Fine wine
926. Vega Sicilia, Alión Ribera del Duero, 2011
A Spain-themed MW blind practice courtesy of Peter McCombie had this little beauty in the reds. I might have been a long way off …
922. Lopez de Heredia-Viña Tondonia, Viña Tondonia Rioja Gran Reserva, 1994
The current release of the Gran Reserva, and it showed the top quality both of the 1994 vintage, and Tondonia. As José-Luis advised, this …
921. Quinta do Noval, Nacional Vintage Port, 2003
[Faint signature: António Agrellos] My first Nacional, courtesy of an MW student trip to the Douro. The range-tasting at Noval was very special, with …
917. Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains, 1989
[Eric Baugher signature. March 10, 2015]. The highlight of a Ridge dinner at Planet of the Grapes, with Eric Baugher, who leads day-to-day winemaking, …
915. Bodega Catena Zapata, Catena Alta Historic Rows Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza, 2011
Once again a very classy wine from Catena, at the Alta quality level. A lovely Cabernet. Vanilla and cinnamon entry. Rich, ripe, focused cassis …
911. Domaine Laroche, Réserve de laObédience Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots, 1996
The finale of a 20-50 winemaker dinner with Gregory Valloire – one of the 4 of the last 8 magnums of this at the …
906. Clos Mogador, Priorat, 2010
Clearly infanticide, but this was Grenache in a different league. Deep purple. Brooding, deep nose with a distinctive dusty and schist minerality layered over …
901. Château d’Yquem, 1er Cru Classé Supérieur Sauternes, 1998
My Yquem virginity lost at the Bordeaux MW Gala dinner. Though from an inauspicious vintage this showed length, elegance and relatively early maturity. Pale …
899. Ferraton Père et Fils, Ermitage Le Méal, 2010
To begin with, I didn’t quite see the quality, but over time it shone through. A very good, new oak influenced, rich, but subtle, …
888. Royal Tokaji Wine Company, Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos, 2007
No label from this one… because it never had one! After a cellar flood at the importers, a mixed-bag of 2007 5 and 6 …