Steve Elder

Frescobaldi Tenuta Di Castiglioni 2016, Igt Toscana

Good deep colour just starting to fade at the rim. Spicy, minerally nose with the fruit quite ripe but starting to shift into the dried spectrum. Med-full bodied, round, spicy, juicy with the tannins still quite firm. Just starting to enter it’s drinking window I’d say and will clearly hold for several more years.

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.

Marziano Abbona Terlo Ravera Barolo 2005, Docg

Starting to amber, but still quite deep and bright. First impression is of fruit, with dried flowers, followed by spice and cedar notes. Med bodied, with refined tannins and moderate complexity. A modern style of nebbiolo; more depth would have been nice.

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.

Château Des Charmes St. David's Bench Vineyard Gamay Noir Droit 2012, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula

Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018, Wo Stellenbosch

Wynns Coonawarra Estate The Siding Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Coonawarra, South Australia

Stina Cuvée White 2022, Island Of Brac