The 2022 Bordeaux arrivage wines were tasted during January 2025.

Amazing Jacques Selosse Champagne tasting!!

Château d'Yquem 1816 / Recorked. 1816 is known as the "year without a summer." However, there is no indication of this in the wine. It is still surprisingly fresh, with a fine note of mocha, malt, and bitter orange. Incredibly youthful and elegant. The sweetness is still very pleasant and, along with the slight touch of alcohol, provides an incomparable variety of aromas. A timeless monument and a unique privilege to be able to enjoy this wine over 200 years old. 18.5p

Bordeaux 2023 Vintage Part III / Stephanie Rivoal de Bouard, CEO of Angelus since 2012, has transformed this property into a refined and intellectual wine in recent vintages by increasing the amount of Cabernet Franc and using considerably less oak. Benjamin Laforet, the young winemaker since 2017, does a great job at Angelus. The wine is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. On the nose, there are intense morello cherries and raspberries, while on the palate, it's elegant and plush, with a strong backbone, great complexity, sophisticated touch, and finesse. It has a great mid-palate and long aftertaste. This is stupendous quality. 98p.

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2024 edition: Fontodi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leolino 2020 / A pure Sangiovese gem from a vineyard of the same name, a wine of impeccable tension and drinkability. The aroma has notes of red mulberry, wild iris and sage. On the palate savory, with a return of small red fruits,

floral nuances and a magnetic drink.

2024 Penfolds Collection / The 2020 Penfolds Grange is again an extraordinary expression of Australian winemaking mastery, showcasing boldness, complexity, and the unmistakable power that defines this iconic wine. A blend dominated by Shiraz, with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 vintage is both opulent and poised, offering a captivating experience for lovers of exceptional reds.

On the nose, the wine opens with a symphony of aromas. Dark fruits—plum, blackberry, and black cherry—take center stage, supported by layers of licorice, dark chocolate, and espresso. Subtle notes of dried herbs, cedar, and freshly cracked black pepper add complexity, while whispers of smoky oak and earth hint at its time spent maturing in barrel.

The palate is rich, intense, and velvety, with extraordinary depth and concentration. Ripe blackberries and blueberries burst forth, wrapped in layers of mocha, vanilla, and spice. A core of savory notes—think black olive tapenade and charcuterie—balances the wine's luxurious fruit profile. The tannins are robust yet polished, providing a firm structure that carries the wine effortlessly across the palate.

The finish is remarkably long, leaving a trail of dark chocolate, graphite, and sweet baking spices that lingers with impeccable grace. Despite its power, the 2020 Grange retains a stunning sense of balance, with vibrant acidity keeping the wine fresh and vibrant even in its youth.

In 2006 some sommeliers were invited to prepare the jubilee tasting of the auction at Kloster Eberbach. This first encounter resulted in a tradition which has seen the 19th edition on January 26th, 2025. There were some amazing wines to be discovered.

Domaine Ramonet tasted: 2020 Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet / Pale lemon yellow. Apples, citrus, minerals, detailed, rich, layered, nuanced, detailed and complex nose. Fresh acidity, intense, rich, layered, nuanced, detailed, creamy, fruit forward and long. 96

Among the best wines produced in Bordeaux in the 2022 vintage are Château Canon and Cheval Blanc, two legendary expressions produced with the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé denomination. Followed by Château Langoa Barton and Château Leoville Poyferre both produced in Saint-Julien. Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé is the denomination that emerges bringing more references into the Top 10, but it is Margaux that benefits from a great exploit in terms of consistency after two slightly subdued years (vintage 2020, vintage 2021).

Vega Sicilia Unico 2015 / A masterpiece of depth and elegance, the Vega Sicilia Único 2015 presents a deep ruby color with a complex bouquet of blackcurrants, plum, and red cherry, interwoven with notes of leather, graphite, tobacco, and subtle spice. The palate is full-bodied and impeccably structured, featuring fine-grained tannins and a vibrant acidity. Layers of dark fruit, licorice, and earthy minerality unfold gracefully, leading to an extraordinarily long and nuanced finish. A legendary wine with decades of aging potential.

Claire Janoueix & Audouin d’Aboville are the young couple who is responsible for the renaissance of Château de Panisseau in Bergerac. This medieval castle is at the foothill of 47ha of vines planted with the classic grape varieties of the south-west, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec for the reds, Semillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle for the whites. The new collection arrived just for the new year and shows the positive evolution of the winemaking since the young couple took over.

Despite the challenge of the drought and scorching heat wave in Napa on 2022 vintage, Blankiet Estate managed to make wines that scored as high or one even higher than past top vintages!