The Tower Of London
Château Duhart Milon
Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot Blend 2005
The 2005 Duhart-Milon is a bit of a beast. Displays quite a dense, unforgiving pencil lead and tobacco-scented nose, and the fruit seems to take a back seat at the moment. The palate is well-balanced but undeniably brawny and rough-hewn, the kind of Pauillac you wouldn't want to meet down a dark alley at midnight. This is a bit hard going at the moment. This was an ex-château bottle served at Maison François in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, January 2023) — 2 years ago
Château Léoville Poyferré
Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2000
The 2000 Léoville-Poyferré was poured blind at Medlar restaurant, though it was pretty easy to single out. This bottle is slightly higher-toned than the previous, black fruit, melted tar and a touch of roasted chestnut, maybe displaying just a touch more Brettanomyces. The palate is medium-bodied with good depth and concentration, white pepper and thyme lending more complexity towards the finish. It does not possess the precision that has defined recent vintages, yet it has an almost bucolic charm and the substance to suggest it will give another two decades of drinking pleasure. Tasted at Medlar in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
— 2 years ago
Ridge Vineyards
Monte Bello Vineyard Chardonnay
Delightfully complicated California Chard masquerading as a White Burgundy. French nose and French finish. Minerals, flint, stone and fruit—apple, pear, peach and nectarine, with an obvious but restrained layer of oak. Not overly fruity or oaky; no pineapple or butterscotch here. Paired well with the Seafood Tower, Swordfish and Black Cod at the Water Grill Santa Monica. This was a juvenile 2021 vintage, tasted in 2024. Eager to try this gem after another half decade. — 5 months ago
Neal Family Vineyards
Howell Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
This was great! Reminded me of all those great Bordeaux’s we had while in London. 1hr+ decant. Purple color with maroon tones. Dominated by cedar on the nose and palate. Medium plus depth and finish, which had some olives/CDP on it. Well integrated tannins with a nice sweetness. — 7 months ago
Domaine de Chassorney
Bedeau Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Planque in London. Pretty nose with hint of dried roses. Raspberry on the palate with some potpourri flavours. Quite precise and proper. — 2 years ago
Hubert Lamy
Le Concis du Champs Chassagne-Montrachet Chardonnay 2018
Wha wha weeee waaah. Teleportation straight back to burgundy - escargot under the clock tower, lunch on a bike ride of the country. Beast. Doesn’t get much better. — 3 years ago
Domaine Naturaliste
Morus Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
See previous Delectable note. Very dark Ruby in colour - opaque. A beautiful fragrant black fruited nose of mulberry, cassis and dried herbs. It’s nice to vary our producers from Margaret River and this is one that one doesn’t often see. This was most impressive - full bodied palate showing blackberry, eucalypt, bay leaf, capsicum, plum - in fact all of the Cabernet descriptors. Graphite texture with velvety tannins. This is from the southern end of Margs near the likes of Cape Mentelle and Voyager Estate. To repeat the previous note this won a major Trophy in London for best Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River. This could cellar for at least another 5 years. — 6 months ago
Château Lagrezette
Château Lagrezette Cahors Malbec Blend 2010
Almost pitch black in colour - very dense. Barb said Liquorice and Dark Chocolate - also lashings of blackberry. Extremely rich, concentrated fruit. Possibly the richest most full bodied French dry red I’ve ever had. Interesting to compare with the Catena Zapata Malbec a week ago. The Argentinian Malbec coming from high country was more elegant. I must try more Malbec from Cahors. Made for a BBQ Steak. A silky palate finishing with very dry tannins. Bought at Hedonism in Mayfair London several years ago. I have never seen this producer available in Australia. — 2 years ago
This will give ideas.
Roasted low and slow many hours will be perfect with French Malbec.
Tenuta di Fessina
Musmeci Nerello Mascalese 2015
Pale crimson in colour. An earthy, horsey, ultra savoury nose. A light to medium weight savoury palate with dried cherry, earthy mineral flavours and light Sandy tannins. I really loved this Etna Rosso which we picked from the all Italian Wine List at the River Cafe London. Went well with a lovely fresh piece of Turbot. — 2 years ago
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The bottle of 2014 Pontet-Canet showed better than the previous one at the 10-Year-On tasting in London. This offers much more restraint on the nose. It's quite precise, with greater mineralité seeping through the black cherry and cassis fruit. The palate has a sorbet-fresh entry, fine tannins and a silky sheen. The oak is fully subsumed after a decade, plus there is a little more depth on the finish compared to previous showings. This is a fine example of the vintage, and bottles should drink well over the next 12 to 15 years. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Pontet-Canet dinner in Washington DC. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 5 months ago