Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu La Chambée 2008

Was happy to see some Condrieu at DMs, so had to get it. Opened to a sweet bouquet of candied pineapple, apricot, mineral, gym-shoe rubber and pear. The palate was well balanced, with good acidity, mineral and juicy fruits. Suggestively sweet but dry, it had quite a long lingering creamy finish. Overall one of the more generous Condrieus I have had. Quite lovely.
50+4+14+17+8 = 93/100

Bouchard Pere & Fils Volnay Clos des Chenes 2007

For dinner this burgundy opened to a very attractive bouquet of ripe cherry, forest fruits, caramel, mint, herbs, stones and spice. The palate was superbly balanced and integrated, with juicy soft fruits over very silky tannins. Lovely weight and long persistent finish. This was quite an excellent Burgundy, and very moreish.

50+4+14+18+8 = 94/100

Maitre Renard Bourgogne 2007

I primarily purchased this wine on the cute label, but really needed some cheap pinot for cooking. Opened to a straight forward bouquet of cherry, minerals, foliage and a little spice. The palate was a touch racy with acid, and a little dis-integrated but overly so. Simple sour finish. Not bad for cooking or drinking.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Joh.Jos.Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Kabinett Riesling 2007

Time for some Mosel, and time for a J.J.Prüm. The bouquet showed wonderful aromas of limes, cherry, mint, honey, caramel, apple, apricot, coconut and more. The palate was rich and a little fat, with sweet but not sickly fruits over saline-ish mineral and stone notes. Long lingering finish made this the finest Mosel I have had to date. Excellent riesling from probably Germany's greatest producer. Would cellar very well.

50+4+14+18+8 = 94/100

Jean-Michel Giboulot Savigny-les-Beaune 2005

A new Burgundy on the shelf this Savigny-les-Beaune showed aromas of raspberries, pencil, florals and a touch of forest. The palate was decently balanced, yet a touch light. There were some nice earthy notes, slightly edgy tannins, but did finish reasonably well. Overall I just found this a touch anemic but still fine to drink. May improve with some cellaring.

50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

M.Chapoutier La Bernardine Chateuneuf-du-Pape 2006

A new vintage of one of the first Chateauneufs I ever tried. Opened to a rich bouquet of cherries, licorice, coffee, spices, kirsch and a touch of barnyard. The palate was very well balanced with lovely furry tannins and soft finish. Again a lovely wine, although a touch more fruitier than the last one I had, being a 2005. Still a wonderful Chateauneuf.

50+4+14+17+8 = 93/100

Olivier Leflaive Meursault 2005

As this was the last bottle on the shelf I had to give it a go being fond of Meursault. Opened to austere aromas of grapefruit, hazelnut, oak, butterscotch, citrus and cream. The palate was superbly balanced, with weight and texture seemingly thin yet fat. Lovely mineral backbone and elegant dry finish, this was very fine Chardonnay. An excellent aperitif.

50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100

Laurent-Perrier Brut L-P NV

I don't know why but we needed some Champagne, so picked this one from Tour-sur-Marne. Opened to aromas of citrus, tangerine, sherbert, spice, flowers and musk. On the palate beading was soft and light but persistant. Initially it was quite dry almost aggresive, but did soften over time to become soft and creamy. Quite a lovely Champagne, with a distinctive Orange-citrus style.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Brand's Laira Blockers Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

From the Coonawarra, this Cab Sav opened to aromas of blackberry, plum, cigar, mocha, cedar, spices and menthol. On the palate it was quite weighted, with rounded dark fruits over some nice savoury tannins. Very nicely structured this wine is very good value at around $17. Well worth investing in a case.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Simonnet Febvre Chablis Montmains 2006

A Chablis for our aperitif, this one being a Premier Cru from Montmains. On the bouquet aromas of lemon, flowers, chamomile, almonds and a little honey. The palate was quite dry and clean, with good minerality and longish finish. Overall quite a decent Montmains but not the most expressive I have had.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Chateau Chasse-Spleen 2006

Some Bordeaux from Moulis en Medoc. Opened to a fairly muted bouquet of black fruits, florals, spice and wood. The palate was medium in body and well structured with tannins dominant and quite dry. Nice acidity and some minerality made this fairly old fashioned in style, but still quite good drinking. Needs more time to develop I feel.
50+4+12+17+7 = 90/100