Chateau Les Ormes de Pez 2003

For dinner a Bordeaux, this one from Saint-Estephe. Opened to aromas of sweet cassis, blackberry, toast, smoke, charcoal, vanilla and black pepper. On the palate the tannins were greenish, but held by the fruit. Good weight and finish a little bitter with more charcoal which is a little concerning. Overall not too bad, but could do without the charcoal component.
50+4+12+15+7 = 88/100

Maison Louis Latour Marsannay Rouge 2006

We moved on to this Burgundy from Marsannay, north of Fixin and the northern most commune on the Cote-D'or. The bouquet was light and showed aromas of blackberry, raspberry, rose petals, cherry, a little menthol and spice. The palate was very light and feminine, with fresh berry fruits over slightly green tannins. Finished very short. Overall a very light and feminine wine, but still quite pleasurable to drink and just worth $25.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Maison Louis Latour La Chanfleure Chablis 2008

A night of Burgundy and to start we opened this Chablis. On the bouquet were light aromas of citrus, grapefruit, flowers, grilled nuts, vanilla and butterscotch. The palate again was fairly light but well balanced with good acidity and dry finish. Not a lot of length but overall quite a decent and straightforward example for $25.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Carpineto Sillano Toscana IGT 2000

For our dinner we opened this single vineyard wine made from a blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. On the bouquet were aromas of blackberry, sarsaparilla, licorice, cacao, coffee bean, pepper, vanilla and some herb. The palate was dense with fruit over dryish tannins. Length was good and finish quite dry and savoury. A very nice ageing red which could develop further. I did prefer the Molin Vecchio though.
50+4+13+18+7 = 92/100

Bodegas Raimat Vina 24 Albarino 2008

Something Spanish for our aperitifs. Opened to show a fresh bouquet of citrus, green melon rind, flowers, minerals, white pepper and some vanilla. On the palate it was quite fresh and acidic, with a lot of juicy fruit over minerals. Finish was dry and a little tart. Would work better as a food wine than a sipping wine. Not bad.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Chateau Boutisse 2002

After our Chardonnay we drank this Saint-Emilion Grand Cru. On the bouquet were aromas of sweet dried raisins, cassis, plum, earth, blackberry jam and spices. The palate was initially a little light but did settle and solidify with rich fruits, minerals and ripe tannins. Quite a generous wine, this was well made and very enjoyable we thought.
50+4+13+18+7 = 92/100

Savaterre Chardonnay 2006

After a big working week started my decompression with this Chardonnay from Beechworth Victoria. Soft rich bouquet of melon, citrus, meal, ginger, white pepper and smoke. On the palate it was mid-bodied and a touch understated, but nicely balanced with soft acid and finish. Overall not a bad Chardonnay but not remarkable. A little overpriced at $55.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Maison de Grand Esprit Les Petites Vignettes Bourgogne 2007

Needing a Tuesday night red I grabbed this Burgundy from the local. Opened to a pleasant bouquet of sour cherry, sap, spice and florals. The palate was quite light with delicate fruit over bright acidity. Well balanced this was a well made wine, not too complex and quite feminine. Nice.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Royal Tokaji Essencia 2000

Out at dinner with a friend we indulged a little in this Tokaji with our cheese dessert. On the nose were aromas of honey, apricot, nectarine, marmalade, butterscotch, caramel and florals. The palate was superb with soft acidity, fresh sweet fruits and little alcohol evident at all. Rich, light, airy and incredibly pure this was a notable sticky.
50+4+14+18+8 = 94/100

Domaine des Varoilles Gevry-Chambertin Clos du Meix des Ouches 2001

On to dinner and we shared a Burgundy, being from Clos du Meix in the heart of Gevrey-Chambertin. Opened to aromas of black and red cherry, tar, citrus peel, strawberry leaf, sweet musk and spice. On the palate it was well balanced with good weight, highly toned fruit and a good presence of acid. Overall quite an elegant maturing Burgundy, however a bit fruit heavy and a touch one-dimensional for me.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Prager Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Hinter der Burg 2007

Our Friday night aperitif was this Gruner from Weissenkirchen. On the bouquet were aromas of citrus, tangerine peel, sherbet, blackcurrant, white pepper, minerals and sap. The palate was quite precisely balanced, with nice textured stone fruits and minerals. The finish was quite soft and dry with a slight savoury edge. Overall quite a refined white, falling somewhere between a riesling and a pinot gris.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Reserve De Gassac 2008

This blend of Cab Sav, Merlot and Syrah from Vin de Pays l'Herault in Languedoc opened to a slightly volatile bouquet of blackberry, black cherry, spice, raspberry and a touch of barnyard. The palate followed but did settle down to reveal the 3 grape varieties, which were a touch dis-integrated but rich. Weight was generous and finish dry. Quite a fruit driven wine which definitely needs a good decant before serving. Quite cheap at $10.
50+4+12+15+7 = 88/100

Chateau D'Arvigny 2005

This Haut-Medoc opened to aromas of cherry, blackberry, tobacco, dust, leather earth and some oak. The palate was light to medium in body, and slightly split between juicy fruit and dry tannins. Overall not a bad wine and fairly respectable. Not too pricey which is in its favour.
50+4+13+16+6 = 89/100

Carpineto Molin Vecchio Toscana IGT 2000

This single vineyard wine which is located in the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG appellation, and is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. After some decanting the bouquet showed blackberry, cassis, oak, spice, black pepper and some herbs. On the palate it was quite solid with savoury fruit and fine integrated tannins. Oak was fading and finish quite fine and long. Stylistically it leaned towards a savoury Cabernet. Overall quite bold and sophisticated. Very nice.
50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100

Carpineto Dogajolo Bianco Toscano 2009

For our Saturday night aperitif we opened this white wine made from a blend 40% Chardonnay, 30% Grechetto and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. On the bouquet were bright aromas of citrus, sherbet, grass, mineral, vanilla and flowers. The palate was quite soft, low in acid, but balanced with some stone fruit and a little tropical fruit. Finish was light, dry and pleasing. An easy drinking wine and good value at $15.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Domaine Forey Morey-Saint-Denis 2002

On to dinner and I opened this Burgundy from Morey-Saint-Denis. The bouquet showed aromas of dark cherries, raspberry, forest floor, damp earth, licorice, truffle and spices. On the palate it was fairly dense in both fruit and tannins, well structured and softly integrated. Nicely weighted and poised this was quite an elegant and moreish wine.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Chateau de Sancerre 2008

Friday evening and for aperitifs a Sancerre which I have not had for a while. Opened to aromas of citrus, florals, gooseberry and a touch of white pepper. On the palate it was relatively more fruit driven than previous vintages, but still nicely balanced with minerals underneath and a decent dry finished. Overall quite an elegant example, but did lack somewhat in character.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Teusner Avatar 2006

This GSM from the Barossa opened to show aromas of raspberry, blackberry, licorice, earth, meat and spices. The palate showed some weight, with rich fruit over silky tannins. Quite balanced with ample length and finish. This Rhone style blend is very well executed and good value at around $30.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Chateau Gloria 2006

Another Bordeaux for dinner, this one being from Beychevelle. Aired off to show quite an extracted nose of ripe red and black fruit, cherry, raspberry, coffee, smoke, vanilla and a little spice box. The palate was highly knitted, with fruit, tannins, minerals and oak seamlessly woven into a solid block. Weight was medium in body, with quite an airy almost ethereal mid-palate. Tannins were very fine and discreet. Was quite impressed with the structure of the wine, although some may find the light mid-palate a bit of a worry. Still very fine and lovely drinking.
50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100

Clonakilla Riesling 2009

Some Australian riesling, this one being from the Canberra District. The nose was soft with soft nectarine, ripe pear flesh, lime, minerals, sherbet and a little white pepper. The palate showed juicy fruits over powdery mineral. The palate was quite linear and focused enough, with good length and acidity. All up quite a well made and fine riesling.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Torbreck The Steading 2006

I had heard that this wine was Australias answer to a good Chateauneuf du Pape, so naturally was keen to taste. Made from a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mataro, and 20% Shiraz, the wine opened to bright aromas of raspberries, cherries, kirsch, garrigue, earth and sweet musk. On the palate it is quite light in body, with moreish fruits over fine tannins, a good streak of minerals and soft balanced finished. All up quite an impressive impression of a quality Chateauneuf, and quite a bargain at around $40.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernets Merlot 2007

Something different, well a Bordeaux blend from Hawkes Bay NZ. Opened to aromas of dark berries, cassis, raspberry, mint, twig, leaf, oak and some light pepper. On the palate it was light to medium in weight, with fine minerals, tannins and quite juicy fleshy sweet fruits, with good length and pleasant finish. Overall quite a fine effort, and is just worth $40. Nice label too.
50+4+12+17+7 = 90/100