Giaconda and Henschke 2024 Release  / 2019 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia / Deep crimson. Beautiful cassis, blackberry pastille, roasted chestnut, espresso, herb garden, star anise aromas. Silky smooth and inky textured wine with ample blackcurrant, blackberry pastille fruits, fine loose knit graphite tannins, crunchy fresh acidity and beautifully balanced mocha, roasted chestnut, hazelnut nougat, dark chocolate notes. A lovely chalky bitter-sweet finish with a fine tannin plume. Saturated and buoyant with superb mineral length. Atypical for Hill of Grace but I suspect bottle age will haul it back into line. A fascinating vintage and a beautifully made wine. Drink now – 2038+ 14.5% alc 97+ points

The Screaming Eagle 2012 is an exceptional display of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at its finest. On the nose, it offers an alluring bouquet of ripe blackberries, cassis, and dark cherries, layered with subtle hints of graphite, tobacco, and dark chocolate. The palate is full-bodied yet incredibly elegant, with silky, finely integrated tannins that frame the fruit beautifully.

Flavors of juicy black currants and black plums unfold alongside delicate notes of crushed violets, cedar, and a touch of espresso, adding complexity and depth. The balance between its rich fruit profile and the fresh acidity creates a sense of lift and grace, leading to a long, persistent finish with a whisper of minerality and earthy undertones.

This vintage shows remarkable finesse and aging potential, making it both powerful and refined, with layers that will continue to evolve for decades.

Château Suduiraut 2010 /Super nose with some exotic pineapple/mango/passion fruit undertones mixed with Vouvray-like blossom-tree and quince jelly, enormous body, but incredible purity and crystal-like transparency, great length, a masterpiece! Drink 2020-2070.

The VDP has again presented the new vintage of the GG wines in Wiesbaden. This time, I have focussed on Silvaner from Franconia, Riesling from the northern areas, Mosel, Saar and Ruwer, Middle-Rhine and Nahe. I tasted some very appealing Pinot varieties too. The vintage 2023 was rather challenging for the producers however they showed some very convincing wines.

The La Tâche was the palest of all the DRC 2017s, almost to the point of transparency. This is a floral, open knit expression of the monopoly Grand Cru, which is very far from being a blockbuster this year. Scented and appealing, with notes of avatar of roses, fresh leather and peat smoke on the nose, lots of whole bunch spice and structure, racy acidity, a hint of salinity, succulent red berry fruit and remarkable palate length. A layered, understated red.

John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 + other Australian new releases – One of our most iconic wines and a world famous Cabernet. It would be most people’s choice as the pinnacle from Coonawarra, every year. First made from the 1982 vintage, early examples from top years like 1982, still drink like a dream. From a stunning vintage like 2021, who knows the lifespan. The wine spent 16 months in a mix of French oak, 48% hogsheads and 52% barriques. 

An inky opaque maroon colour here, the nose gives us chocolate, blackberries, tobacco leaves, soy, licorice, mint, vanilla and dried herbs. This is impressively concentrated and balanced at the same time. The structure exhibits good focus, great length and fine, silky tannins. On the palate we see notes of coffee beans, root vegetables and mocha. This wine has power. It will give pleasure for twenty years, more if you want. 97.

The 1966 Heitz Vineyard Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was an epic bottle, a testament to the heights that Napa can achieve, pun intended!  There was a minty and sexy nose that seeped caramel and eucalyptus.  There was this great herbal complexity that was so expressive.  Insane expression!  ‘So good’ was written over and over in my notes.  The palate was creamy, long and smooth with tasty and fresh caramel flavors.  Divine stuff (98).

Henchke Hill of Grace 2015 /"Effortlessly long, smooth and supple, this polished and uber-restrained shiraz unfolds a musky, peppery and faintly meaty bouquet of mulberries, cassis, dark plums, cedar/vanilla oak and paprika backed by suggestions of cola and sweet floral notes. Flaunting its rare restraint and finesse, it reveals layers of pristine translucently clear dark red, blue and black berry flavours supported by a refined, ultra-fine spine of loose-knit tannins and knit with creamy, cedary, cigarboxy oak, building in weight and lasting forever. A very different, distinctive Hill of Grace of exceptional quality and charm."

Dom Pérignon 2003 P2 / Medium deep golden colour with rather small and vivid bubbles. Pure and intense nose, fine development without oxidation, roasted pine and pistachio nuts with confit de citron, fresh peach and brioche notes. The palate is ample and rather opulent with a rounded acidity yet with a nice fresh bite from fine extract, mild creaminess, nice layers of finely spicy yellow fruit, nougat and nutty flavours with a long and embracing finish. 95p

Tasted very finen and rare wines like Penfolds 60A 1962, Latour 1962, Lafon Montrachet 1990, Ramonet Montrachet 1990, Harlan 1997 etc.

2014 A.F. Gros Richebourg / Bright ruby. Scented, red berries, fresh, fruity, detailed, elegant and nuanced, superb nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, bright, fruity, refined, detailed and elegant, lively, spices, superb length. Just as gorgeous as I remember it from Grand Jours a few weeks back. 95 points

Tastingbook tasted Dom Pérignon vs other prestige champagne! 

The 1996 Dom Pérignon P2 is a Champagne of electrifying intensity, born from a vintage of contrasts. The year saw a capricious summer, with wet spells that failed to fully make up for earlier dry conditions. Yet, the heat in the months leading up to the harvest worked its magic, creating a vintage defined by its extraordinary balance between power and searing acidity.

On the nose, the wine leaps from the glass with vibrant aromas of citron, green apple, and white peach, layered with more complex notes of toasted hazelnuts, fresh brioche, dried figs and a touch of flint. A subtle hint of smoke lingers, adding depth and intrigue to the aromatic profile.

The palate is where this Champagne truly shines—it’s a dance between richness and precision. The first sip explodes with flavors of crisp green apple, lemon curd, and candied ginger, wrapped in a luxurious, creamy texture. The hallmark of the 1996 vintage, however, is its razor-sharp acidity, which cuts through the richness, leaving the palate refreshed and craving the next sip.

As the wine evolves, notes of dried apricot, almond, and a touch of honey emerge, adding layers of complexity. The minerality is pronounced, delivering a chalky finish that seems to go on forever, with a final whisper of citrus and toast.

The 1996 Dom Pérignon P2 has a rare balance of power and acidity ensures it has aged beautifully, and it promises to continue captivating for years to come.