Steve Elder

Soléna Domaine Danielle Laurent Pinot Noir 2012, Yamhill Carlton, Willamette Valley

Good colour, quite deep for PN. Fresh and appealing, with no heaviness in spite of the fairly high alcohol. A nice middle style, with lots of stuffing but balancing acidity to make it refreshing.

Willakenzie Estate Gisèle Pinot Noir 2013, Certified Sustainable, Yamhill Carlton, Willamette Valley

Vincent Girardin Vieilles Vignes Santenay 2013, Ac

Pale ruby at this stage, quite attractive. Full nose of ripe berry fruit, which carries on to palette. Nice mineral notes beneath. Medium bodied, taught and linear. This is quite fine for Santenay, although perhaps lacking the layers of complexity of great PN. Holding well, but at its peak.

Socré Barbaresco 2011, Docg

This is fine nebbiolo for the price, with lots of depth and great earthy complexity while staying well clear of da funk. Fruit is in the dried, pruney end of the specturm as expected, with really lovely tannins on the finish. Drinking nicely now and fairly evovled. Will likely hold a few years but not a cellar-dweller. Going back for more!

Luis Felipe Edwards L F E 900 Single Vineyard Blend 2012

Deep garnet colour. Quite full and expressive, with ripe fruit and the tannins well integrated. Good complexity and length and carries the 14.5% alcohol well. Unusual and engaging.

Poliziano Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2012, Docg

Excellent sangiovese in the traditional style, dominated by dried fruit and earth notes. Really opened up with breathing.

Lavau Vacqueyras 2012, Ac

Grand Vin De Glenelly Red 2009, Wo Stellenbosch

Carpineto Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Igt Toscana

Nice purple colour, starting to amber at the rim. Lovely, very Italian nose of dried flowers, herbs and forresty notes. Reveals itself on the palate a c-s with cassis fruit and good tannic structure. Med-bodied, with a long spicy finish. Very enjoyable, and I suspect it will continue to evolve. Fine of expression of c-s in the Italian idiom.

Castello Di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2010

Just an arch-classic Chianti, full of umami-driven flavours but also endowed with ripe plum fruit. Loved this.