Wine Review – John Duval Eligo 2008

John Duval Eligo 2008


Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley, Eden Valley
Grape: 100% Shiraz
ABV: 14.5%


Colour: Deep purple, slight clear garnet on the edge

Nose:
Clean, medium+ intensity, fully developed. Plum, blackberry, blueberry, pepper, savoury smoke, oak, graphite, touch of leather

Palate:
Dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins, medium+ alcohol, full body, medium+ flavour intensity.
Plum, saline, black cherry, blackberry, liquorice

Finish: Long finish, pepper, integrated oak, waves of dark fruits for a good 15-20 seconds.

Score: 88/100


A great wine from the legendary Australian wine maker – John Duval, and Eligo being their flagship wine. Decanted for 1.5 hours. Fully developed, with some structure to hold onto its prime for at least 2-4 more years, would highly recommend drinking in the near future if you still have a bottle.

The nose is rather intense, showing a great balance of fruit, matured notes, and the classic peppery spice. On the palate, abundant of mellow black fruits, liquorice, and pepper, with a touch of saltiness, followed by a long finish that lingers for 15-20 seconds.

This is a very good wine, riding right on its prime. Although not as complex as a I thought it would been, the wine as a whole is well composed, from the nose, flavour, mouthfeel, and finish. Not the typical fruit bomb of Barossa, but shows a nice balance of power and elegance.

Wine Review – Pierre Sparr Alsace Gewurztraminer Reserve 2016

Pierre Sparr Alsace Gewurztraminer Reserve 2016


Country: France
Region: Alsace
Grape: Gewurztraminer
ABV: 13%


Colour: Medium- straw

Nose: Rose pedal, lychee, orange flower water, light honey, faint green tea

Palate: Touch of residual sugar, off-dry. Medium- body, medium- acidity. White flower, chalk, grapefruit

Finish: Medium finish, crushed stone, citrus zest, lemon

Score: 77/100


A rather textbook example of Alsace Gewurztraminer. The usual aromatic nose of rose pedal, lychee is definitely present, with orange flower water, light honey, and faint suggestion of green tea on the back end. The palate is off-dry, and simple, could do with more acidity, fresh notes of citrus and minerals all the way to the finish. I would drink this within a year or two.

Wine Review – Chateau La Fleur Pourret Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009

Chateau La Fleur Pourret Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009


Country: France
Region: Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC
Grape: Merlot based Red Bordeaux Blend
ABV: 13.5%


Colour: Dark purple core, light garnet on the edge, showing some sign of age

Nose: Potpourri, smoke, integrated oak, plum, black raspberry, blackberry

Palate: Full-bodied, dry, medium acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, tobacco, integrated oak, raspberry

Finish: Long finish, plum, drying

Score: 83+/100


I rather nice Bordeaux at this price point, showing signs of maturity, but still have the structure to live on and further develop. The nose is very generous, potpourri, smoke, dark fruits, with a nice integrated oak aroma weaving in and out. Drinking very well now, similar to the nose on the palate, with a nice touch of tobacco giving it extra complexity, followed by a long, drying finish. Perfect paring to a nice prime rib roast. Drink now, or hold for 3-5 more years.

Wine Review – Clarendon Hills Liandra Syrah 2006

Clarendon Hills “Liandra” Syrah 2006 [Clarendon Hills] [Wine-Searcher]

Country: Australia
Region: Clarendon
Grape: Syrah/Shiraz
ABV: 16%


Colour: Dark purple core, lighter on the rim.

Nose: Ripe black fruits (blueberry, blackberry, plum, blackcurrant jam), chocolate, raisin, bacon fat, touch of herbal, spice.

Palate: Full bodied, medium acidity, medium well-integrated smooth tannins. Plum, blackberry, metallic (iron), vanilla, clove, pepper.

Finish: Long finish, lingering metallic and spicy notes. Well-integrated alcohol.

Score: 87/100


The wine is showing very well, all the components fully integrated with one and other.

The nose was very intense, with concentrated black fruits, chocolate, raisin, bacon fat, a touch of herbal tone that I associate with aged Syrah/Shiraz, and touch of pepper. The nose overall is very balanced, allowing each component to shine through the waves of black fruits, showing a great deal of complexity.

Moving onto the taste, a wonderfully aged, full bodied Syrah. Despite the 16% alcohol, it is very well integrated, drinking more like a 14-14.5%. Aside from the abundance of black fruits, there is this metallic, iron note showing throughout the palate, with a touch of vanilla, clove, and pepper forming a long and lingering finish.

This is a very good wine, with some unusual note going on (the metallic note on the palate), overall a very pleasant tasting experience. The wine is ready, drink before 2020.

Wine Review – Chateau Latour Grand Vin 1990

Chateau Latour Grand Vin 1990


Country: France
Region: Pauillac, Bordeaux
Grape: Bordeaux Blend
ABV: 12.5


Decanted for 2 hours, evolving ever since.
Nosed on both Zwiesel Enoteca Bordeaux Premier Crus, and Zalto Burgundy glass.

Colour: Dark garnet core, brick rim.

Nose: Sweet tobacco, worn leather, red currants, dark cherry, dried rose pedals, floral perfume, Chinese sun-dried tangerine peel (Chenpi), wood spices.

Palate: Dry, medium acidity, medium+ silky tannins. Dried plum, red currants, chenpi, mineral, blackberry.

Finish: Long finish, tobacco, sweetness.

Score: 89+/100


One of the legendary vintages of Bordeaux, 1990, from one of the top winery – Chateau Latour. Decanted for three hours. The 1990 Grand Vin opens up with a powerful bouquet of dried rose pedals, sweet tobacco, and worn leather. Followed by waves of matured dark and red fruits, and a distinctive sun-dried tangerine peel aroma (Chenpi), and a faint suggestion of spice.

The palate is silky, still packs abundant of fruits, the Chenpi note from the nose carries over, touch of minerals, with a lingering finish of sweetness that almost massages your throat.

To be honest, this was actually a rather “underwhelming” wine, after having the 1982 previously, this is a few notches down on the power and layers of complexity of the 1982. The wine is still holding strong after 8 hours since the initial decanting. Hopefully 10 more years this wine will develop more complexity, as I still have another half-bottle lying in the cellar.

Glenelly Estate Grand Vin 2010

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Glenelly Estate Grand Vin 2010


Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Grape: 36% Shiraz, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot
ABV: 14.5


Colour: Dark purple core, medium brick on the rim.

Nose: Black raspberry, dusty, blueberry, cassis, leather, smoke, touch of spice.

Palate: Full bodied, medium tannins, medium acidity. Savoury, dried tomato, blackberry, pepper, clove, cherry.

Finish: Long finish, sour cherry, mineral, integrated oak.

Score: 82/100


Really well integrated wine with good structure. On the savoury and rustic side, could do with more quantity of fruits on the palate, drinking very well now.

DiamAndes Gran Reserva 2008

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DiamAndes Gran Reserva 2008


Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Grape: 75% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14.5%


Colour: Medium+ purple core, lighter on the rim.

Nose: Cassis, prune, blackberry, violet, touch of smoke, cedar.

Palate: Medium body, medium+ tannins, medium acidity. Wood, blackberry, mineral, tar, touch of nuttiness.

Finish: Long finish, mineral, liquorice.

Score:81/100


Fairly integrated wine, perhaps if it was consumed 2-3 years ago it would’ve held onto more fruits. The wine is reasonably complex, full of dark fruits, smoke, cedar notes on the nose. The palate is very mineral forward, with blackberries, tar, and touch of nuttiness that reminds me of Oloroso sherry, with a long finish.

Jean Biecher & Fils Alsace Grand Cru Schoenenbourg Riesling 2014

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Jean Biecher & Fils Alsace Grand Cru Schoenenbourg Riesling 2014


Colour: Straw

Nose: Pear, sliced green apple, concentrated honey, yuzu, beeswax, touch of worn leather and mineral note.

Palate: Dry (touch of residual sugar), medium body, medium+ acidity. Lemon, citrus peel, crushed stone, grapefruit, pineapple.

Finish: Long finish, green apple, lemon, mineral, dried pineapple.

Score:84+/100


Rather amazing Riesling, incredibly concentrated. Very rich nose, full of citrus and honey, with nice minerality to up the complexity. The palate is dry but I feel a touch of residual sugar, rich, loaded with fruits and minerals, followed by a lingering finish. Got a great structure, I wonder how well this will age, showing lots of complexity already in its youth. Could drink now, or hold for 2-4 more years.

Domaine Duseigneur Laudun 2009

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Domaine Duseigneur Laudun 2009


Decanted for 2 hours.


Colour: Dark garnet core, light brown rim.

Nose: Violet, black raspberry, black cherry, animal notes (not to barnyard extend), meaty, forest floor, graphite, white flower.

Palate: Dry, full body, medium+ fine tannin, medium+ acidity. Black cherry, plum, mineral, crushed stone, cranberry, forest floor.

Finish: Medium finish, black fruits, saline, iron.

Score:83/100

Chateau Gaudrelle Cremant de Loire Brut (2013 Bottling)

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Chateau Gaudrelle Cremant de Loire Brut (2013 Bottling)


Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: Honey, peach, lemon peel, light butter, yeast.

Palate: Dry, medium bubbles Light citrus, medium- acidity. Honey, grass, crushed stone, peach.

Finish: Medium finish, mineral, grass.

Score:74/100


Purchased in late 2013, forgot about it, finally opening it tonight. In the stage of still retaining some freshness but you get a sense of maturity. The nose isn’t very intense or complex, same goes for the palate. Citrus with a touch of stone fruits, honey plays a part in the character as well; mineral driven palate, richer than expected, followed by more citrus and stone fruits. Overall fairly decent cremant, for $20CAD it’s a very good buy.