Steve Elder

Hedges Family Estate Red 2011, Red Mountain, Yakima Valley

Medium ruby, just starting to fade. Ripe nose with penetrating cedar and spice. Very nice entry, with the fruit still quite ripe and lots of complexity. A bit hot, however on the finish and final oak notes a bit heavy for my palette. Not a finesse wine, and as such not much to my taste. Purchased on its first Vintages appearance for quite a bit less than the $40 of the second release.

Bollig Lehnert Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese 2011

Spot on. Packed with stony, mineral flavours with a nice seam of acidity to balance the sweetness.

Denis Père Et Fils Pernand Vergelesses 2015, Ac

Bright ruby colour, perhaps starting to fade just a bit. Earthy nose with dried flowers on opening; lovely berry fruit emerges with some time in the glass. You sense the concentration. Juicy, round and ripe on the palette with the tannins fully resolved now and helping to drive the finish. Wanted a bit more depth for the price but straight as an arrow Beaune here that certainly charms. Will hold some time yet, if anyone still has any tucked away!

Quintay Winemaker's Experience Blend 2015, Do Maipo Valley

Deep opaque purple. Fruit and wild flowers on the nose with a hint of pepper (the Syrah?) and eucalyptus (the C-S??). Full and rich and extracted but carries the 14.5% alcohol well. Certainly seems Malbec dominated, but I also detect the Carménère in the green flavours on the finish (perfectly correct). Intriguing and enjoyable. Will certainly hold some time yet

Urlar The Mediator Gladstone Pinot Noir 2020, Wairarapa, North Island

Cune Gran Reserva 2012, Doca Rioja

Bright ruby colour, not showing much age at all. Nose is similarly vibrant and open, with notes of violets, herbs and dried fruit. Quite light on the palet — only medium bodied — with ripe fruit flavours and the oak supporting and not dominating. Tanins are all resolved but a bit of acid bite on the end, so I’m thinking drink up over the next 1-2 years while fruit is still present. Nice modern style Rioja.

Domaine Taupenot Merme Gevrey Chambertin 2005, Ac

Ambering to a pale red at this point. Very fragrant and fresh on the nose, especially when just opened. Much denser on the palate with the tannins still noticeable. Fruit is moving into the secondary phase. Note quite as much complexity as I'd hoped, but perhaps an "inbetween" state. Interesting to try again in a couple of years.

Hidden Bench Pinot Noir Unfiltered 2017, Beamsville Bench

Gemtree Uncut Shiraz 2015, Mclaren Vale, South Australia

Bellingham Homestead Series The Old Orchards Chenin Blanc 2018, Wo Paarl