop with some time in the cellar.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Henschke Julius Riesling 2009

For our aperitifs, we opened this Riesling from the Eden Valley. On the bouquet was lots of lime juice and zest, florals, mineral and peppercorns. The palate was well balanced with more lime and florals, bright acidity and clean finish. A good vintage, perhaps a little less powerful than the 2007, but still very good.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Château Beychevelle 2006

This Bordeaux from Saint-Julien showed pronounced aromas of blackberry and blueberry juice, coffee, caramel, cedar, smoke and herbs. The palate was nicely balanced, with solid but fine sweet tannins coating the mouth. Very fresh berry fruits and a good streak of mineral and acid will ensure lengthy cellaring. Quite impressive for a 4th growth.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Château Prieuré Lichine 2006

For dinner we opened this 4th growth Margaux. On the bouquet it showed blackcurrant, cranberries, liquorice, meat juice, soft oak, florals, vanilla and warm earth. The palate was very elegant, with rich black fruits over superfine minerals and soft tannins, finishing slightly creamy. Structurally it was quite broad and rounded but not flabby. A very well made modern style Margaux and should cellar well.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Paul Mas Marsanne 2008

Keen on getting some cheap whites, I found this Marsanne from Pezenas Languedoc. The bouquet showed tropicals, pineapple, acacia, honey, flowers, a touch of smokey oak and slight savoury herbs. On the palate it was very smooth, with acidity fairly soft and a nice savoury finish. All up a very likable wine, clean and fresh but unlikely to age due to the low acidity. However good value at $9.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Chateau du Domaine de L'Eglise 2006

Continuing Bordeaux, this time something from Pomerol. Opened to quite a dense and dark bouquet of black fruit, tar, earth, mint, twig and vanilla. The palate possessed a wall of close knit tannins, which did abate to show fairly subdued fruits, a good streak of acid and a fair dose of oak. The wine did seem a little one-dimensional, but would develop somewhat with further cellaring. Quite a broody wine.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89+/100

Chateau La Tour Carnet 2006

Another Bordeaux, this one a 4th growth from Haut Medoc and made from a blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. On the nose it was warm with pleasant black fruits, soft oak, spice and vanilla. On the palate it was quite friendly and balanced with firm tannins and good acid. Overall quite a well made and pleasant wine.
50+4+12+17+7 = 90/100

Ridge Lytton Springs 2005

Out at dinner I picked up a bottle of this Zinfandel blend from California. Opened to a big fruit focused bouquet with dark fruits, cola, spices, earth and some pepper. On the palate it was medium bodied with loose tannins over lots of sweet fruit, some pleasing acidity and a little smokey oak. It did lack a bit of depth, but held its own through dinner and dessert. Not bad but not astounding. Decanting recommended.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Chateau Citran 2006

And so my Bordeaux run continues, this one from Avensan, Haut-Medoc. Opened to a broad nose of blackberry, mint, mocha, caramel, a touch of barnyard and some earthy tones. On the palate it seemed a little flabby and unfocused. Tannins were grippy and did hold it together somewhat. Nothing spectacular but may improve over time.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Louis Latour Chardonnay d'Ardèche 2006

I think the last time we had this wine, albeit another vintage was in Tokyo in 2008. On the bouquet it showed aromas of citrus, butter, chamomile, dried fruits and a touch of oak. The palate was nicely balanced and slightly tart. Overall quite a decent wine, a bit softer than last time.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Chateau Carbonnieux 2006

With a whole new bunch of 2006 vintages in store, I find myself compelled to enter another Bordeaux phase, not what I expected to do but should be enjoyable. To make a start went for this Pessac-Léognan, of which I have enjoyed the Blanc wine occasionally for some years. Opened to a dense and fairly locked bouquet of savoury blackberry, plum, cabernet leaf, clay-earth, oak and a touch of vanilla. The palate is quite solid, with a wall of strong tannins to get past, but underneath it was rich with extracted fruits, good acidity and minerals. I really do think this needs a good 5 years plus in the bottle to see it soften down and express. Still not a bad start.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89+/100

Bernard Baudry Les Granges Chinon 2008

A new wine at the store, this one from Chinon in the Loire. Made I believe from 100% Cabernet Franc, it opened to a simple and friendly bouquet of cassis, blackcurrant jubes, black pepper, gravel, some tropicals and a touch of barnyard. The palate was again simple but generous, with decent weight and length. Overall not a bad wine, a touch rustic but easy and unpretentious.
50+4+13+15+7 = 89/100

Petaluma Voignier 2007

Some Viognier, and this one from the Adelaide Hills. It showed aromas of florals, apricot, tropicals, pineapple, honey, spice, mineral, some savoury spice and vegetables. On the palate it was quite refined and balanced with good weight and structure. Slightly viscous and nice fresh acidity this was quite an excellent and moreish wine. Lovely.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Kooyong Estate Pinot Noir 2007

New vintage of this solid pinot, opened to aromas of bright cherry, raspberry, rhubarb, spice and minerals. The palate was a touch young and green and a little one dimensional, but still very well balanced with solid tannins. Well made and fragrant, this should develop further with time.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Devil's Lair Chardonnay 2008

Another DL, this one 4 vintages from the great 2004. Opened to aromas of grapefruit, ginger, oats, butterscotch, spice and a little cream. The palate was very finely tuned, with oak, fruit and minerals all working in harmony. Again this wine stays in the Burgundy style, with everything in place, and with elegance and finesse, but I still long for more character found initially the 2004. Better than the 2007 vintage.
50+4+13+18+7 = 92/100