Giaconda and Henschke 2024 Release  / 2019 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia / Deep crimson. Beautiful cassis, blackberry pastille, roasted chestnut, espresso, herb garden, star anise aromas. Silky smooth and inky textured wine with ample blackcurrant, blackberry pastille fruits, fine loose knit graphite tannins, crunchy fresh acidity and beautifully balanced mocha, roasted chestnut, hazelnut nougat, dark chocolate notes. A lovely chalky bitter-sweet finish with a fine tannin plume. Saturated and buoyant with superb mineral length. Atypical for Hill of Grace but I suspect bottle age will haul it back into line. A fascinating vintage and a beautifully made wine. Drink now – 2038+ 14.5% alc 97+ points

Tasted very finen and rare wines like Penfolds 60A 1962, Latour 1962, Lafon Montrachet 1990, Ramonet Montrachet 1990, Harlan 1997 etc.

2014 A.F. Gros Richebourg / Bright ruby. Scented, red berries, fresh, fruity, detailed, elegant and nuanced, superb nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, bright, fruity, refined, detailed and elegant, lively, spices, superb length. Just as gorgeous as I remember it from Grand Jours a few weeks back. 95 points

John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 + other Australian new releases – One of our most iconic wines and a world famous Cabernet. It would be most people’s choice as the pinnacle from Coonawarra, every year. First made from the 1982 vintage, early examples from top years like 1982, still drink like a dream. From a stunning vintage like 2021, who knows the lifespan. The wine spent 16 months in a mix of French oak, 48% hogsheads and 52% barriques. 

An inky opaque maroon colour here, the nose gives us chocolate, blackberries, tobacco leaves, soy, licorice, mint, vanilla and dried herbs. This is impressively concentrated and balanced at the same time. The structure exhibits good focus, great length and fine, silky tannins. On the palate we see notes of coffee beans, root vegetables and mocha. This wine has power. It will give pleasure for twenty years, more if you want. 97.

The La Tâche was the palest of all the DRC 2017s, almost to the point of transparency. This is a floral, open knit expression of the monopoly Grand Cru, which is very far from being a blockbuster this year. Scented and appealing, with notes of avatar of roses, fresh leather and peat smoke on the nose, lots of whole bunch spice and structure, racy acidity, a hint of salinity, succulent red berry fruit and remarkable palate length. A layered, understated red.

Four wines have been tasted today, just released for the market. Two Riesling from Markus Molitor and two very special Sekt cuvées from Schloss Vaux. 

Visit at Château Laroze / 2010 Château Laroze, Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruits, scented, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, liquorice, detailed, spices, long. Minerals. 93p

2021 Petrus: 99% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc: Fermented in cement, 50% new oak. Harvest: September 30 to October 9. As suggested by its lighter color, this Petrus displays rather red berry fruit, cranberries, and red currants, along with a splendid note of licorice. Behind that, there are also delicate floral hints of lilies and violets. On the palate, it is surprisingly slender and energetic with juicy, finely spiced red berry fruit, crafted entirely for freshness and focus, without revealing the seductive melt or erotic fleshiness typically seen in its youth. I am curious to see if it develops these characteristics with bottle aging. A subtle, perhaps too slender Petrus for some, with silky tannins, delicate elegance, and a finish rich in finesse and spiciness. 99 points

The VDP has again presented the new vintage of the GG wines in Wiesbaden. This time, I have focussed on Silvaner from Franconia, Riesling from the northern areas, Mosel, Saar and Ruwer, Middle-Rhine and Nahe. I tasted some very appealing Pinot varieties too. The vintage 2023 was rather challenging for the producers however they showed some very convincing wines.

Bordeaux white and sweet wines 2023 vintage: Château Climens 2023: This is the second vintage under new ownership. It is a staggeringly stylish wine with great finesse and richness, a sophisticated touch, great sweetness, and remarkable acidity. 98p.

Tastingbook Celebrates its founder’s birthday with an exceptional Petrus tasting event featuring 11 recent vintages. The collective average score from all participants was a remarkable 97.2 points—a truly outstanding result!

1970's tasting with Cristal, Krug, Jayer, Chave, Sassicaia, Guigal, Haut-Brion etc.