Steve Elder

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

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.

Muga Reserva 2012

Staring to show just a hint of pale red at the edge. Not as fruit forward as I recall other vintages, and more classically Rioja with wood spice to the fore. Med to full bodied and good complexity. But I feel I may have been better off opening this earlier, or leaving it another couple of years. Tannins are still fairly severe, but fruit has faded. Seems in a transition phase at the moment and not showing its best.

Planeta Frappato Vittoria 2015

Viña Leyda Single Vineyard Canelo Syrah 2015, Leyda Valley

Hill Smith Estate Chardonnay 2015, Wild Ferment, Eden Valley, South Australia

This is a very fine Chardonnay in a lightly oaked style. Med to full bodied with ripe tropical fruit, excellent mouth feel and some persistence on the finish.

Vicchiomaggio Agostino Petri Riserva Chianti Classico 2012, Docg

Ernie Els Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Wo Stellenbosch

Carpineto Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Igt Toscana

Theulot Juillot Vieilles Vignes Mercurey 2015, Ac

Pale ruby, with a hint of brown starting to develop; more evolved than you’d expect. But flavours are all in ripe red berry spectrum in a med-bodied package that is all about zip and zing. Descent mineral finish wth some persistence. Not the most profound PN you’ll come across, but very satisfying. Nothing weak or washed out here. Made for food and conversation.