Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2018, California, USA

Oak, buttered toast, pear, pineapple,peach, spice on the finish.

Mark: B

Haardt Riesling 2019, Weingut Müller-Catoir, Pfaltz, Germany

Fruity and dry. Apples, lime, peach, minerals and honey on the finish.

Mark: B

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2017, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury, New Zealand

Petrol and honey with some lime, lemon, peach, and pear. Last year's vintage was better.

The grapes for this wine come from a vineyard is located within the Waipara Valley of North Canterbury, on free draining, north facing terraces. It benefits from being in the lee of the Teviotdale Range, giving maximum protection from the Pacific’s easterly breezes and thus creating a unique mesoclimate. The vines are over 30 years old, with a large proportion planted on their own roots. The soil is free draining and of low fertility, resulting in naturally reduced vine vigour. This produces low yields of optimally ripened, high quality, flavourful grapes, which fully express the qualities of this unique terroir. The vineyard has warm days, but the nights are amongst the coolest in the Waipara Valley, drawing out the ripening period of the grapes, while still retaining good natural acidity.

The growing season consisted of average conditions over flowering resulted in a moderate fruit set. The subsequent warm summer allowed the grapes to be picked a little earlier this season than usual.

Mark: B-

Beaujolais Villages Nouveau Nature 2020 Jean Loron, Beaujolais, France

Raspberries, blueberry, banana finish. Full bodied for a Nouveau. I would buy this again for sure.

This Gammay Noir has been fermented naturally, without the addition of sulphite, from the harvest, to the cellar and bottling.

Mark: B

Beaujolais Nouveau 2020, Pardon & Fils, France

Strawberry, cherries, blueberries, yeasty and spritzy.

Mark: C+

Château de Villeneuve Cabernet Franc 2018, Samur-Champigny, Loire, France

Raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, earthy, leather, slight liqourice on long finish, talcum powder like tannins.

Mark: B-

Chateau Rahoul 2017, Graves, Bordeaux, France

Lemon, asparagus, pear, peach, earthy, fruity.

The extremely mild winter favoured early budburst and very rapid growth of the vines. This was followed by good and even bunch set. The frost at the end of April spared the estate’s white grape varieties, which continued to develop well approximately three weeks ahead of schedule. Flowering was quick and even in the dry, sunny May weather. The summer, particularly August, will be remembered for hot days (but not too hot) and cool, damp nights, with the contrast promoting freshness and balance in the bunches during very early ripening. Determining optimum harvesting dates for the Semillon (dominant at Rahoul) and Sauvignon Blanc was crucial in this early vintage. The grapes were harvested only in the mornings, from August 28th to September 6th.

This wine is a blend of 59% Sémillon and 41% Sauvignon Blanc.

Mark: B-

Corbec Corvina Malbec 2016, Masi Tupungato, Uco Valley, Argentina

Super smooth, blackberry, blackcurrant, cherries, liqourice and black pepper finish.

Mark: B

Château Jean Faux Sainte-Radegonde 2014, Bordeaux, France

Red fruits and blackcurrant. Some tannins but not harsh. Cedar and oak floating in the background. Lacking concentration though. I was expecting more.

Mark: C+

Ritual Chardonnay 2018, Viñedos Vermonte, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Oaky, buttered toast, pineapple, orange blossom, lemon. Fruity and a nice refreshing acidic finish.

Mark: B-

Soproni Kékfrankos 2018, Peter Wetzer, Hungary

Nice dusty, concrete, unfiltered taste which adds body. Rapsberries, cherries, and minerals and acidic finish.

Mark: B-

Wunderkind Blue Velvet Villányi Kékfrankos 2017, Jammertal Wine Estate, Villány, Hungary

Raspberries, cherries, chocolate, black pepper, liqourice. The alcohol gives it some nice body and it has a nice acidic lift to it. A great value.

Mark: B-

Château de Bertinat Révélation 2016, Saint Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France

Plums, blackcurrant, spice, earthy finish, smooth talcum powder like tannins. Very fruity.

Mark: B

Château Jean Faux Sainte-Radegonde Blanc 2017, Bordeaux, France

Oak and vanilla followed by apples and pears. Finishes with herbs. 14% but this is not at all evident. Could be fruitier and gets a boring after a bit.

Mark: C+

Vigna Santa Margherita Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2018, Panizzi, Tuscany, Italy

Oak and butter, stone fruits and lemon, bitter almond finish.

Mark: B

Chakana Estate Torrontés de maceración prolongada 2019, Gualtaliary, Mendoza, Argentina

Grapefruity, lychee, peach, cloudy since it is unfiltered, some tannins on the finish. Not bad for an orange wine.

Mark: B

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Coonawarra, Australia

Upfront blackberry and blackcurrant flowing into vanilla, oak, and chocolate and then ending up with hints of mint and liqourice.

Mark: B-

Mega Spileo III Cuvée Red, 2018, Cavino Winery and Distillery Aigio S.A., Peloponnesos, Achaia, Greece

Pruny, blackcurrant, plums, vanilla, spice, cherries, oak, tannins a little bit harsh still. Let it sit for a couple more years.

Mark: B

Wieninger Ried Herrnholz Bisamberg Grüner Veltliner 2019, Vienna, Austria

Lemon, lime, pear, white pepper, minerals, grassy and creamy on the finish.

Mark: B-

Kumarod Rot 2018, Schwarz, Burgenland, Austria

Plums, cherries, blueberries, spice and leather. Good concentration and nice acidic lift.

Mark: B

Late Harvest Red 2014, Heinrich, Burgenland, Austria

Off dry, raspberries, strawberries, plums, cherries,liqourice and spice, long fruity finish with leather at the end.

Mark: A

Le Anfore Syrah 2019, Tenuta Casadei, Tuscany, Italy

Cherries, raspberries, blackberries, liqourice, white pepper, mineral notes.

Mark: B

Bergström 2018 Old Stones Oregon Chardonnay, Willmatte Valley, Oregon, USA

Pear, lemon, lime, butter, peach and pineapple notes in the background, minerals and oak at the end.

Mark: B+

Les Combettes Marselan 2018, Domaine Anne Gros et Jean-Paul Tollot, Côtes du Brian, Laguedoc-Roussillon, France

Blueberry, blackcurrant, raspberries, white pepper, liqourice, minerals, mouth coating, warm long finish. Reminds me of a very nice rich Grenache.

Mark: A-