Dave Blair

Château Saint Pierre 2010, Ac St Julien

Château Haut Bailly 2010, Ac Pessac Léognan

Deep plum/purple, Haut-Bailly’s 2010 required some coaxing to appreciate its subtle notes of barbecue smoke, lead pencil shavings and creme de cassis as well as its touches of pomegranate and forest floor. The oak is pushed far into the background and the tannins are extremely silky, but the intensity of the wine is profound and the finish lingers for close to 55 seconds. This wine is ripe yet delicate, powerful yet stylish, and essentially resembles a remarkable fashion design from a house of haute couture. This wine needs a good 7-8 years of bottle age and should keep for 40-50+ years.

Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 2010, Santa Cruz Mountains

RIDGE ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 VINTAGES 89284

Château Rauzan Ségla 2011, Ac Margaux

The grand vin, the 2011 Rauzan Segla, is a beauty. Aromas of spring flowers, graphite, creme de cassis and kirsch jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored 2011. Lots of nobility, complexity and richness characterize a wine that could be mistaken for a first-growth in 2011. This medium to full-bodied, concentrated, gorgeously pure, well-balanced beauty should be forgotten for 2-4 years and drunk over the following 15-20. Kudos to administrator John Kolasa and his team.

Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 2011, Santa Cruz Mountains

Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Lieu Dit Malakoff Shiraz 2010, Pyrenees

Chateau Palmer 2006, Margaux

Lovely floral and sweet potpourri aromatics followed by gentle delicate flavours. There is real elegance and finesse in this wine that is very appealing. A more restrained style, especially when compared with the 2005, but charming, balanced and long in the finish.

Champy Pernand Vergelesses En Caradeux Premier Cru 2010

Kumeu River Hunting Hill 11 Chardonnay 2009

Fattoria Le Pupille Saffredi 2009, Igt Maremma Toscana