Salon 2012 / “A rollercoaster year in the vineyards with hopes for a quality crop only rising at harvest time. Salon initially wasn't promising a vintage, but changed its mind having come up with something instantly rewarding. Bright, sweetly fruity nose on the sweet green fruit side: lime, pear drops, licorice, jasmine and fragrant orange blossom tones. A flick of vanilla complements the whole. The palate has a silky flow of volume yet a firm backbone of brisk acidity enhancing the notion of explosive fruitiness. The chalky mineral bite comes forward on the long, intense and dry finish. This wine hasn’t moved a lot in the past year, promising longevity. Disgorged 3/21; dosage 5g/l”

Pingus 2021 / Violets, flint, graphite, dark chocolate, ink pot, and hints of herbs such as tarragon. Black truffles. Tar and hints of sandalwood. Black tea. Medium-bodied with very linear tannins that are tight and polished with fine silky texture. It’s endless and seamless. Profound and deep. Super structure and balance. This needs six or eight years of bottle age at least. Try after 2032. 100p

Over 20 years ago, the Swiss-German couple Evelyne and Erhard Heumann startet a winery in Villány-Siklós. This region is famous for red wines as the terroir is ideal: sunny and south facing slopes, wich are made of loess and loam with chalk and dolomite. This is an optimal ground for vines on the 15 hectar estate. Therefore the family concentrated on growing Cabernet Franc and Blaufränkisch, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. 

Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022 / 98p / Pale colour.  Lovely intense grapefruit, grilled nut, marzipan, vanilla aromas and flavours. Taught yet sinuous in structure with ample grapefruits and limes, underlying tonic water, grilled nut flavours, fine lacy textures, superb mid-palate volume and fresh high pitched indelible acidity. A thoroughbred of remarkable richness and torque. A beautifully focused and classic Margaret River Chardonnay showing off the fidelity of the Gin Gin Clone and precision vineyard sourcing. Drink now – 2032

There is no other wine producer in the world, who can set up such a complex tasting than Niepoort. Amazing wines with amazing styles with an impeccable quality! A true pioneer, who is making the next generation wines, but carrying still the legacy of the past with exquisite port wines.

TAYLOR'S VINTAGE PORT VARGELLAS VINHA VELHA -tasting / Vintage 2017:With six years since 2011 the 2017 follows the biggest gap in the VVV history. Strong and intense dark-red colour with medium violet reflections. Tobacco, cassis and black cherry in the deep and complex bouquet. The palate continues this enormous intensity without losing balance: White pepper, tobacco, dark cherry and cassis, perfectly structured acidity and ripe tannins. Long and multi-layered aftertaste. A little more than 5.000 bottles produced. 97

Château Montrose 1888 / Mid clear fox red. Sweet, tender, gentle. Wonderfully hedonistic. Liquorice again. Very Montrose – with a real core of rosy sweet fruit. Very rich, racy and thoroughbred – just like a wonderfully sinewy racehorse. Shiny. Not unlike the marvellous 1911. There was an extraordinary variation between the paleness at the top of the bottle and the dark graininess of the sediment at the bottom. Bravo!

Bouchard La Romanée 1870 is a rare and remarkable wine that offers a glimpse into the distant past of winemaking. This wine has withstood the test of time, and it's a privilege to experience a piece of wine history.

In the glass, the La Romanée 1870 exhibits a translucent garnet hue with delicate brick-red undertones. The color has evolved gracefully, showcasing its considerable age.

The aromas are a testament to the wine's long journey through time. On the nose, there's an intricate tapestry of dried roses, cedarwood, worn leather, and aged tobacco. These tertiary aromas are layered with nuances of dried red fruits, including faded cherries and cranberries. The bouquet is delicate yet still captivating, offering a sensory journey through the years.

On the palate, the wine is remarkably well-preserved, considering its age. It presents a medium body with gentle, resolved tannins that have softened over the decades. The flavor profile is a harmonious blend of dried fruit compote, sun-drenched figs, and hints of truffle and forest floor. There's a subtle herbal note, reminiscent of dried thyme and sage, which adds complexity.

The finish is remarkably persistent, lingering gracefully on the palate. It carries echoes of the wine's initial fruitiness, interwoven with a whisper of spice and earthiness. The wine's longevity is on full display in this enduring finish.

The Bouchard La Romanée 1870 has gracefully aged and evolved, it still retains its elegance and a glimpse of the vibrant wine it once was. It offers a rare opportunity to connect with the past and appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship of winemaking from a bygone era.

This wine should be approached with reverence and savored slowly. It's a testament to the enduring magic of fine wine and serves as a reminder of the rich heritage of winemaking in Burgundy. Drinking a wine like this is not just a tasting experience; it's a journey through time and a celebration of the art of aging gracefully.

Henschke Hill of Grace 2016 / Deep ruby-red colour with a trace of purple. The bouquet is multi-faceted and beguiling in its mellow complexities, invoking earthy, humus, undergrowth, dried herbs and ironstone, blackberry and licorice aromas with a hint of mocha, the same flavours appearing on the palate, which is tremendously concentrated and powerful, without loss of its essential elegance. A miraculous wine of concentration and balance. A powerful vintage of this wine. 98 points

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

Colgin 2019 Vintage: Nuanced yet vivid, the 2019 vintage brims with the hallmark characteristics of the IX Estate vineyard. Powerful mineral notes of crushed rock and iron intermingle with compelling scents of licorice, black cherry, and huckleberry. Generous notes of sage and juniper meld with subtle hints of graphite and potpourri. A gliding texture of suave tannins seamlessly coats the palate leading to a sleek finish. The pure, gorgeous fruit ties everything together, making for an exquisite wine that sings now but will only reveal more layers in the future.

Louis Latour Montrachet 2020 / Moderate reduction and wood render the nose. More intriguing are the dense, serious and palate staining larger-bodied flavors that deliver excellent length on the powerful and muscular if noticeably warm finish where the wood treatment resurfaces. This is quite backward and tightly wound and a wine that will like need all of 10 to 12 years to reveal its full potential. 2030+ 92-94