Steve Elder

Il Molino Di Grace Il Margone Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2011, Docg

Tournon Shays Flat Vineyard Shiraz 2016, Pyrenees, Victoria

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

Foxen John Sebastiano Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015, Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County

Fine PN. Medium ruby colour, shimmering at the edges. Lovely nose of small berry fruit with a hint of spice and cedar. Med to full bodied; a lot of heft for PN but no heaviness. Classic PN fruit across the palate with just a bit of tannic grip in the finish. Lovely stuff.

Henschke Henry's Seven 2015, Barossa, South Australia

Bright shimmering ruby in colour. Nose is packed with flavour: cherry, herbs, spice. Lovely sweet-ish entry, and spreads across the palate to a long anise-inflected finish. Just enough tanin and acid to prevent it from being cloying. Fine stuff, and it will keep going for a good 5 years yet, me thinks.

Nativ Bicento 2013, Doc Irpinia Campi Taurasini

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.

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

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.

Lan Gran Reserva 2011, Doca Rioja