The arrival of wines from the New World at the place the Bordeaux will start in September. The first samples have been sent an my first tasting is with Cheval des Andes.

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).

Mount Edelstone 70th Anniversary Tasting 1956-2022

Bryant Family's latest releases confirm why the estate remains one of Napa Valley's undisputed icons. A tasting of the 2023 Bryant Family Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 DB4, and 2022 Bettina revealed a collection defined by remarkable purity, precision, and elegance.

The highlight was unquestionably the Bryant Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, a monumental wine awarded 100 points. Produced from one of the coolest and longest growing seasons in recent Napa Valley history, it combines extraordinary concentration with effortless finesse. Layers of blackcurrant, blackberry, graphite, violets, and crushed rock unfold over a palate of remarkable freshness, ultra-fine tannins, and seemingly endless length. It is a benchmark Napa Cabernet destined for decades of graceful evolution.

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.

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. ”

Australian New Releases / Claymore Wines The Fields of Anfield Road 2024 ($75) – When one thinks of Claymore wines, two things come to mind – cracking Clare Valley wines and an unfathomable devotion to the Liverpool Football Club (I guess you can’t have everything). Those who follow the sport will know that the mugsmashers, as they are fondly known, snuck in to win the competition earlier this year. To celebrate that, they have released this Shiraz Cabernet blend and a bottle can be yours for literally just 0.00000025% of what the Club has spent on players in the off-season. 

An inky maroon hue with a purple rim, there are notes of cocoa powder, blackberries, cassis, mocha, cold tea, dried herbs, chocolate and smoked meats. The oak is deftly handled and there is an intriguing saline/iodine notes running through the wine. Good balance and focus, with bright acidity, there is excellent length. It will drink well over the next decade and continue to improve. Those who are not fans of Liverpool are probably hoping that this is a one-off. 93.

Bordeaux Vintage 2025 / Pessac-Leognan / Château Haut Brion Blanc : 53% Sémillon + 47% Sauvignon Blanc. Great intensity of grapefruit and green apple on the nose. Remarkable acidity, well-poised, vibrant, and sophisticated on the palate. Multilayered. Long, lemony aftertaste. Upper-class quality. 97-98p.

Masseto tasting 1998-2022 / Masseto 2015: A truly legendary, text-book perfect growing season. A normal spring gave way to a hot, intensely sunny summer. Crucially, timely rains in late July relieved any potential vine stress. August brought cooler nights, allowing the Merlot to preserve its aromatic freshness while reaching unprecedented levels of sugar and tannin ripeness.

 The perfect masterpiece and the ultimate expression of Masseto. This vintage is an olfactory explosion of ripe blackberries, dark chocolate, black truffles, and wet iron clay. The palate achieves absolute, breathtaking harmony. It delivers a monumental, multi-layered texture that manages to be simultaneously opulent, dense, and magically weightless. A flawless, unforgettable expression of a golden Tuscan season. 100 points

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

The new vintage of Vin de Constance arrived on the market. Another excellent example for the top quality of the Muscat de Frontignan grape variety.

Château Lafite 2025 / Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Floral touch, delicate roses, dark wild berries, candied violets, delicate licorice, some velour, multi-faceted, inviting bouquet. Juicy, elegant, red cherries, delicate redcurrants, fine, silky tannins, a hint of lime, salty minerality, delicate, full of finesse and long-lasting, sure maturity potential. 99p