Big blind tasting with some impressive wines on the list!

2019 Château Cheval Blanc

Ruby. Red berries, anise, spices, dark fruits, blackberries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, blackberries, somewhat firmer, long. 97

 

2019 Monteverro Toscana

Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, blackberries, vanilla and spices, dark fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blackberries, detailed, nuanced, juicy, spices, vanilla, long. 93

 

2019 Eisele Vineyard Napa Valley

Ruby. Blackberries, cassis, dark fruits, liquorice, light herbal touch far back on the nose. Fresh acidity, rioe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, nuanced, juicy, firmer, long.  94

 

2021 Henschke Hill of Grace

Ruby. Blackberries, cassis, dark fruits, liquorice, layered, nuanced, intense, some minty notes and eucalyptus.Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, detailed, dark fruits, liquorice, nuanced and long, bit high alcohol. 95

 

2018 Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero

Bright ruby. Red berries, strawberries, nuanced, some liquorice and cherries nose, lifted. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, structured, red berries, detailed, nuanced, firm finish. 94

 

2020 Penfolds Grange

Deep ruby. Dark fruits, spices, liquorice, vanilla, liquorice, richer nose. Lush. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blackberries, spices, firmer, long. 96

 

2018 Gaja Barolo Sperss

Bright ruby, garnet rim. Cherries, anise, spices, liquorice, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cherries, liquorice, spices, nunaced, firmer, detailed, long.  96

 

2021 Dominus Napa Valley

Ruby. Coffee, vanilla, dark fruits, rich, detailed, intense, fruit forward, big nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, rich and intense, sweet, ripe, rich and intense, really long.  97

 

2020 Château Valandraud

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, anise, spices, fruit forward, dark fruits, coffee and smoky notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, firmer, intense, nuanced, layered, spices, long. 96

 

2020 Château Lafite Rothschild

Ruby. Scented, detailed, nuanced, dark fruits, liquorice, layered, bright and elegant, cigars touch. Lifted.  Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, spices, detailed, minerals, nuanced, firmer, stunning, long.  98

 

2021 Niepoort Charme

Bright ruby. Red berries, some blueberries, lighter nose, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, rounded, fruit forward, elegant texture, quite bright. Long. 92

 

2016 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi

Bright ruby. Red berries, anise, cherries, spices, nuanced and bright nose, lifted.liquorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, cherries, nuanced, long finish. 94

 

2020 Torbreck Runrig

Deep ruby. Eucalyptus, dark fruits, liquorice, rich and intense, fruit forward nose, vanilla, rich and dense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, rich, dense, spices, blackberries, nuanced, intense, spices, layered, long. 95

 

2018 Bond Quella

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruits, nuanced, scented, detailed and elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, spices, vanilla, nuanced, long finish. 95

 

2022 Sassicaia

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, blackberries, spices, some coffee notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, quite lively, structured, fruit driven, nuanced, leaner finish. 95

 

2021 Blankiet Napa Valley

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, anise, cassis, nuanced, intense nose, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, layered, nuanced, spices, intense, firm and long. 95

 

2020 Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, spices, nuanced, liquorice, not that dense, alcohol shines through. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red and dark fruits, blackberries, anise, spices, herbs, long. 95

 

2018 Caymus Special Selection Napa Valley

Ruby. Vanilla, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, black fruits, rich and intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, spices, dark fruits, rich, intense, vanilla, layered, nuanced and long. 96

 

2021 Jim Barry Clarevale

Ruby. Liquorice, vanilla, dark fruits, ripe and intense nose, layered.Intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, rich, sweet liquorice, detailed, long.  94

 

2019 Torre Muga

Ruby. Dark fruits, liquorice, nuanced, detailed, blackberries, lifted, somewhat richer nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, juicy, nuanced, elegant, bright, layered and long. Beautiful energy to it. 97

 

2019 Screaming Eagle

Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, blackberries, nuanced, layered, fruit forward, intense nose, minty and some rosemary. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, layered, nuanced, detailed, vanilla, intense, gorgeous length. Long.  99

 

2020 Harlan Promontory

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, some herbal notes, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, red berries, anise, dark fruits, some liquorice, leaner finish. 93

 

2018 Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Hunter Valley Syrah

Ruby. Dark fruits, some spices, liquorice, intense, fruit driven, eucalyptus, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, layered, juicy, intense, spicy, refined, some iron minerality, layered, long.  93

 

2020 Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, fruit forward nose, detailed, vanilla, minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, vanilla, spices, blackberries, layered, detailed, intense, smoky and long. 96

 

2022 Dana Lotus Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, vanilla, dark fruits, rich. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, rich, anise, spices, dark fruits, layered and rich, long. 95

 

2019 Masetto

Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, blackberries, anise, nuanced, lifted and scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red and and dark fruits, nuanced, juicy, bright, elegant. 94

 

2021 Bryant Family Napa Valley

Ruby. Blackberries, nuanced, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, rich and fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, blackberries, rich, fruit forward, long. 95

Lovely dinner with friends, with Salon, 62 Petrus, 89 Cheval Blanc and more.

 2012 Salon

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, citrus, detailed, refined, chalky, bright and almost caressing nose. Fresh acidity, elegant, smooth, superbly rounded and refined texture, mouthwatering, gorgeous. Long. 97

 

2005 Pommery Les Clos Pompadour

Straw yellow. Apples, minerals, nuanced, chalky, detailed, very light brioche note nose. Fresh acidity, refreshing, detailed, some smoky notes, some somewhat coarser bubbles, long. 93

 

2005 Pommery Les Clos Pompadour

Straw yellow. Minerals, sea front, apples, brioche, nuanced nose, more refined than the other magnum next to it. Fresh acidity, bright and detailed, elegant and nuanced, same with the palate, younger, fresher, more refined.  95

 

1978 Château Lafite Rothschild

Ruby, garnet rim. Tobacco, figs, detailed, nuanced, some minty notes nose, deeper than expected.  Fresh acidity, ripe tannins getting softer, and the nose definitely wines, leaner palate, anise, spices, liquorice, leaner bodied, spices, long. It gets an extra point or two because I really like that nose. 90

 

1962 Petrus

Ruby with brick rim. Truffles, dates, figs, chocolate, detailed and layered nose, fully mature nose. Fresh acidity, the tannins that are left is silky and elegant, gorgeous smoothness on the palate, chocolate, minty notes again, truffles, dates and figs, long finish. Touch of iron minerality.  95

 

1989 Château Cheval Blanc

Ruby, garnet rim. Cassis, dark fruits, blackberries, detailed and layered nose, intense, complex, tonacco notes, wonderful nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, juicy, figs, dark fruits, sweet and nuanced, layered and long.  96

 

1998 Château d'Yquem

Golden. Apricots, peach, rich, layered, intense and dense and complex, lovely. Fresh acidity, detailed, intense, apricots, peach, gorgeous texture, bright and refreshing with a gentle creaminess.  96

Top wine moments of 2025

Below are my top wine moments of 2025, and except for the first two, in no particular order. 

-Tasting the 1961 Latour (next to the 1945). The 1961 Latour has been on my top 3 list for some 20 years! Finally and unexpectedly the stars aligned. 

-Tasting the 1947 Cheval Blanc together with the 1961, 1989 and 2019. Also on my top 3 list, and again, finally the stars aligned. Maybe 2026 will be the year when the first on the list will be ticked off? The 1945 Mouton Rothschild. 

-Tasting the 1943 and 1962 Pichon Baron together with Christian Seely, at Pichon Baron. 

-Stunning 1927 and 1947 ports from Niepoort, enjoyed with Dirk Niepoort! 

-Enjoying the 1966 and 2015 Barca Velha with Luis Sottomayor in Oslo

-Dinner in Bordeaux with 1955 Montrose, Chasse Spleen, Poujeaux, 1945 Domaine de Chevalier, 1935 Latour-Martillac, 1975 Latour, 1985 Lafite, 1995 Mouton, finishing off with 1975 Fargues and 1955 Doisy Daëne, and even more wonderful bottles! 

-Krug 1959 and 1961 side by side

-Dom Perignon 1949 and 1961

-Tasting the best red 1979 (my vintage) I have ever had, at Haut-Bailly, together with a gorgeous 1989, with the always wonderfully charming Veronique Sanders

-1955 Roederer Cristal and 1966 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, nearly side by side. 

-Sharing a wonderful 1958 Doisy Daëne with friends at Doisy Daëne after a wonderful lunch with Jean Jacques Dubourdieu.

-Tasting Château Laroze all the way back to 1953, with owner Guy Meslin and his wife, some of them they had never tasted before! 

-1978 and 1990 Penfolds Grange side by side, with a 1998 Grange just weeks before and the 2020 and 2021 within weeks as well. 

-Tasting the wonderful 1979 Château Gilette at a lunch with Dany Rolland. 

-Tasting Villa Capezzana back to 1925, with the family, in Florence.

-Boscarelli Il Noccio vertical tasting back to 1991, with the family, in Montepulciano.

-Having three bottles of Screaming Eagle in two days! 

-Two old Petrus, the 1962 and 1959.

-Lunch with Miloute, Francois and Henri Mitjaville, sharing 1985, 1982 and 1979 Tertre Roteboeuf. 

-1990 Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle.

-Driving my first ever Ferrari before a wine evening with friends! 

-A perfect 1961 Château Palmer.

-Discovering Sicily on my second only wine trip to this gorgeous island! Fantastic week of many new discoveries! 

-Big vertical tasting of Château Fontenil, confirming Fronsac’s greatness.

-1967 Château Liot, wow, unexpected and incredible wine moment! And my first visit to this estate in Sauternes!

-Every vintage of Brane-Cantenac back to 1992 at the 100 years celebration of the Lurton family as owners. Unfortunately I did not have the time for the lunch, which I heard was magical, where 1961, 1959, 1947, 1945 and 1928 were all shared. But from the list above, it is difficult to feel sorry for oneself even when missing out on such legendary vintages from this venerable estate. 

2025, you have been fantastic! And there are so many more incredible moments than these! 

Thank you all for letting me do this! 

And thank you all for taking part in this adventure! 

Glorious discovery of Château Fontenil with Dany Rolland

I have tasted Château Fontenil during primeur for more than a decade, but I have rarely seen them in bottle, and even rarer tasted them. Boy was I in for a treat! On a relatively misty morning I turned up at Fontenil and I did not expect anything near this amazing lineup. I am a big fan of Fronsac, these wines are so undervalued, and here we are, another big tasting confirming that exact same thing. Gorgeous wines. 

What are you waiting for? And yes, you can still get some of the odler vintages from the estate. 

2022 Château Fontenil

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, fruit driven, blueberries nose, detailed, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, liquorice, fruit forward, intense, long. 93

 

2020 Château Fontenil

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, fruit forward, detailed, nuanced, spices, liquorice, layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, blackberries, dark fruits, intense, energetic, somewhat saline finish. Lovely 94

 

2019 Château Fontenil

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, anise, spices, fruit forward nose, scented and lifted nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red and dark fruits, detailed, nuanced, energetic, fruit forward, long. 94

 

2018 Château Fontenil

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, blackberries, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, liquorice, detailed, juicy, lively for the vintage, long. 93

 

2017 Château Fontenil

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, anise, spices, fruit forward, detailed and layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, minerals, detailed, starting figs and dates, long finish. 92

 

2016 Château Fontenil

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, blueberries, fruit forward, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, spices, dark fruits, liquorice, firmer, tighter finish. 93

 

2015 Château Fontenil

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, nuanced, fruit forward nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, red fruits, detailed, energetic, saline, juicy, wonderful body, long. 94

 

2014 Château Fontenil

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Blackberries, dark fruits, nuanced, detailed, minerals, scented nose, lifted. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, minerals, nuanced, juicy, playful, minerals, long. 93

 

2012 Château Fontenil

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented, blackberries, fruit forward, detailed, elegant and nuanced nose. Floral high notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, nuanced, minerals, red berries, detailed, somewhat lighter body, long finish. 92

 

2011 Château Fontenil

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Figs, dates, tobacco, maturing nose, dark fruits, bit more evolved bottle. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, figs, dates, juicy, blackberries, leaner finish. 91

 

2010 Château Fontenil

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Figs, dates, lifted, fruit driven, nuanced, layered, minerals, bright nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, nuanced, juicy, blackberries, detailed, minerals, saline, drinking superbly now, gorgeous. 94

 

2020 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby. Around 3200 bottles made. Dark fruits, liquorice, blueberries, fruit forward nose, layered nose. Fresh acidity, silky texture, blackberries, fruit forward, layered, and intense, nuanced, almost creamy texture, long.95

 

2019 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby. Around 2800 bottles made. Blackberries, blueberries, fruit driven, nuanced, intense, fruit forward nose.Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, nuanced, layered, fruit forward, long finish. 95

 

2018 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby. Around 2600 bottles made. Cassis, blackberries, blueberries, nuanced, minerals even if rich, layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, lifted, juicy, detailed, minerals, nuanced, hides the alcohol very well. 95

 

2016 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby. Around 4200 bottles made. Intense, dark fruits, blackberries, fruit forward, layered nose, made from Merlot at 60-70 years old. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, liquorice, juicy, nuanced, bright, intense, layered, minerals, saline, layered and gorgeous. 96

 

2015 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby. Around 3500 bottles made. Dark fruits, anise, spices, blackberries, fruit forward, intense and layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, detailed, minerals, saline, layered, intense and long. Gorgeous. 95

 

2010 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby, thin garnet rim. 4200 bottles and 300 magnums made. Dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, fruit forward and detailed nose, intense. Tobacco and figs. Gorgeous nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, firm texture, layered, intense and deep, this will soldier on for a long time still, long finish. 96

 

2009 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby, thin garnet rim. 3400 bottles and 250 magnums made. Dark fruits, scented, layered and lifted nose, detailed, fruit forward, intense and rich. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, layered, fruit forward, wonderful mineral note, yet rich and deep, intense. 96

 

2005 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Liquorice, dates, figs, spices, tobacco nose, layered and deep, leather. Complex and deep. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, nuanced, juicy, blackberries, figs, dates, tobacco, minerals, deep.95

 

2021 Le Blanc de Fontenil

Pale lemon yellow. 2400 bottles made. Intense nose, fruit forward, nuanced, detailed, elegant, some vanilla, layered nose. Fresh acidity, saline, candied lemons, detailed, fruit forward, intense, nuanced, wonderful, long. 93

 

2020 Le Blanc de Fontenil

Pale lemon yellow. 5000 bottles made. Citrus, apples, peach, nuanced nose, fruit forward and elegant nose.Fresh acidity, apples, lemons, minerals, detailed, elegant texture, citrus, long finish. 92

 

2019 Le Blanc de Fontenil

Pale lemon yellow. 2200 bottles made. Citrus, fruit forward, nuanced, lemons, some pears notes nose. Fresh acidity, apples, citrus, detailed, saline, nuanced, intense, lovely freshness, long. 93

2022's from Clos Fourtet and Poujeaux

2022 Château Poujeaux

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, anise, spices, blackberries, fruit forward nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, anise, spices, juicy, detailed, firmer, long. 93

 

2022 Château Côte de Baleau

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, blackberries, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, fruit forward, some alcohol warmth in the finish. 92

 

2022 La Closerie de Fourtet

Ruby. Blackberries, fruit driven, scented, nuanced, scented and floral nose, lifted. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, anise, liquorice, fruit forward, intense, nuanced, rich but lively, lovely energy to it. Salinity in the finish. 94

 

2022 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, fruit forward, detailed, lifted and scented nose, intense and deep. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, anise, spices, juicy, liquorice, detailed, gorgeous texture and energy, saline and minerals beneath, Great pecission to it. 98

Glorious dinner with friends.2000 Lafite stole the show!

2020 Remi Jobard Meursault 1er Cru Le Poruzot-Dessus

Pale lemon yellow. Tighter nose, apples, citrus, minerals, detailed, nuanced, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, saline, minerals, detailed, nuanced, citrus, detailed, smoother vintage, elegant, long finish. 92

 

2000 Château Lafite Rothschild

Ruby, thin brick rim. Incredible nose, scented, lifted, fruit forward, detailed, minerals, layered, bright, tobacco, cassis, blackberries, ripe, absolutely gorgeous, so seductive! Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, blueberries, juicy, detailed, layered, intense, gorgeous wine. Served blind. Stunning! 100

 

2000 Château Gloria

Ruby, thin brick rim. Tobacco, intense, blackberries, figs, dates, spices, forest floor and mushrooms, minerals, graphite, layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, minerals, detailed, nuanced, blackberries, dates, figs, forest floor, maturing and absolutely wonderful now! 92

 

1995 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, fruit driven, blueberries, intense nose, some coffee notes, deep. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, blackberries, vanilla, coffee, layered, long. 95

 

1983 Graham's Vintage Port

Ruby, thin brick rim. Dark fruits, blackberries, spices, blackberries, dried fruits, figs, leather nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, dates, figs, a lighter bottle, still detailed and long. 93

 

Quinta do Portal 30 Years Old Tawny

Amber. Dried fruits, figs, dates, raisins notes nose. Lighter for a 30 years old. Fresh acidity, dried fruits, lively, light concentration, but a good complexity of dried fruits, long finish. 90

Clos Dubreuil visit and tasting

2022 Clos Dubreuil Chardonnay

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, pears, citrus and some vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, rounded, creamy, fruit forward, citrus and apples, juicy, long. 90

 

2021 Clos Dubreuil Chardonnay

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, citrus, lighter vanilla and spices notes nose. Fresh acidity, lemons, citrus, some spices, light smoky note, long. 90

 

2021 Clos Dubreuil Clara Clairet

Light garnet Floral, scented, red berries nose. Fresh acidity, red berries, some floral notes, elegant texture, I have not tasted that many, but best Clairet I have tasted. Only some 1200 bottles made. 87

 

2014 Clos Dubreuil

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruits, blueberries, some dates and figs, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, figs, dates, nuanced, juicy, developing nicely, long. 91

 

2015 Clos Dubreuil

Ruby. Dark fruits, spices, liquorice, vanilla, dark fruits, fruit forward, spicy and coffee notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blackberries, juicy, intense, spices, quite bold, still needs time. 93

 

2022 Clos Dubreuil

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, fruit forward nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blackberries, vanilla, liquorice, fruit forward, long. 94

 

2022 Clos Dubreuil Clara Clairet

Light garnet Fruit forward, quite different from the 2021. Fresh acidity, fruit forward, more intense, spices, light bitterness, good length. More intense than 2021, less refined. 86