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James Halliday "Bright, clear purple-red; offers a rich tapestry of succulent fruit in a blood plum spectrum, the oak evident but not over the top, finishing with soft tannins."

Jay Miller (robertparker.com) "The 2005 Grenache Clarendon is dark ruby-colored with an enticing bouquet of violets, damp earth, and sappy black cherry. This leads to a ripe, velvety-textured, intensely fruity, structured wine which will evolve for 4-5 years and drink well through 2020."

Bob Campbell "The first Bilancia Chardonnay I have tasted. Fruit from La Collina vineyard and Bridge Pa Triangle. Indigenous yeast and 15 months in oak without fining or cold stabilisation. Attractive, elegant chardonnay with tight citrus, mineral, struck flint and savoury yeast lees and spicy oak flavours. A classy chardonnay with development potential." 

94 Points - Bob Campbell "First release of a brand new wine brand. Quite a rich, flavoursome and oaky red with cigar box, plum, dark berry, anise, spice and liquorice flavours. A weighty, textural wine with appealing spicy complexity. Accessible now but should age well."

95 Points - Bob Campbell "First release of a new Marlborough chardonnay. Full-flavoured, with salty, briny, citrus, toasty yeast lees and spicy oak flavours. Lively, tangy wine with a pleasing texture and lengthy finish. Intensity and power suggest good cellaring potential. Clearly one to watch."

16.5 Points - Jancis Robinson "Dusty but deep citrus fruit. Very ripe, almost apricot fruit on the palate. Rounded and generous and not particularly oaky, just a touch of spice on the finish and very good freshness." 

Owen Latta (Winemaker) "A nice start to the growing season with good rainfall in winter and spring and then everything stopped in summer to become a warmer short season. Intense in the vineyard with extreme drought conditions causing low yields. Interesting fruit. The wines were very forward in their youth but showed potential for longevity. Nice to revisit this and think about the season."

Our tasting note to follow...

Tasting note to follow shortly...

96 Points - Bob Campbell "Attractively scented pinot noir with cherry, violet, cassis, fresh herb and subtle chalk-mineral flavours. A bright, fresh, high-energy wine with a backbone of fruity acidity that helps drive a lengthy finish. Delicious now but shows potential."

94 Points - Stuart McCloskey "As Robert Parker declared “Roman Bratasiuk is one of Planet Earth’s greatest winemakers”. Yes, the 03 Syrah is full-bodied however, Clarendon Hills is all about purity, the expression of terrior and vintage variation. With over a decade in the bottle the wine is now displaying wonderful meaty and smoky bacon fat characteristics along with ripe black fruits and a touch of pepper."

95 Points – Bob Campbell "Rich, ripe Viognier with orange blossom, apricot, wildflowers and Oriental spices. Big, concentrated and powerful wine with mouth-filling flavours and an almost chewy texture. High alcohol of 14.5% heightens the sense of voluptuousness and adds warmth to the lengthy finish. The wine really evolved as it sat in the glass and will certainly benefit from decanting."

This season, with its long Indian summer, produced a wine with what we believe to be a particularly interesting future. On appearance its bright straw hue almost sparkles. Blossoms, wet river stones and an expansive medley of yellow peach and grapefruit aromas anticipate what is to follow on the palate. Powerful grapefruit, talc and a compote of other fruit flavours are sustained in a distinctly taut structure.

92 Points - James Suckling

Love the aromas of toasted oak, lemon pie and cream. Full body, with intense tropical and citrus fruit flavors and a long, lightly oily and creamy finish. Fieuzal white may be coming back to its glory days from the 1980s? Best after 2013.

Robert Parker

Owen Latta (Winemaker) "Quite a challenging vintage; a good start to the season followed by a long slow finish. Harvested early May, 12.8 Baumé. 5% whole bunch, indigenous yeast and no adjustments. 16-18 months in 4-10 year old barriques. SO2 added post Malo and prior to bottling. This wine took time to blossom but is now one of our favourites. Also Norman’s last solo vintage!

Our tasting note to follow...

93 Points - James Suckling "A dense and fresh white at the same time with cooked apples, lemon rind and minerals. Bright and vivid yet shows depth and seriousness. Phenolic and vivid. Hints of fresh herbs. Drink or hold."

93 Points - Jane Anson (Decanter.com) "Utterly gorgeous freshness and zip, with intensity of flavour. It has a little more Sémillon than usual, due to frost affect the Sauvignon Blanc, which seems to mean the aromatics of the Muscadelle are a little more prominent than a classic Lynch Bages Blanc, adding a white flower honeysuckle lift. It is beautiful and works within the cascade of flavours, although I miss their more classic blend - they probably do too, to be fair. Already bottled. 45% new oak. "

Petit Verdot can rarely stand on its own, but Craneford’s 2004 is an inky/blue/purple-coloured offering displaying notes of incense, liquid minerals, black fruits, and damp earth.

Robert Parker

'An amazing performance'.

Gorgeous aromas of flowers, blueberries, cassis, and meat jump from the glass of this cuvee. With huge body and a rich, intense style, Bratasiuk claims it is his hypothetical blend of a Cornas and Hermitage, although it possesses more fruit than most of those wines.

Exclusive to The Vinorium

94 Points - Mike Bennie  "Boozey scents, boozey flavours, but also a silkiness, glycerol of course, expected, really concentrated, sweet fruited, blackberry jam, black fruit pastille lollies, some nougat and sweet nuttiness too. Flow is sumptuous and supple, lush, incredibly flowing, with a pinch of gummy tannins long, long away. Does the job of everything in portion pretty well. Just huge."

93 Points - Luis Gutierrz (erobertparker.com) "The 2012 Aluvional Vista Flores is produced with Malbec grapes from Vista Flores, in the Tunuyan department of the Uco Valley, from a vineyard at 1,100 meters altitude. It opens with opulent aromas of wild herbs and violets, very showy and elegant, and has a medium-bodied palate with extremely polished, glossy tannins and a sweet texture. It is fluid and very drinkable. "

The wine shows an abundance of layered flavours and with careful wine making practices has made a fuller yet softer style, well structured, balance and the palate has great length.

(Individually numbered: 81-97 of 100)

James Suckling "The acidity in this really gives verve and intensity to the wine. Lemon and salt character already. Full yet vivid. Exciting. Great value. Drink or hold."

Light yellow colour with pale green tints. Intense and complex nose of exotic white fruits and citrus fruit mixed with floral notes of linden and acacia. The palate is rich, generous, ample and intensely fruity, with very good tension. The Sauvignon Blanc lemon juice delicately coats the exotic sweetness (lychee, mango) of the well-ripe Semillon. Mineral notes bringing good salinity added to this cocktail, to serve a beautiful finish. Concentration of white fruits, mineral freshness and righteousness.

Winemaker "Lune d’Argent is the heart of Clos des Lunes’ production. We firmly believe in the future of this legendary terroir and its truly original style. With a touch of French oak, the Sémillon is dense and rich, the Sauvignon Blanc refined and precise. This cuvée of dry white wine promises to convey all the magic of Sauternes."

Robert Parker "The 2017 Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard, made using 15% new oak, has an open nose of toast, hazelnut and river stone with quince, warm white peach, honeycomb, honeysuckle and citrus peel. Light to medium-bodied, it has a wonderful core of warm, savory accented fruits, with juicy acidity and a long, layered finish. "

Jeb Dunnuck "Starting out, the 2017 Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard comes from the sandy soils of the Los Alamos region and spent 15 months in 10% new French oak. Its medium gold color is followed by a gorgeous bouquet of caramelized stone fruits, white flowers, honeysuckle, and brioche. Rich, medium-bodied, and textured, with good acidity and terrific balance, it's a gem of a Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming 4-5 years.'

Antonio Galloni "The 2017 Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard is a very pretty wine. In 2017, Los Alamos Chardonnay has a bit more textural weight than it usually has, which is not a bad thing at all for this wine, which tends to be decidely airy. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and orchard fruit flavors all flesh out in a very pretty, lively Chardonnay loaded with class."

95 Points - Antonio Galloni "A wine of total allure, the 2015 Home Field (Fort Ross Seaview) is also the brightest of the three Pinots in the range. Sweet red cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, blood orange and chalk are some of the many notes that run through the 2015. Bright, tense and salivating, the 2015 possesses terrific energy, with beams of underpinning salinity that drive the wine forward. This is another captivating wine from Raen."

Petit Verdot can rarely stand on its own, but Craneford’s 2004 is an inky/blue/purple-coloured offering displaying notes of incense, liquid minerals, black fruits, and damp earth.

Antonio Galloni (Vinous) - "The 2014 Pinot Noir Camp Meeting Ridge is pretty, harmonious and super-expressive. Sweet red cherry, sage, tobacco, anise and rose petal all meld together nicely. Soft, understated and delicate, the 2014 offers a striking interplay of floral/savory aromatics and pliant fruit. There is plenty to enjoy here over the near and medium term."

Wine Enthusiast "Crafted from 12 different clones planted throughout the estate vineyard, farmed to perfection, this is a delicious and exuberant expression of blueberry crumble that's succulent and inviting in every way. Full bodied, it retains enough acidity to remain mouthwatering and yet complex, a subtlety of white pepper and cardamom biting at the its heels."

95-97 Points - Robert Parker "The 2014 Chardonnay Ellen Lane Estate exhibits more gravelly, wet pebble notes and loads of uplifted aromatics, including peach, pineapple, orange rind and lemon blossom. It is again a complex style of Chardonnay made from a cold microclimate."

The wine shows an abundance of layered flavours and with careful wine making practices has made a fuller yet softer style, well structured, balance and the palate has great length.

The Chapelle d’Ausone has an intense bouquet with vibrant, slightly dusty black fruit that are very well defined and develop intriguing earthy, almost graphite aromas with aeration. Leaving it in my glass over five minute it offers some gorgeous, yet subtle floral notes. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and a degree of composure and refinement. One feels that they could have easily tried to extract more from this wine but resisted temptation and consequently produced a better wine. Everything in its right place.

95+ Points - Antonio Galloni

I have tasted the 2013 Sirah Per Sempre several times over the last few months and it just keeps getting better. Intensely aromatic, Tua Rita's Syrah is unusual for the Tuscan coast because of its distinctly floral/savory personality. Sweet tobacco, rose petal, sage, mint, wild flowers and red-fleshed fruit are some of the signatures. In the 2013 Sirah readers will find a wine endowed with tons of nuance and complexity. A final kick of aromatics married to rich Suvereto fruit leaves a lasting impression on the finish. Just bottled, the 2013 is quite raw and in need of time, but it is incredibly promising, not to mention delicious.

96 Points - Antonio Galloni

"The estate's 2007 Syrah explodes from the glass with cracked black pepper, cured meats, blueberry jam and sweet spices. This is a remarkably muscular, full-throttle Syrah that offers exceptional balance and tons of complexity. Mineral-infused black fruit, graphite and crushed rocks are some of the nuances that inform the long, refreshing finish. In 2007, the Syrah is Tua Rita's flagship wine."

97 Points - Antonio Galloni

Layers of inky, black fruit, grilled herbs, smoke, menthol and melted road tar are all layered together in the 2012 Syrah. Deep, fleshy and explosive in the glass, the Syrah is endowed with marvelous complexity and depth while remaining remarkably light on its feet for such a big wine. Hints of lavender, violets, leather and blueberry jam inform the finish. In 2012, the Syrah benefits greatly from longer macerations at lower temperatures and an overall gentler approach to extraction. The 2012 Syrah has been nothing short of remarkable on the multiple occasions I have tasted it so far.

94 Points - Neal Martin

I enjoyed this wine from barrel and just after bottling. Under blind conditions it really shows its quality. It has a very attractive bouquet with notes of blackberry, cigar box, raspberry leaf and a touch of sandalwood - quite complex and nicely defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine acidity. There is real density here, caressing in the mouth but full of vigour and breeding. Long and tender towards the finish, this is a lovely wine.

93-95 Points - Robert Parker

94 Points - Neal Martin

You cannot escape just how lovely this bouquet is. Touches of white flowers, vanilla pod, custard creme, mango and a touch of lime. Wonderful definition. The palate is medium-bodied, fine tannins, real depth of flavour here with the oak interwoven into the plush, oaky texture (showing less of the petrol aromas it exhibited at birth.) It will need time for that oak to subsume itself entirely, but it is a really beautiful Blanc '07.

96 Points - Neal Martin

Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 2008 Trotanoy has an attractive bouquet with engaging clarity and purity: raspberry preserve, wild strawberry, a trace of something almost medicinal just below the surface. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and a crisp line of acidity, subtle notes of cedar and tar infusing the red berry fruit with a composed, structured finish with plenty of freshness and vigor. Classic in style, well crafted and sure to give another two decades of pleasure, this is a stupendous Trotanoy that is up there with the 2009 and 2010 . Yes, it's that good and in fact, it kept on improving as it opened in the glass. 

96 Points - Robert Parker

An incredibly fresh, lively 2003, this wine offers a dense ruby/purple color along with full body and a remarkable nose of black currants, kirsch, lead pencil shavings and vanilla. Opulent, full-bodied and close to full maturity, it is a seamless classic that will age for 15-20 more years. Kudos to the Delon family for such a brilliant achievement in a tricky vintage.

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck 

The second wine of Château Latour, the 2012 Les Forts de Latour is a smoking good, rich, concentrated effort that most likely wins the battle of the second wines in the vintage. Crème de cassis, graphite, crushed violets, cedar pencil and tobacco notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied 2012 that has rock solid mid-palate depth and a great finish. It doesn’t come cheap but is a beautiful, classic Les Forts de Latour that will drink nicely for another 10-15 years.

94 Points - Neal Martin

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chapelle d'Ausone 2010 has a tightly coiled bouquet that is very linear and controlled, not as expressive as its peers but with fine mineralite. The palate is tight on the entry with crisp tannins, bright tart cherry fruit and plenty of energy. It builds in the mouth to quite a structured, linear finish that does not forsake breeding and class. If only all second wines were as good as this. Tasted January 2014.

Signed by David Powell

Jay Miller (erobertparker.com) "The 2006 The Pict is 100% Mataro (Mourvedre) aged in 100% new French oak for 24 months. The fruit was sourced from one section of a vineyard planted in 1927. Purple-colored, it offers up an aromatic array of smoky oak, forest floor, black truffle, blueberry, and blackberry jam. On the palate it reveals a brawny, masculine personality with some austerity that should round out with a few years of additional bottle age. It should offer prime drinking from 2013 to 2026."

97+ Points - Stuart McCloskey "The ’02 Cuvée Nicolas François is made from solely Grand Cru fruit (60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay) and is one of the most beautiful Champagnes that I and many critics have tasted for many years. Some are comparing the ’02 to the great and legendary 1964, which is an extraordinary tribute. A Champagne that can be easily described as hauntingly beautiful as the balance between power and endless complexity is something very rare. The best wine from Billecart’s portfolio and will reward a further 10-15 years of cellaring (if you can resist)."

97+ Points - Robert Parker

This wine exhibits beautifully pure notes of creme de cassis, blueberry liqueur, pen ink, graphite and hints of toast and vanillin. The wine is full and rich, and although aged in 80% new oak, the wood is a subtle background component. This beauty will take longer to round into shape than the dramatic and compelling 2009. Forget it for 5-8 years, and drink it over the following three-plus decades.

97 Points - Neal Martin

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Leoville Las-Cases 2010 has a very elegant bouquet with earthy, tobacco infused black fruit, fine delineation and well-integrated oak. It is tight at first, but opens nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip on the entry. Very fine tannins, very elegant and harmonious with beautifully judged acidity leading to a classic finish that is totally seductive. Glorious. Tasted January 2014.