16/04/07
Chateau Cambon La Pelouse 2004
Deep garnet with a nose of smoke, graphite, vanilla and blackcurrant - on the palette, a bit thin - but initially prominent black cherry flavours before a rather short finish. Young, I would revisit in a year or two - but I am not sure this has the wherewithal for a long haul. I like this wine though - can you tell? 89-90pts

16.04.07
Calvet-Thunevin Cotes Du Roussillon 'Les Dentelles' 2003
Not sure what varietals - possibly grenache - but I suspect a goodly dollop of syrah (not according to the website though) - Initially purple changing to a black hearted arterial red promisingly deep nose of prunes, mint, blood, tar, garrique and a smidge of oak. Full bodied, rich with deep black fruit (cake) and a very nice texture, well balanced with slighty grainy, lingering tannins.This is a very good wine - but is it value for money at £20 - I would have to say yes - simply, because it is a very good wine 92pts

02/04/07
Catena Alta Chardonnay 2004
Initially did not inspire - powerful oak with citrus notes. However, next day - WOW the oak was less dominant. Fabulously smooth with great body and a really delicious oily buttery-ness. Hedonistic, with rich fruit but beautifully balanced. 93pts

01/04/07
Eikendal Chardonnay 2004 Stellenbosch, South Africa
Pale gold with a nose of brioch, mango, lemon and grapefruit. Smooth and restrained with a not unpleasant oakiness to the fore - slightly bitter on the finish. Cellar for a further 2-4 years. 90pts

31/03/07
Weinert Malbec 2002 Argentina
Initially slightly overpowering oakiness and tart acidity. Meat and smoke prevail, some mintiness and plummy fruit after a few hours in a decanter…but I love Weinert’s style which is bold, focused and always rewarding….brilliantly made wine, tremendous value…re-discover in 5 years time and be amazed. 88-91ts

30/03/2007
Castello Calosso Barbera D’Asti (Rodotiglia) 2000 Piedmont
This bottle showed very well. Ruby with sweet nose of cherry and leather. Resolved and excellent with confit chicken with mashed potato and savoy cabbage. 91pts

24/03/07
Henri Boillot Bourgogne Blanc 2004 Burgundy
Pale Straw with green tinge. Fresh nose of pear - focused and elegant - very refreshing. Putting on some fat and minerality. 91pts.

24/03/07
Sociando Mallet 2000 Bordeaux
Predominantly tobacco on the nose some black fruit lurking in the background -meaty and a touch disjointed, not particularly smooth - tannins nearly overpowering. I am not sure this has developed much since my last bottle (September 2005). Looking forward to seeing where this goes over the next 20 hours or so .....I know that there has been some controversy over the perceived 'green-ness' of this wine.....more tobacco than green pepper to my mind..
After 12 hours - less tobacco and more deep blackcurrant fruit - secondary hints of mint and spice - tremendous power with silky black cherry on the palate and still prominent tannins on the finish…..90-92pts

22/03/07
Kangarilla Road Shiraz 2004 McLaren Vale
Wow. Purple with a beautiful, powerful nose of sweet black fruits , toast, tar, mint and meat with gravy! Background hints of herbs. Full bodied, balanced, slabs of black fruit, supple with well integrated smooth tannins and a touch of acidity. Alcoholic heat on the finish. Fabulous QPR. I would love to think that this will age well and develop into something really complex and engaging. 92pts

18/03/07
Le Pigeonnier Du Lagrezette 2001 Cahors
Decanted and left to breath for 7 hours - returned to bottle for trip to restaurant.
Purple with a black core - opulent and explosive nose of black fruits and graphite - enormous - smooth and unctuous with port like concentration ……as the evening unfolded - secondary aromas of chocolate and coffee mixing with the black fruit and graphite ….Lacking in complexity compared with some maybe - but still very young. Will open another one in 5 years. RP gave this 95pts - who am I to argue.

17/03/07
Chateau St Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Washington State
Dark ruby. Wonderful cabernet fruit straight out of the bottle - unctuous and balanced with graphite and blackcurrant dominating - medium-full bodied smooth and delicious. Touch of stalkiness on day 2. Fantastic QPR. 91pts

02/03/07
Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 McLaren Vale
Dark Purple - nose of smoke, blackcurrant and toasty oak predominate. Smooth and full bodied - but blackcurrant fruit OTT at this stage. Revisit in a couple of years. 89-91pts.

27/02/07
Gigondas - Selectionne par Laurence Feraud 2003 Southern Rhone
Nose of tar, smoke, liquorice bit of barnyard and cherry. Full on with fairly grainy tannins and a touch of what I call stalkiness (green notes) - but good concentration if a touch rustic.

18/02/07
Chateau Lagrezette 1997 Cahors
Beautiful complex nose of tobacco, leather and hedgerow black fruits. Full bodied with a rusticity not anticipated by the elegant and complex nose. Classic Cahors. Great with sausages with roasted squash. 89pts

06/02/07
Badia a Coltibuona Chianti Classico Reserva 2000 Tuscany
Ruby red. Liquorice, some greenish notes and leather on the nose. Explodes with cherry and liquorice in the mouth. Tannins slightly un-integrated but overall still great. Try again in 2-3 years - could develop elegantly if the tannin calms down. 90 pts

06/01/07
Chateau D’Aiguihle 2000 Cote De Castillon
Purple, nose of black fruits including black cherries, bacon fat, tobacco and a very subtle mintiness, full bodied, initially hot and a bit simple but delicious nonetheless if a teeny bit rustic. Young, backward and not ready to drink really, will deliver much more in 3-5 years I reckon. 90-93pts

02/01/2007
Domaine Du Pegau Cuvee Reservee 2001 Chateauneuf Du Pape
18.00 Opened and decanted - though no sediment. Translucent ruby. Initial eruption of strawberry jam notes with a bit of animal and elastoplast (?) medium bodied and apparently closed.
18.15 Green pepper notes with a bit of horse and smoke!
18.45 Nose opening up - complex of peppery fruit, road tar and the aforementioned smoke - starting to be a pleasure to sniff.
20.15 - 21.00 Refined and detailed but small in scale - all the parts, but in miniature - will be great in 10years. 94-96pts

01/01/2007
Castello Calosso Barbera D’Asti (Rodotiglia) 2000 Piedmont
Dark ruby / garnet nose of prunes, meat, liquorice and leather - medium bodied and quite closed on the palette, acidic kick and tannic - was hoping for more from this - will benefit from some aging - I hope the fruit wakes up a bit.
After 2-3 hours this improved immensely and came into focus a bit - still reticent but balanced at least.
89-91pts

25/12/06
Cuvee Dame Honneur Du Chateau Lagrezette 2002 Cahors
100% Malbec, dark purple, nose of toast, graphite and plummy, dark fruits. Full-bodied with clearly delineated, massive structure, yet somehow light on its feet - surprisingly integrated tannins, actually a joy now and I am sure will develop into a more complex wine. 92-95pts.

30.11.06
Dinner at the Elm Hill Brasserie with the Harper Wells contingent. Most of the wines available from http://www.harperwells.com/

Ridge Chardonnay 2003
Pale Straw with honey, popcorn and caramel nose and lots of toasted oak. Smooth and moderately unctuous, collapsed a bit on the palette, very dry tannins and a medium finish. Young - may gets itself together with a bit more bottle age. 87pts

RAAT Original Chenin Blanc 2005 served with Sea Bass, with Capers, anchovy and parsley dressing. Very pale and dry, simple and pure with hints of celery, apple and pear with a salty finish. Elegant wine. 88pts

Mission Hill Pinot Blanc 2002
Pale gold colour , perfumed nose with pears and citrus fruits smooth and balanced - well made wine. 88pts

Brunello Cantina Di Montalcino 2001
Dark garnet - horse and leather with cherries - medium to full bodied, meaty on the palette - probably deserved more attention and was slightly overwhelmed by the delicious stew of wild venison haunch with venison and pork sausage 90-92pts

Alta Vista Alto 2003
Malbec with 15% cabernet sauvignon- full bodied blockbuster -very young , dark fruits and oak predominate - chocolate flavours compete - hopefully will all come together in 3-5 years
89-91 points

Cedre Prestige 2004 Cahors
Interesting to compare with the Alto. A blend of 90% malbec and 10% tannat. More tightly wound than the opulent 2002, full-bodied with fascinating floral notes mixed in with the black fruit, lovely texture, fairly restrained but well balanced. 90-92pts

05/10/06
Penley Chardonnay 2001
Straw plus green. Fresh mineral nose with kiwi and grapefruit. Smooth, young and fresh. Nice acidic touch. 90pts

02/10/06
Albert Marot Beaune Tossaints 1er Cru 2001
Ruby - muted nose of cherry and mushrooms, elegant, balanced and restrained. 90pts

23.09.06
Henri Boillot Bourgogne Blanc 2004
Pale Straw with green tinge. Fresh nose of pear - focused and elegant - very refreshing. 91pts.

23.09.06
Catena Malbec 2004.
Deep purple! Slightly herbaceous nose, black cherry fruit and toasty oak. Sweet black cherry on the palette, smooth, full-bodied and young. Not a complex wine. 89pts

20.09.06
Montus 2000
Purple - complex and enjoyable nose of bacon, mushrooms, earth, plummy and sweet dark fruits. Massive, full bodied - belt and braces structure that hopefully will not outlast the fruit Do not open for 5 years. 90-92pts.

18.09.06
Reserve Perrin CDR 2004
Ruby/plum medium bodied, muted nose with green notes, white pepper, smooth soft tannins, touch of acidity, alcoholic finish 86 pts