Oaked

One more bought from the vineyard. The ’97 was excellent, so I left the ’99 for a year or so first. Good, but early …

Not bad, but not great. Definitely something about raised expectations with a few Gran Reservas from the ’94-’96 trio of good Rioja vintages. Light …

This Hunter’s offering was much better than the Pinot Noir. Pale yellow-gold colour. Medium intensity nose of grilled pear, buttered toast and butterscotch hints. …

Third of a trio of slight disappointments – not as good as the ’96 Reserva promised from Del Puerto. I was expecting more balance, …

The last of Otters’ contribution to Christmas 2005, and a ripe Rioja from a producer I’d not come across before. Similar quality to the …

A very nice accompaniment to Boxing Day roast goose, due to the structure and robustness of this Volnay. Medium garnet core with a medium …

At last, a nice Barolo. Brought over by Steve Otterburn for Christmas Eve. Barolo is supposed to smell of violets, and this certainly had …

A gift from Jim and Karen Jeffries to Mum and Dad, and ready to drink, so I twisted their arms to crack it – …

Corked. Feck. 1 down, 2 to go… Cracked 2nd bottle a couple of weeks later with my bro. Deep ruby-black colour still showing youth, …

Helped my mate Gavan retake the Guinness Triathlon individual course record as “fetcher & carrier”, and he chipped me a bottle of this from …