1998

Probably a reflection of the weather in the year, this one. 1998 was one of the hottest on record for the neighbouring part of …

Built this one up a bit in my own mind, which is always risky! And on pouring I got worried that this might be …

Excellent prelude to Easter. Great combination of Bordeaux varieties, grown in Italian sun, with influence of US winemaking. Complexity, with ease of drinking. Only …

€40 in a restaurant is a good price for this. Actually drank in Ryan’s on Parkgate St, Dublin. This is a food-wine, I think, …

Sogevinus is the Portuguese firm that has a portfolio of 4 major Port houses: Kopke, Cálem, Burmester and Barros. Kopke is the oldest established …

Clear, deep yellow-gold colour, even to the rim. Aromas of buttered toast over some rich remaining peach (yellow) fruit. Mostly bouquet rather than aroma, …

And this was another of the clear highlights of our tasting at Weingut Probst (the winemaker – Reiner – has signed the left page). …

1997 Meysonniers: 7.6 (7) – slightly darker than the ’95 with Port-like notes and strawberry, coupled with caramel. Balanced, spicy flavour with some red …

A vertical tasting with friends – my first! Happened to end up with a range of these Crozes-Hermitages, starting with the 1995 (above label, …

Dark red colour but with brick-reddish tinge (over-quick ageing?). Coal-smoke licked aromas of dark fruit – damson or black cherry. Quite tannic but generally …