Andrew Edwards

Château Haut Bailly 2008, Ac Pessac Léognan

Quinta Do Vallado Touriga Nacional 2008, Doc Douro

Incredibly well-reviewed - opened up my first bottle a week or two ago - will be excellent but not as high as the peak reviews, and not really ideal for another couple of years 92-93+

Yacochuya 2005, Cafayate, Calchaquies Valley, Salta

Just opened one. Very big wine, more herby than fruity. Extremely rich and dense. Complex but in a new world way where there are a few different very big tones kinda shouting over each other. It's balanced in that none of them wins.

If drinking now, decant. This wine is very big, very nicely done, but needs time to take the edges off. Right now almost too rich to sip on without food.

93 is a rating I'd call tentative. 5 years from now this thing could be a 96 or could be a 90.

Alfred Gratien Vintage Brut Champagne 1999

Château Montrose 2008, Ac St Estèphe

Craggy Range Sophia 2010, Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, North Island

Château Pontet Canet 2008, Ac Pauillac

Parker: "A candidate for the “wine of the vintage,” Pontet Canet’s 2008 boasts an opaque purple color as well as copious aromas of sweet blueberries, blackberries and black currant fruit intertwined with lead pencil shavings, subtle barbecue smoke and a hint of forest floor. Full-bodied, with fabulous richness, texture and tremendous freshness, this first-growth-like effort is more developed than the uber-powerful 2010. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following three decades. Bravo!"

Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1997, Napa Valley

Outstanding. Deep, structured, full bodied. Delicious mature cab.

Casalvento Chianti Classico Riserva 2006, Docg

delicious but running out of steam at 7 years. drink this year.

Hawkeye Mountain 2006, Alexander Valley