Mid straw gold. Nose a little closed at the moment, but it’s all there – ripe stone fruit with some nice fragrant tropical and lemon/citrus too, yeasty/mealy lees notes and just enough malo butter to be interesting. With time in the glass the wine opens and the aromas strengthen and are joined by some white … Continue reading
Ch L’Evangile 1994
Mid-red robe with just a touch of amber. Forest floor, a touch of lanolin, dark plums. Palate at first green and tannic with the fruit there but struggling to show. In the glass, though, it opens and the fruits leaps out and this becomes a different wine showing sweet smoky red fruits. Finishes long and … Continue reading
Duval-Leroy Rose de Saignee N/V
Onion skin blush. Fine bead. Clean nose with deep red fruit notes. Strong very clean palate; big wine with red fruits, good acid, and delicious pinot character and good dosage. Overall though it’s a touch one-dimensional and lacks yeast flavours. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Vertus, Champagne, France http://www.duval-leroy.com 17/20 [tasted 07-01-2012] Bought http://www.glengarrywines.co.nz in April … Continue reading
Ch d’Agassac 2000
Deep garnet with a touch of amber on the edge. Cedary chocolate with a hint of forest floor and smoke on the nose. Quite a big wine but a touch hot and tannic is the initial palate impression; nice secondary cedar and forest development and good ripe plummy fruit with cassis notes. Good long finish. … Continue reading
Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne 1996
Straw gold. Fine bead. Yeasty marmite nose with apricots and stone fruits sitting nicely in the background. In the mouth, a touch oxidative, ripe stone fruits and more marmite yeast. Good length with the stone fruits and some florals lingering, nicely balanced with the acid. Vertus, Champagne, France 17.5/20 [tasted 10-12-2011] http://www.duval-leroy.com Bought http://www.glengarrywines.co.nz in … Continue reading
Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne 1996
Straw gold. Fine bead. Bread dough and light florals, quite reserved nose. Dry and clean, elegant florals, a touch heavy but good acid with apple, lime and citrus characters that linger. A good bubbles. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Vertus, Champagne, France 18/20 [tasted 26-12-2011] http://www.duval-leroy.com Bought http://www.glengarrywines.co.nz in January 2011. Very good value at $69.67. Stored … Continue reading
Ch Segur de Cabanac 2000
Mid-deep red with just a hint of brown. Touch of lanolin with lovely forest mushrooms, sweet blackcurrants and blackberries. Mild palate of ripe fruit and silky tannins. Black fruits and berries linger on the finish. Very good red. Saint-Estephe, Bordeaux, France 17.5/20 [tasted 26-12-2011] http://www.segur-de-cabanac.com Bought en primeur www.winedirect.co.nz. Good value at $35.00. Stored in a Vintage … Continue reading
Philipponnat Mareuil Royal Reserve Champagne n/v
Cellared since Dec 2005. Straw gold. Fine bead. Fruity pinot nose with fresh bread notes and peach flowers. Fresh and clean palate with elegant but good ripe fruit and medium autolysis. Everything lingers on the finish. 18/20 Ay, Champagne, France [tasted 30-12-2011] http://www.philipponnat.com Bought http://www.glengarrywines.co.nz . Very good value at RRP $46.10. Stored in a … Continue reading
Ch d’Agassac 2000
Ch d’Agassac 2000. Mid-deep red almost to the edge. Forest floor and fresh earth with some lanolin too. Big wine but in balance, with gentle acid and smooth tannins, but the fruit has faded. A touch green on the finish and lacking fruit. Score reflects what it is rather than what it was. Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, … Continue reading
Brookfields Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Reserve (gold label) 2004
Obvious amber edge. Smoky cedar fragrance, forest floor, dark red berries and plums, and a little chocolate; very complex. Palate smooth and elegant with some smokiness, smooth tannins and plummy fruit. A lovely wine. Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand 19/20 [tasted 02-01-2012] http://www.brookfieldsvineyards.co.nz Bought cellar door. Good value at $40.00. Stored in Vintage Keeper cabinet.
Gary Bowering's wine notes & more 