Steve Elder

Domaine Taupenot Merme Bel Air Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru 2007, Ac

Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf Du Pape 2012, Ac

What a complete and compelling wine! Still quite full ruby colour, and nose is youthful too. Ripe berries, wild flowers, and incredibly delicious mineral notes on the mid-palate. Tannins are fully resolved and everything just works. Full bodied, but such energy and airiness. Not sure anyone but the French can make wine like this. Has reached a beautiful plateau that will last for many years.

Montes Purple Angel 2007

Sat on this for a few years to see what would emerge -- very impressive wine with depth, complexity and a finesse I did not expect. Still very deep ruby, and nose very ripe. Full bodied, with the tannins ripe and nice use of oak. The only thing I'd say is that I would not have guessed this as carménère -- I amost missed the green flavours.

One last note: absurdly heavy bottle. Actually weighed it -- over 1 kg! More than double a standard bottle. To me, has the opposite effect of that intended: makes me less likely to buy again.

Dalva Colheita Port 1995, Bottled 2020, Doc, Portugal

Kacaba Cabernet Franc 2013, VQA Niagara Escarpment

Very impressed. Fine ripe cab franc with a lot of complex mineral flavours.

Thirty Bench Steel Post Vineyard Small Lot Riesling 2020, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment

Tournon Shays Flat Vineyard Shiraz 2016, Pyrenees, Victoria

Anthonij Rupert L'ormarins Cap Classique Blanc De Blancs 2018, Wo

Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Meursault Genevrières Premier Cru 2006

Attractive golden colour at this point. Full, vibrant nose suggestive of appricots, underpinned by butter, almost caramel notes. Still suprisingly tarte and youthful on the palate, full bodied and very long. I would say this is still not at prime drinking stage, and will improve further. A wine that shows its best with food.

Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2019, Wo Stellenbosch