Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz 2018 / Few wines have had a harder act to follow than this one, on the heels of the stupendous 2018. And if one may begin with a spoiler, it has given the task one almighty shake. Another spoiler, there will be no 2020 Graveyard (2021 is likely but not yet confirmed) so don’t hesitate. 

Tight and youthful with firm tannins. Flavours of chocolate, plums, dry herbs, black fruits, fresh leather. It doesn’t quite have the almost-unique combination of exuberance and finesse the 2018 exhibits but it has other charms. It would be fair to suggest that this is more typically Graveyard in character than the ’18. Complexity and length and a cracking future, backed by juicy acidity. 98. If not for the 2018, we’d be in awe of this wine. Well, we still are. 98p

Large Coche-Dury tasting and few others: The Corton-Charlemagne 2002 was equally as impressive, but in a more mature way. It was in a perfect spot, on a bridge between youth and wisdom, with extraordinary balance and tension. I think that the 15-20 year mark is a real sweet spot for great vintages of Coche CC. Ooh la la (98).

Perfect 100 points Graham 80 year old Tawny Port – Only 600 bottles of the 80y old were bottled and the shelf price will be well above 1.000 GBP. For Charles Symington the blending process was very emotional, as his father, Peter Symington, was born in 1944. When turning 80, Peter very much enjoyed this special Port. Dark red colour with intense reflections and a green-gold rim. Gentle and perfectly balanced Douro Bake aromas on the nose with coffee, dried orange and tobacco. Complex, dense herbal notes in the bouquet, chocolate, malt, tobacco leaves and caramel, floral notes and a hint of chocolate and toffee in the background. Incredibly complex notes on the palate. Herbal mix, chocolate, tea, malt, honey, tobacco. Perfectly long, balanced and complex finish with many overlapping layers. A perfect Port! 100

2025 is another wonderful vintage in Bordeaux. It started off quite well with a warm winter. January was filling up the water reserves in the soil, February and March however were already dry. Some cold spells in the early months of the year delayed budburst, which occurred early April. Ideal conditions in spring promoted the start of flowering at the end of May. Flowering as well as véraison were early and homogeneous therefore contributing to uniform ripening. However fruit set was rather difficult influencing the low yields in 2025. A number of heat waves were putting the vines under stress and resulted in a smaller berry size. The heat waves started as early as June and ended on August 20th only were some rain brought the relief. It was just the right amount to promote further ripening but not causing any fungal danger. The tannins found the time to have their physiological ripeness and harvest date was crucial. In the cellar a careful fermentation and maceration with focus on less extraction and more fruit continued the trend already seen in the last two years. Bordeaux goes back to a more classic style with lower alcohol levels (fort the reds between 12.5% and 13.5% ABV) which show a lot of fruit and freshness and are very appealing at a young stage. But the high values of polyphenols will guarantee an excellent and long lasting evolution over a long time in the bottle. The fruit is absolutely charming and will be able to win the heart of younger consumers but the excellent structure, freshness and promising potential will make this vintage also ideal for collectors. In fact, Bordeaux is back to its roots with elegance and freshness, leaving the 15% ABV wines just a memory in the past. 2025 is a vintage of excellent quality but very little quantity.

Mount Edelstone 70th Anniversary Tasting 1956-2022

The Cossart Gordon Bual Centenary Solera 1845 is a spectacular piece of liquid history, showcasing the near-immortal staying power of historic Madeira. Because it was built on a solera system established in 1845, the liquid represents a continuous continuum of time, combining extremely old, concentrated material with beautifully integrated younger fractional additions. In the glass, it presents a deep coffee-mahogany hue with a striking, brilliant olive-green rim—the definitive signature of monumental age.

The nose is incredibly fragrant, pungent, and slow-burning. It explodes with a complex array of burnt sugar, molasses, and dark maple syrup, closely followed by roasted coffee beans, resinous balsamic, and a distinctive lift of singed rubber and exotic spices.

On the palate, it strikes a brilliant "medium-rich" balance characteristic of the Bual grape. It enters with an opulent, velvety texture, delivering rich flavors of toffee, dried figs, and orange marmalade. Rather than feeling cloying, the wine is immediately reined in by a staggering, high-toned lime and citrus-like acidity. The finish is aggressive, dry, and immensely long, echoing with bitter chocolate, walnut skin, and a lingering saline, smoky oak depth.

This Fine Wine tasting journey represents a pinnacle of global finest viticulture, traversing the world's most storied terroirs with breathtaking variety. We began with the "monastic precision" of Salon 2004 and the multi-generational depth of Krug 1973 Magnum, moving into the "weightless intensity" of Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc and the volcanic tension of Dana Hershey Sauvignon Blanc. The flight showcased a fascinating dialogue between power and restraint: the monumental, cross-hemisphere structure of the Grange La Chapelle 2022 stood in stark contrast to the silken, ethereal grace of the legendary Cheval Blanc 1949.

The selection further highlighted the evolution of luxury, from the flamboyant, "sun-drenched" opulence of the DRC Montrachet 2009 to the razor-sharp, technical brilliance of Dom Pérignon P2 2008. We concluded with the sheer, unctuous majesty of Yquem 2009, a wine of a century. Ultimately, the tasting underscored a singular truth: the greatest wines transcend mere flavor, offering a "chiseled" harmony where site-specific minerality and structural acidity ensure eternal longevity.

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 1929 / An absolutely sensational bottle—youthful, highly elegant, and perfectly balanced between acidity and sweetness. Delicate, slightly salty caramel, malt, dried figs, and molasses weave together in a masterpiece of flavor. Simply brilliant—off the charts! 20+ points

Burgundy’s greatest wines are not built on sheer power, but on tension, texture and the ability to unite intensity with elegance. In this fascinating Montrachet-focused tasting, centered largely around the outstanding 2010 vintage, it was precisely the minerality, freshness and poised structural calm that left the most lasting impression and defined the wines so beautifully. The tasting was completed by a selection of vintage 2009 Pinot treasures from the Côte de Nuits, bringing depth, sensuality and quiet grandeur to the lineup.

Château Fontenil Vertical 2022-2005 / I have tasted Château Fontenil during primeur for more than a decade, but I have rarely seen them in bottle, and even rarer tasted them. Boy was I in for a treat! On a relatively misty morning I turned up at Fontenil and I did not expect anything near this amazing lineup. I am a big fan of Fronsac, these wines are so undervalued, and here we are, another big tasting confirming that exact same thing. Gorgeous wines. 

Wynn's John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 1982-2021 by Andrew Caillard MW

Dom Ruinart Rosé 1988 / “Onionskin-hued cherry red colour. Really powerful toast, spice, meat, and gunflint nose that comes with a charming coffee and cream note. A wild one. Ripe and massive, yet vibrant and super silky. Impressive in 75cl bottle and out-of-this-world in magnum. ”