Domaine de Chevalier 2021- 80% C. Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% C. Franc and 5% P. Verdot. It's the first vintage with that much C. Sauvignon in the blend. 13% alcohol. Intense black- and redcurrants, crushed rocks, coffee beans, cigar box, graphite, fresh, fine structure and complexity. Persistent aftertaste. Splendid effort for the vintage. 94-95p.

Lanson Vintage Collection 1979/ Glorious, remarkably fruity nose with Coteaux du Layon reminicent botrytised tones of dried apricots, honey, orange marmalade and wool. Really sweetly fruity on both nosr and palate. Superb viscosity and generosity on the concentrated palate, stylishly lined with perky acidity. Seems ageless 93p

Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition 50 years Cuvée / Light golden colour. Pure and intense nose offering fresh stone fruit, sweet citrus, some lees derived creamy notes, fine oak, toasted hints and plenty of fine spice. The palate is warm and unctruous yet remaining fresh with crunchy and vigorous fruit, fine extract and very mild tannin contributing to structure and length, very long with great depth, purity and style. 

Château Cos d’Estournel 2021 96–97 points / Deep crimson. Intense dark chocolate, blackcurrant brambly aromas with inky graphite notes. Superbly concentrated wine with deep-set pure blackcurrant, blackberry confit fruits, fine graphite/ vigorous textures, superb mid-palate density and underlying malty/ spicy oak. Very chocolaty with a leafy tannin plume. Superb fruit definition, complexity and precision. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 4% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot. 55% new French oak barriques. 12.74% alc

2020  Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc / With the pop of grapefruit, white peach, lemon peel, flowers, orange rind and honeysuckle in the nose, and a creamy, sweet, fresh, juicy, slightly honeyed, lush, white peach and citrus finish, you have all the ingredients needed for a luscious, white Bordeaux wine. The wine was produced from a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Semillon. 97  Pts

Guigal La Turque 2018 is pure perfection in a glass. So persistent. Very dense, with flavors of smoked bacon, coffee bean, cracked pepper and licorice and it hits the palate with a massively concentrated decadence. Finishes with superb clarity, spiciness and length, leaving a smoky mineral note behind. Should age marvelously and slowly.

Château Haut-Brion Blanc 2021 / 55% Semillon + 45% Semillon. Great intensity of green apple, pear and pineapple, acidity, crispiness, structure and length. Vibrant. Long lemony aftertaste. Sheer class. 98+p.

2007 Nikolaihof Steiner Hund Reserve, Kremstal / This brilliant biodynamic estate is based in the Wachau on the “wrong” side of the Danube, but this wine hails from vineyards in neighbouring Kremstal. It’s an incredible Riesling: intense, focused and minerally with remarkable texture, density and concentration. Honey, white flowers and a stony undertow, with spice, creamy lees and a finish that lasts for minutes. The wine will develop for at least another decade in bottle.

After two years without a fair, Prowein opened its doors on Mai 15, 2022. It was wonderful to see people "live and in colour", having good discussions and feel rather well. The fair has made everything, that visitors could feel at ease. Large corridors and therefore no "traffic jams" in the alleys were creating a very pleasant atmosphere. Although I am not a big fan of tasting on fairs, as the situation is often not ideal, this edition of Prowein with the more relaxed atmosphere invited to discover some novelties.

Emmerich Knoll Grüner Veltliner “Kreutles” Smaragd 2021, 92 points

Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc 2021 / This has so much depth and power, with complex notes of flint, oyster shell, white pepper, dried mango, lemon, papaya, apricot stone and chalk. Medium-to full-bodied. Bright, yet creamy. It’s so long and concentrated. Wait and see. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% semillon, 5% sauvignon gris. From organically grown grapes. 98-99

Château Larrivet-Haut-Brion 2013 Pessac-Léognan Blanc /
This is an ambitious bottling, made of 81% Sauvignon Blanc and 19% Sémillon crafted in 50% new French oak, 30% wood tanks and 20% concrete eggs. It is then aged 11 months in barriques that are regularly rolled to keep its lees in suspension. The result is a complex and rich nose that leads through honeycomb, citrus peel and fresh-cut flowers to a lingering finish. This is pure, zesty and highly typical of the best in its region.