Garrafeiras: The essence of Port: An extraordinary tasting through more than 160 years of this rare Port category./ Niepoort Garrafeira 1863 Fully transparent medium red-orange color, with light green-olive reflections. An astonishingly fresh, balanced nose. Herbal mix, malt, coffee… breathtaking complexity. Equally awe-inspiring on the palate. Profound without seeming thick. Coffee, chocolate, and tea notes, then a long, herbal, multilayered finish. Historic in many ways, because this Port was the first to achieve more than US$100,000 at auction (in magnum). | 100

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).

Colgin Vintage 2022 / The 2022 “IX Estate” vintage offers a flourishing bouquet of vivid fruits, fragrant florals, earth, and spice. Classic cassis and red currant emerge from the glass with subtle notes of crushed flowers and bergamot tea. The soul of the wine bursts with an invigorating energy. Botanical herbs, subtle tobacco, and a touch of bouillon enhance the intricacies of this stimulating vintage. Silky, succulently textured tannins drench the palate, while hints of salted caramel and cracked pepper add a salivating sensibility. Flavors continue for a refreshingly long finish. Seductive yet awakening, the 2022 “IX Estate” is a charismatic wine to behold early yet will reveal continued pleasure and vitality for decades.

A new wine at La Place De Bordeaux.

A Vertical of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1959-2014 /

A remarkable tasting of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne offered a rare look at one of Champagne’s most iconic Blanc de Blancs across more than five decades. Produced only in exceptional vintages and sourced from Grand Cru Chardonnay vineyards of the Côte des Blancs, Comtes is celebrated for its elegance, mineral precision and extraordinary ageing potential.

The oldest wines, including 1959 and 1961, displayed remarkable vitality, revealing complex layers of brioche, honeyed citrus and roasted almond while retaining impressive freshness. Mature vintages from the late 1960s and 1970s showed beautifully evolved nutty and pastry-like complexity.

Among the modern releases, 1988, 2004 and 2008 stood out for their structure, purity and tension. The tasting also featured several vintages of Comtes Rosé, with the outstanding 1996 showing exceptional vibrancy and depth.

Across every decade, the wines confirmed the enduring signature of Comtes de Champagne: finesse, chalky minerality and timeless longevity.

The arrivage tasting of the 2023 vintage from Bordeaux has confirmed the tasting results from the “en primeur tasting” in spring 2024.

Burgundy 2015 + many others / Méo-Camuzet Clos de Vougeot 2015 / Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blackberries, spices, ripe and rich nose, deep. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, structured, firm, a slight herbal note far back both on nose and palate. 93

Romanée-Conti Montrachet 2016 / A masterpiece in a glass, this Montrachet reveals unparalleled elegance and complexity. The nose is a symphony of ripe stone fruits—peach and apricot—intertwined with fresh citrus zest, delicate white flowers, and a touch of honeyed brioche. On the palate, it is profound yet ethereal, with a creamy texture balanced by vibrant acidity. Layers of minerality unfold, evoking crushed oyster shells and chalky finesse, while subtle hints of hazelnut and fine spices linger endlessly. The finish is transcendent, a testament to its grandeur and potential for decades of aging. Simply divine.

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

Vinexpo Paris was hold in early February 2026. Some new wines, which have attracted my attention.

Henschke Hill of Grace 2021 /Medium deep crimson. Expressive raspberry, blackberry, cassis, hint elderberry/violet/ sage aromas with mocha, marzipan notes. Elegant yet powerful, dense but buoyant palate with ample blackberry pastille, blackcurrant, raspberry fruits, fine supple/ grainy tannins, lovely mid palate volume/ richness and superbly balanced grilled almond, roasted chestnut notes. Finishes claret firm with a featherweight plume of bittersweet tannins. A beguiling and lasting landmark Hill of Grace vintage with wonderful definition, vinosity and torque."

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